Thursday, 21 November 2024

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When I was small, one of the greatest joys in life was walking around my Grandpa’s farm. There were so many cool things to see and do.

It was a special treat when my little sister and I would go out with our little pails and pick wild raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and the like. We’d bring our pickings to the farm house and Grandma would cook up a pie or two. Along the way, we would always indulge and eat as many of these berries as we could.

The one thing we couldn’t pick in Canada was wild grapes. When you get only three months of growing weather, grapes don’t have a very good chance of survival.

That was probably good, because where there are wild grapes growing, there is also Canada Moonseed or Virginia Creeper growing as well. They are highly toxic and deadly plants that look identical to wild grapes. People who eat of the moonseed vine will likely die from the toxins.

So, as I look back and remember eating the wild raspberries and strawberries and blueberries, I am kind of happy we didn’t get the chance to munch on the deadly fruit of the “look alike” grape vine.

Guess where that brings us? The analogy we see in Jesus’ words in John 15, “I am the true vine.” How often we hear these words and simply gloss over and rush by them. After all, we know it. We’ve heard it. We get it. Let’s get to the good stuff. Let’s get to what we need to do. We need to abide in Jesus. We need to obey Him and bear much fruit.

There are many deadly vines in our community, temptations that pull us away from the need to bear fruit for the true vine which is Jesus.

As Lake County is reborn in Christ and people take pride in the joy of living here, the true vine will flourish and the deadly “look alike” will perish.

That is why it is so important for our communities here in Lake County to reach out to folks who are lost, who are burdened with addictions, mental illness, homelessness, unemployment, hate and any other adversity.

By working together in a manner that is focused on the cross of Christ, there will be renewal … but it takes the effort of all to make that happen.

When you see someone who is struggling in any way, offer them some grapes from the true vine. Tell them about the Good News of Jesus, then step back and watch what happens!

Please join us at First Lutheran Church to hear more about the true vine this Sunday at 11 a.m. Bible study starts at 9:30 a.m., contemporary worship at 11 a.m. and lunch following the service.

All are welcome, so come as you are to learn more about the true vine.

Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – April is Alcohol Awareness Month and this year’s theme – “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘Rite of Passage’” – will be celebrated locally and nationally aimed at educating folks about prevention and treatment of alcoholism, especially among our youth.

This also highlights the important role parents of young adults can play in providing their kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol (and drugs) can have on their lives and the lives of those around them.

Alcohol and drug use by young people is extremely dangerous, not only to themselves and the community at large, but is also directly associated with educational failure, violence, traffic fatalities, suicide, unsafe sex and alcohol overdose. This even applies to those individuals who may never develop dependence and/or addiction.

Adolescence is the prime time of elevated overall risk-taking and as alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are often faced with a very unique set of challenges.

Parents sometimes justify underage drinking or drug use as a “rite of passage.” Parents can either sit back and hope that their kids will get through it, or they can adjust their attitudes and partake in an active role to learn about alcohol and drugs and assist their kids in doing the same.

It is not always an easy task to discuss with children about the perils of drinking and drug use, but is well worth the effort parents can put into it.

Studies have shown that kids who have conversations with their parents early on and learn about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are more than 50 percent less likely to use these substances than those who did not have such discussions.

This is the opportunity when parents can reinforce the fact that imbibing alcohol is not a “rite of passage.”

When parents foster a change in attitude about alcohol and drug use in both themselves and their children will help them all to understand that drinking is not a way to be or feel independent, “cool,” or to fit in socially.

Young people can learn that alcohol and drugs are not a requirement in order to have a good time and that non-use of any substance is a viable and most importantly the healthiest option. We must learn to honor and respect another individual’s decision not to drink alcohol.

Alcohol and drug use is a very risky business for young people, and parents are the lynchpin in making a difference. The longer young people delay alcohol and drug use, the less likely they are to develop the inherent problems associated with it.

For more information, please contact Lake County Behavioral Health at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.

Todd Metcalf is the administrator of Lake County Behavioral Health.
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A wise man once said that when God measures a person, he puts the tape around the heart, not the head.

In Scripture we read about Jesus talking to His Father with a troubled heart at Gethsemane.

It was a heart that yearned for compassion for Jesus knew what was to come and His heart was brought to a state of heaviness, a state of being troubled, a state of being afraid, very afraid.

For just as He is God, so too, he is human. And He was in need of a compassionate heart that very lonely night.

What is a compassionate heart anyway?

It is a heart that exhibits patience, kindness, forgiveness, hope, and all the Fruits of the Spirit.

The troubled heart of Jesus on His trip to the cross is the same heart that takes all our troubles and cures them for eternity.

His troubled heart becomes our clean heart, just as we see in the answered prayer from Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

In need of a compassionate heart. Can you picture someone in your mind?

Just look around our community. I know you can see people here in need of a compassionate heart. The face of a homeless man, the anger of a troubled person with PTSD, a grieving military wife who has just lost her husband to a bullet from an enemy gun, a husband and wife who must face the reality that their child is going to die of cancer.

Do you see them? I see them, everywhere, and it breaks my heart.

And I know that through the efforts of this church and the people of this community, we can start addressing the challenge of reaching out to those who need someone to embrace them with a compassionate heart.

There is a lesson to be learned here and that lesson is no matter how challenged we are in our life, Jesus is there for us with His healing heart.

In need of a compassionate heart? Look to the cross. In need of a compassionate heart, look to the empty tomb. In need of a compassionate heart, look to the resurrection. In need of a compassionate heart? Look to Jesus.

It all points to the hope we receive from the love of the one who gave His all so we would be called the children of God.

Can you picture the face … see the need?

Join us at First Lutheran Church this Sunday as we continue in learning more about, “In need of a compassionate heart.”

Bible study is every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. and a hot lunch after worship.

This Sunday is Food Cupboard Sunday at 1 p.m. If you are in need of food, clothing, diapers or personal hygiene products, please join us.

Everyone is welcome, so please come as you are and spend a few hours with us.

Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This Sunday the United Methodist Church congregations in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks and Potter Valley will be looking for understanding in John 15:1-8 and Acts 8:26-40 on the topic of “How will your vineyard grow?”

In John, we find the recorded words of Jesus using the analogy of growth of a Christian to the cultivation of a vineyard. As we live in an area of vintagers, you will find that these words of Jesus can very easily be understood by us today.

What we find in the scripture from Acts today may not be so easily understood. Here we find a eunuch, a castrated man, of great authority, in charge of the treasure of a queen, reading but not understanding the words of a prophet. An angel of the Lord told Philip – oh, I will say no more you must come and hear the rest of the story.

For one reason or another, you may have been away from church for some time, but what a wonderful time to reunite. We especially invite you to return in faith to one of our churches to talk to God about your needs and praise God.

Each of our churches is involved in assistance to the their communities. We invite you to come, learn more and be one with us.

For that get-up-early place to worship, join our Potter Valley United Methodist Church, 10075 Main Street, Potter Valley, at 9 a.m.

Join Clearlake Oaks UMC, 12487 The Plaza, at noon, and enjoy a fellowship potluck after the service this Sunday.

For an afternoon service join with us at Clearlake UMC, 14521 Pearl Ave. at 2 p.m.

We pray that we see many visitors in our churches in the beautiful days of spring.

Dawn-Karen Roberts pastors the United Methodist Church congregations in Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks and Potter Valley.
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Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).

What’s so good about a shepherd anyway? I mean, a shepherd is not the most desirable vocation by a long shot even today.

As a matter of fact, a shepherd in the time of Jesus was considered to be the lowest of the low.

These people would spend weeks, and sometimes months out in the wilderness with their sheep, tending to their every need.

They were known to have quite a nasty scent about them, as a matter of fact, one could say they reeked to high heaven! I mean, how ripe would one be if they didn’t bathe or change clothes for weeks on end?

And then of course the shepherd was also known for his desire to be alone, away from the rest of society. Don’t bother me and I won’t bother you was the motto.

For certain, shepherds were known to interact with each other, as a matter of fact they at times combined flocks and moved from one field to another to feed and water the flocks. But for the most part, shepherds were considered outcasts, and low lifers; a label well earned.

So why does the Bible continually refer to shepherds as good? Why does Jesus say, "I am the Good Shepherd?”

A good shepherd? It means everything when it comes to the reason why God uses this very pertinent analogy. You see, when a shepherd calls, his sheep follow his voice; if another calls, they're not likely to respond.

Imagine a hillside where a few flocks of sheep are grazing together. The flocks intermingle and feed on the pastureland … a big woolly mix where they all look pretty much alike.

When the time comes to move on, the shepherds call out to the sheep. The flocks separate, and each sheep follows its own shepherd. That's the sort of imagery that the Lord is using here.

Jesus compares people to sheep. For one thing, you can't tell who they belong to just by looking at them. If you watch a camera panning a crowd at a football game, you cannot pick out who is a Christian and who is not.

Christians do not have some sort of visible mark on their foreheads or a glowing aura that declares their faith. They are not extra fit or extra healthy. They look pretty much like everybody else, no matter who they follow.

So, what's the difference? What sets our Lord's people apart from the rest of the sheep? Well, His sheep hear His voice; and because they hear His voice, they know Him and follow Him.

We hear the voice through the Word of God and through prayer. What an opportunity for us to outreach and communicate that very Word to the lost in our community and pray to our Heavenly Father for guidance.

A shepherd views his sheep almost like a parent views their children – with love. And that is where we are in Lake County. We need shepherds, folks! People who are willing to embrace the reality of a town that is truly in need of “Good Shepherds.”

If you feel called to help, please contact me at the church at 707-274-5572 and we will work together to revitalize Lake County.

Please join us at First Lutheran Church each Sunday for Bible study at 9:30 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. and a time of fellowship and food following the service.

Come as you are and join us as we seek to reach out, embrace and recover a community in need of help through the strength that Jesus gives us all.

Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572.
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It’s been a long six months, but baseball season is finally back!

Whether you’re a fan of the Oakland A’s, the San Francisco Giants, or another team, excitement is in the air.

It’s fun to show support either from the stadium or your couch, but be careful! Fans sometimes run into trouble when buying tickets and gear.

In 2017, consumers nationwide filed nearly 3,900 complaints with BBB against ticket brokers and event ticket sales companies (up from 3,000 in 2016).

The leading cause for complaints was problems with refunds and exchanges. Common complaints involve being unable to obtain refunds, poor customer service, and hidden fees.

Buying jerseys, hats, and other gear can also lead to issues. According to the BBB Risk Index (www.bbb.org/riskindex ), online purchase scams were the riskiest scam to consumers in 2017.

Furthermore, clothing purchases were one of the most common online purchase scams. More than 4,600 online purchase scams were reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2017, up from around 2,800 reports in 2016. The majority of online purchase scams occur when a payment is made online in exchange for a good or service, but nothing is delivered.

– Don’t strike out when buying tickets. Stick to trustworthy sources when buying tickets. The best way to buy is through the Major League Baseball (MLB) official website, mlb.com. If they’re sold out and you have to purchase from an online ticket exchange or broker, be cautious. Look up every business at bbb.org and check out their BBB Business Profile before making a purchase. For more tips on avoiding fraudulent tickets, visit bbb.org/tickets.

– Only buy authentic gear. Nearly 900 counterfeit product scams were reported to BBB Scam Tracker in 2017 - an increase of around 80% from 2016 - and the median loss was $150. Counterfeit goods mimic original merchandise, right down to the trademarked logo, but are typically of inferior quality. The safest way to be sure the hats and jerseys you’re buying are authentic is by shopping at the MLB’s official store, mlbshop.com. You can also buy MLB licensed gear from authorized resellers. Visit bbb.org to find trustworthy BBB Accredited Businesses and look up unfamiliar retailers.

– Be safe shopping online. Whenever you’re making a purchase online, use good judgement. Verify that the website is secure by looking for the “https:”, where the “s” stands for “secure”, and other trust marks. Make sure your computer is running up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software. It’s best to use a credit card since they offer more protection than debit and prepaid cards. Never pay by wire transfer or gift cards – if a seller insists on an unusual form of payment, consider it a red flag! Make sure to read the terms and conditions of your purchase carefully. Understand the refund and guarantee policies before clicking the “checkout” button, and be on the lookout for hidden fees. You can check out more online shopping tips at bbb.org/shoppingonline.

You can always file a complaint with BBB at www.bbb.org/complain, and report scams to www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

Rebecca Harpster is communications supervisor for the Better Business Bureau, serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California and based in Oakland.

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