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Cedar Blog

The War Against Weeds

The War Against Weeds

Healthy things grow. That’s a basic truth and, usually, good news. But sometimes the healthiest thing in the garden appears to be the weeds. That’s not good. It means war. 

The enemy of our souls, the great deceiver, wants to grow weeds in us and he wants us to settle for weeds so that we become satisfied with weedy souls in a weedy world.

We are in a war. At stake are the hearts and minds of a generation. Generations. In this battle our greatest weapon is truth. Remember this truth: we are the kind of people who will not settle for weeds. We want fruit. Much fruit.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1-2).

The healthy disciple is the one who bears much fruit. Healthy disciples are rooted in Jesus. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. Our identity is rooted in Jesus. Healthy disciples are also relational. Disciples grow with other branches on a vine. We build bridges to others – we do not erect barriers. We speak the truth in love.

Rooted and relational disciples become servant-hearted, humble, sacrificial, patient, kind, generous followers of Jesus who bear fruit. Hatred, prejudice, divisiveness, pride, envy, greed – these are weeds. Healthy disciples bear fruit not weeds.

We are called to make disciples. This is a high calling. Healthy disciples will win the war against the evil one. This is our calling. It requires some pruning. And some weeding. We will not settle for less.

May God help us,

Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

    Cedar Blog

    Abide In Jesus

    Abide in Jesus

    According to John 15, the key to bearing fruit is to abide in the vine Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

    After a grape vine is pruned, vine vinedressers gently tie each vine to a trellis. The trellis is a structure that gives the vine support for the growing season ahead. By the end of the season, the trellis is vital to support branches heavy with grapes. 

    The pruned and tied vine takes on the shape of a cross. The cross is a symbol of humility, surrender, and obedience. The cross signifies a life shaped, not by self-will, but by God’s will. Like the vine bound to the trellis, the cross restrains us for the purpose of bearing fruit. 

    Intentional restraint is not punishment; it is formation. Spiritual practices become a trellis to shape us. Bible reading, prayer, journaling, fasting, Sabbath, community, solitude, generosity, witness – these practices form us. 

    When we feel a pull toward selfish ambition we are invited to take up the cross and follow (abide). Even though we have our own plans, we surrender to God’s plan.

    Our daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms – habits, commitments, and practices – become the framework that keep us tethered to Christ. Without a trellis, a vine grows wildly, sprawling in every direction without purpose. Likewise, without intentional spiritual practices, we risk becoming entangled in the distractions and worries of life. 

    That is why we abide. And we who abide bear much fruit as we trust God to shape us.  Without a trellis to support our abiding, our lives sprawl. Out of control.  With structure, we thrive. Like a vine, we grow best when we have the right support in place.

    Here is a prompt for those of you who are using the structure of journaling: How can you form rhythms that support spiritual growth? 

    Spring is a great time to set up your trellis for the growing season ahead.

    May the Lord be with you,

    Kent Landhuis
    Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

    Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

      Cedar Blog

      The Gospel Is Not Optional

      The Gospel is not Optional

      There is some debate about which season is more important: Christmas or Easter? Of course, we are the kind of people who believe that both are vital and neither is optional.

      But if you had to rank them, what would you say? Most theologians lean toward Easter because it represents the grand climax of the Gospel – Jesus lived and died and rose again. This is true and essential. 

      Some people claim that religion is obsolete because it does not work. And, I suppose, that depends on what a person expects religion to do. I’m thankful that the gospel never becomes obsolete. A recent blog by Russ Lackey explains why:

      The gospel does not exist to make people happier, nicer, or more functional. It announces something far stranger: that God justifies the ungodly. It declares forgiveness not as therapeutic reassurance but as a verdict spoken over people who cannot secure it for themselves.

      In a culture shaped by achievement, expressive individualism, and relentless self-optimization, this claim cannot be replaced. Wellness cultures still demand improvement. Therapeutic frameworks assume progress. Many contemporary spiritualities offer meaning without judgment and comfort without reckoning.

      The gospel does not do any of this. It names sin without collapsing into shame and announces forgiveness without requiring self-exoneration. No algorithm, mindfulness practice, or spiritual technique dares to absolve.

      This is why the gospel endures even when religion becomes optional. 

      Jesus lived and died and rose again. That truth never wears out and never loses its power. Praise God!

      Kent Landhuis
      Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

      To read more, go here: When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not. 

      Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

        Cedar Blog, Lent, Reset

        Disciples Bear Fruit

        Disciples Bear Fruit

        Every congregation faces pressure to succeed. Success has historically been measured by the congregation’s budget and attendance. (Bucks and butts.) These measures might be helpful for a church management business. We are not in that business. We are in the disciple-making business. Jesus said, “Go make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). We measure success by making disciples. 

        I just read a blog about the tension between success (achievement) and fruitfulness. I found it helpful: “There’s a real difference between our achievements and our fruitfulness, between our successes and the actual good that we bring into the world. What we achieve brings us success… and gives us a feeling of being worthwhile, singular, and important. We’ve done something. We’ve left a mark. We’ve been recognized.” 

        Success is measured by achievement. Fruitfulness is measured differently: “Achievement is not the same thing as fruitfulness. Our achievements are things we have accomplished. Our fruitfulness is the positive, long-term effect these achievements have on others. Achievement doesn’t automatically mean fruitfulness.”

        Jesus never told us to achieve but he did tell us to bear fruit. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

        Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me” (John 15:5).

        Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16).

        Jesus said, “You’ll recognize them by their fruit… every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17).

        Disciples bear fruit – that is success. One last word from my blogger friend: “Fruit comes from abiding; success comes from striving. One is done to impress others, the other to bless others.”

        Go abide, bear fruit, and bless somebody.

        Kent Landhuis
        Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

        Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

          Holiday, News, Worship

          Ash Wednesday 2026

          Join us for Ash Wednesday at Cedar Hills –February 18. A meal will be served 5:15pm-6:15pm, with a short reflective worship service at 6:30pm.

          We will sing, reflect and receive the traditional mark of ash on our foreheads.

          We’ll continue to meet Wednesday nights for the season of Lent and will be studying the Sermon on the Mount.   Weekly meals 5:15-6:15pm with the worship service at 6:30pm.

          It helps us prepare if you can kindly RSVP to the meal on the weekly bulletin response.

          The Wednesday Prayer meeting will move from being online, to in person and will start immediately after these services, around 7:05pm and meet in the Resource Center.

          Thanksgiving

          Thanksgiving Eve

          We like to celebrate Thanksgiving together the day before with a service of thanks and praise. This service is in the Gathering Space and family-friendly. We’ll sing, celebrate communion, and remember the reason why we give thanks!

          Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 6:30pm
          in the Gathering Space

          There is lots of space for families and kids to move around at this service.  It is generally light-hearted and multi-generational.

          Bible, Connection, Encouragement, News, Prayer

          Reading the Bible 2025

          The New Testament readings start Oct. 1!

          If you want to join in our journey of reading through the Bible in 2025, joining at the New Testament point is a great spot!

          Readings are a few chapters every day, followed by an awesome podcast from the Bible Recap to help you understand what you just read.

          JOIN THE CEDAR HILLS NEW TESTAMENT GROUP

          If you are already a part of the group reading through the entire Bible this year, you do not need to join the New Testament group.

           

          Easter, Lent, News

          Maundy Thursday at Cedar Hills

          MIDWEEK SERVICES – On Wednesday nights until Easter (except for the week of Maundy Thursday) we have midweek worship services at 6:30pm.  These will run approximately 30 minutes with a meal beforehand.   There is also a meal served prior to the service 5:15-6:15pm.  Please kindly RSVP weekly to the office or on the bulletin response if you plan to attend the meal.

          MAUNDY THURSDAY – Thursday, April 17 at 6:30pm we will meet for worship to look at the last hours of Jesus’ life, worship and celebrate the Last Supper by taking communion.  This service will run approximately 40 minutes. Dinner served prior 5:15-6:16pm.  RSVP on the bulletin response.

          EASTER WORSHIP – Sunday, April 20 at 8:30am & 11am.  The 8:30am service will feature the traditional Easter hymns with choir and organ. The 11am service is modern worship.  There will be no Sunday classes on Easter Sunday.  Special kids’ Easter activities at 9:45am (including an egg hunt!)