A green apple isn\u2019t edible.\u00a0 However, a small, green apple may be perfectly shaped and formed.\u00a0\u00a0Nevertheless, it is not ready to be eaten.\u00a0 If I decide to eat this small, green apple, I will probably get a stomach ache.<\/p>\n
Over the years, Eric\u2019s parents have constantly commended the training he has received from Special Gathering.\u00a0 Likewise, Brent\u2019s mother worked hard to manage his behavioral concerns.\u00a0 After attending Special Gathering for a few years, a drastic overhaul happened in his life.\u00a0 She gave all the credit to the teaching that he received each week at Special Gathering.<\/p>\n
Brent and Eric still have issues that are unresolved in their personalities and actions.\u00a0 But they are still green apples.<\/p>\n
Arthur is equally dysfunctional\u00a0in his behavior at work.\u00a0 No one can get along with him.\u00a0 However, all these co-workers agree that Arthur has radically changed for the better since he has been attending the Bible study at work.\u00a0 Barb looses her temper with her family and friends.\u00a0 She knows that she is wrong; and she has started to read her Bible each day, looking for answers to her temperamental behaviors.<\/p>\n
Arthur and Barb still have issues that are unresolved in their personalities and actions.\u00a0 But they are still green apples\u2013growing in the Lord.<\/p>\n
Arthur, Barb, Brent and Eric have stories that are amazingly similar.\u00a0All four struggle with behavioral issues.\u00a0 But they are also very different.\u00a0 Arthur is the CEO of a large company and Barb manages a local restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0 Eric and Brent are part of the mentally challenged community.<\/p>\n
The acorn that falls from the mighty oak tree is very different from the tree that it will become.\u00a0 The sapling which springs from the acorn is\u00a0not nearly as beautiful or stable\u00a0as the tree that it will become 20 years later.<\/p>\n
The Christian life is a growing experience.\u00a0 As disciples of Christ, we will never become totally\u00a0ripe fruit until we are in heaven.\u00a0 The acorn does not even resemble the tree it will become.\u00a0 It is the same with the members of Special Gathering.\u00a0 As much as Brent may change, he is still miles from the goal of being transformed into the image of Christ.\u00a0 Eric loves the Lord; but he still falters in his execution of the disciplines of the Christian life.<\/p>\n
Yes, Arthur\u2013the CEO\u2013and Eric\u2013the Special Gathering member\u2013are dissimilar.\u00a0 Yet, in comparison to the acorn and the oak tree, there are more similarities than there are differences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A green apple isn\u2019t edible.\u00a0 However, a small, green apple may be perfectly shaped and formed.\u00a0\u00a0Nevertheless, it is not ready to be eaten.\u00a0 If I decide to eat this small, green apple, I will probably get a stomach ache. Over the years, Eric\u2019s parents have constantly commended the training he has received from Special Gathering.\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,40,10,16,85,12,4,41],"tags":[690,21,688,696,7,18,699,701,694,19,689,692,700],"class_list":["post-512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-inspirational","category-intellectual-disability","category-prayer-2","category-religion","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-discipleship","tag-faith","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mental-retardation","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-religion","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\n