tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899018576420083198.post5097385418973053622..comments2023-08-12T00:51:02.219-07:00Comments on The Pilgrimgram: In the Gardener’s CareUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899018576420083198.post-32326883589480930042007-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:002007-06-13T07:42:00.000-07:00I see the main story here as, "Let me help you ful...I see the main story here as, "Let me help you fulfil your destiny!" as nobody <I>intends</I> for their life to be meaningless or without impact. The spade or the chainsaw (fertilizer or cutting down) are options when we are fruitless. <BR/><BR/>In the parable with the unfruitful branches, I'm aware that Paul was speaking of lives. However, in this context (which is certainly not the only context for those parables), I look at <I>aspects</I> of my life as branches: they'll get judged in three ways: <BR/><BR/>a) is this part of my life "in Him"?<BR/>b) is this part of my life fruitful?<BR/>c) am I wasting sap? (In the vocabulary of the fig tree, am I using up the ground?)<BR/><BR/>Those aspects of my life that pass the test get by with minor pruning. Those which fail some part of test get more aggressive pruning, or will be removed altogether.<BR/><BR/>So in the bottom line, God is helping me reach my goal of significance. Ultimately, I have the choice of whether He will help me with a pruning knife, with a shovelful of crap, or with a chainsaw. <BR/><BR/>I choose the pruning knife, and it's OK with me if He sharpens it before He cuts in.David McLainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10496698847536406039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899018576420083198.post-62086157518156379282007-06-11T16:56:00.000-07:002007-06-11T16:56:00.000-07:00Interesting analysis of the "cut down" aspect of t...Interesting analysis of the "cut down" aspect of the para-bole. I've not run into that cut down as anything but (Calvinistically) being cut out of the covenant or (Arminian-ly [?]) to lose Christ when you just had him a while back. The idea of cutting down for a new sprout seems like the pruning idea in hyperdrive. If the shite don't work, the pruning shears will. If the shears don't, then we're gunna build 'er up again from the ground up. Interesting. How does that (if I've understood you correctly) square with unfruitful branches being cut off (John 15 and Rom 11)?<BR/><BR/>Also, I don't think shit is a bad word. I've spent some time with dairy farmers. With them, you step in shit and a spade is a damn shovel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com