My mom used to have this really cool grape arbor at her house in Lake Montezuma. In the summer the vines would cover the arbor and provide some really good shade. But thinking back, I really don't remember a lot of big juicy grapes coming off of that thing. In studying the vine principles of John Chapter 15 that would be consistent with what Jesus taught His disciples. We have already seen that God totally expects us to bear fruit, and that if we don't He loves us way too much to allow us to live mediocre lives and will discipline us or "lift us up" (vs.2) to get us out of the dirt and up into the light so that we will bear abundantly. After cleaning us off we should begin to bear fruit but when we begin to bear He prunes us so we will bear more fruit.(2b) Perhaps the most important thing we can learn from the whole vine analogy is the difference between discipline and pruning. Bruce Wilkinson writes, "If disciplining is about sin, pruning is about self." He is so right. Sin, refusing to seek Him first, will result in discipline but fruit bearing will result in pruning. Pruning is God cutting away growth unnecessary for fruit bearing. Think about that. Growth is cut off. So what we think is important and that we are proud of He gets rid of. If we are proud of it He should. Many believers are so proud of their greenery they never bear real fruit. It is absolutely one of the biggest drawbacks to God getting glory from our lives and us experiencing the abundance He wants for us. My mom’s arbor was pretty, shady and even impressive, it just wasn't fruitful. Many believers are all those things but not fruitful. Many churches are all those things, just not fruitful. We spend so much time and resources on greenery, and have a lot of loyalty to greenery that has become sacred cows. The vinedresser prunes every year so that the new season will be fruitful. There may be a real application for us in church in that! God knows what is most important and most fruitful and He wants us to know also. The arbors primary purpose may have been for shade but ours never is! God who is all wise must cut away unneeded activities, priorities, relationships, possessions, commitments and growth from our lives that keep us from being the most productive we can be. May not sound all that wise to cut away impressive growth but I have figured out I'm not as wise as God, are you? Pruning hurts just like discipline, but you must trust God and what He's doing. That is the primary characteristic of a true believer. Bleeding Together Pastor Mark   P.S. Thank you so much for the cards, gifts, and recognition on our 13th anniversary at the Church, We love and appreciate you all so much!!! Pastor Mark and Carolyn