Kerr's Korner
Time To Prune
By John Kerr
My apple tree in the back yard is slapping me in the face when I mow. It gets worse and worse as the first day of summer (Friday, June 20) approaches. I got my loppers out the other day and a friend warned me that cutting branches off my tree this time of year could kill it.
I remembered that an “old guy” from years ago told me that the best time to prune an apple tree was “when you are walking past it and you have a good pocket knife with you”. I did check and found out that pruning an apple tree any time of year will not kill it. Some times are better than others, but this is not a fatality.
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
I remember as a young man hearing the term: “You could use a good trimming”. Some times it had to do with a haircut, but more often it was similar to trimming a plant to improve its growth. Much like this metaphor in our text, it can be used in some aspect of life. It would suggest a need to eliminate unnecessary activities or distractions to be more efficient or successful. In simpler terms, stop focusing on what you want to do and focus on what I am telling you to do. Listen and pay attention.
I think, much like my apple tree, God may give us a trimming at any time. It might hurt a little bit, but it won’t kill us. If we listen and pay attention we will bear more fruit.
By John Kerr
My apple tree in the back yard is slapping me in the face when I mow. It gets worse and worse as the first day of summer (Friday, June 20) approaches. I got my loppers out the other day and a friend warned me that cutting branches off my tree this time of year could kill it.
I remembered that an “old guy” from years ago told me that the best time to prune an apple tree was “when you are walking past it and you have a good pocket knife with you”. I did check and found out that pruning an apple tree any time of year will not kill it. Some times are better than others, but this is not a fatality.
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
I remember as a young man hearing the term: “You could use a good trimming”. Some times it had to do with a haircut, but more often it was similar to trimming a plant to improve its growth. Much like this metaphor in our text, it can be used in some aspect of life. It would suggest a need to eliminate unnecessary activities or distractions to be more efficient or successful. In simpler terms, stop focusing on what you want to do and focus on what I am telling you to do. Listen and pay attention.
I think, much like my apple tree, God may give us a trimming at any time. It might hurt a little bit, but it won’t kill us. If we listen and pay attention we will bear more fruit.
Wayne's Wacky Words
Flugelbinder - The hard end of a shoestring, usually plastic or metal. I once ate shoestring potatoes with flugelbinders. Talk about crunchy!
IN OUR PRAYERS
Health needs
Happy Birthday!
06/19 - Bonnie Shovestull
Serving Next Week 06/22/25
AM Opening Prayer-John Huber
AM Closing Prayer-Tom Long
PM Opening Prayer-Kevin Reichard
PM Closing Prayer-Mike Hartline
Wed Devo-Ernie Kunselman
Serving the Lord's Table for June
Ray Smith (speaker), Ethan Jones, Mike Bowley, Chris Shovestull, Bill Fiscus
Devotional Reader
Mike Hartline
Prayer Request Leader
Ernie Kunselman
Worship Training Center
Brittany Smith
Communion Care
John Kerr
Housekeeping
?????
Livestream (A/V)
Jan Kerr & Amanda Smith
Happy Anniversary!
06/15 - Jerry & Wanda Smith