Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Vines (11/21/05)
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TITLE: If Walls Could Talk | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shari Armstrong
11/22/05 -
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“And the Lord said, ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.’* Folks, we have a duty to know our God. We have to know Him so we can recognize His voice.”
There’s sister Abigail, looking at that sale flyer in her purse. She really wants that new dress for the Christmas program. She is singing the solo after all. Ouch! What was that? Oh, it’s another one of those roots digging into my mortar! I wish they would get those vines off my walls. Before long, they will weaken my foundation.
He continues, “…and we must constantly strive to prune away that which keeps us from fellowship with our Father.”
Brother Joe’s fingering the cash left in his pocket that should have gone in the offering plate. Doesn’t he realize that my roof’s about to start leaking right over his head?
“…but the branches that produce fruit will thrive.”
Oh, faithful sister Avis, she’s taking notes on the bulletin. I can always count on her for a good scrubbing in the kitchen after dinners, too.
“But those that do not graft themselves into the Body, will find themselves withering away.”
Sure, brother Charlie keeps my doors and windows painted, but is he ever going to come forward? He’s been sitting in that same pew for twenty years with his family.
“Be careful that you don’t allow yourself to be drawn away from the One who supplies our needs.”
Brother and sister Smith have decided they don’t need to join us here anymore. They found a “better way” within themselves. It’s such a shame, I miss hearing their children laughing and singing with the others.
“Brother Tim, would you pray before we serve communion today?
Brother Tim stands, and beings to pray. While heads are bowed, nobody notices his glances at sister Karen playing the piano, but me. I’m the one who sees his car parked here as he walks to her house while her husband is at work.
After the service, Sister Karen plays while Pastor greets his flock on their way out of my doors. Sister Abigail thanks Pastor for the beautiful sermon. Brother Joe invites Pastor to dinner with his family after church.
“Thank you, Joe, but I need to take communion to the shut-ins before this evening.”
Sister Karen joins the others outside in my yard and stands near brother Tim and his lovely wife, Betty.
“Doesn’t the ivy look so nice against the brick with the sun shining on it today?” she asked them.
“Oh, yes,” Betty said. “Charlie does a wonderful job keeping the church looking nice, doesn’t he?”
Tim clears his throat, “Yeah, but did you notice the communion juice tasted bitter today?”
”For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:” (Deuteronomy 32:32)
* John 15:1
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