Albania Winter 2000

February 16

     I saw an event in the village yesterday that I have never seen in central Illinois. It was a Bible story illustrated before my very eyes!  
     John 15:1-8 has a beautiful illustration concerning our Christian life and our fruitfulness. Verse six (from the NAS) says, "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up and they gather them and they cast them into the fire and they are burned."  
     This verse was played out in living color by Bariam (with clippers) and Hairedin (with the cane). One can't find any more Muslim names than these two so I'll shorten them to Barry and Harry. Harry on the right is the owner of the vineyard and struggles to move about so Barry trims the grape branches because he owns the clippers (look at Barry's hand).  
     The real story is not about clippers and canes (although a visit with Harry and Barry was fascinating), but Barry's expertise in his choosing between productive and unproductive branches. Snap, snap, snap and down went the dead branches, scattered about on the ground. And behind them (out of this picture) was a young boy gathering up the branches being made ready for a fire. 
     "Why are you cutting these?" I asked Barry. 
     "Because they won't produce grapes!"
     "And the fire?" I asked Harry.
     "Trash, only trash!" said Harry.

     Please read John 15:1-8.

    Winter 2000 Index