Acts 17:10-11 & Matthew 7:15

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:10-11

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15  
For my final art challenge (week #10) I did an optical illusion in chalk.  Not that anyone would really be fooled by my brick hole (I needed to shade the lower bricks; however, I didn't have any darker chalk), but it does make you think.

The Bereans came to mind, as well as Christ’s warning to his followers, when I was doing this work. Whether it’s from tv, radio, the internet, magazines, books, teachers, professors, or pastors, we need to search the Bible to make sure what we are hearing or reading matches God’s Word even if it looks or sounds “real” or “good” by our own measures.

My husband and I constantly remind our children to read the Bible so that red flags will go off in their heads when they do hear something that isn't right.  Bankers say that in order to spot a counterfeit bill, you must study the real one thoroughly.  So it is with the Bible.  We must study it daily and thoroughly.

John 15:5

 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

My art challenge this week, #9, is a repeated object, printmaking.  Ironically, printmaking is a method to repeat the same image.  My garden comes to mind right now, in the middle of summer, when brainstorm something that is repeated.  At the end of our garden is a twelve foot long grape arbor, with three plants, all loaded with young grapes, as I type. 

I had never seen grapes growing in person until after I met my husband.  Behind his parents’ house is a vineyard (where later a winery was built, too).  After we were married, my husband built us a small grape arbor and planted three grapes vines.  Each year, he prunes them back and I am always amazed that they end up full of branches and grapes. The original vine (trunk) is extremely sturdy and grows vertically.  The branches shoot off and grow horizontally along the pole.  Our grapevines never fail to produce (even though we neglect to water during droughts, and even some years forget to prune).  I’m quickly reminded of this verse (and many others) that say Christ is the vine and we are the branches.   The branches wouldn't be there without the trunk of the vine.  We wouldn't be here without Christ.