John 15:1-8 ~ apart from Me you can do nothing

Earl of Durham's Monument

John 15:1-8

 “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. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  

⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

I enjoy telling good family tales. And I admit, if they cause a Bit of embarrassment for someone else, then there is a little vinegar in the sugar. Take for example my cousin.  Samuel Clements. For the younger generation, he was the Robin Williams of his day. (Maybe I should say Lewis Black, but I really think he was closer to Robin Williams.)

Mark Twain:

It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.  

Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today. 

God's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.
- Notebook, 1898

What God lacks is convictions- stability of character. He ought to be a Presbyterian or a Catholic or something- not try to be everything.
- Notebook, 1898

 

Everything human is pathetic. The secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven.

 All right, then, I'll go to hell.

Perhaps you've heard the tale about how my cousin was loud to proclaim he was jipped by his father. His father was in line to become the Earl of Durham, the oldest son. His father was so off  - as to not accept the Earldom complete with Lampton Castle.

When in doubt, tell the truth. 

Familiarity breeds contempt. How accurate that is. The reason we hold truth in such respect is because we have so little opportunity to get familiar with it.
- Notebook, 1898

Honesty is the best policy - when there is money in it.

What a mixed bag we all are. Of good intentions and bravado.

Jane Lampton Clements had a son. Her son's name was Samuel Langhorne Clements. 

Firstborn and the Law of Primogeniture (Birthright):

Deuteronomy 21:17b

The right of the firstborn is his.

Add to that Cousin Samuel's birthday of November 30, 1835 and you realize they were out of the country for a time. And I happen to know for a fact - Samuel and William Lampton arrived, as the eldest sons of the Earl of Durham, in Virginia, in 1740. You might guess Samuel was his grandpappy and William mine. Well, Samuel had a fight with his dad. Because. Aristocratic England was going to the dogs. Slavery, debauchery, lots of ceremony and rules. And lots of druggies; so many they created Gin Lane. So Samuel and William fled their father because they wanted something new. Something clean. Something they could put their life's work into. So you see, Samuel Clements/Mark Twain had no claim on the Earldom. He forfeited fair and square and it fell to William. And William only had sons..... so move over MP Earl of Durham.  An American Cousin is coming to call. (I actually have a cousin who did this and they were quite lovely to her.)

So you see. Samuel Clements was a rascal. And yet. He was related to his Grandpappy Samuel in a profound way. Samuel believed strongly in women's rights and civil rights.  Lincoln's Proclamation "... not only set the black slaves free, but set the white man free also."

He believed unions needed to exist. And believed Laissez-faire was something government was created to keep in check for the greater good. 

Plus he said, " I have no respect for a man who can spell a word only one way."  I deeply relate to that. Except he really said - "I never had any large respect for good spelling." You have to like a man who gets to the point.

And for all of Twain's inner angst, it is important to realize he had amazing financial difficulties but he mirrored his Louisiana cousins (who are so proud to claim him), because he also gave the funds for an entire Presbyterian Church. 

And perhaps Samuel's thoughts on Heaven changed after he out-lived so many of his daughters. I cannot speak for Samuel's inner thoughts on Jesus Christ. I hope for him Jesus' Grace followed and preceded and Loved his works. It is only the place of Jesus to judge his soul. I offer this as hope for those with mixed deeds, all of us. Apart from Jesus Christ, we can do nothing.

When I reflect upon the number of disagreeable people who I know have gone to better world, I am moved to lead a different life.

Proverbs 23:5 

When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. 

Is certainly a phrase Samuel found to be true in his life, financially. Even Lampton Castle has found hard times. Built on coal mine wealth, the Castle, unfortunately, became unoccupied in 1931 because the coal mines underneath caused portions of the Castle to fall down. 

And of course this is an analogy. Words can be meaningless. Or obscure. And even worthless. We all have days wondering how fruitful our lives really are. It is because no one is good. 

All generalizations are false, including this one.

And even that is wrong. We do have moments and aspirations of goodness. Yet really. The reason we do - we abide in HIM.  Jesus Christ is our LORD. He is our hope for Salvation.

1 John 2:28 
And now, dear children, Continue in Him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 

John 1:9 
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 

1 John 2:8 
 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 

 Matthew 5:16 
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Romans 15:5

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 <><