Blog Layout
tnadmin • July 12, 2021

Horticulturally speaking….

Plants are pruned for several reasons: to encourage strong growth, increase fruit production, improve overall plant health and increase aesthetic appeal. Specifically, for larger trees, the removal of dead or damaged limbs has prolonged benefits to the plant, as well as benefits to the safety of people around it as dead branches can fall from the tree at any time.  

(Which is important to those of us in TX as we understand the need for a good shade tree…. just look at your nearest parking lot in August…) 

Pruning promotes life and growth. Not only does it discard death, but it also rids itself of the live branches before they can potentially reduce its ability to thrive. Merriam-Webster definition of  Prune (v): to reduce – especially by eliminating superfluous matter; to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth.  

The most obvious Bible verse on this subject is  John 15:2 – He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (NIV).  But to back up a bit, the verse that prompted my thoughts on this subject was  John 6:44 – No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day .  

What I take from this is not everyone who hears the words of the Father will listen or accept them. Some, perhaps many, will reject them. It is not my responsibility to make them believe, but to merely allow them to hear (and see through my actions) the life-changing words of God. Although this speaks to how I influence others, it also requires us to think about how others influence us.

Now for the hard part. Understanding John 6:44, take a look at your current circle of friends. Not your social media “friends” …the people you see face to face and hang out with regularly. Especially the people that you have known for a long time. Take a long hard look at your relationship with them. Is it positive or negative? Is it Godly or worldly? Are there some that suck the life away from you or just simply bring you down? Is it possible that God would have you “prune” your relationships, and is it conceivable that to thrive in the life he’s called you to, you must carefully (with love and grace), eliminate the superfluous?

Call to Action: Pray

Pray, then listen and observe. He will show you if there is pruning to be done, to whom, and when. Although some of the dead limbs in your life are obvious, you know who they are without even praying about it.

Written by: Kevin Callaway

Alignment

By Paul B • March 29, 2025
Rise with Purpose, Live Honorably, Lead Courageously, Love Unconditionally

Acquisition & Action

By Paul B • March 25, 2025
Acquisition & Action: Discovering the Power of Intentional Inaction

3 Step Vision Casting

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠…. 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐎𝐔

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

SIlence the Noise

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Owning Peace

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Identity Crisis

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Who Am I

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

A Period of Agony

By Paul B • March 13, 2025
Sit In It… Experience It… Learn From It Some days, sadness feels overwhelming, almost tangible, as if it’s trying to teach us something we’ve yet to learn. Today, I find myself in such a moment—sitting in sadness, letting it wash over me, tears coming unbidden. I don’t often linger here, but today, I feel compelled to sit with it for a moment. Why? I can’t quite pinpoint it. Perhaps it’s a deep longing to be better—better than I was, better than I am, better than I ever thought I could be. Or perhaps it’s the weight of realizing I haven’t always lived up to the man I’ve aspired to become. It’s easy to catalog the ways I could have been more: more kind, more patient, more compassionate, more present. I could have been more diligent, more understanding, more thoughtful. I could have loved more—deeper, better, and with more intention. The adversities of life have often distracted me, frustrated my purpose, and shifted my focus inward when I should have been outwardly focused on others. And yet, as much as regret can pull us into despair, perhaps sadness has its own purpose. Perhaps sadness invites us to pause, reflect, and grow. Sitting in sadness doesn’t have to mean wallowing in it. It can mean experiencing it, letting it teach us, and learning from it. Perhaps the tears and the ache remind me of what I do not want to be. They remind me of the kind of man I should be and the man I still desire to become. Sadness can become a teacher if we let it—a mirror that reflects not just the brokenness but also the possibilities. Maybe it’s here to show me that I can still be kind, compassionate, patient, and empathetic. That I can still learn to be more present, more thoughtful, and more loving. Maybe sadness is enabling me to see through the smoke, guiding me toward clarity and a deeper understanding of myself. As hard as it is, perhaps I’m meant to sit in this sadness for a moment. To let it shape me into someone who can better serve others, help them feel seen, and guide them toward joy, peace, and fulfillment. So today, I sit with it. I experience it. I learn from it. And when the sadness lifts, I’ll emerge as someone more thoughtful, more loving, and more attuned to the needs of others.  Because maybe that’s the purpose of sadness—to deepen our humanity, broaden our capacity for love, and remind us of the human we’re striving to become.

Be More Intentional

By Paul B • February 25, 2025
For the first 32 years of my life, I wandered aimlessly. Every road I took seemed to end in a dead end. I jumped from job to job, 👎🏼 Unsure of what I wanted. I surrounded myself with the wrong crowds, 👎🏼 Trying to fill a void. I chased shortcuts to success, 👎🏼 Without even knowing what success truly was. Man, I was a mess. The Good ✅ Through it all, I learned some hard lessons. I developed grit, fortitude, and determination. The Bad ❌ It took me 32 long years to start living in a way that was honorable, respectable, and positively progressive. I’m grateful for both—the lessons and the journey—but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I’d figured it out sooner. I know there are other men out there who’ve felt—or are feeling—the same: Frustration, Heartache, Fatigue, Confusion, Defeat. If that’s you, hear me out. Over the past eight years, I’ve learned one powerful truth: Success, money, jobs, friends… none of it really matters until you’ve figured out one thing— 👉🏼 WHO YOU ARE. This was the missing ingredient for me for so many years. And I know it’s the missing ingredient for so many other men right now. Maybe it’s what you’re missing, too. Do not let this be the thing that continues to hold you back from the progress, fulfillment, and purpose you’re seeking. Here’s what I want to share with you: One of the frameworks that helped me uncover WHO I AM. It’s simple. But it’s not easy. It requires time, diligence, and a willingness to dig deep into your heart and existence. But it works. Use it. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t let another dead end stop you. Because here’s the truth: everything good, honorable, trustworthy, noble, and praiseworthy in life flows from one place—WHO YOU ARE at your core. The D.E.S.I.G.N. Framework: This framework is designed to help you identify your unique makeup: Drives: What excites you? What fires you up? Experiences: What unique experiences have shaped you into the man you are today? Spirituality: How do you best connect with God? Impact: What arena do you feel most compelled to influence or contribute to? Genius: What are the things you do repeatedly, successfully, and joyfully? Nature: What’s your personality? Are you more extroverted or introverted? Do you thrive in structure or spontaneity? This is simply a starting point. But starting is key. If you need help working through this or figuring out your next steps, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Your journey starts with YOU. Don’t wait any longer to uncover who that is.
More Posts
Share by: