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Tangled grape vines

Pruning for Growth

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By: Jon Turk
In: Friday Blog
Published: 06 March 2026
Hits: 0 37

Shortly after we moved into our house here in Texas Lisa found two concord grape vines on sale at our local Home Depot. We planted those and the next year bought four more, adding them to our "vinyard " in the back yard. Unfortunately neither of us knew anything about growing grapes! The first year they all took off sending out canes down the supporting wires we had strung along our back fence. The second year they produced a few grapes (almost enough for a single batch of jelly). The next year we got a lot of buds but not a single one matured into an edible grape. What we didn't know then is that in order for grape vines to produce grapes they need to be pruned - every year, all but 5 or 6 buds on each cane. Grape vines produce a lot of growth. First year growth is called a cane, older growth is called a cordon. It is only canes that produce grapes - too many cordons sap the energy from the vine, robbing it of its ability to produce grapes! If you want to produce grapes you have to get rid of the old cordons every year! Relying on what grew last year won't produce any fruit!

Read more: Pruning for Growth

Dog standing on an overstuffed chair

Don't Just Do Something, Sit There!

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By: Jon Turk
In: Friday Blog
Published: 20 February 2026
Hits: 0 39

Last week I mentioned our dog Pogo and how he illustrates my often chaotic relationship with God. He is a pure bred (he was never registered but we have his pedigree papers) Australian Shepherd who came to live with us about 5 1/2 years ago when he was 1 year old. We adopted him from a family that had gotten him as a puppy for their (young adult) son. When their son joined the military they found themselves caring for a dog that unfortunately mom was allergic to - so the dog had to go! When we visited to assess the compatibility fit between him and our home we discovered that he was a very high strung, high octane animal, he had 3 speeds - off, full throttle, and warp speed. He could go from full off to bouncing off the walls in a half second.

Read more: Don't Just Do Something, Sit There!

Valentine's Chocolate Boxes

[God] Loves You, and There is Nothing You Can Do About It

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By: Jon Turk
In: Friday Blog
Published: 13 February 2026
Hits: 0 35

The past two weeks I have attempted to begin the Sabbath by pausing to contemplate some aspect of my week reviewing how God has spoken to me in some quiet way as I start the day He has set aside to fellowship with us. This week was a busy week and as a result I had another appointment that left me rushing to get home before sunset that left me falling over the edge into Sabbath instead of ushering it in quietly. I have contemplated often how Lisa's and my dog Pogo illustrates my rushed relationship with God. I may explore that more in depth in another post at another time, but today is Valentines day so I want to explore that concept a little today.

Read more: [God] Loves You, and There is Nothing You Can Do About It

The Difference between From and For

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By: Jon Turk
In: Friday Blog
Published: 06 February 2026
Hits: 0 37

As the Sabbath begins this week it is a much different environment than last Friday - last week the warmth of the fire helped drive out the chill in the air, this week the A/C is on pushing back against the 80 degree temperatures outside.

Read more: The Difference between From and For

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