The Proof That Trees Have Souls

12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. - Mark 11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss1hUq1ts70

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. - Judges 9

[SIZE=12pt]During the last week of school Robert Sheffey took all seventeen of his students for a creekside walk so they might observe and appreciate the wonders of nature as he did. He found that many of them did so already, while still others seemed hardly aware of the beauties around them. The latter group complained of the foolishness of wandering about the meadows and stream – complained with more vigor than they would have dared use had not it been the last day of school. Robert realized, too, that some of the malcontents would be backed up by their parents, who would be just as happy having the children at home, preparing the gardens for planting. Nevertheless, he tried to make the nature study interesting. During his walking lectures he told of the parts that melting snow and sunshine played in the growth of budding plants and leafing trees. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Once, as he stopped to make a point, he noticed that half his class was missing. Looking down Cripple Creek, he could observe several of the boys trying to make a dam by breaking off tree limbs and stacking them in the path of a tributary branch emptying into Cripple Creek. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“You musn’t break the tree’s limbs unless you intend to put them to good use!” Robert called sternly. “They are living things just like you and me. How would you like somebody to twist your arms off?” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Some of the children bowed their heads in shame, and others snickered. Robert did not chastise them further, but walked to the nearest tree and placed his arms about it. “I love the trees,” he said. “God made them and breathed a special kind of life into them. If we tear away their limbs and strip them of their bark they will surely die and lose their very special voice of praise.” - From Jess Carr's Saint of the Wilderness[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]

Believing that trees have souls also cost Robert Sheffey his license to preach...

[SIZE=12pt]Robert made his way the next week to the presiding elder of the Wytheville district to obtain his license to preach. He was questioned at length and some of the questions and the tone of the questioner gave him cause to wonder. In each case, however, he answered as fully and patiently as possible. Finally he was told to come back in a month. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He returned to the home of the presiding elder when the time was up, only to confront an evasive churchman who obviously had the backing of the examining committee. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]‘’Mr. Sheffey, I’m afraid your application for a license to preach is not in order. We must in all cases determine the fitness of an applicant for licensing. As you know, one of your duties would include the performance of legal marriage ceremonies. The suitability of a candidate is not so much in question when he is a graduate of a divinity school or comes with the recommendation and endorsement of a church conference. In your case you are an unaffiliated itinerant.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“That doesn’t mean I can’t serve my blessed Lord the love and faithfulness, and minister to His people.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“No, not if you’re qualified,” the elder said. “Many itinerants are licensed and perform an honorable service to the state, the church, and the people. There are also those men who never bother to get a license, but of these, everyone must of course, be suspicious.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Do you have reason to believe I can’t honorably serve?” Robert asked, catching the inference. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The elder paused for a long while. Finally he cleared his throat and looked down at the floor. “Frankly, Mr. Sheffey, we asked you to wait a month to allow us time to do some asking around, and, more specifically, to discover if some of the things we had already heard were true.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“And what did you find out?” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“We learned that you are a man of some ability and piety – maybe too much piety. There are those who think you cannot properly see the real world for walking around in a heavenly one of your own invention.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I make no apology for seeing the fruits and evidences of a blessed earth and acknowledging a merciful and benevolent God.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“What about some of the other things that have come to our attention? What of your throwing cold water into the face of a pupil? What of wrapping your arms around a tree as though it were a sleepy child? Do you really believe tearing off tree limbs is like tearing the limbs from a person?” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I have done these things, and believe in what I have taught.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Then, too, Mr. Sheffey, all of us pray, but do you not consider it strange that you are known to pray for three and four hours at a time and in the most unusual places? In the rain too, sometimes, I understand. You frighten the children with your prayers. I’m sure you know that. They say you do not pray but that you talk to God.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Good sir, whom do you talk to when you pray?” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]“Be that as it may, men should not act in peculiar ways. . It unnerves others.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“But it is said that God’s people are a peculiar people,” Robert said. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“When they get queer enough to hug the sugar-maple trees and pray out loud for the honeybees – why, we can’t help taking notice of that,” the elder said gently. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Yes, I do those things,” Robert said. “And I have shouted among the bee gums also. Can you grasp what a wonderful thing it is that the little bees gather the sweetness of God’s beautiful flowers and work like tiny soldiers to make the sweet honeycomb? Why, it is a most wondrous thing!” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The elder appeared unmoved by Robert’s simple defense. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sheffey. Your application has been fully reviewed and I cannot give you a license to preach.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I have been preaching already,” Robert uttered in disappointment. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“With all due respect, I’m not sure that your wanderings and exhortations over this state and into the border counties of others could be considered ‘preaching.’ They certainly aren’t done with the sanction of the state or any religious body that I know about.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I don’t need the sanction of anyone to proclaim Gods’ lovingkindness,” Robert said. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“No, no one can stop you from being an unlicensed itinerant. And I did not mean to imply that you have done no good. Your kindness to the lowly and the high-bred alike has reached my ears – and I understand that your testimonies are quite eloquent. Mr. Sheffey, if you got the recommendation of the Holston Conference on Methodism or the bishop perhaps -.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I need no recommendation to speak what is in my heart,” Robert interrupted. He thanked the elder and walked from the room. -Jess Carr's Saint of the Wilderness[/SIZE]

The blood of trees is something called sap.

davidnelson said:

Cursed are those who follow their hearts.
"the heart is evil and desperately wicked; who can understand it?"

Click to expand...

I would spend some time studying a man before issuing such a statement.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. - Matthew 10:29

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? - Luke 12:6

I do not believe that the animals depart this world without the heavenly father. What becomes of them I know not. But there is a difference between man and all other forms of life here on earth.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: - Hebrews 9:27

Mankind will have to stand before God in judgement, the rest of the creation will not.

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. - Romans 14:10-11

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. - 2 Corinthians 5:10