Fig Trees and Appendectomies

A sermon on the parable of the fig tree by Clay Nelson looks at whether or not religion has outlived it's evolutionary usefulness. Asking questions about whether or not we are hardwited to believe in God, are we still responsible for those beliefs and whether or not they further the common good. "Since last I was in the pulpit, many of you know I was the victim of imperfect evolution. The night after preaching about being driven unexpectedly into the wilderness I suffered an attack of appendicitis. That Tuesday, this useless organ left over from an earlier stage in human evolution was removed before it removed me from the gene pool. As a final irony, during my recovery I checked out the Gospel I would be preaching on next. I laughed out loud (which I don't recommend with stitches in your belly) when I saw it was the parable of the fig tree. I quickly identified with the tree that was given a reprieve. The tree would be given another chance to fulfill it calling to produce figs but not before it had been pruned and fertilized. I am personally taking note of my opportunity." Full text available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/?sid=327&id=711.