The Apple of Sodom By: Zach Collins The 60th Kentucky Apple Festival is upon us. For those of you who do not know what I am referencing, it is an annual festival that takes place in my hometown, Paintsville, KY. It was created to showcase the best apples grown by local farmers, but because of a successful farmer’s market, it grew into a local festival that occupies our small town once a year. Due to lack of production, not many apple products are sold anymore, but those that still line the streets of downtown Paintsville each year are savory and tasty, bringing to your remembrance great memories of the past and a taste of what once was.  The Bible often uses common items, in nature and everyday life, to teach biblical stories. In the parabolic ministry of Jesus, he used families, mustard seeds, vineyards, farming, and fishing, among others. The Apostle Paul was also quite fond of illustrations, using everyday occurrences such as the Olympics, exercise, boxing, and racing to illustrate his inspired revelations. However, sometimes, we run across items in nature that beg to be used as cautionary tales of the consequences that come into our lives by a simple decision.  It is called the Calotropis Procera, otherwise known as, the “Apple of Sodom.” Its tree appears spiny and flowery. It springs forth as a healthy tree amid dry land. Once bloomed, a beautiful fruit begins to appear on its branches. While the fruit is referenced as an “apple”, it …