Tomatoes: The Legend of Louie

A personal story shared by one of Christ The Rock’s master gardeners, Tammy Borden.

I confess, I’m not much of a vegetable gardener.  I much prefer the delicate beauty of flowers and using them to design a stunning landscape.  For some reason, a pepper plant swaying in the breeze doesn’t bring me the same delight as that of the tender blossom of a bleeding heart or daffodil.

But then there is the tomato… Yes, I know, to the true botanists out there it’s not technically a vegetable, but a fruit.  Although, in 1887, the U.S. Supreme Court did apparently rule that it was indeed a vegetable. So legally, it seems, the tomato is not a fruit. Ah, but I digress.

For me, it’s not the most attractive of garden plants, so that’s not why I cherish it so much.  And it’s not so much that I even like the taste of tomatoes.  I would much prefer a freshly pulled carrot after wiping the dirt off on my sleeve, or those sweet sugar snap peas plucked right from the vine.  Yes, my love of the tomato runs deeper than my taste buds.  My love of the tomato is because of love itself.

Initiate Forgiveness

Matt. 18:21-22 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?” Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

Personal forgiveness is a choice. In rabbinic discussion the consensus was that a brother might be forgiven a repeated sin three times; on the fourth, there is no forgiveness. Peter, thinking himself big-hearted, volunteers “seven times” in answer to his own question. Jesus raises the bar. All of us have been forgive far more than we will ever have to forgive.

Keep Free from all Greed

Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain will lead to some form of bondage and death. Life, goodness, peace, and joy are found in Jesus, when we follow Him and His ways. Don’t seek to be rich in this world, seek to be rich in your relationship with God.

Luke 12:32-34 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Meetings—I can’t stand one more!

Is. 1:13-17    “Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way.

No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.

 

 

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language

This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.

Version 1.2

 

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson.

 

Compassion Gardens have begun!

Posted by Patty Dempsey

Our Campus Garden planting team digs in.

What a great morning we had planting our brand new Campus Garden!  On Saturday, May 30th, fifteen people (some not shown in picture)  joined together to help plant our 30×50 foot Campus Garden. Our vision for the garden is to invite anyone in our church to help.  As food becomes ready to harvest, we openly invite you to take some of the food if you need it, take some to give to a family you know who could use it, or help bring the rest to a local food pantry.  If you don’t have your own garden or simply want to work together on a garden with other people, here’s your chance.

Planting takes planning!

Last Saturday on our planting day, even in the on and off drizzle we had a lot of fun.  It was especially exciting to hear people connect through their own garden stories and sharing of garden tips.

We had beginners working alongside experienced gardeners, and everyone got down and dirty in the mud!

Gardening is for the shoe-hardiest among us!

The Campus Garden is just one of the gardens in our new ministry called Compassion Gardens.  If you’ve seen the grounds of our church lately, you have noticed the transformation that has been taking place not only with the Campus Garden, but the Hmong Gardens as well. 

Work It Out

Matt. 18:15-16   “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.

If I am a true follower of Jesus, then my top priority in life is the Glory of God. This will be manifested in how I relate with people. Jesus gives us here a tool to resolve conflict. First I must go to the person who has sinned or offended me in a spirit of humility and gentleness. Don’t go to others to discuss it or even to pray about it; go personally, one-on-one to the one who hurt you. Most issues and misunderstandings can be resolved in this way. Sometimes the person who has hurt you just doesn’t get it and you need to bring in some help, but only after you have tried alone. Being in right relationship with one another is paramount in the Kingdom of God. For more information on conflict resolution, visit, http://www.peacemaker.net

Don’t Despise These Little Ones

Matt. 18:10   “Beware that you don’t despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. 

Do you look down on those who are weaker than you or are you moved by love and compassion to meet the needs of children. As followers of Jesus we are taught to care for those who are oppressed, advocate for the those who are forgotten or who don’t have a voice. If we see them as a problem or nuisance and don’t properly identify with them, we are no better than the unbeliever. In fact, many unbelievers show more care and compassion for the those in need than the so called “Christians”. Do you despise those who are different than you or are you reaching out with the truth and love of Jesus to build relationships, be Christ to them and share the Good News of the Kingdom of God?

Coming May 12: “God’s Equation for Joy”

Posted by Susan Campbell, CTR Sisterhood

We have had four great CTR Sisterhood events and are praying that our fifth and final event before summer break is one that will encourage women to reach farther in their families and communities.  Our guest speaker fits that bill perfectly!

Margo Feiseler came to mind for two reasons:  1. She came highly recommended by many people.  2. She is very involved in her community and works diligently on behalf of the poor.

Then I spoke with her, and that sealed it.

Margo is very dynamic.  She is deeply passionate about life and especially about women and their walk with Christ.  She loves to laugh and bring the JOY of Christ into daily conversations.  It just flows out of her!

I sense that our entire Sisterhood  will immediately connect with Margo and her vast life experiences. Plus, she loves our Sisterhood theme and our outreach this ministry has to offer the women of Christ The Rock.

On May 12 she’ll share how she came to know the Lord in her early 30’s and has had to learn to be content in Jesus…and she’ll motivate us to do the same.   There is Joy in this Journey of womenhood and sometimes we need the encouragement and motivation to keep walking with faith.  Margo will give us some tools to journey on!

I hope you’ll come. And I think you’ll leave the event feeling blessed and feeling prepared to bless others. Register online at christtherock.org/sisterhood.

CTR Reaches Farther at Double Portion

We just received a wonderful letter from one of our Community partners who came to our reaching farther challenge weekend a few weekends ago, and we wanted to share it with you:

Dear Christ The Rock,

           Participating in the Reaching Farther Challenge Weekend was an uplifting experience for everyone from Double Portion. Everyone who worked at the booth was overflowing with enthusiasm and joy in describing their experiences. They talked about being blessed by the church service with the understanding gained from the goats and sitting on the floor, and they were touched and gained insight by visiting the booths of other missions. Everyone considered it a blessing to be a part of the Reaching Farther Challenge Weekend.

          The connections and relationships made at the booth have breathed a new life into Double Portion. Our volunteers who met the “Rockers”, as they called themselves, were impressed that those who came to the booth didn’t have to be persuaded to serve the needy.

OAKS spreads its branches

“As she stood in what was left of her belongings after the fire had destroyed everything, she made the statement that the Lord had impressed on her heart recently not to hold on to the things of this world too tightly. Wow! Was that ever true in one of the most heart wrenching attempts to help a husband and wife who had just lost it all.”

Stories like this one are an incredible reminder not only of how change can happen in an instant, but also that we are all called to help when one of our neighbors is in the midst of a storm. Or in this case, a fire.

This is just one of many stories you’ll find on the new OAKS page, as our Organized Acts of Kindness and Sacrifice ministry spreads its branches and unites its volunteers with our CTR Body online. The new site is in its infancy, and will eventually allow you to click on a calendar so you can see the needs and opportuntities to help people right in your own neighborhood or community.