It Begins in a Garden

Reading Scripture while growing a garden seems like there is only one logical place to begin. After all the story of God's relationship with humanity begins in a garden. Imagine the beauty of God's perfect garden. I've seen some nice gardens. We have a place near us called Longwood Gardens. It's beautiful with something different in each season, but I know it's not perfect like God's garden.

I always assumed that work came after the Fall. That Adam and Eve just enjoyed the garden without having to do anything. But Genesis 2:15 says, "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." So even before the Fall man did work. After the Fall God explains that now they will toil and sweat to work the land. Work in and of itself is a good thing. I'll try and remember that when I'm sweating this Summer or my back hurts from pushing the wheel barrow filled with dirt or mulch all over the yard.

Why does it start in a garden? Why not a city of people where God can enjoy the company of many? Why in a garden? It occurs to me that life happens much slower in a garden. A garden requires patience and time. You can't be in a hurry with a garden. On the other hand, cities are busy. There's always something happening; always places to run and things to do. My life tends to be more like a city. I feel like there's always something to get done. There's something at the church going on. Some family event. Bills to pay, errands to run. But God chooses a garden. He walks in the garden and has long conversations with Adam and Eve. There aren't things to rush off to. Just time to spend enjoying the garden and relationship with God.

Lord, You walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. They moved at the pace of a garden, slowly and intentionally. Help me to slow down and take time to spend walking in the garden with You. Thank you for the gifts and abilities to work!

Lesson in Peace

Last night at the Grove we hosted Beatrice Mambula and her parents, Mosa and Sarah, to talk about what is happening to the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN). Currently they are undergoing persecution at the hands of radical fundamentalist Muslims. They shared a number of stories about the persecution. In 2009 several EYN churches were destroyed in fires. They shared that there is again renewed violence against Christian churches, the government and even schools now. Today Christians going to church on Sunday mornings must be patted down and searched before entering the church by armed soldiers. Women are not allowed to carry purses because it is feared they are carrying bombs. They don't even park in their church parking lot anymore. Instead they park in protected parking lots and walk to church. The president of Nigeria has acknowledged that part of this radical sect has infiltrated different sectors of the government agencies and are funded by powerful politicians, banks and outside organizations. The group has set out to destroy Christian churches bearing the cross, the government, Western education and even moderate Muslims who are sympathetic to the persecution of the Christians.

Despite the stories of persecution there were also stories of hope shared. Back in the 80's when the church first went through persecution and 107 churches were burned the church leaders decided to rebuild. As they collected money to rebuild their churches they decided before they rebuilt their churches to rebuild 3 mosques that had been burned by other Christians. The Muslims didn't know how to respond to this. Many were puzzled by this response. Several of these Muslims became Christians and are now involved in missions to Muslim areas. The Mambula's also shared that Christians and Muslims are beginning to work together to overcome this hatred of a a radical sect. Christians go to the Muslim mosques on Friday to protect the Muslims during their time of prayers. Muslims in turn come and protect Christian churches on Sunday mornings. They are working together.

I've talked about pacifism and non-violence before. But it's a lot easier to say when there's nothing that threatens my life. To hear how the EYN is pursuing peace in the midst of persecution is a testimony to their faith and love of Jesus Christ. When you ask if they want to fight and defend themselves, they say, "We're humans. We want to fight back. But we love Jesus and this love will not allow us to fight." Instead they realize as Paul writes in Philippians 1, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." They look forward with expectation to be a part of Christ's kingdom with final peace.

I was very blessed by their presence and to see their faith, hope and love. They continue to work at loving their enemies and turning the other cheek.

Growing Disciples

First of all let me start by saying I am in no way a great gardener. I remember working in our family garden when I was a little kid. I've had a garden the last couple of Summers with varied success at growing different things. We've had our garden as a part of the farmer's field at the house we were renting. It was great ground. We never had to till anything. Last Summer we moved into our own home. So this year I'm trying something different. I'll be building some raised beds for my garden. I'm also trying some different things.

So what's this all about and why I am writing blogs about it? My hope this Summer is to learn more about gardening, but in the process learn more about God. Gardening seems like one of the most natural ways to learn about the Kingdom. After all, it begins with a Garden, Jesus talks about the kingdom being like a seed, harvesting and all kinds of agricultural examples of the Kingdom and faith. This is an exercise in faith hopefully as much as it is an education in gardening.

From my garden I'm hoping to provide my family with good, nutritional food and lower my grocery bill. Hopefully my trash can potatoes will turn out ok. I'd be delighted if I manage to get a few peanuts. And I'm looking forward to making my own salsa from my tomatoes, onions and Jalapeno peppers.

I'm also hoping that my garden can help teach me about patience, cultivating faith, how the Kingdom spreads and more. Over the Summer I'm hoping to post progress on my garden with pictures and some insights and Scripture that I'm coming across that pertain to the garden.

I would encourage your comments and insights along the way.