Crossroads Church
a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church
3815 S. Dutch Mill Road Madison, WI 53718-6805 (608) 222-1159 Fax (608) 222-2755
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Christians passionately dedicated to impacting our world with God’s love, one person at a time.
Vicki and I love tomatoes. There isn’t anything like a BLT in the summer with fresh tomatoes. I was dreaming of a BLT this spring when I took the plants out of their small pots and transplanted them into good soil near our waterscape in the back yard. I put up stakes and supports for the plants.
A few weeks before we left on vacation I spent some time pulling the weeds that seem to grow a foot every day, excited about the yellow flowers that were on the plants.
I checked our tomato plants earlier this week. They aren’t doing so hot. You may be able to find some small green tomatoes if you can get through the weeds. If you do find one, be careful. You don’t want to be pricked by the raspberry and blackberry canes overtaking some of the area.
When it comes to gardens I tend to live in a fantasy world. Every time I plant some vegetable plant I have high ideals about taking good care of the garden. I imagine coming out daily to check for weeds. Every year I believe this year things will be better, and I will get good production even though I really don’t have a clue about tending tomato plants (or raspberry and blackberry plants).
By the time the plants have grown to twice their starting height, I’ve forgotten about my commitments, and I can hear the weeds taunting me every time I step out the patio door.
By this time in the summer, I’m thinking it is time to go to the farmer’s market and pay someone else for their hard work. I’m not ready to give up the delicious BLT. I’ve simply accepted the reality that our tomatoes may not make it out of captivity this summer.
The apostle James describes what we are like when we take my gardening behavior and apply it to God’s Word. James warns us that if we take this same “plant it and leave it alone” approach to the Christian life we end up with worthless religion. If we aren’t willing to discipline ourselves we end up with content-less faith – not even worth the time to describe it. He writes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 2.22-24
I checked our tomato plants this week, and God used it to remind me of the importance of regular study and diligent application of His Word for my life. It was a “private” reminder that if I become sloppy in the reading, study and application of God’s Word, I will lose the joy of life.
Stunted green tomatoes may be tolerable in my life. An empty religion is not.
It’s amazing what one can learn from tomatoes (or the lack thereof)!
Sunday Service
Please join us for Worship at 9:30 a.m. We continue our new study of James. This week we will check out what makes religion/faith worth having. I look forward to seeing you! Our Bible reading will be from James 1.19-27. Make worship a priority this week – someone is depending on you to share this worship time with them!
Our offering this month will be for The Gideons- The Gideons International, founded in 1899, serves as an extended missionary arm of the church and is the oldest association of Christian businessmen and professional men in the United States of America. It's been just over 100 years since The Gideons International placed the first Bible in a hotel room in Montana. Today, The Gideons are organized in more than 190 countries around the globe. Bibles and New Testaments are printed for distribution by The Gideons in more than 90 languages. Through God's grace and to His Glory, more than 1.6 billion Bibles and New Testaments have been placed by The Gideons.
Have a wonderful Weekend! Enjoy the gifts God has given you. Honor Him in all you do, and I look forward to seeing you Sunday!!
May Jesus' love be your strength.
Pastor Doug