Faith

What is my purpose?

PASTOR’S CORNER, Tyler Prater, Fellowship Baptist Church

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I here?” It’s one of the oldest and most profound questions a person can ask, and yet it comes to us in surprisingly ordinary moments. Sitting in traffic. Graduating from school. Walking out of a funeral. Waking up to the same routine and wondering, “Is this really all there is?” Whether we admit it out loud or not, this question lives deep within every human heart: What is my purpose?

Why my tomatoes won’t grow – Part 4

PASTOR’S CORNER, Pat Mann, President of Good Samaritan Auxiliary

Colossians 2:7 TLB "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done."

The soil is really important. The part of the plant that we don’t see under the ground is as important as the part above ground.

Why my tomatoes won’t grow – Part 3

PASTOR’S CORNER, Pat Mann, President of Good Samaritan Auxiliary

I figured there were at least two problems.

(1 ) The pots are still too small. I should plant them in the ground - plenty of soil - instead of pots.

(2) I have large trees that block the sunlight, giving the plants only a few hours of good sunlight. So, now I know that I need a better place to plant tomatoes. The shade was not a good place.

Why my tomatoes won’t grow – Part 2

PASTOR’S CORNER, Pat Mann, President of Good Samaritan Auxiliary

After the failure of the first try, I decided to do better. I got pots this time. That way, I can plant them earlier, and if we have a storm or a late freeze, I can just move them into the shed until the threat of the hail or high winds and cold weather is over. I, in fact, did move them in one day because we were expecting a late freeze. Then I set them back out. I could also move them into areas that had more sunshine as the shaded areas changed throughout the day. Had some blooms that year, but no tomatoes. Hmmmm!

Why my tomatoes won’t grow – Part 1

PASTOR’S CORNER, Pat Mann, President of Good Samaritan Auxiliary

John 15: 1-2 says “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away, and He cleanses and prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.”

My mother was good at gardening. Maybe some of you, by necessity, enjoyed food that your family planted, ate fresh, and canned for winter use. We didn’t know how good we had it. So much more delicious than eating the packaged, non-nutritious, but convenient, foods from the super market today. Those who plant gardens today do not do it so much out of necessity now, but because it tastes so good and for the sheer pleasure of growing things. We like to put something in the ground, watch it grow, and finally get to eat it, and share some with friends.