Love your neighbor is not an Ideal, it's a Commandment

The following is a story I received in an E-Mail forward from my Oil Painting Teacher Joan. I really enjoyed the simplicity of the message... Sorry in advance for the length.

Carl's Garden
Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much.
He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake.
Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could
really say they knew him very well.
Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone
sight of him walking down the street often worried us.
He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII.
Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not
make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its
ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.
When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for
caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in
his characteristically unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed
up
He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared
finally happened.
He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members
approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply
asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?"
The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah, sure," with
a malevolent little smile.
As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm,
throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing
everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and
his wallet, and then fled.
Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad
leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running
to help him.
Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, hecouldn't get there fast enough to stop it.
"Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he
helped Carl to his feet.
Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head.
"Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday."
His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the
hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.
Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you
doing?"
"I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately," came the
calm reply.
Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could
only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.
A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was
unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose.
This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand
and drenched him head to foot in the icy water.
When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off
down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another
laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done.
Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun,
picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.
The summer was quickly fading into fall Carl was doing some tilling
when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He
stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches.
As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader
of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for
the expected attack.
"Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time."
The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred
hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag
from his pocket and handed it to Carl.
"what's this?" Carl asked.
"It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back.
Even the money in your wallet."
"I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?"
The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I
learned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt
people like you We picked you because you were old and we knew we could
do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of
yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink.You didn't hate
us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate." He stopped
for a moment. "I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is
back."
He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was
to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I
guess." And with that, he walked off down the street.
Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He
took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his
wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the
young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.
He died one cold day after Christmas that winter.
Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather.
In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know
sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.
The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life.
In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make
your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his
garden."
The following spring another flyer went up. It read:
"Person needed to care for Carl's garden."
The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a
knock was heard at the minister's office door.
Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands
holding the flyer. "I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young
man said.
The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the
stolen watch and wallet to Carl.
He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the
minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take
care of Carl's garden and honor him."
The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the
flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done.
In that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent
member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory
and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.
One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't
care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy
smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him
home on Saturday."
"Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden
shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?"
"Carl," he replied.
That's the whole gospel message simply stated.

After reading this .... I thought of all of the recent talks, videos, and books on the "World's View on Christians and Christianity". If were just to do as we are COMMANDED and Love our Neighbor, people would stop thinking of Christians as judgemental, hypocrates etc. Maybe that's why it's a commamdment.... maybe that's why love is the most importnat message in the Bible... because it (love) really works.

Amazing Memory Artist

It's about 5 minutes long but this guy is amazing...

End of the day...

When my 7 year old neice Sydney was just 2 or 3 we used to read her this book."Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good very bad day"
I feel like that is how I started off my day. I knew I was consciously crabby but couldn't and sort of refused to whoosh away the black cloud (I pretty much created myself).
In the end, things sort of started to work out. Lunch with grandma was good, she always gets a BLT no Lettuce, I always get a Club no Mayo and take off the tomatoes myself.
My consult was initially dissapointing, it's really just some patch work which I knew going in. I asked God to use me to serve others with what I do. This is exactly that, he reminded me on my way home. I feel good about it. I am definately going back next week to do that, so I am happy.
But... most importantly......... I FOUND MY HAIRBRUSH!!!!! That's what really got me started off on the wrong foot in the first place. (Stupid isn't it?)
So next time I'll just look harder, be happy with God's blessings, Whoosh harder at that stupid black cloud, and ask God if there is any way he could use me to serve others on a HUGE Commercial job. Scratch that last one I am just kidding... sort of.

...

Today I will pretty much be running around all day...
I'm picking up my grandma at 11:30... we'll go for lunch. We always have a nice time. We were supposed to go a couple weeks ago but she had to get 2 teeth pulled in the morning... then we were supposed to go last monday for dinner but it was too snowy!
At 1:30 I have a new client consultation in downer's grove. Normally I am a lot more excited... however I have had more than a healthy handful since the beginning of the year. I started getting strict about a consult fee after I didn't get the first few. I just get frustrated... I put so much time and energy into coming up with a plan for someone... not to mention the gas I have to buy! I really try to stay competitive too... I don't know... I know the economy is tight... I try not to get frustrated... I guess I just wish I knew... if this is not what I am supposed to be doing. Than WHAT is?
Anyway then I have to go back to Roselle and seal my mom's floor. I finished the "flagstone"... then I will start plastering the walls. I know she'll be excited to have everything done before she gets back from arizona.
At 6 I have a dinner-meeting with some peers of mine. We're just going to talk about business and how we can better advertise and further our services.
So I guess it's time to hop in the shower, load up the car and get going! I really hope something materializes.
Tomorrow I finish the final project at a model home in Lockport... Here area couple pics

GO AWAY!!!

Go away winter
Go away cold
Go away snow
I like it when you come
Buy you always stay too long!
GO AWAY!!!

Christianity

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6)

The primary reason that Jesus is the only way to God is that He forgives sin and offers eternal life, (John 10:28) something that the founder of no other major religion has claimed to do. Think about that!

-www.greatcom.org

Why is it so hard to explain these 2 concepts to the ones we love. Does anyone else struggle with this? How can you argue with the bible? I think half of the battle is being brave and bold enough for God to actually try and approach the subject.

God please give me the courage to fight for you.

Wake Up Cat

I know I have already shared this with many of my friends on E-Mail. It's still one of my favorites and makes me laugh EVERYTIME. This is kinda what it's really like to have cats try to wake you up. (Especially Lily).

No title

I thought I skated out of it but I am now feeling a scratchy throat and slightly swollen glands... Hopefully that's as far as it goes... I should have been taking vitamins while I was telling everyone else to.
Today I have a bunch of odds and ends.... another part of this never ending painting roller coaster. How 'bout some consistency here? Uh-oh be careful what you ask for. Whenever I ask for more... I get too much... when I ask for less... everything comes to a screeching hault.
I have a meeting tonight.... I need to do some preparation for... there are so many options...
God, show me where you want me to go.... where will I serve you best?

* WR * 2008 *

What an amazing weekend! Along with all of the laughter and SHOUTING...(GO brown, red and green!) everyone had great opportunities to connect with God and with eachother and my hope is that we all took advantage that time. I definately felt God's presence among us, and I am constantly amazed at what a gift he has given us just by putting all 50 or so of us together!
That's something I wish for each and every one of us to reflect upon!
When I was in Jr and Sr High School, the church I grew up in did not have a very strong youth program AT ALL. Some years we would have a leader, some years not. When there were events planned there was hardly any show. Infact, one year there was NOTHING planned at all... I talked to my parents and we organized a trip to a soup kitchen. Along with me and my parents 2 other students came. This was in a church 3x the size of or larger than the size of Stone Church.
Think about what's happening in other churches... then think about the other 80% + that don't even go to church... people that don't even talk about God in their homes... or may even be afraid to.
Whether you are a part of the CREW because it's your idea or your parent's idea.... it is an honor and a priveledge. God hand-picked each and everyone of us and placed him/her/I with this group of people for a reason. I have never felt so much love in any one group than I feel with you guys, especially with young people! You guys have an amazing ability to see past eachother's differences and flaws and accecpt and love eachother. That is absolutely unheard of in so many groups of teenagers and adults for that matter. I challenge all of you to take that love you have for eachother with you to all people you encounter.
What I am trying to say is that being part of this group is not by chance, it is not a mistake. It is a blessing and it is part of a plan. Let's show the world who we are. Let's take all of our different gifts and the power that God has given us and change the world! Let's start a revolution!.... I really believe we can and I really believe that is what we are being called to do.

To My Valentine...

You are my best friend... you support every thing I want to do... wheather I succeed or not. You love me unconditionally... you put up with me. We take road trips togehter... we love to adventure and explore... and laugh alot. I love saturday mornings where we can be lazy and push each other around and laugh alot! You have been there with me and for me and my family during rough times. You always jump in with both feet when you are needed.. no hesitation when it's time to care for the sick and dying... grandpa and dad... you knew how much I loved them and you loved them too.

You say yes to God and yearn to grow closer to him everyday.

We keep eachother on track... most of the time :)

You never disrespect me, you always make me feel like me and my time are valuable even when I disagree.

Thank you! Happy Valentines Day!!!

PS Lily is insisting that I tell you Happy V-Day from Her and Iris!!! :o :O :o meeooooow

Something to chew on...

A friend of mind gifted me with a book yesterday. I would like to share with you the first reading. I believe I will let this soak in throughout the day...

Ads and marketing people will tell you that you are your stuff. You are what you drive. You are what you wear. You are the number on the bottom of your bank statement.

Your conscience will tell you that you are your past. You are the sum of your choices, many of them wrong ones with difficult consequences.

Your mind will tell you that you are your fears. You are the sum of your worries about the future and if you just think about it enough, surely you can figure it you and short-circut the impending disaster.

But Jesus said that real life is none of these things

You are not your stuff

You are not your past

You are not your fears.

You are someone He loves unconditionally, someone He sacrificed His own life for, someone who matters very much to Him and to the people in your scope of influence. No matter what you have or don't have, no matter what unknowns stretch out before you, you can know this: God loves you so much and He longs to make Himself at home in your life.
Will you let Him?

When you experience his love and forgiveness, you will begin to understand what it mens to be a person sho has nothing to lose, nothing to prove, and nothing to hide.
That's real fredom.
That's real life.

-Women of Faith, "Fancy Free"
-Anita Renfroe "The Purpose Driven Life"

I can be told every day how much God loves me. Somedays it feels so good. Some days I just can't grasp it no matter how much I want to. Today, when I read this I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. The way it is phrased and the context in this reading really spoke to me so I thought I'd share.

Friday Night

While Mike was busy with homework last night... I created a little project for myself Decorating cupckes!! Nerdy I know...

Then I went to that Oceanic Airlines website. When I got to John Locke's seat It scared me... I jumped and screamed. Mike had to come upstairs to my rescue. Probably even MORE nerdy...

Today I have some work to do... but more importantly I need to do some cleaning...

Then I will be bringing my lovely valentines day cupcakes to a christmas party at 4pm :)

I also have to say... I love FOX News.... 2 debates this morning... is Walmart's lowering of prices to stimulate the economy going to hurt the economy...ha ha ha ha... the arguments were great!

Also... How is the greater tax on Video Games going to lower the obesity problem... Hilarious... are we really THAT dumb?