Dear EM family,
Greetings. I pray that this email finds you well physically and spiritually.
The following picture shows the Common Purslane, also known as pigweed, little hogweed, or fatweed. According to Healthline, the pigweed is not only edible, but it is also actually very nutritious!
Purslane is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. 93% of the plant is made of water. But Purslane appears to be toxic for cats and dogs.
Purslane is considered a “weed.” It is invasive; it has a prostrate stem that grows and spreads fast.
The picture shows the Common Purslanes grow in my garden; you probably cannot see the tomato plants and vegetables I grow underneath.
To save my tomato plants and other emerging vegetables, I have to get rid of the Common Purslanes.
But I can’t… yet! The Purslane has a large taproot that spreads underneath, if I pull them out while my vegetables and plants are still small, pulling Purslanes will likely also pull out the plants I want.
I have to wait a little longer until the vegetables are taller, and their roots are stronger enough. I cannot let the Purslanes coexist with my vegetables, either as they occupy the ground and eat away the nutrients and water in the soil.
This experience reminds me of the parable of “the Wheat and the Weed:”
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?
29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”
(Matthew 13:24-30, ESV)
Wait! Here Jesus said, do not pull out the weeds until the harvest time. So should I leave the Purslanes along with my vegetables? The Purslanes are likely to choke and wither my vegetables before harvest.
I am glad that in the Scripture, Jesus provided a reason behind his instruction, “lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ” (Matthew 13:29b, ESV)
My concern of not rooting out Purslanes in the early growth is right, and my action of rooting out Purslanes in later days is also right. The seem-to-be conflicting argument is because they apply to different circumstances.
There are many lessons we can learn from the message; however, I’d like to share just one with you today: “generalization is a dangerous slipping slope.”
This year is an election year. All candidates will rise and attack his/her opponents with tactics. Plus, the recent movement around the country; one of the tactics used is “generalization.”
Be discerning! God, Himself said to Prophet Samuel,
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
(Proverbs 16:2)
21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
(Psalm 44:21)
Ask Him for wisdom to discern before any of your actions. May God bless those who earnestly seek Him.
Announcement:
- Friday Night’s Bible Study will continue to study the book of Romans. You may dial in or login via your phone or personal computer:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Dial-in from your phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
- This Sunday, Elder Same will be sharing God’s word with us:
- Live stream Youtube: http://cbcgl.org/resources/live-stream/
- Title: The Tabernacle of the Most High
- Text: Psalm 46 (ESV).
- Coworker reminder:
- Sunday bulletin: http://cbcgl.org/ministries/english-ministry/em-weekly-bulletin/
- EM Sunday School
Topic: CBCGL EM Sunday Class “52 Major Stories of the Bible” (9:45 am – 11:00 am):
Join Zoom Meeting (Note the different link)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Dial-in from your phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
YAs Sunday School (via Microsoft Teams)
YAs Sunday School signup sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H0oSS1kpU8JUZAv0JcmivEIzR-tvDtihkrEtBLE8tJo/edit?usp=sharing
- English Ministry will host CBCGL Alpha Online starting on September 8 (Tuesday) from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Please invite your friends and family to join the Alpha Online course. Contact: Marina Lam (Email: marina.lam@lowell.church)
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Signup for CBCGL Alpha Online! https://patch.com/massachusetts/chelmsford/signup-free-cbcgl-alpha-online-nodx |
Alpha is a chance to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal online environment:
Join us for a great conversation with others who are exploring life and faith; no strings attached.
Start Date: September 8
Day & Time: Tuesday, 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Agenda:
* Alpha Talk Video (30min)
* Discussion (30min)
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87968510141?pwd=cDBaQ2lESEl5TDBQUFh2dy93amtLUT09
Meeting ID: 879 6851 0141
Password: 092895
Contact: Marina Lam
Email: marina.lam@lowell.church
Google voice phone: (201) 824-2922
- Massachusetts will be entering phase 3 of the reopening plan as of Monday (07/06/2020). Returning to church plan is tentatively laid out as follows:
The move of this plan depends on the reopening guideline from the Massachusetts governor office. Any activities conducted on church premises shall require permission from the Pastoral/Elder team.
Any questions, please contact Elder Raymond Xie or Deacon Tony Ge.
- Chinese QR Code for 2020-2021 Registration form:
- All other announcement items can be found here.
Prayer Request:
- Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:45 pm – 9:15 pm)
Zoom Meeting: