Sunday’s sermon began with a conversation about gardens. What is required to have a great garden? The foundation begins with good soil. The soil must be tilled and fertilized to nurture what will be planted. A selection of healthy seeds or seedlings is then planted in the soil. Water is essential in the proper amount - not too much, not too little. Regular attention to removing weeds keeps the weeds from choking out the seeds or stealing the nutrients from the growing plants.

And suddenly, the dog days of summer have arrived! We have been blessed with enough rain to raise Lake Buchanan 11 feet (the last report...