This Spring the Garden is going to learn to live in to ten words that God gave us to live by together.  Fred and Ali introduce in this episode how we're invited into lawfulness, how rules actually enable relationships, and what the overall hope for this quarter is. We hope you enjoy this conversation and begin to build an understanding of what it is to live in to God-honoring lawfulness as we look to deepen our relationship with him. Come hang out with us on Tuesday nights at 7PM for the full conversation on Zoom HERE. Follow the Garden on Instagram @thegardenbellingham     

The Garden's very own "Ted-Talk" Taylor Costin talks with Fred and Ali in this episode about what he's been learning about being rooted and formed in faith. He invites us into how journaling, Scripture and prayer have grounded him as he navigated big life changes this last year including graduation, a post-grad job, and getting engaged... all in the midst of the pandemic. We hope you enjoy this conversation with our good friend as he leads us in learning about some key faith and business leadership lessons that you didn't know you needed but definitely do, including why everyone needs a red circle Ted Talk rug to-go.  Connect with Taylor on instagram at @tcostin3 for more business tips and quality conversation.   

TL;DR Recap of The Garden March 9 Gathering - Formed for Good Work Special episode and old friend alert! This week, good friend of the Garden, Evan Bryant leads us in conversation about what it means to be formed for Good Work. He offers a new perspective of striving to live IN Christ rather than living LIKE Christ, and the true freedom that God offers in our lives. As a bonus, hear about some social-distanced summer camp dance parties that you'll want to be a part of this next summer.  Join us on Tuesday nights for the full conversation at 7pm on Zoom HERE.  

TL;DR Recap of The Garden March 2 Gathering- Formed By Praxis  This week at the Garden Fred lead the community through 9 Spiritual Pathways (by Gary Thomas) that are daily practices, or praxis, to experience God. In this TL;DR recap episode, Ali and Fred talk about why Steph Curry shoots thousands of 3-pointers a day and how that relates to God forming each of us in practice, and not just in the game.  Join us on Tuesday nights for the full conversation at 7pm on Zoom HERE.

In this week's episode, Fred and Ali recap what we've been learning about being Rooted and Formed in faith this quarter so far. We've been shaken this last year and found ourselves asking big questions of God. This quarter the Garden is invited into deeper exploration of our faiths to grow deeper and more rooted in our understanding and relationship with Christ. Whether you've been around every week this quarter and need a refresh, or haven't been able to come to weekly gatherings, this episode will catch you up to speed about why we look to Scripture for gospel stories, how they form our own personal faiths, and how our faith is rooted in Christ but formed in relationship.  We hope you're encouraged by this conversation and find assurance in God meeting you right now wherever you're at in your faith story.  Join us on Tuesday nights for more conversations about being Rooted and Formed at 7pm on Zoom HERE  and in our bio on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegardenbellingham/     

TL;DR Recap of February 16 Tuesday Night Gathering | Formed by Scripture Welcome to our first ever TL;DR (too long, didn't read) episode of the Garden Podcast! Listen as Fred and Ali recap this week's Tuesday night conversation about how Scripture helps us be deeply rooted in Christ and be continually formed by Him. Also, in case you missed it on Tuesday, we talked a lot about eggs...and learned that none of us actually know how to cook them. Important egg talk.  Join us on Tuesday nights for the full conversation at 7pm on Zoom HERE. Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers us an invitation in rethinking the way that we approach and receive scripture: “The Word of Scripture should never stop sounding in your ears and working in you all day long, just like the words of someone you love. And just as you do not analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did. That is all… Do not ask ‘How shall I pass this on?’ but ‘What does it say to me?’ Then ponder this word long in your heart until it has gone right into you and taken possession of you.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer - (Life Together) Two Ways of Engaging with Scripture:   Lectio Divina - “Sacred” or “divine” reading to slow ourselves down to receive the Scripture Inductive Study - Read and Ask: What is this passage about? What does this say about what it's about?   References for a deeper dive into the question: "What is the Bible about, and why/how should I read it?" The Drama of Scripture by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen https://www.amazon.com/Drama-Scripture-Finding-Place-Biblical/dp/0801049563 Eat this Book by Eugene Peterson https://www.amazon.com/Eat-This-Book-Conversation-Spiritual/dp/0802864902 The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Parakeet-2nd-Rethinking-Bible/dp/0310538920/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UQQL1MY4KF22&dchild=1&keywords=the+blue+parakeet&qid=1613519368&s=books&sprefix=the+blue+parak%2Cstripbooks%2C449&sr=1-1 How the Bible (Actually) Works by Pete Enns https://www.amazon.com/How-Bible-Actually-Works-Answers_and/dp/0062686755/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=peter+enns&qid=1613519408&s=books&sr=1-1 Inspired by Rachel Held Evans https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Slaying-Giants-Walking-Loving/dp/0718022319/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1613519445&sr=1-1-spons The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight https://www.amazon.com/Eat-This-Book-Conversation-Spiritual/dp/0802864902

We're back! We're so excited to relaunch the Garden podcast this quarter. This teaser episode introduces what's new this time as Fred and new co-host Ali Raetz talk about what's coming up on the podcast. We'll be focusing on the "Rooted and Formed" theme on Tuesday nights on Zoom as a community and now on the podcast with TL:DR recap episodes and interviews with friends of the Garden. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Fred and Ali as we map out what's coming up soon. 

This bonus episode is the audio from an impromptu Facebook Live video that Fred did on Saturday, May 23rd.

May 10 - 17 | We Are Not Brains on a Stick This week's episode features a conversation that Fred and Sydney had with Garret Shelsta and Geoff Mumley about what it means to Seek the Kingdom, specifically during a pandemic. It's a huge topic, and they both offer deep yet accessible ideas for all of us who are curious about what it all could mean. Garret Shelsta is the pastor of Ekklesia, a young adult ministry in Bellingham. Garret and his wife Aubrey have four young kids, a big white dog named Atreyu, and a Kendrick Lamar-style minivan. Geoff Mumley is the director of Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF), a campus ministry at WWU. Geoff and his wife Jessica have three kids, three younger brothers, and a younger sister Fred briefly dated 10 years ago. In this episode, Garret and Geoff explore what it means in the big picture to be a part of any kingdom, what it could look like to move beyond a gnostic-influenced approach to Christian community, and how Edgar Martinez' chronic eye disease invites us to see the inverted small work of the kingdom of Jesus. Prompts: 1.) What are your key takeaways/stand-out moments from listening to this episode? 2.) What is confusing or challenging about the idea of "seeking the kingdom?" 3.) "Zoom in" on something small that looks like the kingdom. A small act, something said or written, something small that makes a big difference. Maybe participate in On Earth Service Day on Saturday and look for God in the small work. Contact Garret: @gshelsta Contact Geoff by email

This week's episode may be a little longer than usual, but only because there was just no way we could leave out any of this great conversation with two people who care deeply about our community leaning in to Imagining a Hopeful Future while Resting in God's Presence. Lindsay Anderson, MA, LMHCA, is a Mental Health Specialist for Children and Families in the Nooksack Valley School District, served on Inn staff for a combined 8 years, is married to Kyle, and they have two awesome kids, Rory and Max. Lindsay is also a Practicum Facilitator for The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, supporting first-year Masters students as they begin their post-graduate education journey. Reverend Seth Thomas, MDiv, is the Pastor at St. James Presbyterian Church in Bellingham, served on Inn staff for 7 years, is married to Stacy, and they have an awesome son, Asher. In this episode, Lindsay and Seth offer many invitations for the Garden to be authentic in our experience of shelter-in-place, to find hope for the future in remembering God's faithfulness in our past, and to rest in God's presence by reclaiming what we may have lost in the shuffle of "growing up." We know you'll be encouraged and blessed by what these two have to offer this week. Prompts: 1.) What are your key takeaways/stand-out moments from listening to this episode? 2.) Remember: when was a time in your life you can remember God was faithful to you? 3.) Reclaim: what's something that gives you joy that you could pick back up again? Practices: 1.) Do something this week that gives you true joy and laughter. 2.) Reach out to someone who may be missing you this week. Contact Lindsay: Email Lindsay or add her on Facebook Contact Seth: Email Seth, add him on Facebook, and check out St. James Presbyterian Church. The Slap of the Week: American Privilege by Allen Stone