Record Of The Seers

In the 20 book series of historical fiction, Lauraine Snelling writes about her Norwegian ancestors immigrating, and farming in the Red River Valley in the Dakota territories. Her stories take place from 1880 to 1905. I'm up to reading book 18 in this series. Her stories are a record of triumph, tragedy, hard work, love, family, and God's faithfulness.

After a three week break from harvesting, we have again gotten the combines out. We are helping a family in Keokuk County harvest their crops. Due to our recent rains, the fields are solid but muddy. Corn moisture has risen 2 to 4 points. Yields and stands are still good.

 

This past Monday was Veterans Day. Mike was invited to Pella Christian Grade School to answer questions from teachers and kids, including Kurt and Emily's Jackson, about his time as a Marine 30 years ago. They took this picture in front of a World War II memorial, where my mother's brother Germ is one of many remembered. Thanks for the picture.

We finished hauling hog manure this past week. We worked on applying NH3 for next years corn crop as the weather allowed. Kasey helped Mike build terraces with Mike's second dozer. BJ and his son John are busy tiling. And Kurt, Ezra, and Elijah chiseled corn stalks on fields going to corn again next year.

When Jan and I were first married I would do custom fall plowing for others. I used a 5 bottom plow, a swath just over 6 ft. At night as I would put the right front tire in the previous furrow, I would huddle down behind my heat houser, trying to stay warm. A heat houser was canvas placed along both sides of the tractor, trying to push heat from the engine compartment back to the driver. You often had to also cover the grill with a feed sack.

Kurt's boys are helping him adjust the leveling baskets up so they don't fill with mud. When our kids were small I had widened the tractor operator platform so they would have a place to stand when they rode in the field with me. Not the safest. I often had small kids on my lap in the seat as they got sleepy. Thanks for the picture Emily.

Mike and Suzanne's Cody had interviews this week at a medical school in Nashville, TN. He is a senior at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa where he plays football. He and his fiancé, Tori, are to be married next summer. Thanks for the picture Suzanne.

If you've ever read the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles in the Bible, you'll find they are a record of a people who immigrated from Egypt to their promised land. The stories, among other things are stories of leaders, battles, failures, triumphs, tragedies, and God's faithfulness. Often when the story ends it will say something like, "As for the rest of the events and acts, they are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel". In Manasseh's story it adds, "Manasseh's prayer, the way God answered him, and an account of all his sins and unfaithfulness are recorded in the Record of the Seers".

So we know the definition of records. What's a seer? A seer was and is one who has wisdom, which is God-given. Someone who read and understood the scriptures. And someone who could discern and understand current events. The Bible often includes prophets in this category. However more in the terms of one who had relationships with people and understood God's faithfulness rather than one who foretold the future.

Last Sunday evening, just before Mom's supper time, we stopped, introduced Mom to her great-great-granddaughter Oakley, and took a 5 generation picture. If Oakley would become an author, she would write a story about a family, who in this picture, started with the daughter of parents who immigrated from Holland to a new land called the United States, and settled and farmed in Iowa. It would be a record of triumph, tragedy, hard work, love, family, and God's faithfulness.

You all have a story. Our stories combined, along with God's faithfulness, are called His story (history). If a seer were to record our stories, what would they record? Yes, a story of failure and mistakes. But hopefully also a story of prayer, like Manasseh. A story of forgiveness and promise. And maybe a story of caring and generosity. And if our name is recorded in the Book of Life, a story of eternal life after our time on earth. Blessings. 

Provision

Between harvest and Thanksgiving is the time of year when we think about how we have been provided for: A bountiful crop. A productive fall. Moisture for the next growing season. Additions to family with more coming. Health and ability to still work. And, a country where good citizens still value freedom. Thanks for the picture.

God says trust me and I will provide. With more grain in bins this year we have been running fans. And Jim and others have been coring bins. Coring means emptying about 10% of the grain out to pull the center of the pile and level the peak that's against the bin roof. 

Next year's seed has been coming in. And we have picked up Becks Seed from Nashua, Illinois, Colfax, and Beaman. However late this past week we unhooked the seed trailer and hooked up the manure tankers to try and finish hauling hog honey.

We did have a small mishap hauling hog manure when the honey wagon hitch broke going over a terrace. Karl picked up parts late Friday and Karl, Kasey, and Matt got things fixed back up Saturday morning. However a rainy day stopped progress.

Manure spreaders that haul solid manure look different these days. With this spreader BJ has the ability to haul cattle manure, sawdust from the truck wash, or even lime. The spreader operates with Ag Leader technology and can variable rate. It has a double spinner pan underneath the vertical beaters. Quite a contrast from when our kids loaded the old New Idea with the old Owatonna 330 skidloader.

In recent weeks we have visited about diversifying. On Friday evening Kurt and Emily set up and sold wood fired pizzas in Leighton. The turnout from friends and community was amazing.

The crew and trailer have capacity to put out about a pizza per minute. Because of the huge attendance they ran out of ingredients in just under 2 hrs. Thanks for everyone being patient during a learning curve. And stay tuned. I think they plan another event late next week. Thanks for the picture Emily.

There is another new business venture in our family. Natalie, a 7th grader, has talked her Dad, BJ, into helping her get into raising Highland cattle. Highland is a Scottish breed. They are hardy short little creatures with long hair and horns. Thanks for the picture.

On Tuesday evening about 6pm I settled into my home office with supper. I tuned into Blaze TV on my phone and CNN on my computer for election results and contrasting views. Jan had Fox News on in the living room. Around 9pm things were not only looking promising but a possible landslide. Just after 10pm CNN went to a live, on the scene reporter, that announced folks had just found a truckload of uncounted absentee votes. Frustrated, I shut things down and went to bed. My 2AM friend texted me 2:15AM Wednesday morning with good news. Thanks for the picture Andy.

Earlier this year I predicted we may not have an election because of our country's leadership in a power seizing mode and no one asking for accountability. I was wrong. July 13, 2024 changed everything even though most didn't realize it at the time. When our former president and presidential candidate was shot in Butler, PA, folks were shaken out of their comfort zone. Our former president showed courage and acknowledged God's provision on saving his life. 

Very early Wednesday morning when the election results were announced, folks at the Trump headquarters concluded the evening with something incredibly powerful. The crowd acknowledged God by singing "How Great Thou Art". Since I can't say it any better, I'll quote Fox journalist Lisa B. "Witnessing this as I left the victory party moved me to tears. These people have been slandered and demeaned. They are good people. Patriots of all backgrounds who love this country". 

I owe State Representative Steven Holt credit for posting this, and then sending me the link when I asked him for it. Thanks for the help Steve. 

In my opinion this election was not about the left vs. the right. It was about tyranny vs. freedom. It's about futility vs. faith. I don't know what the future holds. However I do know Who holds the future. And that good things can happen when God and His provisions are acknowledged. In the song, "The Blessing" Kari Jobe sings about God's provision and presence for our families, our children, their children, and their children. Thanks for stopping by.

When Life Gets Real

When we encounter situations that challenge our beliefs, change our plans, make us want to compromise, or make us uncomfortable, "life gets real".

These situations sometimes require us to make difficult and immediate decisions. A set of circumstances could include a loss, financial hardship, a health crises, a career decision, or pressure in a relationship.

Yesterday Ezra and Elijah chiseled 125 acres of corn stalks going to corn again next year. In fact because of how projected crop cash flows look, I'm personally not planning on raising any soybeans next year.

It often seems like doing the same unsuccessful thing over and over, or looking the other way when someone disses our values, or not getting involved, or not standing up when someone needs a 2AM friend, seems to keep life simple and comfortable. However that's not "real". When we move beyond our comfort zone, test our abilities, use our God-given strength that shapes our character, and confront the realities of living, our lives will get and stay real.

We are looking forward to next crop season. Karl and good help have been working on emptying the fourth hog finisher pit of manure. We are trying to cover more acres with manure this fall and add nitrogen. We are also applying NH3 (nitrogen) and having P (phosphorous) and K (potash) spread. The seed selling season is also here and the wet weather will get folks time to talk about next years seed needs.

I borrowed this picture from Emily's favorite view of the day. 10 yr old Jackson is chiseling on his parent's farm. Kurt, Emily, and family have had a busy week. They also used their woodfired pizza trailer last Monday evening at an event west of Pella and served 100 pizzas. You all are tired of me saying it, but both helping kids learn responsibility and diversifying in business keeps life real.

Tradition is real. And it can be either a help or a hindrance. The Pella Christian High School theater kids presented Fiddler On The Roof this past weekend. A story of both holding to and breaking traditions. The young man on the left is Bill and Julie's 9th grader, Michael. Our granddaughter, Adi, was also in the play.

As our immediate family is surpassing 40 folks, it gets harder and harder for everyone to buy Christmas gifts for everyone. So quite often, Jan sends a family snapchat telling our kids and grandkids where she is going and asking if anyone needs anything. I spent Friday with her hitting quilt stores. We came home from Long Creek Outfitters (a western store) in Leon, Iowa with 7 pair of work and church boots, and a shirt.

Grieving a loss and celebrating a life with a funeral is getting less and less popular these days. Twenty three year old Cayden from Prairie City, Illinois was killed this fall when his combine came in contact with a power line.

On Tuesday our country has the responsibility of electing leaders. We will go to our city halls and community centers and cast our votes. We have no perfect candidate. And it would be ill advised to put one on a pedestal and look to them as the deliverance from our declining and Godless society. We do however have an obligation to vote for the person who's principles and values most reflect our own. This is where life gets real. And our country's future depends on good folks making their voice heard.

Does the church have an obligation to engage in our culture or should it continue to stay in the background? Not politically, but I think it does need to help point out where evil is taking over, and encourage Christians to engage. Our country's number one problem these days is there is no push back or accountability of all the Godless things happening.

Actually, you and I and others are the church. We have a choice. We can stay simple and comfortable and in the background, hoping someone else saves us. Or we can use prayer, our civil responsibilities, and our God-given abilities, to push back and do everything we can to protect our culture for our grandchildren and our future great-grand-children. That's when life gets real.

pp

Rock-Solid

Last week during a baby dedication at Sunday church the pastor mentioned the parents were "rock-solid". That got me thinking about what rock-solid means. It means reliable, strong, dependable, trustworthy, grounded, someone you could lean on.

                                 

When Jan and I were first married we harvested together. I built this auger pit in 1980, mostly for safety since we both had our small children helping us in the combine and truck. Our truck and wagon loads were around 300 bushel. The pit has been revamped a couple of times since as augers have worn out.

Today we have grandsons about the same age I was back then driving semis, unloading 1100 bushel in our grain leg pit at our new grain facility. Harvard recently did a study that concluded what we have known for a long time. The study says if you give kids jobs and responsibility when they are young, they will more likely become rock-solid citizens in their communities when they're adults. Solomon said the same thing 3000 years ago. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it". Proverbs 22:6.

We combined a couple of hundred acres of replant soybeans this past week on the South Skunk River bottom. I also cut some CRP acre soybeans planted June 25 with our smaller combine. Below Cassia is slicing her home-made bread that she brought us for supper along with meat balls, cheesy mashed potatoes, and green beans with bacon and brown sugar. A meal like that will keep one going well into the night!

Yesterday morning we wrapped up the last field of our family's crop. Any guesses where this field is at? Nope. Not the front range in Colorado. It's a field next to the Mahaska County Landfill.

I mentioned last week we tried out our pit and leg last Saturday afternoon. This past Monday and Tuesday we filled the new bin with corn from Keith, Karen, and Kathy's farms in northern Mahaska and Jasper counties.

Has God ever communicated with you in nudges, answered prayers, or some other way? This is a little personal but I'm going to try and explain this interesting picture. This past September I asked A.I. (artificial intelligence) on the computer for an image of how to light a grain leg. Is this coincidence or can God speak in nature or even pictures of nature?

Twice I can think of Jesus talking about rock-solid. In Matthew 16, Jesus tells Peter that he is a rock, and on that foundation He would build His church. Also in Luke 19, a week before He was killed the Pharisees told Jesus to tell His followers to be quiet. Jesus replied that even if they kept silent, the rocks would cry out His praise. Or maybe today artificial intelligence. 😊

I'm encouraged by Jesus using Simon Peter as a pillar of faith. Because early on he was just an ordinary fisherman with inadequacies that God repurposed. What about you? Are you and your family rock-solid? We can't be rock-solid on our own. I asked my friend Jon for a definition. He had a good answer and said rock-solid folks get what life is all about. Be rock-solid in a shaky and digressing culture today by leaning on God, our rock. Blessings.

Accepting Change

When Jan and I got married my dream was to live and farm 200 acres southeast of New Sharon. That neighborhood was the only world I knew. When that farm sold a year later we had to make a change. We have lived and raised our family at this current location just southwest of Oskaloosa for 48 years.

Accepting change can be challenging. My advice is to view change as an opportunity. Let go of what is beyond your control. Be open and flexible. Bounce ideas off of others you trust. Thanks for lunch in the field Brent and Nutrien.

On Friday Jan went to Amish and Mennonite country in Cantril. Claire and his family started Dutchman's 35 years ago in an old building downtown. The old store, reasonable prices, and friendly help had appeal. When the family wasn't scared of the 2020 pandemic like everyone else was, his business exploded. The huge growth and old buildings required them to make a change. Were there hurdles? Some were just about insurmountable. But today their new large building sits just outside of town on Hwy 2. Is it different? Yes. Was a change necessary? Yes.  Thanks for the picture of a local Amishman harvesting Jan.

                             

We are in week 7 of harvest. We are currently making the loop west of Pella, north to Galesburg, and then over to Peoria and Sully combining both our own and customwork. Fortunately our breakdowns have been fixed in a matter of hours and not days. Thanks to a great crew.

We did go down to Lovila on Thursday and cut 200 acres of soybeans for Gary. Thanks for the picture Kasey. Thanks for hunting us up with lunch Jeremie and Newfields Ag.

In the mid 1980s there were rumors a corn processor was coming to southern Iowa. They purchased an old power plant along the Des Moines River in Eddyville. This change worried local grain elevators at the time. In 1985 they started buying corn from both farmers and elevators and processing 65000 bushel/day. Early on we brought them corn day and night since they were open 24 hrs/day. Because of continued growth today they process 275000 bushels/day.

Our family has brought this processor corn for 40 years and will continue to do so. We are an integral part of each other's operations. For 20 years 90% of our corn crop went straight to Eddyville in September and early October. However corn receiving at this plant has not kept up with their growth. And more and more farmers are utilizing the benefits of fall delivery.

So in early September our family started phase one of a corn storage facility at Morgan corner just east of where we live. This is a change I drug my feet on for many years. Life was simpler bringing the crop straight to town. Especially since we forward contract most of our bushels. However we need to better manage the hours we have for fall harvest. Yesterday was the first day we dumped corn here.

When I was a kid our family would go visit John and Louise's family when they lived near Rose Hill. Both families had six children. Our helper Papa Jon is one of those children. Kurt's wife Emily is a grandchild. Emily brought Grandpa John to the field. We enjoyed visiting about old times and all the changes. John taught me how to roller skate at Edgetown Roller Rink on a wooden floor 60 years ago. Thanks for the picture Emily.

We have been making good progress hauling hog honey(manure). Thanks for the help Roger.

Jan and I continue to watch The Chosen series on Sunday evenings. The church leaders of Bible times would not accept the change from all their man made rules to a relationship with Jesus. So they killed Him. However that was God's plan. Jesus died for our wrongs. If we accept that gift, we have the assurance of help on earth and eternal life in Heaven.

Are you struggling with accepting change as I sometimes do? Don't regret the past. Don't worry about the future. Even in our non-Godly culture today. Focus on the present. Enjoy every day you're given. And allow God to work His purpose through you. Until next week, Blessings.