Giving-Life At It's Best

Years ago a reporter asked John Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest men in the country at the time, "how much money is enough"? Mr. Rockefeller's famous answer was, "just a little more".

Harvest is 99% complete with just a couple bits and pieces left. Below the crew is taking a break after finishing a field for Royce. 

 I was hauling honey and noticed a lot of smoke to my west. About the time the smoke color changed from black to white I received a call that the neighbors combine had burnt and a couple of corn fields were on fire.

 I hurried over with a disk and gave the Osky and New Sharon Fire Departments a hand helping put out fires in three different corn fields.

 Speaking of hauling honey, this picture is for our city readers. We pump hog manure into a tanker wagon and then go and incorporate on our fields. We have the manure tested for fertility value and apply according to our manure management plan filed with the state. Thanks for a good week Alex.

 My desk used to be piled high with waiting work. Hiring a bookkeeper has been a huge help for our family business and has taken stress off of my time. Thanks for sharing your bookkeeping talents with us  Linda.

It's always appreciated when you remember someone with a call, a note, or a visit. Many of the notes I have been given are hanging on my bulletin board. Below we celebrated three birthdays.

Earlier in the month our local christian radio station had a sharathon and invited folks to give and share in their cause. They raised $70,000. Great job Bev.

Last evening Jan and I attended a fund raiser supper for tuition assistance for our local christian school. It's a blessing to help out families that want to have their child taught in a Biblical setting but maybe haven't all the means. The quartet, Journey Bound, did a great job entertaining and ministering.

Our family was given an act of kindness Friday. Several of us occasionally go and see our chiropratric friend if we're not walking straight or lifted something too heavy. Well since we have been busy and haven't made it lately he came to the shop and adjusted us all. Thanks Mark.

In the old days folks were asked to tithe of their firstfruits. Firstfruits didn't mean after taxes. It wasn't an option only if there was a little left over. It wasn't just to be given to a 501-C3 so the giver could have a tax advantage. It was to be given from the first and from the best. I think that Biblical guideline might still be relevant today.

Speaking of taxes, we are entering the tax planning season. When a farmer delivers his crop he generates income. That income pays the investment it took to put the crop in. It also pays living expenses. If there is money left after business expenses it gets taxed anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2. There are two effective ways to keep that leftover money from going to taxes. Reinvest it in the business or give it away.

We need to remember the money that goes through our checkbooks is not ours to start with. It's God's intrusted to us for our good use. It's really not a matter of how much we dare to give. It's a matter of how much we dare to keep. There is another concept here that compounds the tax issue. You can't out give God. Try it. When you shovel out God shovels back and God has a bigger shovel.

Faith, Hope, and Love are the Christian's creed. How generous we are with our money is the measuring stick on whether or not we believe and act on that creed.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. "Test me in this", says the Lord, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land." Malachi 3: 10-12