StillwatersIowa

Whether our focus is on business, relationships, family, or our faith, it takes commitment to succeed. Commitment is what spurs us to act. Commitment often involves sacrifice. It demands being intentional. It requires focus. Excuses, yeah buts, and oh wells, jeopardize commitment.   If our faith is real it will show in more places than just church. Commitment supersedes comfort. Do folks see us surrender our time, treasures, and talents for others? Are our lives a light in a dark world? Can folks feel comfortable calling us and asking for help in the middle of the night or are we just an acquaintance? We need to be involved in other's lives and caring about those that don't know the Lord yet. We need to be assets in our communities. Only hanging around folks that see things our way and following man made traditions isn't what we were put on earth for. Our helper Andy helped out in the community this past week when he brought a pig to school for Ag i...

This week's visit goes two directions. The first is spring break in Iowa. The second is a work trip near a double spring in Missouri. The Missouri work trip then goes in two directions. The first is about the work accomplished. The second is about the relationships made.  Spring break means school kids including our grandkids are enjoying vacation and helping out. Becky and Brian's Ezra is loading the garden tiller for his mother while his brothers watch. BJ and Cassia's kids have been great help all month while BJ continues to be careful following back surgery. John has just finished power washing the cattle manure from the skid loader. Now someone needs to power wash John. Cousins are helping Grandpa and Uncle Mike pick up sticks on an area of the field that Mike has just cleared. Grandson Gideon is helping Kasey, Alex, and Karl put floater tires on one of the sprayers.  Floater tires are wider and don't pack the ground so much when spraying direct...

Success is a journey, not a destination. And often the deciding, trying, and doing part is more important than the outcome. In fact sometimes in being an example and daring to start, the journey determines the destination. The 2018 dozing season has started for Mike. Nephews Ethan and John watch while their Uncle builds terraces. As you grow up, maybe even after you're grown up, enjoy the journey. Have goals. Be someone folks can trust. Accept responsibility. Make things happen. Care about others. Then dream, risk, expect, and be grateful. Find ways to give God credit. And finally look for things to appreciate in others. I have 3 left over stories from Arizona. Remember the little chorus, "London bridge is falling down, my fair lady". Well when we visited Lake Havasu City with Gary and Jeri I heard the rest of the story. In 1968 the London bridge was literally sinking into the river from heavier traffic. Robert McCulloch, whose chain saw business was in Az. went ...