An Unbroken Promise

A lot of things are broken these days including a third graincart in as many weeks. We were harvesting on the north edge of Ottumwa near the airport. Ezra, who had stayed home from school to help, had just picked up the second load of the morning off the combines and was headed for the semis. I was really bummed, hoping and planning for a big day. Then out of nowhere on a dry sunny morning this rainbow showed up. Reminding me that we're not promised a life without troubles. However we have the unbroken promise that we will be taken care of no matter the troubles. A parallel of our culture and country today. Thanks for the picture BJ.

Three weeks ago we broke a spindle on the opposite side of this very cart north of Oskaloosa. Two weeks ago we had wheel bearings go out on another cart south of Pella. This cart had the lug nuts bolting the wheel to the hub fail. I'm guessing our carts are getting tired being close to twenty years old.

BJ called brother Mark and he and Elijah came right over with a trackhoe to lift it back up off the ground after we had unloaded it. Thanks to Mark, Elijah, and Ezra for helping scoop up many bushels of spilled corn. We were still able to finish this farm and move to Kurt and Emily's house.

Its heart warming to see our children affirming and having a great relationship with their kids. Below Cassia, Rachel, Adi, and Natalie brought us supper one evening as we were picking after a rainy morning on BJ and Cassia's Ferguson farm.

One evening I was the last truck of the day at Eddyville. When that happens I often clean up the spilled corn on the edges of the pit for the corn dump employees. Apparently that act of service caused me to neglect and forget to shut my front hopper door. Needless to say a short time later as John was filling me for the next day, he said, "Steve, would you please come here a minute". Thanks to Karl, John, Alex, and Kasey for their act of service for me by scooping this mess up into the bucket while I ran the skidloader and dumped the spilled corn back in a wagon.

Our country continues to struggle with supply issues and shortages. This is a picture of about 60 cargo ships waiting off the port of Los Angeles. It takes two weeks for a ship to get here from China. Some of these waiting have been here for close to a month. Our Secretary of Transportation, Pete, who is a guy married to another guy, has been home on maternity leave for the last two months. Something about this story seems broken.

Our September harvest progress was reduced this year because of a number of factors. Add to that the urgency to get next year's fertilizer applied this fall because of the likelihood of crop nutrients being 50% higher priced next spring. To get cover crop seeded on the more erodible acres in spite of the promise of only 50 percent of Roundup supply for next spring. To get the hog honey applied on as many acres as possible this fall since fertilizer has doubled making hog honey worth as much as $350/acre. To get many other fall projects finished before winter. To get our spring/2022 fuel needs covered with soaring energy prices. To make a plan for spring's planter parts with John Deere on strike. It's enough to get a fellow down if you let it.

We grew up being taught in church that we as humans are totally deprived without God. And as we watch our country try and operate without Him, that depravity shows. Twenty years ago while helping build a church in New Zealand, the pastor asked me what denomination I was affiliated with. When I told him we were Calvinist he smiled and said, "you folks are worms". 😇 The rest of the story is however as worthless as we are on our own, with God, we can all make things happen. Just read the stories in the Bible. 

Jacob helped me fuel up the combines yesterday while we finished a field of customwork bean harvest. Kurt and Matt are visiting in the background.

What makes me want to get up in the mornings and be excited about tackling life is that we have the unbroken promise that God will never leave us. We can start our day by talking to Him about anything, anytime, anywhere. Despite all the darkness and chaos in our culture right now it's a little adventurous why God put you and I here and now for such a time as this.

Last evening we attended a 40th birthday party for Matt organized by his wife Amie. Congratulations Matt. When our spouse loves and serves the Lord it means that they are an adopted child of God. Having said that, that means we are married to God's sons and daughters. Something to think about.

Jan's little grandkidos will miss a Monday with Grandma. Jan is joining me in going to Sioux Center today to see grandson Cody this evening and then a Dordt University Ag Advisory meeting tomorrow.

Early yesterday morning as I was leaving Cargill/Eddyville I was thinking back on our week and remembered the rainbow. When the first rainbow showed up to Noah after the flood, God promised him that seedtime and harvest, summer and winter, day and night would not cease. Now that's an unbroken promise we can hang on to. Have a good week and thanks for stopping by.