Listening

Last Sunday after church my sister Donna and her husband Roger picked up some KFC. Ginger and my brother Doug, and Julie and my brother Bill brought dishes from home. Jan and I brought some of those really good potatoes from Taco Johns. And we had lunch with our Mother in the activity room where she lives at Oskaloosa Care Center. Because of Mom's age her listening abilities are more limited than they used to be. So she just enjoys being around family.

Last Monday afternoon we had a beautiful inch of rain. So early Tuesday morning the office was full as we enjoyed coffee and conversation. We were created for relationships. That includes being a good listener.

Since the ground was wet for a short day. And since our corn harvest was mostly custom work, we brought in a couple of chisels and replaced some bearings.

Last week we visited about tire troubles. We ended up replacing the rear tires on our S690 combine. Thanks to Steve from Midtown for manhandling those big guys on the rim while Kurt and I helped.

Kudos to BJ and Matt for helping me late one night fix a crossover bin auger. I'm not as agile as I used to be at standing on top of a bin while pushing and pulling equipment. So I'm slowly learning to wait for help. 

Yes, we continue to harvest corn. Mostly custom work. We still have a couple of farms left up north. However I figured you're all getting tired of harvest pictures and stories so I tried to diversify this week.

I felt a little guilty as I took this picture down on the south Skunk River bottom west of Lacey. Karl, Malaki, and I left late Friday afternoon to watch the PCHS football team at a playoff game in Jewell, Iowa. Jan had gone up early to shop and watch Amelia run at state cross country in Fort Dodge, so she and I could drive home together late. A huge thank you to our crew of family and help both. Friday we ran two combines, three graincarts, and six semis.

Another thank you to the gals for meals, rides, encouragement, being good listeners, and patience as they are often the glue of our family.

Sometimes I take after pictures and forget to take what things looked like before a project. Four Sundays ago on a Ranger ride with Jan I took this picture of a ditch that we hope to turn into a pond just a half mile east of our home here.

Thanks to Mike and Mark for the prep work of building a pond. All the kids are good at working in Dad's jobs in between their busy schedules.

The National FFA convention was this week in Indianapolis. John, Rachel, and friends attended with their FFA chapter. Thanks for the picture besides the Becks booth John.

I've been watching Europe and their struggles with fuel and fertilizer shortages. I've experienced firsthand fuel shortages in Malawi, Africa while visiting, and listening to stories from my sister Beth and her husband Dan when they lived there. Here in our own country those leading us have turned off pipelines, shut down refineries, sold oil fields to China, exported our oil to Ukraine, and are heavily using our reserves. The only explanation that makes sense is that those wanting power and control here hope to intentionally hurt it's citizens into submission. Folks, life without fuel will bring a country to it's knees in a hurry. Keep your eyes (observing) and ears (listening) open. And use your God-given mind to think on your own.

Last Sunday we attended church services at The Bridge in Ottumwa. We heard a message challenging us to listen to God. I know, we don't hear an audible voice. But God definitely speaks to us. In our thought process. In nudges we feel. In opportunities we get. In people he sends our way. If you think about it this same God of Noah, Abraham, David, and the apostles. The Creator of everything. The One who controls life. If He takes the time to talk to us little common folks, we need to take the time to listen. When, not if, we do listen, God makes common folks into uncommon forces. Just like the stories of Noah, Abraham, David, and the apostles.

Before my Dad died he had lost much of his listening ability due to his hearing loss. My mother, although not as serious, the same. We need to listen while we still have the opportunity. To God. To others. To what's happening. And then we must be willing to have Him to use us common folks as a uncommon force. That could make life uncomfortable. But remember, we were created to be couragous, not comfortable. Listening is not just what we do. Listening becomes who we are.

This coming Saturday evening Cornerstone Church in Pella where Kurt and Emily attend, are getting together with Rob from Risefest, to put together a concert with a couple of popular Christian artist. Get your tickets. And come and listen. Blessings.