Heaven And That Other Place

When I was a little kid I remember my Dad trying to talk to me about living and dying. He said that I'd better be good and believe in Jesus. Because if I should die I would want to go to heaven and not that other place.

He was right. However when I'd ask what either place was like I never got an answer a little kid could get his mind around. Folks said Jesus was in Heaven so it was really bright. They said there was a lot of praise and singing. And like church that keeps going on and on. I know I wasn't supposed to think this, but as a kid it sounded a touch boring. Then my Dad told me what the other place would be like. And I decided heaven was definitely the better option. 

Jan enjoyed a house full Monday.

Heaven is faith, assurance, conviction, courage, character, and relationship. Heaven is in relationship with our Heavenly Father (love God). Heaven is also the intended good for others (love your neighbor). That definition means we have the capacity to experience a little "heaven on earth".

 

Karl and son Malaki loaded out overstock pigs this past week. Overstock is when 10,000 baby pigs come in to a weaner finisher for about 8 weeks. And then half of them get loaded out to go to grower finishers. Malaki is now old enough (2nd grade) to get up at 5:30 am and be the only help his Dad needs to load out 9 semi loads of feeder pigs.

Our weather this week was dreary with a few bright spots. Spring in southern Iowa seems far away yet. We also had bright spots in our work week. On Thursday we all worked together adding attachments and technology to one of our Becks Seed customer's White planter. Mark ran his trackhoe this week cleaning ditches. Alex and Karl continue to haul in seed with about 90% of our inventory on hand.

Kudos to Mike and Jan who fixed lunch for everyone. Mike went above and beyond deep fat frying a little shrimp, onion blossoms, and Buddy and Eileen's catfish. Jan added cheesy hash-browns and jalapeno corn with cookies and brownies for dessert. With school out for spring break and a couple of neighbors stopping we enjoyed quite a crew.

BJ hauled wood shavings this week. He also started a tiling job on the Torrence farm. Later in the week during rotten weather he redesigned a tile feeder on his trencher.

Since the ground was frozen in the mornings we were able to clean out a bin that doesn't have the luxury of rock close. Ezra, Mike, and Karl are working together loading Jim.

When I look through my pictures for the week and think about this Sunday visit, Jan, the kids, and grandkids that are around are usually my subjects. I need to be a little more intentional occasionally about catching a helper or two as well. Jim can build or fix about anything. From siderails for Jan's sidewalk made out of re-rod, to building a bracket for BJ to raise and lower his trencher hood hydraulically.

Jon stops by and is always is willing to help whenever needed. He does little jobs he sees needs done that often don't even get noticed. Like replacing a worn out door knobs. Friday he volunteered to help Mike and Suzanne load new windows for a home improvement project this spring. Thanks for the picture Mike.

I've shared with you about Jan's cooking abilities, her love and care for grandkids, her green thumb with garden and plants, and her hard work on keeping our yard neat. She also is a talented seamstress and loves to quilt. Last evening I counted and estimated there are over 2500 pieces of material in this project that she has individually cut, ironed, and sewed together. First in little triangles that make a square. These squares all form a pattern from multiple directions. This quilt was not a kit. She is not following a set of directions. She is using leftover material with much of the pattern in her head. 

Life is like this quilt. We are each a small part of a big design. God has a pattern plan that all comes together from many directions. He also uses common, normal, sometimes leftover material for His purpose. Us. Heaven is not shaken by the evil in our country today.

My Dad struggled those many years ago to talk to me about eternity. But at least he tried. We talked about good and heaven. How do we discreetly talk about evil and hell? In the picture below I'm sitting in my comfortable shop office with coffee and homemade pictures on the wall drawn for me by little ones. Life seems safe enough from where I'm sitting. Outside the window is flying our countries flag. A country that was founded on God.

Three years ago this week the world changed. And for the first time in our countries history America did not seek God in a time of crisis. And made a hard left turn towards evil. The virus and how it was handled that first year was intended for evil. History will show the shot is intended for evil. Trying to change little boy's and girl's gender with surgery and medicine is intended for evil. Men trying to be women is attacking being in God's image and is intended for evil. In my opinion bank failures are intended for evil.

No one talks about that other place. I've not even heard the church mention it. But hell is real. And I'm not sure how much longer we will be able to visit about and share our faith on social media. I don't blame you for being disappointed about our story this morning. However I deeply care about everyone's eternal future. 

The picture below is from 7 years ago this week. The Pella II CRC praise band was practicing in Osky I CRC church for an extra monthly 11am service we were having to invite our friends and neighbors.

We defined heaven as relationship with God and intended good for others. Separation from God and intended evil for others is the definition of hell. Both are happening simultaneously. We are in the middle of a bigger battle. However life doesn't have to be fear, hopelessness, isolation, despair, lockdowns, and lies. Live like God is in charge of your quilt pattern. He sees your big picture. We don't have to hope we're good enough for heaven. We aren't. In 3 weeks we celebrate Easter. Jesus defeating this battle for us. Be sure you've asked for and accepted His help.`Then live life with grit and gratitude.