Why do we do what we do? To help things progress. To achieve. To promote. To succeed. We do what we do to further a mission. This morning we are going to talk about progress. Most good. One that feels bad. And finally one that appeared good, then bad, but ultimately good. Having cousins, 3 yr old Lane, and 2 yr old Brynn out helping Grandpa is always a good day.
I remember John hanging around helping when he was 2 and 3 yrs old. Today, as a junior in high school, he is good help. An asset not only in society but more importantly in God's kingdom. Raising kids take time and effort. And involving them teaches them to work. To learn responsibility. And to care about others by realizing life isn't self centered.
We had another good week putting in tile, both trenching and plowing. Trenching is when we follow waterways and install those orange in-takes you see in fields just above a terrace. Terraces catch water to prevent erosion. Plowing is usually designing a pattern where the water runs in the tile downhill. And then just completely tiling the whole field 30 or 40 foot apart.
Tiling is not for the feint of heart. It is hard work. Starting at the bottom putting in an outlet where the runoff water leaves the tile. Hooking up old tile when you cross a clay or plastic tile put in previously. Loading and stringing large 3000 foot rolls. Installing intakes. And closing and reclosing the tile ditches. However tiling is furthering a mission. And it usually pays back in more consistent crops and timeliness.
Why do I spend $1000/acre pattern tiling? Yes, there could be a few selfish reasons. We talked about consistent crops and timely planting. But I just have a few years left farming since I'll be 67 yrs old in a couple of months. You see, furthering a mission isn't just about us. Or specifically me. I had good folks previously invest in their farms so they would be better for us. My father-in-law, Marv, Daryl, Buddy, Kenny, Ed, and many others which I'm at the moment forgetting. I get to give my kids opportunities in their personal tiling, dozing, and excavating businesses. Plus, like you saw previously, I get to hang out with grandkids.
Ryan spent a day helping us. He moved clay for a terrace we are going to build this summer just above a new pond we are building about a quarter mile east of where we live. Terraces above ponds help keep dirt from washing in. And prolongs the life of a pond indefinitely. Thanks for the picture Ryan.
BJ and I spent some time seeding this week. These are the days when it pays to be ready. Kudos to Dean and others for helping get the machinery prepared. Kudos to Karl for having grass seed in the shed. And thanks to Ryan for cultipacking the seeded areas.
There was a couple of days this past week in our area when it got dry enough to work ground. This tool is called a high speed disc. It works well leaving the previous years residue mixed with worked soil to prevent washing and erosion.
2023 will be our 49th crop. What a blessing to have had the opportunity and privilege to farm. I learned by helping my Dad as a kid. Then as a 9th grader I was a hired hand for Walter. Then one evening before Wednesday evening church activities I found Walter had passed away of a heart attack. And at John's age, a junior in high school, Walter's children rented me their 200 acres. God in His grace had a plan to further my mission (goal). We planted a few soybeans this past week. Jackson and Lane are helping check the depth. Early planted soybeans need to be 2 inches deep believe it or not.
I don't have hobbies. But I enjoy being behind the scenes in the civic arena. I went to Des Moines and attended a Thursday morning legislative Bible Study. Then I got to hang out with Helena and Barb in the House of Representatives a little while. Thank you both for your values and your willingness to serve in a very tough job. You are furthering the mission in Iowa as our representatives in the legislative process.
Friday afternoon was a time of storms and tornadoes in a number of places including here in Iowa. Last week we talked about Rolling Hills, Mississippi. Cyclone Freddie killed 800 folks, destroyed 114,000 dwellings, and displaced 500,000 people in Malawi, Africa. Hurricanes are called cyclones on the other side of the world. Thanks for everything you are doing in Malawi Harrison as you encourage folks with your written words by What's App and further God's mission in Africa. Thanks for the picture Charlie.
We lost a small barn on BJ and Cassia's Ferguson farm. I' guessing we'll have to have a pick up parade come Monday.
This past Monday in Nashville, Tenn. a transgender woman went into Covenant Christian School and killed the principal, the janitor, a teacher, and three 9 year olds. I'm sure you all here in America have heard this horribly sad story. On Friday while Christian folks were still burying their loved ones our countries president decided to have a transgender awareness day. And he said the transgender community is the soul of our country. The leadership of our country is being used by the devil to further his bad mission.
It isn't as much the gall and the strength of the left as it is the apathy and incompetence of the right that I'm worried about. Satan hates Christ. And he is using folks that defy God to further his evil. Christ followers (Christians) on the other hand either seem too fearful, too busy, or too comfortable to be bothered by the fact that our country is going to "Hell".
But wait. Christ wins. Remember. Two thousand years ago at the age of 33, Kurt, Karl, Alex, and Andy's age, Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem to get the process of redemption started. Folks who were being controlled by their government (Roman) thought this was it. A Savior coming to save them. He actually was. It just wasn't how they figured. He was killed. And next Sunday we celebrate He rose from the dead. All for us, the bad folks, and even the really bad folks. Yea. What a God we serve. Furthering His mission. And ours as well in the process.
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