What Matters Most

What really matters most in your life? Health, Status, Purpose, Passion, Work, Financial security, Education?

The crop in southeast Iowa looks good. Hopefully our start of harvest is just 8 weeks away. With new crop corn prices at a 5 year low does one continue to invest dollars for more bushels? Or decide to cut cost? We are currently in the fungicide season where helicopters, airplanes, ground rigs, and drones spray on products to keep the crops safe from possible bugs and diseases.

This is a picture of the corn market. For the last 15 years prices have ranged from the mid $8/bu. to the low $3/bu. Breakeven cost to grow a crop of corn these days is around $4.50/bu.  

Kudos to Jackson, Jayden, and Lane for helping their Dad change oil in their Polaris side by side. Thanks for the picture Kurt.

Kudos to Brynn and Sydnie for helping their Dad count the new pigs coming in. Thanks for the picture Karl.

Kudos to Malaki, Jayden, Jackson, Harris, Lane, Brynn, Hazel, and Sydnie for helping Grandma load and haul buckets of river rock for a landscaping project.

Because of a generous invite from Jon, Glenda, and families, Jan and I were invited to Lake Thunderhead for supper and a birthday get-together for a couple of boys.

Since we were in Indianapolis this past week for Becks Summer Camp, and since we were the beneficiaries of the generosity of the Becks family, Jan and I went to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to watch the Indiana Fever and Caitlin play basketball. And yes, Caitlin gets pushed, shoved, and knocked to the floor by opponents, with very few calls from the officials. And Coach Stephanie gets a technical foul when she sticks up for Caitlin. Yet Caitlin continues to play with character and class. Caitlin isn't just an Iowa girl playing professional basketball. She is redefining it. And her peers in the WNBA don't like it.

Sometimes one has to get away from home to appreciate what matters most. The traffic in Indy is terrible. I'm now so thankful we live on a gravel road in rural southern Iowa.

When you look homeless folks in the eye, you can see actually how young they are in spite of their old looking appearances. It's so gratifying to be given an occupation I love. It's also by the grace and help of God that I'm not sitting on the sidewalk, smoking weed, without a purpose.

It's also by the grace of God that we have friends that have accomplished much. Since we were not able to attend The Family Leadership Summit Friday I attended a Thursday evening pre-event. And was able to catch up with many friends, including Joel. Joel is an American-Israeli evangelical that has written 16 novels about terrorism and Bible prophecy. He and Lynn have four sons and live in Israel.

In spite of what happens, what matters most here on earth is our faith, our families, our relationships, and our love for God and others. Wrapping up this morning, our summer's path has taken a turn. After a lower scope exam due to some abnormalities, Dr Jesse found I have Colon cancer. I do not get emotional about having cancer. God has determined my days on earth since before I was born.

I do get emotional however about being loved. I cry when I feel and see how folks care. What matters most after this life is I get to spend eternity with my Heavenly Father, my family, and hopefully all of you. Let's talk more about this next week.

He will hold me fast. He will hold me fast. For my Savior loves me so. He will hold me fast.