A Difference Maker

Let's visit about difference makers this morning. Those on the scene. But also those behind the scenes. Folks are craving men and women with principles today. The devil wants weak, comfortable, non-engaged Christians, especially men. Charlie was a Christian that engaged in a civil way. And was having a positive impact. As Anna said on the radio earlier this week, evil didn't kill Charlie because they hated him. They killed him because he stood for faith, freedom, and family. And that folks, means evil hates you and me as well.

13 years ago Charlie went to CPAC as an 18 year old full of dreams, wanting to make an impact on our culture. There he met Foster and Lynn. Foster believed in Charlie's dreams and gave him his start.

I was not blessed to meet Charlie. However we have a hand full of mutual friends. We also both tended to lose our voice regularly, and use mint tea and honey to combat that. Thanks Jan.

Foster also believed in Tucker and helped him with his restart, making a positive difference in a negative world.

15 years ago four friends of mine believed in this gentleman and started a company. Today Steve is making a difference, not only on Blaze, but all over the country with books, movies, and media.

To my grandkids: What's your dream? You are going to be the difference makers. In your faith walk. In your current and future families. In your businesses. As are us older folks, your days are numbered. Start young and make them count. John, Ezra, and Malaki ran the three grain carts that kept the corn away from the combines yesterday that Uncle BJ and Uncle Karl were running. Eliott ran the batwing mower, cleaning up the field edges and waterways.

Iowa is a conservative state. Yet our public schools had dozens of teachers that celebrated Charlie's death. And leaders that seem to have a lack of body parts to do something about it without being pressured. We need school board members to step up and get a handle on what children are being taught.

Because of being slow health wise this summer our kids have been difference makers in my life. After a bin spout came loose and dumped around 150 bushel of corn on the ground, BJ came by without being asked and got things fixed up.

With dozer work being slow right now, Mike hooked up the chisel and started getting ready for our next crop. A farmer needs to be an eternal optimist, always looking forward, in faith.

This past week we celebrated the lives of a couple of older members of our community that passed away. Glen and Gerri were not only difference makers in their individual families, but in our community as well. I remember Gerri teaching countless kids piano lessons as a farm wife. I remember Glen and Lee parking their family's corn planter on Sundays in spite of the seed company asking for crucial timing and all their neighbors running.

To our kids and grandkids: While on our vacation in South Dakota, we all chose a word that reflected our personality and one we wanted to be remembered for. You all chose awesome words. Stacy took our words and had Amelia make Grandma and I a plaque. I challenge you all to use your word to be a difference maker in others' lives. Once in awhile on the scene, but mostly behind the scenes.

10 years ago Foster stayed at our home while visiting Iowa. His father was a rancher and he grew up on a farm. Foster was a difference maker in countless folk's lives behind the scenes, and has been an example I've tried to follow. Foster died in 2021, and Jan and I were blessed to be invited to his graveside service in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. His family took his casket to the cemetery in the back of his old pickup.