What's Next

With the end of harvest in sight, what's next? Well, there's cover crop to seed on tougher acres, hog manure to apply, anhydrous (N) to put on for next year's corn crop, seed to sell, tillage to finish for corn on corn, field edges and waterways to clean up, soil tests to take, dirt work including dozing and tiling, tons of bookwork, and bins to core.

With our local corn processor on shutdown for repairs, we used our bins this week. We have just over 200,000 bu. of storage in smaller bins on farms we own or rent.

We have also started a newer bin site as a family with one larger bin so far. With five helpers with commitments yesterday, grandsons Elijah, Eliott, and Jackson ran the graincarts, keeping corn away from BJ and Kurt, who were combining, and loading Caleb, Matt, Pablo, Karl, and myself who were hauling to this bin where Malaki (5th grader) was in charge of unloading us in the pit as we rolled in.

We had several breakdowns this past week. In all cases our crew would rally around the issue with some removing the broken piece, while someone else would run for parts. Our parts runs ranged from Milan, Illinois, to Hartwick, to West Branch twice, and several local implement dealers and parts store in between. Kudos to the dealers who are open at night.

We have a number of road construction projects going on in our community. Like many communities, the purpose of the new roads are to keep the trucks from going through town.

What's next for you all after a hard week? Do you take a day of rest? I realize some of you are doctors and nurses, policeman and firefighters, pastors and assisted living help. It's not about rules. Does your lifestyle on Sundays honor God and others?

A number of you have confronted and reminded me I don't always get it right. God also got my attention this summer with my, and then Jan's health issues. So I include myself in examining my life with these questions. How are we doing at being an example to our family, our friends, and our community? Rosie (below), who was dedicated and welcomed to church last Sunday, is 5th generation in our family. My mother, Bynie, is still living, myself, BJ, Rachel, and Rosie.

What's next on your agenda today? Do you attend church? I'm not talking on-line. Does your church service convict you to honor God and serve others? Neglecting church and fellowship with others is kind of like running your engine with no oil on the dipstick. You can still run. For awhile.

Finally, what's next after life here on earth? The cemetery is not the end. There is either heaven, eternal reward, or hell, eternal punishment. I haven't heard hell talked about in 20 years except in swearing. It's still real. I'm a sinner. I deserve hell. However I'm redeemed because I've accepted God's payment for my wrongs. I'm looking forward to our eternal reward. Only Christ qualifies us for heaven. Please make sure you have an assurance, and not just a hope. I realize it's a heavy subject this morning. I just care about you all.