Stuff That Matters

I enjoy reading, from books with paper pages. My favorite stories are historical fiction. The pictures this morning show it was another good week on the farm for winter projects. However my thoughts come from things I've read about stuff that matters. If words are in parentheses, it means they are borrowed. 

"To be surrounded by children and grandchildren are perhaps the truest measure of prosperity", given undeserved by a "very high God".

I was reading a story about a man who put his faith in status, possessions, and self. The plot finished with, "He raged against the ending of his days, for he found too late, that he had set his gods to low".

I was told multiple times growing up that pride was a sin. And it is. It's a battle. However sometimes I need a word that's just a little stronger, a little more passionate, than the word thankful, for the gifts that I've been given. "A father is never prouder of his children than when they make him a little ashamed of himself". Values were not only passed on but improved on. Occasionally their behavior highlights where I have fallen short. Hopefully it's a self-forgetting kind of pride.

After one cleans a fencerow or overgrown pasture, there is usually a pile to burn, and then stumps and dirty dirt to clean up. Thanks for helping Kasey. Thanks for loaning your dump wagon Mark.

I'm thankful we have folks around here, including Dean, that aren't scared to tackle stuff, including new oil seals on a mechanical front wheel assist.

I'm also thankful for people that see what needs done, and then do it without being asked. Jim is patching a worn out spot on our auger before he finishes loading corn.

Kudos to Alex who has been helping service equipment, and ceramic coating the hoods on tractors.

Save the date: In February we're getting the planters out and ready for planting. All stuff that matters for the 2026 crop. We are also hosting a planter clinic on February 24. We've asked folks with knowledge of multiple colors and brands to lead the meeting. There will also be planter attachment and seed treatment folks here to visit with you. We've asked Kurt and Emily to fire up the wood fired pizza trailer and provide lunch.

On a very cold Friday, Greg from The Church Ambassador Network, and Mike, our Secretary of Agriculture, came to Trinity Global Methodist Church here in Osky, to talk about breaking bondage in Mahaska County. Brother Doug, son Mark, and our Pastor John attended this meeting sponsored by The Family Leader.

From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, "Scripture is not a rule book. It's a rescue story". God delivers. He gives freedom. He gives talents and abilities. Now, It takes discipleship to make deliverance last. It takes boundaries to hold us in those freedoms. And it takes humility and integrity to keep us in the places talents and abilities bring.

Don't be one to find out too late that one's love and adoration for the things of this world are setting one's "gods too low". "Believe in a very high God". Because He believes in you. And that's the stuff that matters.