Gifts

A sampling of the gifts I received this Christmas:

"Bounty Hunter" metal detector - - yes, this is one of those wand jobs with a disk on the end of it that guys carry around on beaches that beep when they find pop can tabs! Its actually a fairly practical gift for a farmer. We can use it to find broken chisel shanks in fields (before we puncture a tire), find small bolts and parts we drop in the grass while working on machinery, and find dropped nails around construction projects.

Olympus Stylus 760 digital camera - - I have officially entered the age of digital photography. I like to take slide pictures, so I held off going digital. I plan to continue with slides, and supplement with digital. Maybe more pictures will show up in the blog in the future (if I can ever get through the operators manual).

Books on living in Alaska and how to build a log cabin - - I hope to go back to Alaska someday, and one of my dreams has been to live in the woods in a log cabin overlooking a lake. I can dream can't I?

New clothes for when the old farmer cleans up and goes to town.

Gander Mountain gift card - - very practical gift, you can't go wrong at Gander Mountain!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Merry Christmas

Christmas is about a birth, a new beginning. It's about the basics of our faith. It's a good time to contemplate some simple truths.

John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

"God Bless us everyone" Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)

Wish List

Check out this Christmas ditty!

Well, again

Yesterday, shortly before lunch, our telephones quit working. It is not uncommon for us to lose service or at least get lots of static during wet soggy weather. I spent the afternoon at a Pesticide Applicator Training School (we need to be licensed by the state to buy and use restricted use herbicides and insecticides). On my way home, I received the message that we had no water on the farm. This is not good news to hear on Christmas weekend. In May 2006 we had a new pump installed, and this summer a new computerized controller was installed. When I got home I started doing diagnostics and determined that the new controller was malfunctioning. I had been communicating with the repairman and he was searching for a new controller. At 8:00 PM he called me to say he couldn't get one until 9:00 in the morning. Fortunately, the weather is cool which makes the situation less critical for the hogs. But, I didn't want them to go all night without water. I direct wired the pump motor and operated the pump manually - which meant we had water, but no way to regulate pressure. So, I sat in the pump house doorway for a half hour watching the pressure gauge and opening and closing the nearby hydrant to keep the pressure from getting too high and damaging the system. I shut it down for the night, meaning no showers or toilet flushing. In the morning, I took my place on a bale of straw in front of the pump house and babysat the pump for over an hour so all the hogs could get a morning drink. My wife was kind enough to bring me a mug of hot chocolate while I stared at the pressure gauge. I'm sure that people driving by and seeing me sitting there must have wondered if I had lost it! At 10 the repairman showed up and by 11:30 the controller was installed and the water system was operating automatically. We breathed a thankful sigh of relief. At about 2:00 the telephones were working again. We are back in the modern world!

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

it4ag

I went to a conference this week on information technology for agriculture. This video was part of the presentation and I found it interesting.




But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 12:4

On Sunday night, we realized that Christmas was only about two weeks away. That means that I had better start my Christmas shopping soon or I might not find what I need. So, despite the ice storms, the last two days I have made great strides on whittling down the list that has been assigned to me. I actually enjoy shopping - but I usually buy too much for myself! Especially when I go into a book store. So many books, so little time! Things are definitely slowing down around here for the holidays and its time to start enjoying winter.

Many will entreat the favor of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. Proverbs 19:6

Party

We hosted the church young group Christmas party here in the old farmhouse last night. There was a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and the night was crisp and clear. The old farmer put on his tuxedo (much to the surprise and amusement of many) and met the guests at the door. His talented wife prepared (with help) hors d'oeurvres followed by a delicious meal. The daughters planned the evening with Christmas caroling, a surprise and entertaining visit from "the littlest Elf", and a hilarious white elephant gift exchange. It was a little tight serving 40 people for a formal dinner in our house and it got a little warm, but I believe a good time was had by all.
Merry Christmas youngsters!

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. Mark 14:15

And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. Genesis 26:30

Seasons

This afternoon we had our annual all-church Christmas caroling. I like singing Christmas carols, but it seems too early to be caroling.
But it seems that all seasons are being pushed so far ahead of schedule that we're always in the wrong season. Garden seed catalogs arrive in the mail on Jan. 2nd. Try to buy a winter coat in February and the stores are putting out swim suits. Winter catalogs and merchandise come out in August. Christmas decorations get put up before Thanksgiving.
I think it would sure be nice to just celebrate the times and seasons during the times and seasons.

Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. Exodus 13:10

On Friday afternoon I headed back out to my deer stand because I had not yet filled my tag. I wasn't looking forward to sitting in a tree in freezing cold, windy conditions. I climbed the ladder into my stand and before I even sat down, 6 deer came running towards my stand. I grabbed my gun, picked out a nice doe, and five minutes later I was field dressing meat for the winter. I was very thankful to be done hunting before the ice storm hit on Saturday.


Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;