Wet

According to the calender, last week was the prime week to plant corn.  Unfortunately, it was cool and wet all week.  Very wet.  About 3 inches of rain for the week.  With a short crop last year and strong demand for corn, the market needs a large crop this year.  So far, we are not off to a good start.  It will take several days of warm, sunny weather to even think about getting into the fields.  The markets will continue to be volatile this year, and it looks like it will be a very late spring.

We had a damp, dreary Good Friday which sure put me in the mood for the commemorative funeral service for our Savior in the evening.

We hosted our annual egg hunt in the yard on Saturday.  It was the only day that didn't have rain forecasted.

Easter Sunday afternoon, we had all the local families at the farm for the feasting.  The food was good (especially the ham) and the so was the fellowship.

And now more rain.  And the forecast is for continued rain.

  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Luke 23:46

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Mark 16:6

Carhartt

I finally finished cleaning out my basement workbench/shop.  I probably didn't get rid of as much stuff as I should have, but I did move everything around, cleaned, and it's more organized.  I would actually be able to work on the workbench now.  I wonder how long it will stay this way? 

Sunday after church, we shot guns since it was a nice afternoon.  A lot of targets were destroyed in the process.  I taught daughter #2 how to shoot my "euthanasia policy".  As a Certified Livestock Manager in the State of Illinois, we are required to have a euthanasia policy in place to humanely dispatch downer and terminally ill or injured animals.  Currently, mine is a Ruger Single Six.  It was the first time she shot a gun other than the BB gun I bought her when she was younger.  Son #1 also harvested a squirrel before we put the guns away.  He got another one this evening.  We may have to try squirrel stew!

I have decided it is time to retire my old Carhartt coat.  It is looking really scruffy, the pockets don't have bottoms any more, insulation is peeking through tears, and the red livestock marking spray on it makes it look like I've been gut shot.  It put in many faithful years of service for me, but the abuse that it has taken from weather, machinery, hog buildings and equipment, and it's owner have taken a toll.  It has been replaced by a much younger version.   

And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Zechariah 3:4

Project

I was in the Walmart parking lot yesterday morning and my wife called and asked if I was on my way home.  It seems a pen of sows had rooted their gate off its hinges and sows were wandering around the farmyard.  I hustled home to find her rounding up sows with broom in hand.  I dumped a bucket of corn in the gate opening and lot, and we got them all chased back in fairly easily.  Just in time for lunch.  My wife is handy to have around :)

I am finally getting to some of my winter projects - just in time for spring!  We are cleaning out the basement storage rooms and now I am working on my workbench/shop area.  It is a slow painstaking process.  It's amazing what you find when you dig through all of the clutter.  I'm trying to do a lot of pitching as I organize, sort and clean.  Sometimes it's hard to get rid of "treasures" and stuff that is still good, but probably will never be used again.  I found my old chemistry set, my microscope, lots of hunting and fishing gear, forgotten hardware and tools, model rocket supplies, rock collection, matchbook collection, trade show paraphernalia, and best of all, the top of my workbench!  There was also lots of broken things set on my workbench by others for me to fix.  Most of that got pitched.
I had to think as we approach  communion, that we need to regularly do the same with our heart.  Clean out the dirt, pitch the unnecessary, and organize/prioritise what we keep.

We traded tractors a couple of weeks ago.  We got rid of a 1980 model and replaced it with a 1995 model.  The "new" CaseIH 7240 has MFWD which we didn't have on our old tractor.  That's the biggest reason for the upgrade.  The primary responsibilities for this tractor are hauling liquid manure, pulling the grain cart in the fall, drilling wheat, and some light tillage.

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Matthew 12:44

Unsettled

I was visiting with an older Christian man this week that we do some business with. The conversation turned to his family and he told me his daughter just left the church she had been attending. A group of people didn't like something that was going on in the church, so they discussed it with their Pastor. They didn't like the way he handled the situation, so they switched to another church. He said he hears this sort of thing in all churches and denominations. People are restless, discontent, and self seeking. If they don't get their way or if the church isn't perfect, they move on.

I told him that I have observed the same.
Decades of Humanistic teaching and New Age advertising have made inroads in church culture. Church has to be convenient for our lifestyle rather than us matching our lifestyle to church. Old is bad, and new, improved is better, and we are too impatient to think about the long term effect of changes. We live for the moment and want instant gratification. Many Christians have become egocentric and self reliant. Our needs and desires take precedence over our church family. It seems people rely more on education and intellect than Spirit, Word, the hoary head, and the multitude of counselors. Christians have become fad followers and popular preacher followers. Worship is being replaced by entertainment. Church tradition is being replaced by secular traditions. Many Christians believe they can blend worldliness and spirituality.

I am speaking in general, and I don't pretend to have the answers.
But it seems to be a sign of the times and maybe a sign of the End times.


In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:6


For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
II Timothy 4:3