Helpful?

Last week one day when I walked out of the corn crib where we grind our feed, there was a beat-up old pickup truck parked in the yard waiting for me.  The man behind the wheel stops by our place several times a year, so we are familiar with him.  He is an interesting character who has been unemployed for years and gets by on part time work.  His wife left him, he lives in a camper and is trying to raise two boys.  I know there is a story behind it all, some not so good.  Never the less, he is a poor needy soul.

As soon as I walked up to the truck I knew where the conversation was going to go.  He gave me the sob story and asked for help.  This wasn't the first time.
We helped him again.
I gave him a little lecture first.  No beer, no cigarettes, just buy food.  And take your boys to church on Christmas.
He was sincere, thankful, he cried, and asked me to pray with him.

We are willing to help anyone who truly needs help.  We have been richly blessed and therefore have a great responsibility.  But in this type of situation, I always wonder who the truly needy are, what responsibility they have, and where the line is between helping and enabling.  Because sometimes helping them hurts them.  I also know that many soon learn how to work the system and I don't particularly like to be taken advantage of.
But the second half of 1 Corinthians 6:7 came to mind: . . Why do ye not rather take wrong?  Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

I like the man, I think I can trust him, and helping him didn't hurt us at all.  I will probably help him again some day if he asks.  That night when I let my Bible fall open to read, it fell open to Hebrews 13 and verse 2 jumped out at me. I am at peace with the situation and I pray for the man.

 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

It Begins

Last night we had our first Christmas gathering.  It was here on the farm with our children and grandchildren.  The old farmers talented wife worked hard preparing the gourmet feast of Cornish hens and Duck a L'orange along with all the fixings.  The gift exchange included the usual gifts of books and tools (don't put tools on your list if you don't want tools as gifts!), along with the typical unusual and unpredictable gifts.  Included in my gifts received were 6 books, a bluegrass CD, an ice cream parlor table and chair set, a SodaStream, a High Plains sheepskin hat, and a Beardo.  My granddaughter gave me a book titled How to Babysit a Grandpa. The others received equally fun and diverse gifts.  Good times with a fun family!

Each year there are more people around the festive table!

The men wearing their Beardos!

Christmas eve and Christmas day should be a little more laid back this year.  I guess I'll have to start reading my new books.

On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Esther 9:17

Fresh Venison

I hunted three of the four days of the second firearms deer season last weekend.  I didn't see anything in range.  It was decent weather, so I enjoyed my time in the woods.

Caution: Graphic Description!

Tonight on our way home from doing some Christmas shopping in Peoria, we got up close and personal with a deer.  We were on Route 24 on the North edge of Washington and two cars ahead of us hit a deer.  The first car probably killed it and the second car softened it up pretty good because he went over the top of it.  I saw  a spray and a carcass spinning into my lane.  I didn't have time to brake and hit it dead center.  It thumped and bumped the full length of its ride under the van.  The three of us pulled off on a side road to inspect our vehicles.  The first car was the only one with serious damage.  I looked under our van with my flashlight and all I could see was skin and flesh and hair smeared and hanging everywhere.  The meat hanging from the exhaust was starting to cook.

We went through the automatic car wash on our way home, but it didn't remove much.  So, at 9:30 this evening I was outside power washing the bottom of the van so that it won't smell like a rendering truck in the church parking lot tomorrow.  Gus kept circling the van and sniffing, not sure what to make of it, but no doubt wondering if he had missed a meal.

I will have to do a better inspection in the daylight to make sure there was no damage, but am thankful that we weren't the first to hit it.

And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 11:25

T shirts

This time of year it seems like we get a half dozen catalogs in the mail each day.  I enjoy browsing through some of them, especially the ones with T shirts with amusing slogans on them.  Here are a few of this years favorites.

Lets eat grandma
Lets eat, grandma
-----------------------
Commas save lives

The past, present, and future walked into a bar.
It was tense.

I dream of a society where
 a chicken can cross the road
 without its motives questioned.

All the good chemistry jokes
Argon

Know Jesus
Know Peace

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings
when I called you stupid.
I really thought you already knew.

Dear Algebra,
Stop asking me to find your X.
She's not coming back.

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons.
For you are crunchy and good with ketchup.

I like cats.
I just can't eat a whole one by myself.

If life gives you melons,
you might be dyslexic.

I'm the boss.
My wife said I could be.

Cole's Law:  Thinly sliced cabbage

I love sleeping.
Its like being dead without the commitment.

If you fall, I'll be there.
                         --Floor

Do Not Steal!
The government hates competition.

Yes I do have a
Beautiful Daughter!
I also have a gun, a shovel, and an alibi.


If GUNS kill people,
I guess PENCILS misspell words,
CARS drive drunk,
and SPOONS make people fat.

These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.
Ezekiel 27:24