The Sky is Falling !?

It seems that everyone is very concerned and upset about the financial market these days. Now I am no expert on the economy. I see some slowdown in sales, but then prices have been rising mostly due to increased fuel prices as well as increased feed prices (connected with the mandate of corn ethanol production).

I can only speak for our family, but things for us are pretty good. Things are costing more, but then I make a decent living. Sometimes I think we as a nation live so much on the edge of bankruptcy that it may contribute to the calamity in the market place.

It seems that the government assumes the role of Nanny. When people make mistakes they need to suffer some consequences or they will be repeated again. It would be best to allow things to run their course and then pickup the pieces and move on.

Throwing more money at a problem until something sticks doesn't seem to be the best way to handle the situation. In the end I am not in control. A little perturbed but not overly concerned.

I don't have to be worried about it if my 401K tanks, or if the government changes hands. I serve a King that rules over all. Christ is the Sovereign Lord. If I remember to keep my focus on Him the worries of this world don't seem so BIG.

Romans8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Gas and Travel

This past weekend we traveled up to St Louis for a family reunion on Laura's side of the family. I had heard rumors Friday evening that there was a gas shortage in Nashville. So I thought it would be prudent to fill-up in Shelbyville before heading up to the reunion. We paid $3.99 a gallon which is still much higher than the average price in Huntsville of $3.69. All of this is still due to fall out from Hurricane Ike (we once had a dog named Ike but then that is a different story).

It made me think back to the gas shortages in the 1970's. Although that was due to over regulation issues. I still remember how panicked people became. It seems we are always an inch away from anarchy. Just announce in the morning on the radio it is going to snow and by 3PM there will be little left on the grocery store shelf. We as a nation are a greedy, selfish lot full of fear.

Well back to the gas shortage. Sure enough as we drove through the Nashville area, gas stations were either out of gas or mobbed by a line of cars that seemed to go down the road for miles. A shortage that could be manageable was exasperated by fearful people (much like stock traders). We even saw police at a couple of stations, I can only imagine some disagreements and fights had broken out.

The really interesting thing was that once we got to the Kentucky border there seemed to be plenty of gas. Just 40 miles outside of Nashville. The prices steadily decline to a low of $3.50 in the St. Louis area. At these prices maybe someday I will consider buying an older diesel and making some homemade fuel. I think first we need to get a tractor for the place to make it more cost effective.



Well all in all it was a good trip. Our family was blessed by being able to listen to several sermons and receive a timely lesson on the depravity of man. We can be thankful that we serve a God who is rich in mercy and that we are not dependent upon our government or man for our hope and security.

Romans 8:14-16

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Another Update

We are getting settled in here at our new house. The sheep have their new pen. We will eventually expand it up one side of the property about 1200 feet. We still need to build a chicken coop and yard.

Samuel has taken up beekeeping this year and harvested 1 and 1/2 gallons of honey so far.

Laura has been hard at work canning and sewing quilts.

We are adding a room for our oldest son in the basement. I hope to get it done by November.

Joshua has been preparing for deer season, coming soon. This will be the first time we have had enough land to be productive at hunting.

We have recently lost 3 calves and one sheep. Our breeding ram. That was quite a loss. My thought is that it was Johnes disease. One of the dairy calves I believe passed it to the others. We are going to isolate our flock for the next 6 months to cull out any carriers. So we will not be buying or selling any animals for a time. We have also probably lost the window for having any lambs this next year.

Well that is just part of Farm life. The Lord has greatly blessed us in spite of all of our failings.

A Long Pause......

Well, its been a while since we lasted posted anything. We have had a busy Summer. Friends staying with us. Moving into a new house. Helping startup a new church. Added a few animals.

We had a lot of work and and a lot of friends lending a hand helping in moving and readying the new house.

Some installed fencing around the garden area. This is the first animal holding area.

While others cleaned, painted and wallpapered the house.

Philip and his two oldest sons installed the much needed air conditioing. This particular house had been built by some of the local "black bumper" mennonites. They typically do not use a/c.

A couple of trees were also cut down in the process because of their relative close location to the basement wall.

We really were blessed with all of the willing helpers. The Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful brothers and sisters.

Recently the boys and I have started adding another bedroom in the basement of the house for Samuel.

We have missed having our friends staying with us, but the Lord has led them in another direction for now.

That's really all for now. I suspect once we have caught up with school and canning we can go into some more details.

Take care to enjoy what God has blessed you with in friends and family.