Life out Here
February 28th, 2008 by Northern FarmerAt least once a week, sometimes a few times more depending if I need something or am just bored and want to go and shoot the bull I go to one of the local co-ops. In reality I kinda like going to them. They’re so different than city stores and such. You don’t even have to clean up to go there and a person can generally smell what kind of farmer is at the counter eating peanuts, paying a bill or just shooting the breeze. What would turn up the nose of a city slick just tells a country person what to start a conversation with. You can smell a dairy farmer without any problem and that gives an opening for a multitude of conversations. Years ago the hog farmer smell was very popular, (and noticeable), but they are pretty few and far between nowadays. Gone is that era where a person could be holding down a job in a local shop and every evening and weekend work with some cheap hogs that they scarfed up and start a farm from scratch. At least what I’m talking about here is back then all the markets were in place and all you had to do is get a few hogs here and there and start a herd. Forty pound baby pigs were sold in many of the surrounding towns around here every week bring in income and enabling many, many young families to start farming. In the late 90s the industrial hammer came down, hard, and all but wiped this way of life out, fast. So there’s not all to many hog farmers left here. There’s still hogs on allot of farms for family butchering and such, but the making a living at it is gone for now. I’m talking about in the general market system. Allot of folks raise their own chickens in this neck of the woods, allot. Then there’s a few scattered sheep and goats here and there. Beef is pretty big around here, mostly a change over from what were once dairy farmers. When they go out of milking its almost a given they’re going to buy some beef cows and keep some cattle on the place. Most of those are small herds of mixed breeds. There’s a few cash crop farmers around here. That’s fairly cut throat, and there’s just a few that run around trying to suck up every piece of rental land. And when they’re not doing that they’re at the Farm Service seeing how they can suck up some money from the taxpayers. They’re pretty good at that and its amazing how these few farmers have this down to an art.
Then mixed into the batch are folks living around here with just some livestock to feed their family. You just about name it and its around the area as far as critters go. And through it all the co-ops are still able to grind feed for farmers like they’ve done since this area was settled a long time ago. The co-ops provide supplies like twine, barn lime, chicken starters and feeds. They still have some hog feeds around for the small farmers and homesteaders. The dairy men give them quite a bit of business still, which is good because the co-ops in my humble opinion are very important to have in almost every town around here. I’d hate to see the day when a person would be forced to go to a Wal Mart styled farm supply as the only option after a big drive. I’d rather just hop in the junker farm pickups and drive a few miles to visit the co-ops. That way if the truck quits on the trip at least the walk ain’t all to much. Plus the walk home would probably end up being a visit to someone on the route for and hour and then they’d give a person the ride home. Not to much to worry about that way.
Most co-ops around here have salted peanuts for patrons to munch on while shooting the bull. Plus sodas and a few other things. Most of them sell farm clothing and supplies. Nuts, bolts, hardware of the farming type and all. In reality some of these places are very reminiscent of the old general stores of yesteryear. They’ll have sacked up dog food in the store section so that way there’s a place for customers to sit around while the general problems in life are discussed. Its a totally different world than what society figures is normal these days and times. Plus in season they have garden seeds and potato sets, onion sets and a host of other things for the home and farm garden.
Every one that I’ve ever seen has a wall where all the auction bulletins are posted, plus anything you’d have for sale, to trade, whatever. If you have a service it just gets posted up on the board along with real estate advertisements. Its always interesting to read all the stuff posted. Much easier for me than internet browsing for things for sale or trade. Plus everything is local. If there’s a community event or church event, its posted on the wall. A few days ago I was reading in the newspaper called “The Christian Ranchman” about some rural towns even starting church services in feed stores. This is for real! Makes sense to me, the building is already there and many of them have enough room to handle a nice group of rural folks looking for an old hell fire and brimstone service that can’t hardly be found anymore in what’s considered “normal” churches. And researching this a little further I was surprised to find out that some of the largest churches in America started this way. Of coarse through the years after becoming these mega churches they pretty much went to hell, but that’s another matter. But how many places in rural America do things like this, gathering in the name of Jesus just about anywhere? Much more than I ever imagined! They’re meeting in feed stores, in barns, in sheds, under a tree, where ever! And the way it looks to me its a darn good thing! The countryside needs this!
Bring in a guitar, mandolin, fiddle, whatever it takes to have some good music and worship the way worshiping was meant to be. Throw that stiff necked, hell bound religious garbage out where it belongs and do some Biblical Christianity for once. You know, I’m so tired of these modern folks trying to please folks and coming up with these dead churches a person had might just as well just get back to the basics. Besides, when gas prices finally make it so a person can’t be driving to some church farther away we’d better be able to go back to these old fashioned store front, feed store, barns, sheds, chicken coops, farm house churches. I wonder what it will be like when its neighbors again together from a very close proximity, rather than everyone driving here and their to the church of their choice? Might be interesting.
To cut to the heart of the matter here, in rural America, well around here anyhow every town more than likely has a church or two or more. But when a person thinks about it, they’re getting deader and deader. Why can I say this, simple, look at the denominations that many of them belong to. Now this is not a denominational thing here, just facts. Many, many of these are going down the tubes at the top. They’re embracing the world’s sins as their own. They promote the gay life style, they believe in abortion, they preach evolution, (I ain’t kidding here). And these are main line denominations and folks follow along because that’s what they’ve always done. Then there’s those that don’t openly embrace those things but are just as carnal and the members are no different than the world, not one bit. So when the fact is brought up that all these towns have well established churches it doesn’t seem to make sense to a regular person in this society today to hear what I’m saying. What I’m saying about spreading Christianity back into rural America. Heck, there’s churches every where. Agreed, but just look into the majority today and tell me that everything is fine and I’ll disagree. What ever happened to country folks following the Bible like they used to? At least in the Christian Ranchman paper and other places I’ve investigated there is a clear picture of a movement happening out in the countryside. It’ll make the prideful furious, but that’s reality. I don’t want to waste my life taking my kids to churches that are so totally with the world today that the only guarantee is that they’ll be fully immersed into this hell bound culture because of it.
There’s hope out here, I can just feel it.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I hope your right because I’ve been wanting to move to the country. I just can’t stand living in this city. It’s filled with people who feel they must buy every widget and gizmo that rich marketers tell us we need.
If someone gets a few chickens they are ordered by the city politicians to get rid them. If they don’t it usually ends up in court. Chickens are dangerous critters you know. If you want to plant a garden and don’t have one of those houses that cost as much as a coporate jet you have to rent a garden space (if you can find some for rent), about .045 cents per square foot. The place I used to rent at is now being offered for sale to developers, $1,750,000. for ten acres. The other ten is available also but isn’t priced yet.
They are forever building malls, stores, office buildings and houses that start at about $300,000. We are forever running after more widgets and more money. Then we die, the politicians confiscate what they can of the money and people fight over what’s left.
Every one thinks they are poor but they always have enough money to buy another CD or video of some self centered, spoiled, rich pervert from California or New York. Everyone thinks the economy is bad but the developers are forever building more offices, stores and bigger houses. Have you ever noticed how the average new home being built keeps getting bigger and bigger?
I’ve had it. I want out of this city! But I’m stuck here and it seems there is no way out. I hope you are right about the country because I want out. And the first chance I see to get out, I am.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Hey I should apologise to you all for parts of my rant. Those people in the entertainment industry in California and New York and the people that follow them buying there junk don’t know any better. They don’t know Jesus. They are lost like we were once also. And the people in the city who are forever chasing after riches and bigger houses and more status and even bigger houses than the bigger houses. They don’t know Jesus either. They are lost and chasing after vain things that will not make them happy. They will lose it all and their soul. It’s written, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and looses his own soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” The answer to the first question is the, man will profit nothing. The answer to the second question is, only the blood of Jesus can be exchanged for our souls. Well those people don’t know that and the are wondering around lost and will loose it all including their souls. And they don’t know it. And we were the same once. So I should not be so hard on them and have a bit more compassion. Like Jesus did when he looked on the crowds and saw them as lost sheep with no shepherd.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Hey Don!
What you wrote in both comments are correct. When a person looks at the way things are it does get a person and its easy to rant. But there’s a big difference in ranting at a system in comparison to ranting at people like some do. The system is sick and there is no denying it. Believe me, it gets to me every day. And I have to watch myself so I don’t go on some hell fired rant. I learned a long time ago that when I do go on a series of rants the blog traffic goes up. But I really don’t care one way or another if its got a huge readership or just a few. Speaking the truth is all that’s important. Funny thing is that blog traffic here is as good or better than its ever been.
But as far as I can see your first comment and your second go hand in hand. First the frustration with the way the world is going and then the answer in the second comment. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t go through that, not one day. Sometimes it gets me down until the realization comes back to me that that’s why we are here at this time and place. When we enter Christ’s kingdom as a born again to the bone believer it ain’t la-la land as some folks would like a person to believe. We’re here for a purpose and that purpose is to be Christ’s representative on earth. Just as Christ was the Father’s representative when He was walking this earth. And when that realization finally hits a person, finally sinks in, well allot of things change.
That’s when a person looks around and sees the failure of playing church. That’s when a person sees that what is considered Christianity by so many is nothing more than a cheap imitation. because if we’re supposed to be Christ like, how come we ain’t? I don’t want know dead religion where I’m of absolutely no value to the kingdom. Believers will be judged for their works for the kingdom. Everything else will be burned away at judgment. Like you said in the second comment, they don’t know any better. And its up to us to show folks Jesus, simple. I’ve really been mulling this over the last few weeks. A society going to hell, and a church not far behind them. Makes me relate to that old prophet Jeremiah. He had the same thing going on. But no matter what a person got to keep on keeping on. If we lose here, well we still don’t lose in the eyes of God.
The one thing I remind myself when it comes to all these masses of people that look like they just don’t give a darn, or just don’t know any better is that Jesus died for everyone of them the same as for me. I ain’t nothing special, I ain’t higher up. The real me is a monster, but thank the Lord that we have God in us running the show, if we only let Him.
Thanks for the comments Don, I appreciate them more than many folks realize.
God Bless!
P.S. Brent, if your out there, brace up, there’s a wind coming your way soon and its a big one! Windy here today!
February 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Hi Tom!
Thanks for the good news, I hear that rain is coming on Monday, so it should be a mess here for sure! Keep on writing the truth, I often come to your blogs for refreshment as I struggle thru our mounting problems here (no farm income, loss of fellowship and trying to scrape up enough cash for the bankruptcy lawyer so that we can reorganize and save our farm). You remind me that if we keep our goal in sight and continue to struggle, with God’s blessing things are possible!
February 29th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hey Tom, I got the seed you sent. Thank you I’ll let you know how it grows around here. If I can find a place to plant it. Pray for me if you think of it. I’m staying in the shop for now and I need to find a place to live that I can afford. And I can’t afford much. But I don’t need much either. A place with room enough to plant that seed would be nice though.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Brent,
Tis the season eh! Over here today it’s windier than the dickens, blowing snow around, the tar roads are melting but the snow keeps blowing on em and I figure that could make some tricky patches on the roads. I was just outside, cleaned a pen in the barn, got done with that and figured I’d head for cover again.
Thanks for the kind words, its sure been a struggle these last few years. And I know with you folks its much worse with the barn fire and all of that. Plus your one of the people that keep pushing me, or should I say reminding me to keep going here on the blogs. I sure could do without them, takes some time away, that’s for sure, but I don’t know, sometimes things just come out.
I know I won’t be the only one praying for you folks and the mounting hardships you all are facing. There’s some good folks that stop by and read here all the time that’ll jump right in. To bad its just an internet community, but the good part is, at least there is such a thing.
Don,
Wow! That was fast. I sent out about half the seed that was on my list here. The other half will be sent out next week or so. You got the prayers too. That old snake the devil don’t have a chance with a bunch of spirit filled, devil stomping, farmer and homesteader prayer warriors getting in on the action! Us folks gotta stick together! The most important thing is you got Jesus and He got you! Glory!
Well, I’ll go stick my nose out in the wind again now
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Tom,
The local co-ops are also the best places for news - the real news. I usually come away from my visit to the co-op with all sorts of interesting tidbits, everything from farm prices to the latest soap opera happening in town. I am sure your co-ops are the same. No need to watch any soap operas (which I never do). Unfortunately the stories I hear make me realize how depraved this society has become. Stories about so and so getting senile, someone else having a drug raid on his property because he has renters who are using drugs, stories about someone else’s financial irresponsibilty, and stories about twisted, broken marriages and family relationships.
A history of my township talks about the Methodist revivals that spread through the area, along with the camp meetings that were held. A man that homesteaded part of my land eventually became a Methodist minister. We have neighbors who are descended from some of the first settlers in the area. Ancestor of these neighbors started the Methodist churche in the area. One older neighbor, whose grandfather helped start the Methodist church in our closest town, is proud that she is still attending this church. But her family is completely following the world. There is only a faint memory of true Christianity in this family. She has a granddaughter who just had a baby, but who is living with a man different from the father of the baby.
It would be wonderful to see God’s spirit spread a revival across this land.
Jim V
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Jim,
But things sure have changed over the years around here to. All the problems you wrote about we have here too. This is what I mean when I write that there’s churches in every town, but they don’t seem to do all to much good anymore. The folks come out of them the same as when they went in. Many could care less about God and living a Godly lifestyle, just go to church for show, religion, or tradition, but in the mean time they go more and more into the worldly ways until church is just that. The world.
Murky day over this way. But at least it ain’t to cold out or anything like that. I very seldom get involved with the soap opera conversations at any co-op. I don’t know, it just don’t happen all to often around me. Maybe they know that a sermon’ll be comin if they start up on the gossip trail to deeply
I envy you, having that history down your way! We don’t have that here, but our area was settled quite a while later than yours. But for some reason I do believe those old camp meeting and all will be coming back. And I do believe it will take people who are willing to sacrifice again like in the days of old. I really hope that people reading these things that I write realize how far down things have come in so many rural churches, that they are no different at all then the modern world around them. Those old time Methodists really had it together. They went out, they brought the Gospel almost everywhere where people were settling in at the time. It was that dedication to the Gospel that really built this countryside back then.
I sure would appreciate anyone having some old stories about this subject to share them here or personally e-mail me about them. This interests me more than almost anything else. Patti wrote a little bit about a long ago relative that was a circuit rider and that really caught my interest. I’m hoping someday she could share a little more about that. Revival is for a sick church, not a healthy one, and I do believe the time for revival is getting near. And one result always comes out of revival, a desire to spread the Gospel like in the Book of Acts. I’ve studied revival for the last year, I was commissioned by our pastor to dig into it in depth around a year ago and have I ever learned allot! The first generation after a true revival doesn’t get all to hepped up about denominational things, they’re to busy following God and that’s when Christianity bursts out of the walls and all over the countryside. What’s called revival today by many churches is far from the real thing. In reality its God stepping down and taking control of the church. Man made isms melt away for a time.
The one thing about all of this is, God does this when it looks hopeless, which it sure looks more and more like every day. Those old Methodist revivals were real, people flattened to the ground, not enough strength to even move many times when the power of God descended. And the end result, folks going out everywhere spreading the Gospel. Lord we need this again more than ever!