FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I found this on a Facebook Post

Today at Good Neighbors I was approached by a woman telling me how offended she was that we ask that she pay $2 in order to come to our farmers market. She was clearly very angry and very aggressive in her comments holding nothing back. She said that she has lived all over the United States and has never before been asked to pay a dime and that we are the only Market in Central Florida that asks for money. I let her know that I did understand where she was coming from and tried to explain that it takes a great deal of effort to put on such a weekly event and that we spend over $2500 a week in payroll in order to do so. I tried to explain that we are not a city funded market and that each and every dollar that comes into the farm goes to run the farm. I tried to explain that when we average 30 vendors during the summer and we charge 25 dollars per vendor, that we only take in 750 dollars a week. I tried to explain that 750 dollars a week doesn't even come close to covering payroll much less anything else on the farm. When I tried to explain that other markets take place on city property with the city paying for maintenance, taxes, insurance, labor, etc, etc, she then, almost violently yelled out, “WELL DO IT SOME WHERE ELSE THEN”, to which I didn't quite understand what she meant and had no response for; when suddenly my Nephew replied in my stead, “well we can do that, where is this free land your talking about”. The women then replied angrily that we “are stealing from people and from farmers by making people pay $2”. To this I politely replied, “Well if we don't have enough money to pay for expenses, how are we to put on a farmers market in the first place”. I asked her, “who is to mow, who is to mulch, who is to feed the animals, who is to trim the trees, repair the fences, fix the tractors, etc, etc, etc,”. I then asked her if she had a job. She replied quite proudly that she did and she has held her job for 28 years as an anesthesiologist. I asked her if she works for free or does she charge for her anesthesiology services; to which she said “YES OF COURSE I CHARGE PEOPLE”. This is the part of the story that takes a turn for the worse and really underlines the problem with peoples perceptions of farmers in today's culture. She said she went to school for her job and “deserves” to get paid for her services; she then said very loudly “IT DOESN'T TAKE AN EDUCATION TO THROW DOWN A BIT OF MULCH AND MOW A LITTLE GRASS, THERE'S NO REASON YOU HAVE TO CHARGE $2”. This is the part that hit home the most. I have often heard fellow farmers and ranchers refer to themselves as “just a dumb farmer”; of which I didn't quite understand what they meant, as I know it takes a great deal of brains, common sense and intelligence to run a successful farming operation of any kind. Today I finally got what they were trying to say. Through experience, they understood that people looked at farmers as being dumb. We as a society, wonder why there are fewer and fewer farmers around. Its because the public in general doesn't value their services enough to care about them. How can someone understand why $2 needs to be collected when they consider the person asking for it to be worthless and ignorant. Would this lady have said, “it doesn't take an education to pick an ear of corn, or to pick a head of lettuce” in the same way she dismissed someones work in mending a fence or shearing a goats hooves? Probably. What the lady failed to understand today is that if it wasn't for a farmer somewhere on planet earth, she wouldn't be alive. The irony of her remarks is that she is putting her life in the hands of someone she considers dumber than herself. Farmers can survive on their knowledge, the question she should be asking herself is can she survive on her knowledge. I sure hope for Americas sake that these type people we call neighbors, are able to rethink their positions on who is valuable and who is not, before it's too late. Nothing in this world is free, that includes your choice of what you eat. If this means something to you, please share it.
Sincerely, Just a dumb farmer.

Taking Care of the Widows and Orphans

by Rodney Christian

Let me share a powerful testimony with all of my friends. I got a call from a gentleman that asked me for a price on a new 2015 Honda CRV including all taxes and fees. A week later this gentleman showed up at my job with a $24,000 cashiers check, a name, and a contact number. He said this person had 4 kids, a broken down vehicle and too many other problems. He said he chose my dealership because it was on Zion Blvd and me because my last name was Christian. Called the woman and after finally convincing her that is was not a hoax, she got a ride from Carrollton GA. When she arrived and after tons of tears, she went into more details about her situation. She lost her husband a month ago to a heart attach on their daughters birthday. She has no idea who the gentleman is and I have sworn not to tell. All I could say was look at God work.

Accept Jesus???

by Sam Rose

We are not told to accept Jesus Christ.....We are told to Obey and Love Him!
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Accept Jesus???
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We don't accept Jesus into our hearts, we better hope and pray He will accept us!
Try to go for a interview to get a job and tell the boss that you accept him,
RIIIIGHT, that will work huh?
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So how does dust ( men or women ) go to The Lord and say i have decided I will accept you into my heart? Most so-called christian sayings of today are against God and His word, while they make men sound like they are above God and He is here to serve them. There will be a lot of surprises on the day of judgement when people find out that God is not their vending machine and they are not in control.
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Job 33:26
Then he will pray to GOD, and HE will ACCEPT him,
That he may see His face with joy,
And He may restore His righteousness to man.
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2 Samuel 24:23
Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your GOD ACCEPT you.”
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Ezekiel 20:40
For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will ACCEPT THEM and there I will seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things.
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Ezekiel 43:27
When they have completed the days, it shall be that on the eighth day and onward, the priests shall offer your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will ACCEPT you,’ declares THE LORD GOD.”
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Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, which is your spiritual service of worship.
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Romans 14:3
The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for GOD has ACCEPTED him.
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Romans 14:18
For he who in this way serves Christ is ACCEPTABLE TO GOD and approved by men.
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1 Timothy 2:2-4
for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and ACCEPTABLE in the SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

Remember . . .

by Tricia Pollok

Interestingly, the very last 3 verses in the "Old" Testament say this:

"Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YHVH . And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:4-6

Do we honestly think that our Father would say "REMEMBER the Law of Moses" 3 verses before we turn the page to the "New" Testament only to then begin reversing the commandments in the Law of Moses? Sometimes I wish I could rip out that blank page between the "Old" and "New" Testaments in every Christian's Bible to show them it is one book, not two, and that none of it is "Old".

If YHVH doesn't change, then how can we think He would tell us NOT to forget Moses' Law and then believe that Yeshua (Jesus) came to "fulfill" the Law so that we CAN forget it? Yeshua fulfilled the Law to fully preach and demonstrate how to live it out as the fruit of our salvation, and to live in righteousness, since breaking it is sin as defined in 1 John 3:4. Who was YHVH telling to remember Moses? Only those ancient Israelites? No. He was telling US to remember Moses and in the very next verse He talks about the Great and Dreadful Day of YHVH. Has that occurred yet?

Something to think about. Seek the Truth.

No Slackers

by Jeannie Wood Ladd

YHVH has ALWAYS required something of us. That's what free will is all about.

He doesn't have robots in His Kingdom, but rather those who would choose HIS Way, not their own.

When He placed Adam in the garden, Adam had a job to do, just as we all still do have a job to do.

His Kingdom is NOT for slackers or the sluggard, but for those who are willing, by their own free choice to DO as He commands.

Yeshua used many parables to illustrate that we are to DO something.
Here is just one:

Matthew 25:4-29

"For it is like a man going from home, who called his own servants and delivered his possessions to them.
And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, and went from home.
And he who had received the five talents went and worked with them, and made another five talents.
In the same way, he with the two also, he gained two more.
But he who had received the one went away and dug in the ground, and hid the silver of his master.
And after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
And he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
And his master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Then he who had received two talents came and said, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And the one who had received the one talent also came and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed,
and being afraid, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
And his master answering, said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
Then you should have put my silver with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to him who possesses ten talents.
For to everyone who possesses, more shall be given, and he shall have overflowingly; but from him who does not possess, even what he possesses shall be taken away".

Poured Out

by Timothy Kubo

In middle school a teacher handed out different products and asked the students to squeeze out all of the contents. Once everything was out of each container the teacher asked the students to put the contents back into the containers. As hard as the students tried, they just couldn't do it. The teacher said "In the moment, you were so consumed with what you were doing that you didn't realize the mess you were making. Then, after it was so quickly and easily poured out, you realized it was impossible to put it all back in. Remember this for the rest of your lives when it comes to words that come out of your mouth."

Humbling

                                                  by Tony Biggs

This is Jesse, he is a drifter who lives near the bridge in my area. He owns nothin but a bike, a bird and a bag of about 10 items! 
Yesterday, while I was riding my bike down around the beach - which is about 5km from my house - I got a flat tyre. I had no choice but to turn around and wheel my bike the long walk home.
A few people rode past and didn't really pay me any attention and I didn't expect them too, but as I started walking, headphones in my ears, I noticed the homeless guy from under the bridge saying something to me. At first I thought he was going to ask me for something so I popped my headphones out and asked him what he wanted? He then replied "I don't want anything bra but I've got a new tube in my bag and you can have it if ya want !" Shocked at first I said no thanks but he insisted. So I walked over to his little clearing where he had his things and his pet bird sat in a busted cage.
He opened up his empty bag and gave me the tube (which was one of the very few things he had) helped me change the tyre, even pumped it up! I asked him how I could pay him back and he said to me "don't worry about it bra, this is what it's all about!"
The enormity of his situation and the fact that he went out of his way to help me was so humbling, I mean this guy was willing to give me his stuff and didn't want anything in return. To you and I, a bike tube would probably not mean much but to a guy with so little this item must hold enormous value!
I could go on and on about how selfless this guy was to give me, a total stranger, clearly in a much better position than him some of his possessions, while people like us are so selfishly attached to all our useless crap.
Anyway I just wanted to show you a pic of Jesse with his new Versace lenses, some fresh Sneakers, a full belly and a cold beer... Felt good to do something for the bloke. I also went up to woollies and got him a couple weeks worth of food and some seed for his bird lol...
Man he was ecstatic even had tears in his eyes and couldn't thank me enough, but amidst me sitting there proud of my good deed, and him singing me praises, I suddenly felt pretty bad because the truth is if he didn't go out of his way to help me, I wouldn't of done anything for him.
I ride past this guy all the time and never even think twice!
Really knocked me off my high horse!
Even tho we sit around with all our materialistic needs and pass judgment, this dude has something that none of us can buy!
I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks for the lesson in humanity champ!