The land as I see it.

I told you there was more to come.
As I see it the land is divided into 3 kinds of dirt. Sand which grows very little and when it does it is for a very short season. Sand does not hold water and does not feed life into plants. The second is clay or mud which is so sticky that when it dries it
forms a crust. This is good for clay pots and water jugs but not for growing things, however it is very useful. And very good for constuction etc.
Then there is soil. Soil is full of life, it contains life and gives life. Because of it's life giving properties I consider it to be one of God's great gifts to man. One of the interesting things about soil to me is that in order for something to become Part of the life giving soil, it must die.
Really good soil is full of things that were once alive but now are dead. But through their death they feed and nourish new life. Good rich soil produces a rich variety of God's great gifts to us. Good soil is full of both large and microscopic living organisms. And the remains of things that were once alive. Good soil is just like life. It works to find balance.

Reading Matthew 13:23 encourages me to continue to live the life that God lays down before me to live. And encourages me to continue to create in my life a rich soil of joy for Jesus, so that those who are near me will know that God is real.
Love you guys.
Robert

Soil in the Garden

Last fall I had begun a large pile of leaves and cut grass with the plans to plant a crop of potatoes this spring. But spring got the better of me and that plan went with a few others. I tend to let go of things that are not a real priority. Relationship is a high priority. The rest is just fluff.
But a few weeks ago I decided to throw a few bean seeds into the over sized compost pile and just see what came up. No my middle name is not " Jack". That was a weekend that we had recieved flower transplants from a family friend so I was deep into the farming and planting mode. From what I am seeing we should have some monster bean plants, if past experience of growing direct into the compost is any indicator.
Stay with me I'm going somewhere with this but I have to go now.
I will follow with my thinking on this subject soon.
Robert

Tools in the Garden

A few years back my daughter was on a mission trip in the Orient. When she returned, she gave me a hand tool that I will always cherish. What she gave me may not seem like much but I consider it huge when you put it in God's perspective. She brought me a hand forged machete knife. Now hand molding metal is not an easy task even in the best of conditions, but to have a blade made to by a man in the bush makes it even more remarkable. It has perfect balance just us one would expect from a tool with knowledge handed down from one generation to another. The culture and existance of this tribe depends on
the sharing of this knowledge for day to day living. No John D.s or mega sales from Home D. here, just solid oral tradition.
I knew exactly what I had been given. This was a gift from one father to another, brought to me by my daughter from half way around the globe. When I work in the garden, I like the quiet. I am always glad when I can turn off the lawn mower.
Working in the quiet of the garden with simple tools, listening to wild birds, witnessing Gods creation, and living by the traditions He has handed doen to us, is the best. This is His world we live in.

My Second Home.

I seem to have created. Oh my gosh I've stirred up a mess for my self. Just to be clear, My plan is to continue to write for the EDGE....that is when I am drawn to some really meaty stuff that I feel the need to throw out to you guys. And the world I guess. But with Janet's help, God bless her ( really folks she is great) ...... I have also set my self up on this Blog so that I can just be creative and test the waters in the world of writing. So forgive me for being a little to impulsive about moving. I am an artist. We run with brushes.

I'm still in sugar shock from the 4th. I hope you all had a day of great freedom.
This week-end I plan to go back to the garden and transplant flowers that may some day become beautiful photographs.
I am a lucky man.

Bob.

Freedom

So what really is freedom?
Where does freedom start? Where does it end? and who except our all mighty God can be trusted with the freedoms we hold dear to our hearts.
Can there be freedom with out rules ? I don't think so.
After having spent a full day with two boys 5 and 7 years old I learned a lot about freedom.
It was so much fun to dig in the dirt and play in the garden, play with the simple things that we have been given. Even a broken leaky hose became
a joy on a hot summer day.
But the day even with all the love and joy and freedom came with rules. No running in and out of the house. No hammers to the head. Stay where I can see you.
I think that that is the way that God feels about us.
These are my commandments. If you live by them then you can have all the freedom you desire. Well that seems O.K.. Right?
But the problem comes just as I found out the other day that the commandments seem easy enough, but then what about this and what about that.
And God says " I have told you how to live " and you will have plenty to do and you will be content. But then our flesh starts to itch and we begin to squirm and we see that the gate is open. Oh maybe it would be so nice to view things from the other side. Do I dare ? Who will notice.?
So what really is freedom.

My New Home

In order to to maintain creative ( insane ) order, I have removed my self from " The Edge" and now will be writing
on my own. This blog will continue to ask questions, press at the walls , and try to open the prison door that we
some times find our selves in. Be prepared to be challenged by the things that drive me crazy, and or make me wonder.
Glad to have my own farm. As a husband, father, small business owner, American, pet owner, dreamer. I plan to enjoy my self and find better mental health by sharing with the people I love. Please sit back and don't be afraid to drive the plow back to the barn if you see rain coming, and by the way the sheep love to get out of the fence. There is always work to do, so be sure to find time to sit in the shade. That tree could blow over in the next storm. And there are alway hungery hands to feed.

Enjoy the Forth. And remember. This is God's place, not ours.