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“Alternative to the Mess we’re In”

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 Dear friend,   “Alternative to the Mess we’re In” 17/08/30
At the Bureau county Fair I gave out flyers saying, “Making peace with Isis Nonviolently” and added “alternative to the mess we’re in.” The change in response after I started to add the latter was a very heartening. Instead of taking the flyer as usual somewhat reluctantly, “people often responded with “I’ll read that”, “you’re right, It sure is a mess”, “thank you!,” and thus taking the flyer much more enthusiastically.”

Therefore I gave out about 200 more than last year therefore a total of about 500 this year. I see this as a hopeful sign people are looking for another way.  What is the church providing?  I added at times “we have been doing the same thing for 15 years and expect different results. Some call it Insanity.”

 One lady responded “I just read your flyer, you are a good writer, I will be thinking about it.”


 How is it going in the Police Dept.? I ask Jim Reed the Bureau County Sheriff.  Jim answered, “Very good over all”.  I questioned, “Do you use video cameras?” Jim replied “We have them in the cars but not on the officers. They are very expensive, wish we had the money.”  I responded “You know if we weren’t spending 1.8 million a minute for military you would have plenty for that.” He replied, “That is a good point.” Here’s the sheriff and I.

Since Plow Creek Fellowship where we lived for over 25 years is dissolving. I helped one of the sister’s move. That was very painful for all of us. In spite of that sadness it is helpful to remember all the good experiences that time have been for our family and for many other people.
The farm will become a nonprofit to work on world hunger called “Hungry World Farm”.
  An interesting side note: A fellow I met at the fair is writing a book about the origin of John Deere Tractor Company. When I mentioned to him the story I heard about how the plow was invented in the barn at Plow Creek Farm he was very interested. This led him to visit the Tiskilwa Historical Society. I than took him to see and photography our barn.
The story is that the fellow who invented the plow, refused to patent it because he wanted it to be of free access to anyone.  John Deere then patented it.
Continue to pray for peace, for as one person said to me “I fear Trump is going to take us into war.”

Jim

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