Sunday, December 25, 2011

What is Christmas?

Christmas is that hamlet small,
That offered haven to them all
That Judean night,
There came a light
To mend man's plight. 

Christmas is that manger worn
Wherein the Son of God lay born
For you and me
So patiently
'Mid poverty. 

Christmas is that shining star
That summoned Magi from afar
Adore this King
Gifts to Him bring
While angels sing.

Christmas is that warming glow
That in man's heart begins to grow
Till we're full of
That gift of Love
From God above. 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Who Stole Christmas From Out Of Our Town? (The Poem)

Who stole Christmas from out of our town?
Who committed that crime that brings us all down?
It wasn't overnight, it's been going on for long,
And it won't be satisfied till Christmas is gone. 

We took Him from our schools, now we'll take His  Birthday
We'll call it something else, say a Happy Holiday.
We'll take His Praise and Glory and we'll trade it for our Own
We'll worship our passions and we'll make them our home.

They can steal Him out of Town, but they can't steal our hearts
We'll worship Him forever till death do us part
And when the trumpets blow, we'll see this King again
Who was born that Silent Night, back there in Bethlehem. 

Monday, December 19, 2011

Who Stole Christmas From Out Of Our Town?

This post was written as a response to libbiali as she wrote "Wow, Louie, I don't know how things are in Canada, but I'm in California, and Christmas is alive and well here."

"Well, libbiali, It's nice to hear that Christmas is alive and well in California, but Christmas isn't doing so well here. 

I would say Christmas was doing a lot better around here 20some years ago. I remember going to town and man was the city ever dressed up! Going down a certain street there were big green and red banners  with streamers that spanned the street declaring 'Merry Christmas', huge decorated stars depicting the star of Bethlehem, nativity figurines, and wishes of peace and goodwill on earth. Just the sight of all those colorful decorations made you feel all warm and fuzzy and Christmassy. 

Now those same streets are bare but for a few sparsely spaced decorated candles and greenery on top of lamp poles. Further down the street small banners state: 'Tis The Season'. 
 Season of what? Is Christmas a bad word? Has is declined that much in importance?

Storekeepers had their stores dressed to the hilt with Christmas decorations, Overhead speakers belted out Christmas Carols and songs, O Little Star of Bethlehem and Silent Night, clerks were dressed up and extra friendly, cheerful and helpful, and every customer received a very robust and meaningful 'Merry Christmas' and answered in kind. There seemed to be a special bond between all who wished each other a 'Merry Christmas'. Excitement  filled the air, there was no doubt that this was a special holiday. 

Today these same stores are busier than ever, but the buzz is missing. You have to look hard for decorations, signs of 'Merry Christmas' and nativity figures are nonexistent. Store flyers have now inserted the word 'Holiday' where not so long ago it read 'Christmas'. It's all Holiday Savings, Holiday Stocking Stuffers, Holiday Gifts, Holiday Trees, Holiday this and Holiday that. People, what is wrong with the word Christmas? Overhead speakers now sing generic tunes for fear of offending potential customers, store policy commands check-out and courtesy clerks to wish customers 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas'.

Walking into places of business you just felt that something important was going on. Decorated Christmas trees were prominently displayed, handshakes and 'Merry Christmases' were all around, it was a special time of year and everybody was affected by Christmas. 

But alas, those times are gone, except for a few exceptions here and there, where store and business owners still hold the values of Christmas, where you can still get a warm and heartfelt 'Merry Christmas' but these places are few and far between. 

So libbiali, the Question is 'Who stole Christmas? And why?

Are we not still a Christian Country? Did not the first flag that flew on this Great Land bear a cross?

Or is it that we are now a multicultural society and do not want to offend anyone?

Or is all this just natural progression that we as a society have now accepted adultery, abortions, gay rights and gay marriages, and don't want to be reminded of Christian values shared by our founding fathers,  with the Birth of Jesus Christ : Christ-Mas, or even of His death : Easter, which has now turned into 'Spring Break' or 'Spring Holiday' , but that is the subject for a whole other rant."

Thursday, December 15, 2011

War On Christmas.

There's a war declared on Christmas
War on Nativity
War on this festive season
And all things Christmassy. 

No Christmas songs at Walmart
No Carolers at night
No wish of 'Merry Christmas'
Christmas is sanitized.

No Christmas in the classroom
No Christmas now at work
What in the World will happen next,
No Christmases at church?

We're ashamed to share His story
With our children and our peers
For fear of being old fashioned
In this Twenty First century. 

Let's reclaim this Christmas season
With all it's hope and cheer
Let's end this War on Christmas
And keep it near and dear. 

Let's greet with 'Merry Christmas'
In the stores and in the street
In the workplace and the office
To everyone we meet!

"MERRY CHRISTMAS "

Questions on Hutterites. Part 3 of 3

Q) How is success judged on a Hutterite farm? (profitability, economics, ability to grow, lifestyle, or something else?)

 A) A successful Hutterite farm could be described firstly as a place where you would want to raise your Family. Where children can be children, growing up riding horses, climbing trees, adventuring outside during the summer holidays, but also with the responsibility of certain chores such as helping in the summer garden, yard maintenance such as cleaning up or mowing grass, helping with livestock, feeding calves, gathering eggs or a many other things young people can do around the farm.... An atmosphere that is conductive to Christian life where it is as David mentioned in the Psalms 133. Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
 If we (Hutterites) can be sustainable that is all we truly want. Our goal is not necessarily to get rich; it is rather to sustain a lifestyle that is conductive to a Christian life for us and for our children.

Q) Do Hutterite colonies contribute to their local communities, and if so, how or what?

 A) Hutterites contribute to their local communities is various ways. In times of need and disaster Hutterites are more than willing to chip in, such as a local neighbor having health problems and needs to get his crop in before the snow, or  local disasters such as flooding with manpower and equipment. 
Hutterites also are regular to the Red Cross with blood donations, also charities such as the Cancer Society and the National Institute for the Blind, local hospitals, Food-grains Bank and also international disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti. 
 You will also find many Hutterites on local volunteer fire departments and first responder teams. 

Q) Is there lessons which non Hutterite farmers can learn from a Hutterite farm? Something that you feel non Hutterite farmers could benefit by doing?

 A) Other than pooling our labour and property we have no big advantage over other farms. We pay taxes, are price takers when we buy and sell commodities like all other farmers. I believe farmers could get together and form a buying company to purchase multiple pieces of equipment or other farm inputs.
 Farming is what we want to do, however  it is tough adjusting ones heart and mind to the fact that it may not be possible and or profitable to do so. We understand very well that for the Hutterite community to sustain an agriculture livelihood, there will be challenges and up hill battles, just like for anyone else.  With farming and the challenges that we face  we recognize that more  proactive planning will be necessary i.e. Cost of production, future marketing, working with consultants.

Q) Any other points you would like to make in this story about Hutterite farm operations? Any thing else you feel is important Country Guide readers should know about Hutterites?

  A) In conclusion I'd like to say that we too are human and an imperfect people who from time to time make mistakes and we certainly don’t claim to be utopian, really we are all the same just living out the challenge in different ways. We labor, worship, relax, chat and have fun, wanting to live in peace with our loved ones, as well as our neighbors. I would like for my fellow man  to know it is these similarities of the human existence that unites us. We are all God's children looking for ways to support each other through life's journey. When we behave this way we feel more connected to our Creator and that is truly the only way to experience any degree of freedom. Isn't that what you would want for your children?

 Hutterites are a mosaic part of the multicultural Canada and we are thankful to call it our Home and Native land, Thankful for our freedom of Faith and livelihood. It also helps that Canada is the best country in the entire world.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Decision Making On A Colony.

Q) How are marketing decisions made on a colony? (when do we sell, at what 
price etc)

A) The key here is to know your cost of production, your break even prices and try selling into a rising market. Marketing decisions vary from colony to colony depending on financial situations, bin space and cash flow, and is the financial managers decision with input from the frontbenchers.  The key is not to get too greedy.

Q) How are production decisions make on a colony ( what crops to plant, when 
to purchase equipment, inputs etc.)

A) Hutterite colonies have different levels of decision making, but 
virtually no decision is made alone.
There are the front benchers, who consist of the minister, financial manager, field manager and one or two advisors, and the backbenchers which consist of all baptized male members. The elders have a brief meeting every workday morning to discuss things like the days plans and activities. Subjects are first brought up at these everyday meetings.
  Deciding what to plant and level of input is the field bosses decisions with input from these meetings. 
 Equipment purchasing is also discussed and prices from various dealers are then gathered by the financial manager.
 Major decisions, (like equipment upgrades and purchasing)  are then made at a general meeting with all members attending and providing input,  preferences, pros and cons.

Q) What are the strengths or advantages of a Hutterite farm operation?

A) Being interdepentent, Working together, the community is more important than any individual. There is no room for selfishness. Marketing and promoting our product as, fresh with good quality, adding value rather than shipping the raw products, i.e. processing meat.
Other strengths or advantages would be the willingness to share the workload, which provides the labour force needed for farming. Also important is a willingness to share a vision where the profits go towards a common good, such as caring for the elderly, widowed and disabled, while providing a stable, somewhat sheltered upbringing for the young, and providing for future generations.
Our goal is not necessarily to get rich, it is rather to sustain a lifestyle 
that is conductive to a Christian life for us and for our children. 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Questions on Hutterian Brethren and their unique way of life.

I will be posting a series of questions posed by Country Guide magazine in attempt to gain insight into the Hutterian Brethren. The responses are compiled by the famous Paul Vetter and myself. Comments are welcome along with any further questions you may have. Louie. 


Q1) I realize that a colony is subject to the same weather, production, and 
market variables as any farm so there are good years and bad years, as well as some colonies are more successful than others. But overall I personally believe colonies in general are as successful if not more so than most farms. What factors contribute to making Hutterite farms such successful farming operations?

 A) There are approximately 31000 Hutterites in Canada, with 340 Colonies that are made up of approx 18 families each, who farm  an average of 8800 acres per colony which divides into 490 acres per family. That is not enough acres per family (farm) to be sustainable with today's machinery. On a colony, since there are more than enough operators, equipment costs are minimized by sharing fewer pieces of machinery. 
 Also with that many families on those few acres, Hutterites have the ability to be self-sustainable in many areas. With food; they are able to raise and process their own beef, pork, poultry, dairy etc. On farm carpenters, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, welders take care of building and repair needs. The ladies can full time moms, homemaking, housekeeping, cooking, canning, etc.

2) Well managed farms usually have goals or objectives they want to achieve and that the farm manager uses to judge the success of the farm. Do Hutterite colonies set goals for the farm and if so, what are they?

A) Some Colonies work close with financial advisers, keep good records and are continually monitoring the cost of production. The goals Hutterites colonies set are very simple ones. Our whole objective is to put a roof over our head and food on the table. Like any other Family farm we are consciously aware and pay attention to planning They are not the get-rich quick type; retire, build a mansion or travel the world to enjoy or savor the fruits of a hard well-earned career or  endeavor . No, its about leaving the colony (land and barns) in better shape than we first got them for the next generation. Preferably in a environmentally friendly and sustainable way, for we are working with God's creation (the land, earth) and we respect and honor that. Yes, its all about caring for our children and children's children.

3) Is there a farm business strategy common to most colonies that is 
typically followed?

A) As a general rule, yes. The basic Hutterites model is mixed farming, 
consisting of dairy, beef, poultry, hogs and agricultural land. But we have to take into consideration that some colonies are situated in areas that may better suited for let's say farming, or ranching, or closer to certain markets such as a hog slaughtering plants, oil field manufacturing or other opportunities.

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