The Wilkes Team

Early Saturday morning Mom turns to us all and says, “What do you think if we put on a Farmer’s Market today?”.

We talked about it and Mom shared with us how the Lord made if very clear to her the night before that we should do a Farmers Market. Mom’s enthusiasm was very contagious! The success of it was uncertain but we decided to step out and try.

Vegetables, fruit, honey, potatoes, and craft items were prepared for display. Cinnamon rolls were baked and other goodies too!

Matthew, Daniel, and I hopped in the truck and went around and put up signs. Others busily pulled the final things together. There was so much excitement and anticipation for what might happen.

After much team work, diligence, and great encouragement from Mom we were ready to serve the public.

That morning reminded me of the need for us to be willing to step out and do whatever it is that the Lord has called us to do that day. Not knowing what the outcome may be should not stop us from following the leading of the Lord.

He calls us to simply trust Him, obey Him and leave the results in His hands. What joy and peace can come from us doing simply what He has given us the grace to do. 

          May you be encouraged to simply trust and obey the Lord and your authorities today!

Proverbs 3:5~6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

5 Comments » | posted in Family News, Farming 101

Ladders, Chain saws, blowers, shovels, chimney sweeper, truck, lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, pressure washers…What do these all have in common? The answer can be quite simple: items used to perform good wholesome labor. Yes, labor can be good, actually better then good – it can be incredible and enjoyable. It often depends on the worker’s purpose and joy…

Eleven workers "rolled up there sleeves". Their house was growing disheveled. The outside appearance was lacking crispness. The time had come to set in order and become "fixer-uppers".  All items mentioned above were utilized. Additional accoutrements were 22 hands and arms with 11 backs; creating a work force first in words but then in deeds.

With zeal, usually according unto knowledge, the workers tackled the projects put before them. To give an idea of the type of work, no tedious recitation is necessary just a brief description of the concluding appearance of the various workers. For some when work had ended, their arms and legs were speckled with both creosol and wood chips, others hopefully enjoyed but maybe endured a soaking experience from pressure washers, still others, seemed near to becoming pillars of certain minerals: not salt, only clay and sand.

In the midst of all the differences when the work had ended there was comradery around two important thoughts:

1. Encouraged by the work accomplish

2. Gratefulness for those proper times of rest

"…be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:" Haggai 2:4b

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." Hebrews 4:10

2 Comments » | posted in Family News, Home maintenance

      Joel Salatin, the owner and farmer of Polyface farms, located near Staunton VA, truly thrives in the business God has called him to. Last week, we as a family enjoyed a thrilling tour of his farm. All of us were spellbound by his creative innovations, sound philosophy of life, and practical sharing. So often farming is considered an impossible primary vocation. Joel Salatin has thought otherwise. The result of his contrary thinking is a successful agricultural enterprise, enveloped in God’s diversified creation, educating the next generation, ministering to it’s community, and helping spearhead agricultural entrepreneurship.

From my observations of Polyface Farm, I came away with a few very important principles for developing entrepreneurship in a person’s life.

The first principle is found in a fascinating aspect of Salatin’s life. It is his unfettered creativity abounding and rebounding all over his farm. Salatin has studied how God created nature to work and therefore regulates his farm according to his observations. Yet, in the midst of this regulatory process  he always is on the lookout for increasing the practicality and effectiveness of his work. One night while laying in bed, the innovative idea for a new chicken shelter erupted into his thoughts. The result was a shelter multiplying the area for chicken protection and still keeping it small enough to move around easily. This was Creativity freely working.

Another entrepreneurship principle I observed was the turning of his liabilities into assets. For example, animals, though holding the incredible asset of income, decrease the quantity of their future income by their numerous liabilities.  Medical, food, behavior etc. are just a few of them. Salatin is discovering ways to minimize these liabilities. Some of these ways are shared in the post reporting last year’s trip to Polyface.

Though there were many other principles observed ranging from the necessity for independent initiative to the creating of multiple avenues of income, I’ll just share one more. It was the principle of discipleship. At least for myself, when pondering business I can easily become wrapped up in the details and the income and completely forget the people involved. Polyface Farm has not failed in this way. Rather, Joel Salatin, has created multiple avenues in which to disciple his culture. He has both an apprenticeship  and internship, compiled numerous books on his work, speaks all over the country, and then also gives free tours to those, like us, who want to travel to his farm “in the middle of nowhere”. This is definitely the most important principle – one which should not be stalled or forgotten.

While going through the tour, Salatin shared how farming teaches so much about life, whether it’s running a government, business, or family. How true this is!   Without much thought analogies can flow, principles can form, and links can be made. We, as a family found this to be  the case through our visit.  Filled with motivation, we witnessed an enterprise established on biblical principles discipling it’s culture and a business and ministry blended  together in such a harmonious way that to dissolve one would destroy the other.

5 Comments » | posted in Family News, Farming 101

In a momentous event, occurring only 5 times in the last 20 years, the President of the United States called for a joint session of Congress this past Wednesday evening. The purpose of the session being an effort of the President to convince both Senators and Representatives along with the American people of why they should support his proposed ‘Health Care Reform.’

On this particular evening, we had the joy of fellowshipping with the Hynes Family. Both Mr. Hynes and Dad have a burden for making an impact in our nation. To this end, they are leading our families in developing Biblical perspectives on the major issues affecting our country, culture, church, and family. And healthcare fits right in. We usually spend about 15 minutes discussing different issues of the day, followed by 15 minutes of prayer, and concluding with about 30 minutes of action (ie. writing to the editor, elected official, etc).

President Obama gave his speech which we were able to listen to and take copious notes on (For the Liberty Counsel overview of HR 3200 – healthcare bill – proposed by Congress, click here). Following the address of the president, Mr. Hynes and Dad encouraged everyone to take a moment and write a letter to one of our elected Congressman.

Though sending a letter or making a phone call seems rather small and insignificant, when joined together with dozens, hundreds, and thousands of other concerned American citizens, we can make an impact. Edmund Burke said all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. We can make an impact in our nation. Why not take a few minutes and send a quick note to one of your elected representatives.

Leave a Comment » | posted in On the Issues

Take this pile of boxes out to the truck……Hooray – the closet is all packed up!……..Watch out for the wall!……..Please eat anything out of the refrigerator……Time for an assembly line…….Oh no – did you take that box out? – hold up, we need to find the box of pots…….Time to eat – Mom’s Sloppy Joes – Yum!………Incoming box! – Heads up!……Where’s Jeremiah? Let’s take this big box out – oh, there’s Jeremiah – hiding in the box .

Oh the joys and memories that come in moving. This past week, our whole family had the joy of participating in a memorable moving event. After living in Washington, D.C. upon Capitol Hill for several years, Dad’s brother and family are moving and we had the joy of helping them.

Arriving early Thursday morning, we gathered in the box filled living room for a family Bible Study. One young person, while reading, accidentally read “joyfulness lips” in exchange for “joyful lips (Ps. 63:5).” The phrase stuck and was repeated quite a few time over the ensuing days.

How encouraging it was watching both families, along with Grandpa & Grandma, work together with overflowing joy, contagious diligence, and unfaltering perseverance. Whether packing boxes, tearing down beds, assembling boxes, digging up plants, hearing stories behind some of the unique pieces of  furniture being moved, keeping the workers hydrated, watching the little ones, eating Grandma’s Angel Food cake, cleaning out the attic, drinking root beer, or simply laughing and enjoying one another, each person fulfilled their role with excellence. Both nights went quite late but smiles most certainly did not abate as everyone maintained their ‘joyfulness lips.’ We left with an abundance of memories and an even closer relationship with our relatives.

There is nothing better for a man, than that….. he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. (Eccl. 2:24).”

3 Comments » | posted in Family News