AlO—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, December 20,1980 Lancaster Farming says... •. A NAME FOR THE CHILD December 21,1980 Background Scripture: Matthew 1:8 through 2:23. Devotional Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7. Eight hundred years TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE FUTURE This tune of the year many of us are wondermg what lies ahead for agriculture and the farmer. The farm press is full of articles about the future and how the American farmer is gomg to cope with all the problems. I’m sure that we all realize there are major problems otb auras HOW fIIHJCH mONEV DO VOU HAUE ? May the gifts of peace, before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth occurred an event in Judah that the writer of Matthew would later view as a revelation of Jesus the Messiah. Ahaz was on the throne of Judah and Isaiah was God’s prophet. The tiny kindgom was once again in danger of annihilation by its enemies Syria and Ephraim, (Israel), and Ahaz and his people were struck with terror; “...his heart and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind” (Isaiah 7:2). Ask A Sign Of The Lord So God sent Isaiah to Ahaz confronting our farmers, such as high mterest rates, higher costs of all inputs, surpluses, and depressed market prices. However, we have always had problems in agriculture and no doubt they will continue in the future. On the other side of the com, we have a growing demand for most of our farm products, both domestic and abroad, and a greater recognition of the con tribution of the farmer. If all farmers will make a special effort to do a better job of management and planning, and take a positive attitude joy and love be yours to reassure imu auU ms people that they would be saved. But apparently King Ahaz was not comforted by the prophet’s words, so Isaiah says to him: "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven” (Isaiah 7:10). But Ahaz, whose faith had withered, refused to do so. Thus, Isaiah proclaimed, since Ahaz would not designate a sign, God himself would give one to him: "Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel” (7:14). Before the child should of success and survival, they will be more successful and contented. TOKEEP SMALL PIGS WARM The pork enterprise continues to be popular and one with a bright future. The finishing of hogs is very important in this part of the state and most folks have to start with small feeder pigs. During the cold winter months these small pigs must be kept warm; this often means supplemental heat in the finishing barn. If these small pigs get cold and pile up, there will be numerous health problems. Hovers over their sleeping area can help along with WisH \i)t HftO C(\OF£. tue looulp Like to send oor ev WORLD at Christmas Lancaster Farming’s management and staff reach maturity, the Lord would defeat Judah’s enemies, because Ahaz’s lack of faith, an even greater ordeal would befall him and his nation. Those who believed in God’s sign would be saved, while those who doubted would suffer greatly. We don’t know who was the “young woman” who conceived and bore a son. Some believe it was one of Ahaz’s wives, while other think it may have been the wife of the prophet. At any rate, it was a young woman known to both the prophet and the king and the con ception and birth of a child extra insulation above and around them. Temporary heat units will help in ex tremely cold weather. The important thing is not to let them get cold at any time. TO BEWARE OF MANURE PIT GASES All livestock operators with the liquid manure pit system of manure storage must be aware of the ex treme dangers of toxic gases from the pit. With proper ventilation and routine daily management there should be little trouble. However, at cleaning time there are many potential hazards. When the manure mixture is disturbed, or agitated, these gases develop rapidly and 6E£, i TAKE ' > 1 K BY CURT HARLER, EDITOR would be under cir cumstances that would make the event discernible as a sign to those with faith. “God With Us” Even more significant, however, would be the child’s name; Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us.” This was the message God was bringing his people through Isaiah: God is with you! Therefore, do not be afraid! Trust m God! The child would symbolize God’s assurance that he would save his people if they trusted in him. Eight centuries later the people of the newly-born must be regarded as lethal. Even in open-fronted hog finishing barns we have heard of the hogs above the slats being killed. This can depend upon the location of the barn and the wind direction. Extra air movement in the barn might be needed during calm weather. Along this line, it is still stongly suggested that the pits be emptied during clear, wmdy days; this is better for the animals in the barn, the farmer, and the folks in the community. Pits that are empty, or partly empty, should not be entered with out the wearing of a good respiratory system. These gases can kill man or beast. TO PLAN FOR MAXIMUM CORN ACREAGE Current reports indicate that our annual grain Farm Calendar Monday, Dec. 22 Refton Fire Hall, Rt. 222, Milk Security Act hearing, 10 7; 30 p.m. a m.. Room 309, Ag Building, Harrisburg. Thursday, Dec. 25 Bridge weights meeting, HAPPY CHRISTMAS church saw the birth of Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this event. As the birth of that unknown Bth century BC child was a sign and challenge to Judah, so the 1 birth of Jesus was a sign and challenge to the whole world that God was fulfilling his promises of old. To the people of Judah the name Emmanuel was a reminder that God would be with them in their national struggle. To Christians, however, the name Em manuel is even more meaningful, for, in this child, Jesus, God was and con tinues to be present to all who in faith receive him. production is very im- portant; with bad weather and poor grain yields we could be in serious trouble with grain inventories. Therefore, it appears that all feed grams are going to be in strong demand tor several years in the future. Com is particularly very much in demand and appears to be a crop that could be very profitable in the next several years. Our domestic demand is strong, the alcohol-making program is looking to corn for raw material, and our export demands seem very good. This all adds up to a strong demand for all the corn that we can produce Local livestock and poultry producers that need their feed grams, should plan to produce maximum amounts rather than have to buy at higher prices.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers