AlO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 21, 1991
OPINION
The Christmas Story
And it came to pass m those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be tax
ed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was gover
nor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own
city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of
David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great
with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days
were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room
for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by nignt. And, 10, the
angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the
angel said unto them. Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tid
ings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
bom this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host prais
ing God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with
haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a
manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad
the saying which was told them concerning the child. All they
that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by
the shepherds.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them
hath the light shined.
For unto us a child is bom, unto us a son is given; and the
government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlast
ing Father, The Prince of Peace.
“Togetherness” Very Refreshing
One of the most impressive displays of farmer leadership and
farmer support of that leadership has come out of Lancaster Red
Rose DHIA’s quest for autonomy in the state centralization pro
cess. The concern of these leadership committee members has
revolved around the fact that Red Rose has a very effective and
efficient program. Red Rose leaders do not want to see the coun
ty program slip backward for any reason.
No one can really blame these leaders for this concern. Con
sider that Red Rose has more than 58,000 cows on lest in more
than 1,100 herds. This makes their organization one of the
largest units in the nation. In addition, the organization is run by
a good manager, Jay Mylin, and has 19 supervisors and addi
tional helpers, many of whom have received efficiency honors
and many who have 25 to 40 years of service as Red Rose
supervisors.
Also consider that the production level of Lancaster herds
increased almost 1,000 pounds of milk in the last testing year
and the number of herds over 20,000 pounds of milk doubled.
Red Rose showed a margin of $3,000 fpr the year has equity
of $49,000.
Because of these facts, the Red Rose leadership looked at
other options that would keep their organization together. In the
process, conflicts arose-conflicts that the Lancaster leadership
never really wanted or intended to happen.
Now, National DHIA rules and contracts have come into
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
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by
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Stetnman Enferprm*
Robert G Campbell General Manager
Everett R Newswanger Managing Editor
Cepyrlfht IMI toy Lancaster Fsrmlnf
question, all because Red Rose leaders simply want to do what
they believe is best for their members.
The affirmation that surfaced from the membership at the Red
Rose annual meeting last week was heart warming. When Curtis
Akers led the resolution of support for the board and committee,
members showed a “togetherness” in organization that may
have been unprecedented in the history of the dairy industry.
The unity of puipose was clearly evident.
This level of leadership and responsible effort to represent
membership is very refreshing.
To Pick Up
Parmer’s Tax Guides
The 1991 version of the Far
mer’s Tax Guide published by the
Internal Revenue Service is avail
able at your local extension office.
Now is an excellent time to pick up
your copy and begin planning this
year’s taxes.
Some important changes which
the IRS points out on the front cov
er include:
• The standard mileage rate for
business use of cars or pickups has
been increased to 27.5 cents per
mile.
• The self-employment tax rate
for the year is 15.3 percent of
which 12.4 percent is for Social
Security and 2.9 percent is for
Medicare.
•In 1991, the first $53,400
worth of income is subject to
Social Security.
Every farmer should take time
to read the tax guide. It alerts you
to information you will want to
consider when you fill out your
return or will want to discuss with
your tax preparer.
To Prepare For
Safe Winter Driving
Winter is here! According to
some people, this could be the col
dest and snowiest winter we will
have in recent years.
It is always a good idea to have a
winter emergency kit for your car.
Items for this kit would include an
ice scraper with a brush on one
end, snow shovel, jumper cables,
blankets and extra clothing, flash
light with extra batteries, abrasive
material (cat litter, sand, traction
mat, etc.), brightly colored cloth to
signal for 1 help, and first aid sup
plies. This kit will be very helpful
in dealing with a winter-weather
related emergency.
"Vwy £myone
Bud The vepy To fto, in JffJl "
: 4* $
To Consider Holiday
Safety Tips
The Christmas season finds us
celebrating a very important event
in the Christian faith.
We do this in a variety of ways.
One way is by decorating our
homes. Make sure you are follow
ing good safety practices. Make
sure your tree lights have the UL
seal.
When buying new lights, con
sider purchasing miniature tree
lights since they generate much
less heat and use less energy. Do
not run extension cords under car
pets. Do not use outdoor lights
A LITTLE
LESS THAN GOD
December 29, 1991
Background Scripture:
Psalms 8.
Devotional Reading: John
1:1-18.
Both the commentaries I con
sulted indicate that Psalm 8 ongi
nally belonged to the evening ser
vice in the temple, when those
standing in the court of the temple
could see the night sky. I can well
understand how the Psalmist felt
when he said these words for the
first time:
0 Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is thy name in all the earlh!
Often when I look into the night
sky and see all those pin-points of
light, when I realize what a small
part of the solar system we are,
and even more, what a tiny speck
is our galaxy in the whole uni
verse, those words come to me as
they did to him. It is then that I
realize that my denominational
loyalties, withered and picketed
by my uninspired human imagina
tion. It takes the vastness of a
night sky, the fascination of sdll
another universe revealed by a
microscope, or the wonder mir
rored in a newborn baby’s face to
lead me beyond my prosaic under
standing of just how majestic are
the finger prints of God in the
world. I can see, let alone those
evidence in the world I cannot see
or imagine.
BIG THOUGHTS
And then, when I have thought
those big, big thoughts, and tned
to sec where 1 cannot see, some
thing makes, trie look from the
heavens to myself and say:
When I look at thy heavens,
the work of thy fingers.
The moon and the stars which
thou has established;
indoors because they usually bum
hotter.
Turn off lights before going to
bed or leaving the house. Make
sure your tree is watered every
day. Keep portable heaters away
from decorations. Do not overload
circuits on your household wiring
system. Remember, electricity
generates heat and, under certain
situations, this heat may become
hot enough to start a fire.
By following these safety rules
you will be reducing your chances
of lire. Also, it would be a good
idea to check your smoke alarm
and replace the battery. If you do
not have smoke alarms in your
house, I would strongly recom
mend you place them on your
Christmas list. Smoke alarms do
save lives.
Do have a safe and joyous holi
day season.
Feather Profs Footnote: "No
person was ever honored for what
he received. Honor has been the
reward for what he gave." Cal
vin Coolidge.
What ts man that thou art
mindful of him,
and the son of man that thou
dost care for him?
Two thoughts that seem irre
concilable: the majesty of God
and the seeming insignificance of
our human nature. The gap
between God and our human
nature must be greater than the
length and breadth of the
universe!
That is when I am always
brought up short with the words of
the Psalmist:
Yet thou hast made him little
less than God,
and dost crown him with
glory and honor.
"A little less than God"? No,
even allowing for poetic license, is
it not audacious to say "a little less
than God"?
ROYAL CROWNED
Yes it is audacious, but still,
according to the Psalmist, it must
be said. Just so that we do not miss
his point, he goes on to say that we
are crowned "with honor and
glory." Only kings and queens are
thus crowned and the Psalmist is
thus telling us that each and every
one of us is royally in the order of
God's creation.
We may not have any trouble
believing in the royalty of presi
dents, kings diplomats, artists,
thespians, sports superstars, enter
tainers. captains of industry, but
that isn't what the Psalmist is say
ing. He is saying that to be a
human being, a creature of God, is
to occupy a place of royalty in the
created order.
Wonderful! Yes, but also inti
midating, for if that is the way
God has created us, if he has given
us "dominion over the works of
thy hands," and "hast put all things
under his feet," each and every
one of us needs to recognize this
divine potential and begin to live
up to it while there is yet time to
do so.
"O Lord, our Lord, how majes
tic is thy name in all the earth!"
And how great is the potential you
have given us!