AlO-Uncwtr FanrtnO, Saturday, March 13 1993 OPINION 4-H Week Is Time To Join Many 4-H members leam things that help them in later life. In fact, some very famous people were in 4—H clubs as youth. Orville Redenbacher, popcorn magnate; Reba McEntire, singer; Johnny Bench, baseball star, Harold Poling, Ford Motor Com pany chairman and Vice President A 1 Gore, Jr., to name a few. But mostly ordinary people benefit from the variety of 4-H programs and opportunities now available through extension. Dr. Robert Lewis, professor of 4-H and youth development at Penn State, says youth in 4-H leam and grow by completing projects in activities they’re interested in. “Along with practical skills, 4-H’ers acquire good work habits, responsibility, business skills, cooperation and sportsmanship,” Lewis said. “By setting goals and making plans to reach them, 4 —H’ers leam to make decisions and use lime efficiently. In the course of each activity, they gain experience in public speaking by demonstrating their new skills and giving oral reports to their clubs. “4—H not only helps youth grow personally, but also prepares them to help lead their communities. It’s hard for young people to develop leadership skills if they never get to lead. 4—H provides opportunities for them to practice being leaders in a variety of situations,” Lews said. The week of March 15 to 21 has been designated Pennsylvania 4-H week. Since the late 1970’5, this week has marked the start of a new 4-H program year. Local clubs enroll new members and prepare for the year ahead. Since this program, coordinated by Penn State Cooperative Extension through the local county offices, benefits so many people, we suggest that if you have youth between the ages of 8 and 19, encourage them to join 4-H this year. We’re sure they will find some program of interest that will help them expand their skills for life. Farm Calendar Fourth annual Forest Stewardship Landowners Workshop, Allen Hall, Mansfield U., 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Bradford County Lawn and Gar den Workshop, Stall Resource Center, Wysox, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Grapevine Pruning Training and Pest Control, Naylor Wine Cel lars, Stewarlstown, 10 a.m-noon, continues March 20. -Ag’s ann.- 1 Pink Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.-noon and 7 p.m.-lO p.m. Pa. Landowners meeting, Lancas ter Farm and Home Center, 7 p.m. Green Thumb Gardening Clime, Wayne Co. Extension, Court house, Honesdale, 7:30 the Christmas Tree business. Weed Control In Christmas Tree Plantings, UNILEC Building, Dußois, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Delmarva Safety Seminar, Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, Salisbury, Md., thru March 17. Swine meeting, Line Mountain High School, 7:30 p.m. York Co. IPM Workshop, exten sion office, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lancaster Co. Holstein Tour to Doyleslown, Easton, Kempton, and Robesonia, leaves Farm and Home Center, 7:45 a.m. Eastern Milk Producers Meeting, Hers hey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey. Westmoreland Co. pesticide update meeting, Greensburg extension office, 7:30 p.m.-9:45 p.m. Central Md. Beef Management Short Course, Eldcrsberg Publ ic Library, 7:30 p.m.-9:45 p.m., continues March 23 and 30. Wednesday March 17 National An Week St. Patrick’s Day Tri-County Agronomy School, Gratz Fire Co. Hall, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. United Dairy Cooperative Ser vices annual meeting. United’s office, Seneca Falls, N.Y., 10:30 a.m. Cecil Co. Md. Pasture Manage ment Series, extension office, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Lancaster Conservation District annual banquet, Yoder’s Restaurant, New Holland, 7 p.m. Penn Manor Adult Education Program, pesticide safety, Penn Manor H.S., 6:30 p.m. Wayne Co. Wool Growers Associ ation annual dinner, Aldenville Baptist Church, 7 p.m. Chester Co. Holstein Tour to Col umbia, Lycoming, and Sullivan counties, from Dick Hostetler’s farm, 7:15 a.m. Montgomery Co. DHIA/Holstcin banquet, Towamencin Fire Hall, 6:45 p.m. To Salute Agriculture Week March 14 through March 20 has been proclaimed Agriculture Week. This week recognizes Pennsyl vania’s diverse food and agricul tural industry. Its cash income gen erates $3.8 billion each year and an additional $3B billion in related economic activity. Twenty percent of the common wealth’s work force is engaged in agriculture. Agriculture Week gives us the opportunity to remind people of the extraordinary food system we have. It is a system that is known for variety, abundance, dependability, and quality. Americans spend ten percent of their disposable income on food compared to 60 and 70 percent in some other countries. However, if we begin to take this system for granted, we are in great danger of losing it. As Eastern Europe is trying to learn how to build a modem agri culture system like ours, we need Fayette Co. annual meeting, Shady Side Inn, Unionlown, 7 p.m. Mercer Co. Sheep and Wool Growers meeting, Trinity Pre sbyterian Church, Mercer, 6:30 meeting, Radisson Hotel Pitts burgh, Monroeville, thru March 2Q Saturday March 20 National An Week Sprinn Ik'nins National Aj> Day Agricultural Industry Dinner, John M. Clayton Hall, University of Delaware, Newark, 6 p.m. Women and Horses Inaugural Conference and National Tour, Cook Center, Cook College Campus, New Brunswick, N.J. Grapevine Pruning Training and Pest Control, Naylor Wine Cel lars, Stewartslown, 10 a.m-noon. Home Horticultural Seminar, Veg etables For All, Farm and Home Center, 7 p.m.-9;30 p.m. Farm Safely Series, North Jackson Large Dairy Herd Conference, Embers Inn and Convention Center, Carlisle, thru March 24, Pesticide Safety, Farm and Home Center, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Pesticide Label Changes For ’93, Farm and Home Center, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Clarion Co. Farm Safety Demon stration, Clarion Co. Park, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. (Turn to Pag* A3B) to understand why they need to rebuild their agriculture system and not repeat their mistakes. The agricultural industry must con tinue to develop new ideas, con cepts, and technological advance ments so it may continue to pro vide quality products in abundant supply. So, this coming week take time and tell people the importance of agriculture and be proud you are a part of this large industry. To Check Corn In Storage Last fall a lot of com went into storage at high moisture levels after outside temperatures had dropped. As long as the storage tempera ture stayed cool, this com may have been stored successfully. However, as outside and storage temperatures increase this spring, these stored masses of com may start heating and spoiling. To minimize the risk of increased spoilage, try to feed out the com before warm weather sets in. Or, after temperatures rise, dry it down by aeration. The use of drying fans, spreading it out to dry, | BORN AGAIN? | i March 14,1993 Background Scripture: John 3:1-21. Devotional Reading: John 3:22-36. There is hardly any human experience that cannot be trivial ized by human systematization. While rituals are important and valid for human life, there is always the danger of reducing experience to a ritual or formula. Particularly in the realm of the spirit. While it is understanable that we should want to hold on to and repeat our spiritual highs, it is arrogant and even blasphemous for us to assume that we can write rules and specifications for them. In a sense, it is telling God that he must do it “this way” and no other. God intends for us to experience these things, not to package and merchandise them. We need to keep that in mind when we approach the matter of being “bom again.” Few human experiences have ever been so systematized than the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus. It is ironic that this experience of regeneration should serve to divide so many Christians. Some wear it proudly as a badge of their spiritual superiority. Others shun it because of their discomfort with those who have advertised them selves as “bom again.” The prob lem is not with being “born again,” but what people try to make of that experience. THE OLD ORDER The story of Jesus and Nicode mus in John 3:1-21 is a good example of the kind of attitude that can spoil rather than enhance the experience. Nicodemus, a member of the supreme council of the sanhedrin, comes to Jesus at night. He comes as a Pharisee, a representative of the old order which Jesus seems to want to supersede. According to that old legalistic order, the kingdom of God is entered by moral achieve or transferring the com to other storage may help. Check your stored com and monitor its temperatures regularly to prevent excessive losses. To Watch For Children Spring work is rapidly approaching. This also means children will be playing more outside. To prevent accidents, we must be aware of hazards around the farm. A few safety rules are: • No seat = no rider! • Idle farm equipment are not toys. Keep children from playing on, in, or under machinery and equipment. • Know where children are when you start farm machinery and vehicles. • Fence ponds and manure pits. • Lock up chemicals and electri cal power sources. • Have monthly family safety reviews. Taking a few extra minutes to be safe could prevent a very serious accident or death. Feather Profs Footnote: "Today's preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement." ment based upon faithfully keep ing the law. But Jesus makes it clear that the new order is dependent, not upon moral achievement, but God’s grace: “...unless one is bom anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (3:3). A variant reading, the Jerusalem Bible and a footnote of the RSV, says “bom from above,” while the King James ver sion say “bom again.” It really doesn't matter, for the intent is to sgy that one must be transformed, not our own efforts, but by God. What Jesus is lifting up for Nicodemus here is not a formula but a spiritual reality. So, how does Nicodemus respond? Immediately he looks for a formula, a system, a ritual; “How can a man be bom when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be bom?” (3:4). If Jesus will just tell him the right way to do this, he can package it, make it a rule or ironclad procedure for all Israel. WHERE IT WILLS Jesus responds by explaining that spiritual rebirth is not some thing to systematize or ritualize. “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or wither it goes: so it is with everyone bom of the Spirit” (3:8). We cannot capture or detain the Spirit Nor can we regulate it. Note what Jesus does NOT say about a spiritual rebirth. He does not put a stopwatch or calendar on it He does not say that it carries a lifetime guarantee. He does not suggest that rebirth is so much an event as it is a continuing condi tion and reality. Spiritual rebirth is not just for some people, some time, but for all of us, all the time. It will take place whenever we open ourselves to God’s renewing grace. And when it does, we will be humble, not proud. Lancaster Farming Established 1955 Published Every Saturday Ephrata Review Building 1 E. Main St. Ephrata, PA 17522 by Lancaster Farming, Inc. A SMuntn Entmpri** Robert C. Campbell General Manager EveiM R. Nawiwanger Managing Editor Copyright ins by Laneaaler Farming
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