AIQ-UurcMtef Farming, Saturday, January 22, 2000
Farms are noisy places. Dennis Murphy, professor of
agricultural engineering at Penn State says these noises range
between 90 and 140 decibels, which is well above the 85-
decibel limit at which industrial employers must provide
hearing protection for workers.
"Consistent, repetitive exposure to high-decibel noise can
damage hearing before you notice any change," Murpy says.
"The farmer may think he's getting used to the noise, but in
reality he already may have experienced a mild hearing loss."
Farmers may think that extremely high noise levels are
normal. But if you must shout to be heard at a distance of
about three feet, the noise is too loud and you should either
reduce the noise level or wear hearing protection. You may
think wearing earplugs or protective muffs like those worn at
shooting ranges is inconvenient, unwieldy, or time
consuming. But to protect your hearing is to save you a lot of
grief later in life.
Now is the time to get ready for spring work with noisy
machinery. Obtain some protection for your ears.
Forest Landowners Conference,
Bchrend College, Eric, 8:30
aan.-4 p.m.
Cornell Maple Production School,
Bradford County Extension
Monchn. Jaiuiur\ 24
Adams County Com Clinic, York
Springs Fire Hall, 8:30
ajn.-2:4S p.m.
PDA’s New Johne’s Disease Pre
vention, Huntingdon County
Extension Office, 1 pjn. 3 pjn.
Workshop On Computerized Farm
Recordkeeping, County Lab,
York Penn State Extension, 10
ajn.-3 p.m., also Jan. 26 and
Jan. 28.
Crop Management Association
Annual Luncheon, Logan
Grange Hall, Pleasant Gap,
9:30 ajn.-2:30 p.m.
Octorara Young Farmers Associa
tion fanner meeting, Octorara
High School, 7:30 p.m.
Northeastern Pa. Maple Syrup
Producers’ Association Annual
Meeting, and Dinner, Bethany
Methodist Church Hall,
Growers Convention, Hershey
Lodge and Convention Carter,
Hershey, thru Jan. 27.
Crops Day, Family Heritage
Restaurant, Creamery, 9 «Jn-3
pm..
Estate Planning, Columbia County
Ag Resource Center, Blooms
burg, also Feb. 1 and 8.
Crop Insurance: Making It Work
For You, Schuylkill County Ag
Center, 9 a.m.-l pm.
Franklin County Com Clinic,
Kauffman’s Community Cen
to, 9 am.-2:30 pm.
Mount Joy Co-Op Annual Meet-
Yoder’s Restai it, N
County Ag Center, Leesport.
Capitol Region Com Production
Clinic, York County 4-H Cen
OPINION
Noisy Farms
\;:3m
❖ Farm
t
ter, 9 ajn.-3:30 p.m.
York County Com Clinic, York
4-H Center, Bair, 9 ajn.-2:30
pjn.
Mount Joy Co-Op Annual Meet
ing, Gathering Place, Mount
For You, Lancaster Farm and
Home Goiter, 9 am.-3 p.m.
Drought Recovery Financial
Series, Holiday Inn, Beth
lehem, 10 am.-3:30 pan.
Estate Planning, Team Pennsylva
nia CareerUnk, Shamokm, also
Feb. 3 and 10.
Northeastern Pa. Turf School and
Trade Show, Woodlands Inn
and Resort, Wilkes-Barre.
Lehigh and Northampton County
Cupboard Restaurant, Lewis
burg, 10 ajn.-3 pm.
Turf and Ornamental Day, Leba
non Valley Expo Center, 9:30
am.-3:30 pm.
Chester County Crops Day, East
Brandywine Fire Hall,
Gutfatiesville, 9 am.
Franklin County Cooperative
Extension Meeting, Kauffman
Siiihl;i\. .I:nui:in 3U
4-H Day With the Lady Lions,
eting Conference, Four Points
Hotel, Rochester, N.Y., thru
Feb. 2.
Tioga County Daily Day, Tioga
Fairgrounds, 11 a.m-2 pjn.
Turf grass Management For Pro
fessionals, Berks County
Center, Leesport, also Feb. 2,3,
and 4.
Beef Evaluation Meeting, Bemvil
le Grange, 5:30 p.m. meal, 6:45
Conference, Radisson Penn
To Remember Dr. Donald
Evans
Last Friday agriculture lost a
great friend. Dr. Donald Evans,
associate professor of
Agricultural and Extension
Education at Penn State, passed
away at his home. Dr. Evans was
an outstanding educator,
agriculturist, administrator and
community leader. He touched
many lives, always looking for
ways to "make the best better".
Always a doer, he constantly
turned dreams into reality.
Forever challenging and
encouraging people, he provided
leadership for 4-H, FFA, Ag in
the Classroom, production
agriculture, public and vocational
education and cooperative
extension. His efforts in
international agriculture is
legendary. His vision, leadership
and personal commitment was a
major driving force in the growth
and development of the Polish
agricultural system over the past
decade. Don, we are going to miss
your enthusiasm, leadership and
your commitment to agriculture,
community and people.
However, the seeds you have
planted m your students,
colleagues and friends will
continue to grow and multiply. As
a 4-H member, I was taught the
final test of a leader was that he
leaves behind in other the people
the will and desire to carry on. Dr.
Evans passes that test with flying
colors. On behalf of the
agricultural community, I say
thank you for making this world a
better place to live.
To Reduce Stress
Stress is an everyday reality
for today's farmer. When you feel
pressure mounting, try these tips
from N.Y. Farm Net. Shift from
worrying to problem solving.
Make daily, yearly and long term
business plans. List priorities, set
realistic goals, make a schedule
and do not procrastinate. Leant to
say no to things that hinder these
goals. Be flexible when the
unexpected occurs. Use clear
communication. Listening skills
are just as important as language
skills. Use negotiation during
conflict. Balance work and play.
Make weekly time to relax and
laugh, and daily time for yourself.
A tired mind leads to bad
decisions and accidents. Take
care of your body. Exercise. Eat
Hams Hotel and Convention
Center, Camp Hill, thru Feb. 3.
Decisions 2000-Agricultural
Marketing Seminar, Days Inn,
Allentown.
Crop Meeting Series, Planter
Setup and Maintenance,
George V. Seiple And Son,
Easton, 10 a.m.-2:30 pan.
Lancaster County Cattle Feeder’s
(Turn to Pag* A 27)
healthy. Get adequate sleep.
Thing positive thoughts. Find
others who do the same, and try to
minimize time with those who do
not. Celebrate holidays and
family events. Talk with others.
To Put First Things First
John Vogel, editor of
Pennsylvania Farmer, stated we
need to pause long enough to put
life in perspective and to focus on
what is most important for our
happiness. True success is found
in a satisfying life, not in money,
power or achievement. The
following is a list for you to
consider as you set goals for this
year. Eat in moderation.
Sleep well and long enough to
recharge your body and your
mind. Surround yourself with
DEMONIZING THE
OPPOSITION
January 23,2000
Background Scripture:
Matthew 12:22-45
Devotional Reading:
Luke 12:1-14.
Halford E. Luccock, writing
in The Interpreter’s Bible, says
joshingly that “With all rever
ence, a list of sayings of Jesus
could be assembled under the
starting headline, ‘Things I Wish
Jesus Had Never Said.” He goes
on to say, “That may sound blas
phemous, but it is not. Such a
list would include sayings that
have been so continuously and
badly distorted, so warped from
their original meaning and con
text, that the mis-understand
ing of them has caused great dis
tress and evil.” His point of ref
erence is Mark 3:29, in which
Jesus says, “Whoever blas
phemes against the Holy Spirit
never has forgiveness, but is
guilty of an eternal 5in....”
Matthew 12:22-45 is similar.
Having just healed a deaf and
blind demoniac, Jesus is under
attack by some of the Pharisees.
People in the crow are asking,
“Can this be the Son of David?”
and the Pharisees are quick to
snap back: “It is only by
Beelzebub, the prince of demons,
that this man casts out demons”
(12:24). When confronted by the
awesome power of Jesus’ mira
cles, his opponents turned to
slandering him.
Beelzebul was an ancient
Canaanite god, “Lord of the
earth.” But the biblical writers
expressed their contempt for
this Baal, calling him
Baaz elbub, meaning “Lord of the
flies.” They regarded him, not as
a god, but as the prince of
demons. Later on in this pas
sage (v. 26), Jesus identifies
Beelzebub with Satan.
A Civil War?
Jesus responds to this charge
with an argument that reveals
the irrationality of their words.
If Jesus is casting out Satan,
then it is a defeat for Satan.
And, if it is a defeat for Satan,
how could Satan be giving him
the power to do so? “If Satan
casts out Satan, he is divided
against himself; how then shall
his kingdom stand?” (12:26)
Jesus depicts a civil war and,
indeed, it was this depiction, “a
house divided against itself,”
that Abraham Lincoln used so
effectively in his pre-civil war
debates with Senator Stephen
Douglas.
people you have faith in. Know
when and how to slow down and
relax. Really love your family and
let it show. Know "when to hold
and when to fold." Know that in
the long run, good prevails over
bad. Thrive in your vocation,
even with its peaks and pits. Take
time to savor the little things.
Take time to marvel at truly huge
things. Laugh a lot and live longer
for it. Remember that the secret of
getting more is giving more.
Reserve a day a week to do
absolutely nothing that resembles
work.
Feather Prof, 's Footnote:
"Time speeds uncontrollably
faster. But we chose whether to
leave long lasting legacies or just
a tombstone at road's end."
Then, Jesus goes on to make
that statement that Halford
Luccock says he wishes Jesus
had not made: “Therefore I tell
you, every sin and blasphemy
will be forgiven men, but the
blasphemy against the Spirit
will not be forgiven” (12:31). It
does take one’s breath away to
hear Jesus say that sin and blas
phemy against the Spirit of God
will not be forgiven. Are there
one or more sins that God can
not forgive?
Willful Blindness
I am personally glad that
Jesus said this, particularly that
he said it so pointedly, because it
stands before us as a dire warn
ing against a practice which is
all too common: demonizing our
opponents. What this means is
that we attribute all that they
do to their alliance with Satan. I
remember all too well the
woman who told my mother
than she was going to Hell
because she didn’t embrace a
particular religious practice.
She was sincere in her belief, but
she was endangering her own
soul in making this attack.
The problem with demoniz
ing persons you don’t like or
don’t agree with is that you are
permitting your feelings to hide
the spark of God that is in each
of these persons. This is arro
gance on our part, imposing a
limitation upon the grace of
God, insisting that a work of
mercy is a sign of Satan. As
George Arthur Buttrick put it,
“In obdurate pride men can call
the light darkness, or Jesus’
works of mercy the black magic
ofßaalzebub.”
But why does Matthew have
Jesus say that such blasphemy
“will not be forgiven”? Perhaps it
is not a matter of will not, but
can not. It is not only blindness,
it is also willful blindness.
When, in our arrogant judgment
we condemn others as being in
league with Satan, we fail to see
the God in them because we do
not want to see Him. Buttrick
says: “A man who deliberately
tampers with the light God gives
may rob himself of the power
even to see pardon, let alone
receive it.”
When we demonize others,
we give Satan his best shot at
Lancaster Farming
Established 1955
Published Every Saturday
Ephrata Review Building
I E. Main St.
Ephrata, PA 17522
—by—
Lancaster Farming, Inc.
A Steinman Enterprise
William J. Burgess General Manager
Everett R. Newswanger Editor
Copyright 2000 by Lancaster Farming