Gum Family Farms, 14357 Gum Avenue, Tallula, IL (2026)

06/14/2026

Scripture Sunday!

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14-17

We were at a cattle show today, so today is a good day. You know....there's some time to visit at these shows, and there's some time to laugh, and there's a little time to work, and then there's some quiet time if we want it. Sometimes I like the quiet time, just to look around and to soak it in and to appreciate the opportunity to be around it. The quiet moments always lead me to remember how fortunate we are to be able to do what we love. But then some little kid usually comes up & stomps on my foot or something and ruins it all. That was meant to be funny : ). This weekend, we had several generations on our "team", and I couldn't help but to think about how we all got to that barn and those stalls. There was a friend there who actually I remember trimming feet on some of my calves when I was showing a couple of years ago, and her family has since had a great influence on my kids in that show ring. This morning she had another grandson hitting the ring for the first time, and he was awesome. And he had a following. He had friends who are his age and friends who are younger, and he had friends who are a little older and friends who are a little more older. He had grandparents up from Texas and, in my humble opinion, that is way cool. And I loved it that his daddy helped get my kids going, and now my kids get to be around to help him learn and to cheer him on. I couldn't help but to think about the knowledge that has been passed along from person to person and from family to family and from generation to generation through the years. There is a ton of knowledge in those barns, and there are some really, really good teachers. Such it is also with whatever our passion might be. We all have things that we love, and we can't wait to share our love for and our knowledge of our favorite things with the next ones in line. Whether it's sports or cars or the outdoors or music, or whatever our passion may be, we can't wait to teach the next gen all about it in hopes that they might love it too. Even if it's those silly old cattle. Today my friends, even as we think about what we wish to instill in the ones who follow us, may we be mindful as well of the words that Paul writes in his letter to Timothy. May we be mindful of the greatest teaching we can do for our young ones, the story of our Lord and our Savior. What a gift we can give them in laying a foundation of faith. It's always good to have goals, as we all like the ribbons and the trophies and the banners. This week though, may we all strive to teach towards the greatest prize of all, eternal life through knowing Christ and accepting his love and forgiveness. We all have the ones who look up to us. May we never skip over the important parts. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

06/07/2026

Scripture Sunday!

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." So they asked him, "What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
John 6:25-33

Miss Jennifer and I had the opportunity to attend a dinner last night. It's an annual alumni banquet for a school building that actually closed a few years back. Neither Jennifer nor I attended classes in that building, but our kids did. And Jennifer actually began her teaching career at that school. It was a pretty cool place with a ton of pretty cool people who have walked those halls through the years. We, last night, sat at the table with some old friends, and we sat at the table with some friends who we don't see nearly often enough, and we sat at the table with some new friends. We met some people last night who we hope we are fortunate enough to see again one day. We ate the food that was put before us, and it was good. It did the trick and filled our tummies. And yet, our nourishment last night did not come from the food like Moses gave. Our nourishment last night came from the ones who surrounded us. They fed our souls. We shared a few stories, and we had a more serious talk or two, and we laughed probably more than is actually allowed at events like that. I thought to myself, man that school cranked out some really good people. This morning, though, as I read the words in red from the book of John, it comes into my mind that it wasn't that school that did it. It occurs to me this morning that is was way more than that. There was a foundation in that room last night, that stemmed from an era that it seems to me might be making a comeback. There was a foundation in that room of family, of community, and of faith. Not the faith where you jump up and down and pound your fist, but rather the faith that is just there. The faith that is unspoken. The faith that you can see in the eyes of the people you are visiting with. That, my friends, doesn't come from a school. That is the bread of life from God in Jesus our Savior. That is the "food that endures to eternal life." I am thankful this morning that somewhere along the path I was introduced to Jesus and the life that He gives. May we each this week strive to pass along that gift of knowing Jesus to someone else. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

Quiet Sunday mornings with these rascals aren't so bad, either. : )

05/31/2026

Scripture Sunday!

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 4:29-5:2

One day last week, I took a picture with my phone's camera and then used my finger to try to draw another little picture on that one. I was goofing off. When I sent it to a couple of my buddies, one of them replied quite simply "That is a horrible drawing". Truly, that was an understatement. You see, my finger covers a good percentage of my phone's screen, so the odds of me even sending a text message and hitting the correct letters is a stretch, let alone trying to do something creative by freehand. Oh, I laugh about it, but there was a big part of me that actually wanted to go back and try again. I knew that drawing was bad, and I wanted to make it better. God is funny sometimes, as we just never quite know what He is up to. You see, that one little failed drawing is what led me to this morning's thoughts. I somehow, after not redrawing that silly old goofing off picture, woke up this morning thinking "What if my life was drawn out on an easel at the end of every day?" You know, like each day was documented on its own? I wonder what I would think of the picture every night before I went to bed. I wonder if I would like the drawing. I wonder if I would be proud of it and, more importantly, I wonder if the Father would be proud? Most days, there's a pretty high chance that I would be wanting to redraw the picture on that easel. Well, my friends, there is great news this morning. Our lives, through Christ our Savior, are like that easel. And while we don't know how many pages are left to draw on, each day because of His sacrifice on the cross, we get to rip off the old page and start drawing a new picture. Each day, we get a chance to draw it better. However, we must learn that we cannot do it on our own. Go to our Father, ask for His forgiveness. Rip yesterdays picture that you aren't fond of off of that easel and start drawing a new one. Let Him help you, as He holds the good brushes. Be mindful of what you are trying to draw and, if you make a mistake, shake it off. He will provide you a new page tomorrow. But you have to be willing to accept it. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

Let's keep it real, though. We will never be able to draw like He does. : )

05/24/2026

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Matthew 23:25-28

We usually have a few acres of rye grass around here that we will graze in early spring. It works out well for us, as the cows love it and also because it takes some pressure off of the feed wagon during those couple of months. These acres will also kind of turn into a game of chicken, so to speak, as we try to graze them up until the very last moment of which we believe we can still raise a viable and profitable crop. Oohhhh shoot, that's not one thousand percent how it is.......maybe I should be real and just say that we plant those acres last. I should also tell you that, as much as we love this practice of grazing rye fields, it can also come at a price. Compaction, especially during weather patterns like we've had since early March, runs deep. And row crops do not love soil compaction. So here's the short of where this week's Bible passage stems from on the farm.......Our friend was here earlier last week, and we were walking across that rye field and bringing in the cows. It was time. We oftentimes have some pretty real conversations on these walks, and on that day we were noticing that the soil was "a little tight". He asked me if we were going to try to work (till) that field before we planted it, and I replied that I didn't think that the problems out there laid in the top three or 4 inches, but that they ran deeper than that. I thought that we might be able to make it look nice, but we couldn't fix it. So we had decided to knife in some nitrogen and some fertilizer a little deeper, and then plant directly on top of where that tool had (hopefully) relieved some of the soil compaction created by the cattle. Well, we got there yesterday afternoon with the toolbar, and we afterwards got there with the planter. It worked. I think. But I don't love it. It looks rough, and it looks sloppy. The rye has been sprayed, but it is still green. I like clean-tilled fields, they are much more aesthetically pleasing. They're much prettier. However, yesterday as Braker & I were planting that corn, I kept telling myself that what it looked like on top of the ground didn't matter. What mattered is what lies deeper within the soil, and we were trying to do what best served the crop that we were trying to raise. So there you go. There it is. It's funny how lessons find us sometimes. I hope this one sticks for me. The part of us that matters is the part that we don't see with our eyes. And our Bibles can certainly tend to the part that matters. Friends, we love to pick up fun things for our grand-kids. We will not stop picking up fun things for our grand-kids. And yet as I sit here and reflect this morning, my hope is that we will all use our words and His love to feed the souls of those around us. I hope that, even as the boys and I share those yummy cookies, my talks with them about Jesus will be the part that actually feeds them. "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean." Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

05/17/2026

Scripture Sunday!

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he had said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Acts 1:3-11

Ascension Sunday isn't something that we grew up learning about in my world. And truthfully, I do not remember ever talking to our children about Jesus' ascension to heaven. We would do the Christmas thing and we would do the Easter thing, and then we would seem to kind of just carry on with our lives. Then, maybe towards Thanksgiving, we would begin getting serious about it again as Christmas neared. Understand that our faith didn't waiver; we continued to take the kids to church year-around, and we remained involved just like all of us "good Christian folk" do. I wonder though, as I age, how we missed this part of the Bible every year. Even as well accounted for as Jesus' resurrection is, it seems that His ascension is only mentioned a couple of times in the gospels. It's almost like that awkward moment at a party when someone walks away before you're finished with your story. Maybe though, just maybe, as we think about Luke's writing in the book of Acts this morning, that's exactly how it is supposed to be. I think maybe that's how it is supposed to be. Because, in reality, I suppose the story isn't really finished at all. Oh, we talk about the end of days, and we read John's vision in Revelation, but I think that maybe I like Luke's record this morning the best, as I'm a pretty simple guy. "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." The men dressed in white didn't use the word "maybe". They didn't say "There's a pretty good chance". They stated factually that Jesus will come back. In Mark 16:20, we read...Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. There's our assignment, my friends, on this Ascension Sunday........Tell someone about the Gospels. Assure them that the ending will be a happy one. Live for the Father 365 days each year. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35). Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

05/10/2026

Scripture Sunday!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I once had the privilege of reading this passage of scripture at a wedding and, actually, we hear it at a lot of weddings. We would have to ask Jennifer to verify, but I'm pretty certain it was also read at our wedding by one of our favorite uncles. Most recognize it, and I'm not sure that I've ever heard anyone argue the content of this passage. I find myself this morning in thought, trying to come up with something that honors all of the moms in my life, and my mind keeps leading me back to Paul's words. It seems that when we read them they perfectly describe, first and foremost, our Father in heaven and our Savior's life lived on this earth. God is Love. And yet, as read them on this day, I see my Mom. I see my wife, and I see my daughter. I see my beautiful daughter-in-law, and I see so many other friends and aunts and "aunts" who are described to me in Paul's writing here this morning. It reminds me of moms. So, this morning, as we think of our mothers, may we each strive to love like the Father loves. May we each strive to love like Jesus loves. May we each strive to love like a mom loves. And for the ones who are missing their moms today, here's hoping that happy memories of her will make you smile and bring you peace. Happy Mother's Day. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

Love is patient..... : )

05/05/2026

Scripture Sunday!

A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man---even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
Ecclesiastes 6:3-6

Saturday was a pretty day. We got the deck stained that morning, and later in the day I decided to mow the yard before the Derby. As I was mowing the front yard, it occurred to me that nearly the whole place was encompassed by shade. So I stopped for a moment and looked around. And I thought for a moment about where Jennifer & I began our married life a couple of years ago. We lived in a cutesy farm house with two bedrooms and a bathroom off the kitchen. It seems that's how they built those houses. We hung a swing on the porch and put a pool in the back yard. There was a basement where I could do some woodworky stuff, and the yard was full of mature trees. The family who I worked for fed cattle there, and I always loved looking outside and seeing those cattle. Jennifer and I to this day still say how we miss that house and that yard. We talk about our Katie being born there, and we talk about the litter of pups that we had one time, and we laugh about me taking our nieces into the farrowing house that I worked in. They thought it smelled bad. I didn't notice. And I always talk about those trees in that front yard. So Saturday, as I sat on that mower and looked at our front yard, it crossed my mind that maybe, somewhere along the way, I had let the chase blind me to the destination. We work a little bit around this joint. We don't claim to work any harder than anyone else, but we do work a little bit. And we tell ourselves that we do it to provide. We do it so that someday we can sit back and enjoy it......You know, sit in that swing, or play in the yard with the grandkids. We even built a pond so that we could take those little rascals fishing. We think of something we should do or buy or build.....for when we get.....older?? And all the while we are reminiscing about that cutesy little farm house and how much we loved living there. As I sat on that mower Saturday afternoon I wondered how long it was going to take me to realize that we have what we miss. It's all right here.....the porch, the pool, the cattle, the trees, the darned ole dogs, the basement for the woodworky stuff, all of it....along with a not-so-bad family to go with it and some really pretty trees in the front yard. Everything that we miss and so much more is right here. Except for one thing.....the simplicity. Maybe we just miss the simplicity of those days. Well, my friends, we can control that. Our schedules are self inflicted. Perhaps, before we find ourselves sometime down the road missing this place and this time in our lives, we should take a minute or two and realize what we have. The words in Ecclesiastes make sense to me. They smacked me around a little bit and opened my eyes for a bit when I read them. Here's hoping we might all be more inclined to take a breath, to see the goodness, and to give thanks to our Father for all that He provides. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

04/26/2026

Scripture Sunday!

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of running into a friend who I hadn't seen in several months. We got to visit for a little bit while our kids played, not about anything special, just about life in general- how fast our kids are growing, how our families have been, and all the things that have been keeping us busy during this season of life. There was nothing magical or extraordinary about our visit, yet my heart was filled with joy when we left. This friend is one of those people who just radiates light. She's not afraid to be herself and she's eager to share the Word of the Lord. She will make your day brighter just by being around her. And I'm not saying her life is all sunshine and rainbows. It's not. She has gone through more sorrow in her life than I can imagine. But even so, you can sense the peace in her soul. The peace that only Jesus can give you. So, I thought to myself after we left--I hope that I am that light for somebody. That I portray God's love through the way that I live. You see, these good souls, like my friend, are the people God wants us to surround ourselves with. The people that will produce good fruit in our lives and push us to be better disciples. I pray we can find that light in our hearts this week and let it shine to those around us. Let it shine so bright that people can't deny the glory of God. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

Thank you to my friend Katie for this week's message. I believe that her light shines brightly. : )

04/19/2026

Scripture Sunday!

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-----not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-----they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:22-27

When I was a little younger, I can remember getting into my Dad's pickup truck and there was always gospel music playing on his radio. I remember wondering how he could listen to that all of the time, as it seemed to me a little boring and a lot churchy to have as an everyday listen. Nowadays, if you would ask my boys, they will more than likely tell you that they have to turn the sermon off and find some music when they get in my truck. I still love my 80's big hair and my George Strait, but the music seems noisier than it once did. In full transparency, the station that I listen to with all of those sermons is oftentimes just like anything else that we might have on the radio.....it's just background noise. But sometimes I hear something really good. Earlier last week I was hearing David Jeremiah, even though I wasn't really listening. Suddenly though, I heard him ask a question to his audience. He asked, and I will use these quotation marks loosely, "If you were arrested tomorrow and accused of being a Christian, would the prosecutor have enough evidence to convict you?" I can't tell you what his message was before that, and I can't tell you what his message was following that, because those words seemed to have been plenty to keep my mind occupied since the moment that I heard them. Sometimes we can find ourselves getting pretty comfortable putting our quarters in the offering plate, listening to the minister's message, attending the occasional meeting, and calling it good until next week. I doubt that we would be convicted based on that. Doesn't the real evidence lie where only our Savior himself can see? When I am by myself and trying to do some ranchy stuff with a stubborn cow, there are some words that leave my mouth that I would rather my grandchildren not hear me say. I wonder how I would fumble around and try to explain myself if Jesus himself were to descend to me during one of those moments. Are these not the times that really define us, the ones that we live when nobody else is looking? It seems that maybe I should have a tattoo where only I can see it that would read "Jesus sees it all". Do our friends and our families and our peers see us as someone who goes to church, or do they see us as Christians? Friends, it took me a loooonnnnggggg time to figure out where my true peace lies, and even still I tend to forget it on a pretty regular basis. I am thankful that I have always had people in my life who would hands-down be convicted, and I am thankful that the Man on the middle cross covers my burdens when I stray. As we move head-on into a new week, my we each strive to live a life that would make the Father proud. Even when nobody else can see. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

There's one. : )

04/12/2026

Scripture Sunday!

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
Luke 24:9-18

People are funny. And as we read in the gospel of Luke this morning, it seems as if we have always been that way. Isn't it something how we can "sacrifice" for Lent, and then on Easter morning we kind of take a sigh of relief as we chomp on those snacks before church? In this case, when I say we, I actually mean me. It's funny. Lent was good for me, as I found myself in more frequent conversation with God. But then, by rule, on Easter morning I was able to revert. Annnndddd ssoooo, I did. Please do not be mistaken here, I am not poking fun or chastising in any way. I'm simply looking in the mirror here this morning as we read the verses that follow the resurrection of our Lord. You see, in the secular world, we have all of this buildup before the majors. Primarily Advent and Lent. They are wonderful seasons, and they truly do reign in our focus on the important things in our lives. And yet for me, in full transparency, there is always a letdown following Christmas and Easter. Almost like a "back to reality" thing. And that part isn't funny. I find myself this morning, though, beating myself up a little less for having these thoughts. Luke writes in today's reading that even the ones closest to the Savior struggled with the reality of their world. Jesus himself had told the disciples exactly how things were going to be and yet, even as soon as Resurrection day, they had forgotten what He had spoken. Verse 11 reads "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." It's an amazing story, friends, and we must not shame ourselves if sometimes it is beyond our realm of imagination. My hope for each of us today, though, is that we would continue reading the story........Jesus walked beside his apostles on that first day of the week, even as they couldn't see him. Friends, he walks beside us today. It's easy to recognize Him when the skies are sunny. He is with us, too, when our skies are grey. He is here. He doesn't die after Easter Day, He lives. Jesus loves you. Have a great week!

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