The Crown of the Continent Part 2: Why I Love Experiencing Nature

It was Sunday evening and I just spent a few hours casting with my fly rod standing on a rock in the clear running water of a snow-melt fed spring on the south east side of the lake at Many Glacier Hotel.



I followed the trail back along the side of the lake headed for the vehicle, stopping every now and then to snap a photo. First of the sun gleaming through the pines, then of ducks sunning themselves on a rock in the sunny quiet shadow-streaked water. It was golden hour, the period of time where the sun's rays cast glowing yellow rays through the atmosphere with an enchanted splendor.

Part of me was torn between wanting to simply breathe in the surroundings of nature. The other part wanted to capture it on camera. A continual unsettling feeling plagued me as so many opportunities for post-card quality photos jumped at me from my path on the trail.

What is it? I wondered to myself. How can it be that I so enjoy being in this place, yet I continually choose to distract myself by trying to capture it on an electronic device? Surely there is something my soul is yearning for, and something for which I long to... and then it hit me! Worship.

There is no beauty in creation but that which is revealing the beauty of God. His revelation speaks of His glory. There is no mere material existence which stands alone. "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

The ache, the longing, the joy of experiencing the world, the underlying cause of why I immediately turned to my camera to take pictures was not because it was simply a new experience. It was not that I just happened by chance into a place that was photogenic.

It is because I am created to know God. It is because His creation is created to declare His glory! And the only fitting thing I can do when faced with the overwhelming feeling of majesty and beauty in nature is to worship God. To throw down any attempt to reduce it to mere chance, mere material existence separated from divine cause, and to simply and completely give up my soul in praise to the Lord almighty.

I made a note to this effect in my pocket journal which I carried with me for capturing reflections on my hikes.

The enjoying of God is the reason I enjoy experiencing nature. Nature belongs to God. And I belong to God. It is because He made me, and because He has given me faith by which I am united to Jesus Christ and adopted into His family that I see the world in a new light. I do not resist giving Him praise as so many fellow sinners do.

Turning back to the trail leading to the vehicle parked near the hotel, I could not but repeat the chorus,

"I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
But “I know Whom I have believed
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day."

 

The Crown Of the Continent: Exploring Glacier National Park Part 1

Just recently I came across an article that explained how to avoid the feeling that time is flying at break-neck speed. The conclusion was to incorporate novelty into your life. Things out of the ordinary. Things unusual. By doing so, our mind logs more quantity of memories in succession which gives the impression that time has slowed down.

I experienced that feeling first-hand earlier this year on my trip to Glacier National Park. Before those memories fade, I want to take the time to write down what I remember and share it with you. By putting them in writing I can relive some of them in the process, and transfer a part of the experience to you so you can enjoy it with me.

I'm planning a series of at least 5 posts on this topic, so I invite you to grab your backpack, hiking boots and fly rod, and follow me to Glacier National Park!

By way of outline,

1. I'll first cover some reasons for my vacation and where I got the ideas.
2. Then I'll move on to the actual trip and show you what I discovered and how it blessed me. 
3. Finally, I'll wrap up with reflections on what I learned from the time away and how it refreshed and energized my life.

A favorite picture from Lake St. Mary's on Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Click here for the full photo.

Help! What can I do with my milk when I'm on vacation?

Summer is here and your well-deserved vacation is approaching! Maybe it's a road trip to relatives , or Disney Land or a trek to a far away place to enjoy yourselves. But what about deliveries? How do you keep your share and not worry about milk that's scheduled for delivery?

In this short post I'll explain what you need to do to make sure your family stays connected to nature's perfect food (raw milk from grass-based cows), and still gets to enjoy the vacation you've been waiting for.

Just skim the headings for the option that seems best for you. Then follow the action steps I've outlined below.

You have four options:

1) Donate your milk to a family in need. Here at the farm we believe in helping those who may be facing unexpected challenges leaving them in a place of need. As a part of our farm, we created a Real Food Sponsor program where you can donate to help a family in need.

Action Steps:
a. Contact Bartlett Farms to let us know you would like your milk to go to a Real Food Sponsor family. Email office@bartlettfarms.us
b, We will make known the availability of the resources to a needy family within our network.

2) Have a friend pick up your order or receive delivery instead of you. This is for you social people who have connections to healthy like-minded moms. Maybe they aren't financially able to get the milk they know is better for their family. Maybe they would just appreciate a treat! Why not pass off some of yours to them while you're away and be a blessing to them?

Action Steps:
a. Confirm with your friend that they will take and use the order.
b. Send an email to office@bartlettfarms.us to give Peter at the office your friend's address and any special delivery notes. We love to serve, and will do our best to get it to them without a hassle.

3) Have butter, yogurt, kefir, or some other more stable product crafted from your share of dairy products. Yes, you read that correctly. For no extra charge we will take your share of raw milk and transform it into a product that is more stable and will be usable for you when you return. Butter is the most stable option, next comes kefir and yogurt. You may even be able to get a double portion of fresh milk given to you on the next delivery. Be sure to mention your situation and we'll do our best to make it fit your needs.

Action Steps:
a. Email your vacation dates to me at office@bartlettfarms.us and let me know your preferences. We have five options: butter (which gives you access to buttermilk and skim milk if desired), yogurt, kefir, cream (plus skim milk), and chocolate milk.
b. Get your bonus order delivered at our next delivery after you're back.

4) Put your order on hold. This is great if you're gone temporarily and don't want to bother with any details. You can set your own vacation dates by logging into your account on www.bartlettfarms.us or send an email to office@bartlettfarms.us. We'll take care of it from there!

5) Temporarily discontinue. If you plan to be away for a year or more, you may find it simply better to cancel your shares altogether. You lose the investment you made at the beginning and would have to repurchase your shares to opt back in. This is a better option if you are in the military and don't know when you may be stationed back in the area again, or if the oil industry takes you out of state.

Action Steps:
a. Check with your boss to see how long your time away will really be.
b. Send an email to me at office@bartlettfarms.us and we'll erase the shares from your name.

Now before you forget, take action on one of those steps! I know how busy you are. Let me know how we can help you get the most out of your share while you enjoy your summer vacation!

How to Move A Cow

Cows don't speak english. But they do know what you're saying through body language. 

To move a cow you need to think of two things. Pressure and position.

Your body language determines your pressure. Slouch your shoulders, bend down, pick up a blade of grass -- this is low pressure. Stand tall, puff out your chest, wave your arms -- that's high pressure.

To make a cow go where you want, you use just enough pressure from the right position. 

The cow thinks through her eyes, so your position in relation to her head is what matters. It's pretty much like a game of pool from there. Position yourself in the right place and exert the right amount of pressure. She will move! Then adjust. 

That's about it.

Setting Goals

I love to be busy but sometimes I fail to set a goal for where I want to be by the end of the day, month, year and end up doing only "busy work." Work that gets little done and no substantial progress.

Setting and dwelling on goals is important because it gives me a high standard to aim for and an intentional attitude toward getting there.

A Temporary Need For Limited Liability

People are the image bearers of God. As such, we have moral responsibility and a duty to obey God in all that we do.

When we create an organization or a corporation, we create another entity that is an artificial person. This person isn't made in God's image.

What I take that to mean is that although the company is bound to conform to the moral responsibilities and obligations of holiness in God's world, the people in charge of the company are the ones given the great task of harnessing the company's actions in obedience to God's commands.

Today I became President of Bartlett Dairy, LLC.

I find it an honor and privilege to be in this position. I also know that limiting liability for the wrong reasons is sin. I must be careful to not allow the business interests to affect my moral judgement.

The way I see it, today's need for limiting liability is for protection from a corrupt judicial system.

There will probably be a day down the road where limiting liability will not be necescary because righteous judgement will protect upright people.

For now, it seems that LLCs provide the best government-approved protection from reckless lawsuits and help keep family businesses afloat.

Simple is Scalable: Real Beef Parcel

Since selling beef, we've only offered customers the ability to buy large amounts through a quarter, half, or whole beef, or various cuts.

The problem with this is that it's hard for busy people to choose what they want. 

The bulk order takes planning, the cuts take knowledge.

So we designed a product that solves that problem. It's not for every consumer, it's for learners.

It's the Real Beef Parcel. In the Standard option, you get a box of beef with a roast, four steaks, and and four pounds of ground beef. It's all you need to be able to say "I'm eating grass-fed beef."

The best part is that I think this model is scalable because it's simple.

Now the job is getting this into the hands of those who know they need it.