This work was a demonstration of the nature of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not about forcing you neighbor to contribute so that you may have benefits at their expense through an exercising authority and social contract. Christ's kingdom is about doing for each other in a social communion of free will offerings based on faith, hope and charity.

Any by-product of this effort was to go to charity and help the poor and needy.

The Church is the government of God's kingdom on earth. It is composed of the bondservants of Christ, the true public servants of the congregations of the people. It is sustained by God and by the free will contributions of the people.

Once you give any government agency the power to compel the contributions and sacrifices of the people [taxation] its authority is no longer titular and therefore it is no longer a pure Republic.

The Church can never exercise authority as the benefactors of other nations and remains the only true and pure Republic on earth operating under the perfect law of liberty.

The Spoon River Church is only a small sample of what can be done if people seek the kingdom, Love God and his laws of liberty and love their neighbor as themselves. If you are interested in seeking the kingdom contact the Church, establish a congregation and began to serve the King in faith, hope and charity.

Charitable Projects begin.

January, 2000
"Turtleshell Road Maintenance Project" First road "2500N", which is also known as "Turtleshell, Road".
This is the gravel road the immediately services the Church land here at Spoon River. Approximately 21 hours on chainsaw
Approximately 4 hours on backhoe removing brush.
Firewood went to three or four neighbors at no charge.
Bulldozer was brought in to remove stumps on north side of road.
Approximately ten hours dozer time. The road was narrow and bordered with steep banks.
Permission was granted by adjoining neighbor to remove brush, dirt to make all necessary improvements to fence line.
A track-type excavator was brought in to load the dirt out and shape the banks.
Deerfield township road commissioner took half of the dirt for projects around the township. He was appreciative and asked us to submit a bill for all efforts put forth on the entire project. We declined the offer.
Roughly 100 truck loads of dirt were excavated and removed before the project was completed.
Ten to fifteen hours were put on the excavator.
Total value for our first project was roughly	$2500.00.
February, 2000
"Turtleshell Road Safety Project" Spent several days removing brush from a section of road several miles away that had several blind curves due to overgrowth.
Accumulated 50 man hours.
2 hours on the backhoe pushing brush and shaping ditches.
Wood went to neighbor living on that road.
Approx. project value.	$600.00
"Boyce Apple Orchard Project".
Ten man hours were spent on a road servicing road. Firewood was left in stacks for any one to claim.
Brush was burned.
Approx. project value.	$100.00
March 2000
White Rock Project [Turtleshell road]
Exchange for substance with Trucker to haul $1700.00 worth of white rock for surfacing Turtleshell road
The rock covered approximately 1/2 mile in a continuous spread starting at the Church drive then proceeding east.
Approx. project value,	$1,700.00
"Beaver Pass Road Project"
Spent approximately two weeks on "Beaver Pass Road" removing brush.
80 man hours accumulated,
14 hours backhoe.
Left wood for neighbors living on that road.
Approx. project value,	$1,500.00
"Wolf Pass Road project"
Spent several days clearing larger soft maples.
Firewood value was nominal so we burned all the brush on the project.
We provided 15 tons broken up concrete to stop a wash on a culvert for the next road west. 50 man hours, 9 hours on backhoe, one tandemload concrete.
Approx. project value,	$1,000.00
"Mount Pisgah Road Project"
Spent four hours removing brush with backhoe assist.
Approx. project value,	$100.00
"Deer Track Road"
Spent 6 hours on "Deer Track Road" removing brush, no machines, just two men and chainsaw.
Approx. project value,	$100.00
"Lee" township Maintenance and Safety road project.
12 man hours accrued removing brush from a bad corner.
Gave the wood to a man who came by and said we should get it all cleaned up before somebody steals it.
Approx. value.	$150.00
Deerfield township maintainance
Last project for that March was undertaken on the dead end road north of the Deerfield maintainance building.
20 man hours over the course of two days.
Gave the wood to neighbor across the street, who was dumbfounded by the whole affair.
Approx. value	$220.00
April, 2000 Turtleshell Road Maintenance
Spent several days clearing brush, cutting ditches, grading road and spreading rock.
20 man hours, six machine hours and 20 tons of white rock.
Approx. value.	$700.00
Goose Down Road"
10 man hours removing brush from "Goose Down Road",
Approx. value.	$150.00
"Foot Road Deerfield township to Cass township"
Large project on "Foot Road" which is on the southern border of Deerfield township, northern border of Cass township.
First day consisted of three workers and one chainsaw, 25 man hours.
Approx. value.	$350.00
April 15, 2000
Loaded out more dirt with excavator from north side 2500N for township use.
5 hours excavator,
Approx. value.	$500.00
April 17, 2000
Resumed "Foot Road" project.
10 man hours with backhoe assist.
Approx. valuation	$350.00
April 18, 2000
Foot Road, brush removal and 2 1/2 hours bulldozing to smooth out rough road edge. .
Approx. value	$300.00
April 22, 2500N, load more dirt out for township and Church use,
three hours excavator,
Approx. value.	$300.00
May 3, 2000,
Volunteered to run the township road grader for a day.
No value estimated.
May 20, 2000
another half day on the grader. No value estimated.
May 25,"Mount Pisgah road"
10 man hours accrued on "Mount Pisgah road" removing brush out of the ditch and fence corner for elderly man adjoining township road. Was beginning of future extensive clearing project for township.
Approx. value.	$150.00
May 30, 2000 "Goose Down Road"
Finished "Goose Down Road" brush project. 13 man hours,
Approx. value.	$200.00
June 5, 2000, Turtleshell road
Haul in 15 tons white rock, Turtleshell road.
Approx. value.	$200.00
Oct. 4, 2000,
4 hours brush removal, Turtleshell road.
Approx. value.	$50.00
October 16-17,
Deerfield township safety Project
Backhoe taken to remote road in Deerfield township containing three blind corners.
We cleared all three with adjoining landowner's permission as some brush was in or near his yard. 15 man hours, three backhoe hours.
Most wood was brought back to Church property for firewood and split rail fencing stock.
Approx. value.	$300.00
November 10-11,
We began removing brush that had fallen across the fence of a neighbor on Babylon Road. After cleaning up fence line, we proceeded east for one half mile, clearing all.
We left all wood stacked neatly along the ditch for whomever. 20 man hours,
Approx. value.	$250.00
Begin 2001
Road work schedule
March, two tandem loads rock spread on Turtleshell road,
Approx. value.	$350.00
April 2001 Turkey Creek Road Project
Began the project on road servicing new bridge Creek.
The road was badly overgrown and a large ditch had washed down the easternmost tire track.
After the brush removal was well underway, I asked the road commissioner for permission to use the township grader to reshape the road, cutting the ditch, reshaping the crown and eliminating the washout.
Road has been firm and sound since. Our first day we racked up 15 man hours and three hours on the backhoe.
Approx. value	$300.00
November 30,
Finish above project,
13 man hours with backhoe assist. Approx. value.	$200.00
Wood went to various neighbors throughout.
There is time spent on this project that was not logged for reasons of overwhelming work load.
December 5, 2001
"Mount Pisgah Road", north of Harper farm
This stretch of road proudly boasted what I believe was the oldest and roughest growth of timber existing in Deerfield township at that time. 1st day, 5 backhoe hours,
Approx. value.	$250.00
December 6, 16 man hours ,	$250.00
Dec. 9, 18 man hours,
Approx. value.	$300.00
Dec. 10, 11 man hours with backhoe assist,
Approx. value.	$250.00
Dec. 20, 12 man hours,
Approx. value.	$200.00
Dec. 22, 10 man hours with backhoe assist,
Approx. value	$250.00
Dec. 25, 14 man hours,
Approx. value	$250.00
Dec. 28, 10-15 man hours,
Approx. value	$200.00
2002 roadwork schedule
Jan.12 Turtleshell Road.
15 tons rock from Sand Hill gravel pit spread on
Approx. value	$150.00
Jan. 13 5 Babylon Road
hours brush removal on
Approx. value	$100.00
Jan. 14 30 Turtleshell Road
tons rock from Sand Hill spread on
Approx. value	$300.00
Removed brush & large cottonwood tree from side of County Highway 2.
Two hours chainsaw and backhoe
Approx. value	$150.00
Feb. 6 State Route 9
Remove patch of brush causing blind spot from north side Illinois State Route 9, between Turkey Creek and Lost Grove creek bridges. 12 man hours,
Approx. value	$250.00
March 10 Courtney/Wilhelm
Begin brush removal project at Courtney/Wilhelm disputed corner east of Turkey creek on Deer Track Road. 12 man hours, Firewood went to neighbor on Babylon Road
Approx. value	$250.00
March 12 resume Deer Track
brush removal. 6 man hours. Wood to same neighbor
Approx. value	$100.00
March 16 Deer Track Road
8 man hours removing brush from Deer Track Road
Approx. value Wood to same neighbor	$200.00
April 28 County Highway 2.
Remove brush from County Highway 2. 6 man hours.
Approx. value	$100.00
May 14 Replaced washed out culvert on Deer Track Road.
10 hours backhoe and some chainsaw time.
In exchange, township provided 40' of 24" galvanized culvert for major culvert project on Turtleshell Road.
Spent late evening removing more brush from Courtney/Wilhelm corner.
Total project value approx.	$700.00
May 15 Deer Track road
put in several hours on road grader for township on.
No value established
May 18 Turtleshell Road
Began major culvert replacement project on.
4 hours excavator/ 3 hours dozer/ 12 hours backhoe/ two men working
Approx. value	$1,300.00
May 21
Finish setting culvert, Turtleshell road/purchased another 20' section of 24" galvanized culvert with $350.00 church funds for a total 60'installed.
Two men, two machines and chainsaw time. Approx. value	$800.00
Total cost for culverts including 40' traded for with township--	$1,189.20
Rock spread on Turtleshell culvert project, 35 tons. Approx. value	$400.00
May 30 4 of Turtleshell road.
hours bulldozing final grade on Turtleshell culvert project remainder
September 6 Turman and Utsinger farms.
Graded road and removed brush on dead end road 3 hours dozed with chaisaw assist.
Approx. value	$200.00
November 1 Turtleshell
Hiel Trucking brought out two semiloads of rock
Two farmers out of the county offered to pay the bill in consideration of work performed by the Church on their farms.
Approx. value	$500.00
November 3 Began White's Ferry Road
brush removal project at base of "Goldsmith hill" running north approximately 1/2 mile on west side of road.
The road lies in Cass township, south of Deerfield.
I called the man who farms the adjoining property to gain permission to undertake the project, as a place was needed to dispose of the brush. The man called the land lord and permission was gratefully granted. Spent a couple hours with the backhoe digging out the larger trees early morning the first day. I couldn't sleep that night so I got up at three and headed out to dig as I was scheduled to dig in a mile and a half of tile line for the neighboring farmer the same morning. Kinda like gathering straw for bricks by moonlight.
Approx. value first day	$100.00
November 20
4 1/2 hours dozing ditches and trees on road west of Premier Gas and Farm Supply, Cass township.
Approx. value	$270.00
November 21 Cass township south end White's ferry Road west side
4 hours dozing brush and reshaping ditchbank.
Approx. value	$240.00
2003 Roadwork schedule
Jan. 5 resume work Cass township, White's Ferry
bottom of Goldsmith hill. 8 man hours removing and burning brush.
Approx. value Firewood to neighbor and man working with me that day	$150.00
Feb. 7 Cass, White's ferry, Goldsmith
15 man hours. Wood to neighbors
Approx. value	$250.00
March 30 same road
9 man hours.
Approx. value	$150.00
April 5, Goldsmith hill.
16 man hours burning brush, lots of thorn trees.
Approx. value,	$300.00
2004 Roadwork schedule
March, Finish Goldsmith project.
4 hours bulldozer removing last of brush and reshaping road and ditch.
Approx. value	$240.00
April 2 Turtleshell road
man hours with backhoe assist removing brush on.
Approx. value	$50.00
May 2004, RF, Bushnell, Illinois
longtime friend and supporter of Church effort at Spoon River purchased a NEW Valby brand wood chipper model # CH260HF to further the Church's brush removal effort and to increase the efficiency thereof.
Total cost of the machine is approximately $12,000.
This machine is pto-driven and will eat a ten inch log. We are beside ourselves with glee (for now) just contemplating the animal bedding, mulching and soil improvement potential of this machine. The chip size is infinitely adjustable from 1/4 to 1", making it possible to turn out sawdust sized chips up to landscaping or energy chips for making power or heat. For anyone out there who swoons at the thought of trying to feed this hungry beast on a 95 degree day (it will eat up to two and a half semiloads of material an hour)
We can be contacted for scheduling you an appointment with it at 309-293-2050. Look for the short, stocky fellow and the thin little whip. Both will be dripping sweat and covered in sawdust and leaves.
Maintaining the King's roads in God's Kingdom.
This ends the brush and road schedule for the month of May in the year 2004	$12,070.00
The Church is the government of God's kingdom on earth. It is composed of the bondservants of Christ and the true public servants of the congregations of the people. It is sustained by God and by the free will contributions of the people. once you give any government agency the power to compel their contributions and sacrifices its authority is no longer titular and therefore no longer a pure Republic. The Church can never exercise authority as the benefactors of other nations and remains the only true and pure Republic on earth operating under the perfect law of liberty. The Spoon River Church is only a small sample of what can be done if people seek the kingdom, Love God and his laws of liberty and love their neighbor as themselves. If you are interested in seeking the kingdom contact the Church, establish a congregation and began to serve the King in faith, hope and charity.	The above amount is only a fraction of the amount that would have been charged the people had it been done by contractors or the other governments.