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What Does Civil Unrest Look Like and How Can You Stay Safe Near It?

October 17, 2012 by

There have been a lot of rumors of possible or expected civil unrest, which I mentioned in What We May See at the End of 2012 that is not related to the Mayans and such as this recent article from Infowars.com, entitled Will The Election Results Cause Massive Riots To Erupt All Over America?.  This could range from small peaceful protests to large violent riots.  In light of this, I thought I would look back at civil unrest in our history and from around the world to see if there is anything to be learned that could help if we’re ever caught near civil unrest.

 

Mob Mentality

Mob mentality means a group that acts together without a previous plan.  Mob mentality can turn dangerous if there are negative or hostile emotions being expressed.   People often feed off one another’s anger.  If one person acts out in violence, others may quickly follow.  People soon think as a group and continue to feed off each other’s hostility.

There are a certain percentage of people who will act with honor in any situation.  There is another percentage that will act with dishonor and take advantage of people in any situation.  There is yet another group of people who will usually act with honor except when presented with the opportunity to “get away with it”.  In a group of people, all it takes is for a small percentage of dishonorable people to influence the opportunists and chaos ensues.

Examples where this has happened would be riots after sporting events, flash mobs with malicious intent and, to some extent, the riots seen with “Occupy Wall Street”.

If you are facing a group where mob mentality is present, the best advice I can give is to leave the area immediately and call the police from a safe distance.  Flash mobs are a bit different; they are usually made up of teenagers who text their friends and the group quickly builds because so many have been texting.  They often then target a specific location, streaming in and either burglarizing the location or, in some instances, assaulting patrons or employees.

If you are faced with a flash mob, I would advise you to forget what you were there to purchase and leave immediately.  You do not know what the intent is or how long it will remain peaceful.  Retreat to a safe distance that the mob cannot quickly get to and call police.

 

Extended Lawlessness

I can only think of one case of extended lawlessness in recent American history.  That would be the LA riot in 1992, which lasted six days.  There were 53 people killed and over 2,000 injured.  Rioting was sparked in a few other places across the country but the majority of it was seen in LA.

Looting and violence was rampant.  I had a friend in the Navy who lived in South Central LA during the time of the riots.  He said his mother made him and his brother stay lying on the floor almost the entire time because of random gunfire.  I have read reports that police were so overwhelmed in parts of the city that some business owner took up arms and defended their businesses.

Looking abroad, we see similar traits.  When Saddam fell and his police went into hiding, Iraq was full of looting and rioting that carried on for many days.  I remember reading reports from Tunisia and Egypt soon after the civil unrest started there.  There were reports of small convenience stores running out of supplies, cash machines running dry and neighbors banding together to defend their neighborhood from the rioting thugs.

There have been many anti-austerity protests and riots in Spain, Greece, the United Kingdom and some other European countries as well, many of which have turned violent.  I remember reading one report of sporting goods stores in the UK running out of baseball bats because people were buying them for protection (see what happens when you don’t have the right to bear arms?).

If you live near a city that is in the midst of extended lawlessness you will have to make a decision.  Will you be safer if you bug out or batten down?  If you chose to batten down, here are some things to keep in mind; 1.) Make sure you have food and water available so that you do not have to risk leaving the house.  2.) Keep some emergency cash at home just in case you must leave for emergency supplies.

If you have to go out on foot, always be looking for cover and concealment, even if you don’t have to use it in the moment, you should always know where the nearest is at any given moment.  Avoid large groups of people; you have no way of knowing what they may be up to or when mob mentality may take hold.  If you see violence taking place, whether it is a fistfight or any other type of violence, it can shock your system to see it “in real life”.  Do not fixate on it, push it from your mind and focus on putting distance between you and it, you can process what you saw when your safely back home.  Keep your head on a swivel as they say in the Navy and keep looking around you to make sure you know who is nearby.

If you go out near civil unrest in a vehicle, keep as much distance as you can or you may be faced with the decision to use your vehicle to “make some room” to push through a crowd or to simply flee.  That is why I suggest you keep moving.  Do not stop and watch.  Keep as much distance as you can. Almost every time I see footage from riots, there are cars that are vandalized, flipped over or burned.

You cannot depend on 911 or expect the police to show up quickly.  It might be wise to take a page from the neighbors in Egypt who banded together to protect their neighborhood or from the business owners in LA that defended their businesses because the police were so overwhelmed.

 

Restoring Order

Police and possibly the National Guard have the difficult task of stopping the lawlessness and restoring order.  This job could be made increasingly difficult because in many cases the dishonorable people will try to blend in with citizens who’re nearby.  This is used to great effect in Iraq and Afghanistan where someone will shot at our forces and then drop their gun and hide amongst the civilians standing nearby, or will run into a hospital mosque.

As I wrote in What We May See at the End of 2012 that is not related to the Mayans, local law enforcement agencies have trained with the military in urban operations.  Also Local Cops Ready for War With Homeland Security-Funded Military Weapons and the Air National Guard ordering several LRAD (Long Range Acoustical Devices).  The article also states:

“With this order, LRAD systems will be in use by every major force of the Department of Defense,”

There are two dangers.  One is the rioters and the other is the response to them.  You would be well advised to keep your distance from both.

 

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Filed Under: Signs of the Times Tagged With: , , ,

The Future Leaders of the Church

October 15, 2012 by

I have said a few times that I think the Church in America will eventually go underground and resemble the first church or the modern church in other countries.  People will gather for worship in smaller congregation’s in house churches.  This poses an interesting problem.  Currently, hundreds, even thousands, show up at individual churches across the USA.  These churches have between one and a small handful of pastors that minister to the many.  What happens when people form small house churches out of necessity? For example, if your church had 500 worshipers on a Sunday and house churches formed, each having 20 people, you would need 25 leaders for the house churches, one leader per group.

I wrote last week that “Christians should be preparing” so they can be a shining light in the darkness that may be coming.  Could it be that the Lord is preparing us Prepared Christians to be a light in our home churches and to lead them?

That would be no big deal for some of you, as I know you are leading home churches or small groups now, but for me, due to Asperger Syndrome and my rock solid (sarcasm) people skills, a conversation about the weather can be awkward.  The thought of leading a small church doesn’t thrill me.  I’m sure some of you might feel similarly…but Lord your will not mine be done.

One constant theme through all of scripture is that God frequently picks those who’re not perfectly suited for the task to complete it.  I mean come on; he made use of an ass on Palm Sunday (lol).  I believe this is so that we can see Him working in us and give Him glory for it.

 

But I Didn’t go to Seminary!

Just because you didn’t go to seminary doesn’t mean you aren’t able to lead a small house church.  I don’t believe any of the twelve disciples had any formal training, though they had the ultimate on the job training.  Jesus was frustrated with their lack of understanding many times through the New Testament.   Paul, who wrote the majority of the New Testament, did have formal schooling as a Pharisee.  It wasn’t until he came to Christ that he truly understood God.  My point is that you don’t have to be trained as a pastor or priest to be an effective leader in a church.  Don’t misunderstand, I am not discounting seminary, I’m just saying it is not needed to be a useful instrument before God.

There are some things that you will need to have a grasp on and be comfortable doing.  Below are some examples.

 

Salvation

You will need to understand how salvation works; saved by grace, repentant of sin and welcome Jesus to come into your life.  It sounds so simple, but it is a lot more complex than repeating a small prayer.  Explaining why someone would give their life to Jesus, how to become saved and what that means for the rest of their life are important to understand.

I first came to the Lord as a preteen, I backslid in my late teens and had a loosely held faith until recommitting my life in my early thirties.  Since then, I have really sought the Lord and His word.  I could have explained at any time in my life what salvation was, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I really grasped it.  Then I really understood grace and the sacrifice made in my place.  As I read the Word, I continue to see a deeper meaning to this life altering gift.

 

Prayer

Praying out loud in front of people can be challenging.  For me this is much harder than even talking in front of people.  Part of the reason this is difficult for people is because we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.  I don’t know, maybe we want to come off like a prayer superstar like Billy Graham, but God doesn’t need you to be a Billy Graham, He just needs you to be willing.

To get used to praying out loud I started praying out loud before family meal time.  I also pray with my wife, Trudee, before bed each night and, at times, just throughout the day.  It was a little clumsy at first, but over the years I have gotten more comfortable.   I have had a few opportunities to pray with others, either one-on-one or in a small group, and I know that praying out loud with those closest to me has helped.  I also believe that prayer with Trudee before bed has brought us closer together.  If we have had a rough day with each other, we go vertical to the King and don’t let the sun set on our anger.

Your prayers do not need to be eloquent; they just need to be from your heart.  There are times when I knock it out of the park and times when I stumble through.  I know God doesn’t judge me, He just wants to hear from me.

When I can’t think of anything to pray, I pray The Lord’s Prayer.

 

Knowing the Word

I really think that in order to be a leader of a small group or house church you have to be in the Word often.  When I came back to the faith I read the Bible off and on and didn’t understand what I was reading.  I decided one day that I would read one chapter every morning before I got ready for work.  I think making that commitment and sticking to it is what it took for God to open my eyes.  It still took a while before I understood much of what I was reading, but I really grew in my faith after I made the Word a priority.

If you have a hard time, there are several programs that will help you read the entire Bible in one year.  You can do an Internet search for “read the Bible in one year” and take your pick.  If you need help understanding events and different cultural things, a concordance is something you might want to look into.

If you find the timeline confusing because it jumps back and forth, you might like The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People. As the title says, it is one continuous story.  You won’t have to try and figure out which events happened when.  For example, in all of the Gospels, it follows the life of Jesus from beginning to end.  In The Story just has one flowing narrative.

I personally don’t think you need to be able to quote chapter and verse at the drop of a hat.  I don’t have the kind of mind that can remember things verbatim.  But I can remember key points and themes just fine.  I think having a grasp on concepts is more important than memorizing passages word-for-word.  In order to do that, you still have to read it and let the Spirit open your mind.

 

Other Ways to Grow

Some people like daily devotionals.  Some people like groups that meat each week and share faith.  When I drove to work every day, I would listen to a Podcast of Chip Ingram and Living On The Edge.  Chip is on many radio stations, but I downloaded them on iTunes.  You can also listen to them from Living On The Edge.  They have a HUGE amount of material geared at helping small groups.  I have to admit that this area isn’t my strong suit.  I found what worked for me and quit looking.  If any of you have other great resources to help others grow in their faith, please list them in the comment sections.

 

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Filed Under: Christian World View Tagged With:

Why Should Christians, Specifically, Be Preparing?

October 10, 2012 by

I have written previously “Is preparedness a sin?” and “Scripture related to preparedness” , explaining why preparedness is allowable and even seen as prudent by the Lord.  I have never explained why Christians should be preparing.  Of course, they should be preparing for the same reasons as everyone else, but they should also be preparing for at least one specific reason that is theirs alone.

Jesus tells us in Mathew 5:14 that “You are the light of the world.”  While true that this statement isn’t about preparedness, it is about being a light to the world.  Whether it is economic hardship, war, terrorist attacks, pandemic or any other man made or natural disaster, our world is fallen and we are to be a light to it.  Jesus didn’t prerequisite that with “unless food is limited or very high priced” or with “You can pause on being light to the world when events around you become uncertain or dangerous.”

To me, it is those times when we MUST be the light to the world.  After 9-11, many churches were filled to capacity.  Sadly, it often takes a large event to break people and have them turn to the Lord.  If there is another large scale disaster (Katrina or 9-11) and someone only has a few days of food for their family, they will be focused on taking care of and providing for their immediate family.  They may not be concentrating on spreading Gods love and being His hands and feet to another needy family.

My wife and I, as well as many from our church, have taken CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training, so that if there is an event in our local area, we can give aid. In the class, they made a point to say that you make sure your family is safe first and then go help if you’re able. Their reasoning is the same as mine. If things are not prepared for at home, if you have to worry about your family’s safety or whether there is food, you will be ineffective in the field.
Jesus told us in Mathew 24:6 – 8 (NIV) that:

“6. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  7. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  8. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

I can’t know if we’re living near the end times, but I do know all of those things are happening now, and Jesus said that they were just the beginning.  That means that more and probably worse will follow.

 

Many Christians have a misunderstanding of scripture, they will quote Matthew 6:25-34

“25. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?…”

They don’t understand that this verse is not about preparedness or the lack thereof, it is about worry. Let’s face it, believing that God will take care of our every need is comforting, but our God is not a genie from a bottle.  He gave us free will and logic and the ability of forethought.

 

As I mentioned above, Jesus said some pretty bad stuff would happen and Proverbs 27:12 says:

“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

When you put these three verses together, we’re told that there will be some difficult and dangerous times ahead.  We’re told not to worry because Jesus is Lord our God, but to be wise and prepare for those dangers that lie ahead.

So, if you want to be prudent before the Lord, then being prepared to be the light He said we are, and ready to face what He said is coming seems like the only decision.  Some people will have a hard time with this.  As I mentioned in Survival Psychology: Cognitive Dissonance, holding two opposing views is called “cognitive dissonance” and will cause mental stress and discomfort.  But looking at all of the scripture where we’re shown that God told people to prepare, which I cover in “Scripture related to preparedness”, and as I listed above with Proverbs 27:12, anyone who wants to be prudent need just look for dangers and take action to mitigate them.  One can make the logical and prudent choice and move out of cognitive dissonance.

 

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Filed Under: Christian World View, Mind Set Tagged With:

Building a Preparedness Based Community

September 17, 2012 by

I’d like your input on today’s topic.  If you have any thoughts, please post them or email them to me at chrisATpreparedchristian.net.

I was recently having a conversation with a friend and fellow Prepper.  He mentioned that he has had thoughts of four or so Prepper families moving to adjacent land and building a small community.   He said he looks around the neighborhood he lives in now and everyone has a riding lawnmower, a snow blower and miscellaneous other expensive items that could easily be shared amongst a community that was closer knit.  He then went on to say that if someone had an area they were gifted in, they could share that gift with the entire group.  For example, if someone was good with gardening, they could manage either a community garden, or one for each family.  They could also teach the other members.  The same could be said for home repair or any other gifted area.

This wouldn’t be a socialist community, where all wealth is communal or anything like that.  I wrote about Mutual Aid Groups in the article “What is a MAG?”.  A MAG is essentially a group of people who agree to band together to aid one another, sharing workload and resources if needed.  This preparedness community would the MAG a step or two further.  In most MAG’s, households don’t live adjacent to one another.  They have an agreement on where to meet when things go sideways.

 

In “What is a MAG?” I mentioned that a unique twist on the MAG would be having it built entirely of Christians, following the book of Acts as a model.  In Acts, everyone shared their wealth and donated it to the movement, which then met all of their physical needs.  As I mentioned, I don’t think that would need to be a part of the preparedness community.

This preparedness community could work with any group that agreed on some ground rules, but one of the advantages of having the group of Christians would be the bond of Christ.  Conflicts could be resolved much faster going vertical when strife arose, bringing the problem before God and getting out of the horizontal.  Being angry and frustrated with the other party would be greatly lessened.  As I mention in “What is a MAG?”, we’re given a model to use for conflict in the church Mathew 18:15-17.  This could be adapted to the group.

“”If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

For this to work I think it would need to be a handpicked (preferably by the Lord) group of people.  I think it would be necessary to enjoy one another beforehand and be willing to put the community before oneself at times.  For example, I have a neighbor who has a recording studio in his home.  He frequently has his music up so loud I can hear it as if he was playing in my kitchen.  The neighbor on the other side has a doggy door for their little dog.  The dog goes in and out freely.  The problem here is that when they go to work, he spends several hours outside barking nonstop.  I work from home and actually had to get a white noise machine to drown him out.  There are reasons that I won’t go into for not having made a complaint.  My point is that there would need to be bonds within the group.  If I know my neighbor is enduring a hardship, the formed community could surround them and help them with whatever is necessary.   Growing old and retiring surrounded by a group like this sounds perfect to me! Forget those retirement homes!

There would need to be some ground rules.  Here are a few that have come to mind:

  1. Everyone must own their own land.  I think one person buying the land and letting the others put up a house on it is just asking for trouble.  If everyone pools their resources and purchases a large acreage, it could be subdivided.
  2. What you do on your land is your business, unless it is a danger to the community.
  3. No doggy doors or recording studios!
  4. If there are shared items, such as a riding lawn mower, boat, snow blower or anything else, all expenses need to be shared.  A schedule for use might also need to be established.
  5. I think a basic level of preparedness should be required.  It shouldn’t be cumbersome, but knowing that everyone can provide for their family for three months or more would give the entire group peace of mind.

I have given this a lot of thought and see many upsides, with everyone agreeing that there would either be permaculture encompassing the entirety of all properties or different things grown on each property and shared amongst the group.  Each household could have a CB to maintain communication.  This could be very useful for security as well.   If there was a need to defend the community, there are three other families to help.  If there is any livestock, neighbors could be counted on to take care of them while the owners are away.  The bond that could be built surrounding this community could be awesome.  Let’s say one of the families can’t move completely but want to buy the land and treat it as their BOL (Bug Out Location).  There would be other people to watch over their property.

There are also some downsides.  How do you handle it if one family decides they want to move?  Finding a piece of land that everyone agrees on could be difficult.  I’m sure there are more, but I think if this is approached with much prayer, asking for the right people to be shown, and all of the ground rules accepted ahead of time, many potential obstacles can be avoided.

 

I mentioned earlier that I would like your input, so here are a couple questions for you:

  1. Is this something you would consider?  For me the answer is possibly, unless I knew the Lord was prompting me.  If that were the case, there would be no question.
  2. Would you be willing to relocate to another state?  For myself, if it was the right piece of property at the right price, it’s not out of the question.
  3. What are some of the ways you could meet others with whom you might be interested in taking part in this community?  I know one couple from church that I wouldn’t even question and a couple others that might be potentials.    One of the things I plan on doing for the site is starting a forum.  I just need to set it up.  This could be a great way for you to connect with one another.
  4. What are some other upsides, potential downsides and ground rules you think should be in place?

 

If you have thoughts on this subject and are willing to post them in the comments, please do.  If you would rather send an e-mail, that’s fine as well.

 

Filed Under: General Preparedness Tagged With:

Basics of Bartering

June 11, 2012 by

Bartering is a skill that many of us aren’t used to, or very good at. We see a price and accept that as the amount we must pay.

In much of the world, bartering is a part of daily life. The same could be said in a prolonged survival situation. The economy of Argentina was much like that in America prior to 2000. Their economy has since collapsed and barter has become a common means of purchasing. In fact I read somewhere that people would cut links off a gold necklace and trade the links.

When I was in the Navy, I spent time in Hong Kong and in Dubai. Neither place was what it is today. That being said, if you didn’t barter, you got ripped off in many cases. I have a hard time with the concept, so I followed the lead of some friends who had been there before. Here is what I have learned about bartering from those experiences and since then.

 

What is Currency?

Jack Spirko has helped me define what currency is and what it is not. Currency is not the dollar bill in your pocket or even the precious metals you have stored away. Currency is the value you place on something.

Let me paint this picture: Inflation has skyrocketed and the price of gas is $6.00 a gallon. The price of many foods is 50%-75% higher than a year ago. I have been growing a garden and have expanded it. I’m willing to sell or trade with my neighbors. Pete has some cash and some rice that he would like to trade for some of my tomatoes.

Since the cash isn’t worth as much but is still useful I could charge him accordingly. It’s value may still decrease. I have been prepping and don’t need any more rice, so Pete doesn’t have any currency that I value.

Dan lives a bit further out of town and has a small chicken coop. Dan and his wife both love tomatoes. Since we both have something the other has placed value on, the tomatoes and chickens will be our currency. We just need to sort out the details. I could take eggs, chicken meat, or maybe have him raise a couple for me, so I could start my own coop.

In short, currency is whatever you, or someone else, might place value on. The most common currencies are, of course, dollars or the national currency in your nation, as well as precious metals.

If you’re a pro, please add any additional suggestions to the comment section

Let me share that I’m not very good at bartering. That being said, below are some things I’ve learned.

 

As Kenny Rogers says, “Know when to hold them, when to fold them, know when to walk away and when to run.”

When bartering, both sides are trying to get the best deal they can. If both parties are honorable, they can both walk away happy. However, you should have a price or trade in mind that you’re willing to pay, with some wiggle room on either side.

 

When to hold them

If you know the value of what you have and are offering it at a reasonable price, don’t stray too far from it. The same can be said if you make a fair offer on an item that you know the true value of. This is bartering, so remember the wiggle room I mentioned. Don’t stray too far from your original offer.

 

When to Fold them, and when to run

These two are the same but I like the song and thought using it was clever. Sometimes people will make an offer that is ridiculous. Just say “no thank you” and walk away. If they were testing you, they’ll come back with a legitimate offer. If they’re a fool, they’ll probably go off about how the item your offering is subpar or, if they’re the one selling, they’ll go on about how their item is the best blah, blah, blah. Unless you really need the item, let them keep it.

 

When to walk away

There are times when buying or selling, when walking away can show the other party that their offer wasn’t serious and that you’re not willing to consider it. The catch is that you may end up keep walking away and losing out on your chance at the item, unless you want to go back and meet their offer. If you do go back, the party now knows how much you want it. You’ll probably have to pay their full asking price. Sometimes the other party will modify their original offer and you can barter for a fair exchange.

Here is a list of skills and items you could use for bartering.

 

If you’re a pro, please add any additional suggestions to the comment section.

 

Filed Under: Finance, Mind Set Tagged With: ,

Preparedness Tip: Church Sponsored Gardening

April 17, 2012 by

There is a trend now where some businesses are letting their employees have a small garden on their property.  I had an idea a year or so ago that I think might fit nicely for some churches.

Many churches have land that is unused.  I know of two near me that have HUGE plots that sit unused. Some might be willing to start a community garden and rent space. Local lumber yards might donate some lumbar and write it off as a deduction.  Local garden centers might be willing to donate some soil too.  A compost center could be established and acceptable kitchen waste could be dumped here.

If they built ten 4×4 beds and paid for the lumber, they could get congregants to put them together and fill them with soil.  They could rent the 4×4 bed for say $25 for the season, that’s only $250, but if that money was used the following year to increase the amount of beds, the income would build over time.

Depending on local laws, they could also start a farmer’s market and rent space.  Growers from the boxes could buy a stall and sell any excess produce (not likely from one 4×4 box, but you get the idea).

This would be a great way to build community and I have heard it said that gardening is the gateway drug to preparedness.

 

Filed Under: Preparedness Tips Tagged With: ,

What Would You Do: “I’m coming to your house”

March 7, 2012 by

What would you do? You share preparedness with someone (or someone see’s your preps) and they say “I know where I’m coming if it ever hits the fan.”

Instead of doing the normal “what would you do?”, today I am going to add some comments here. Please feel free to add your comments.

One of the dangers of sharing preparedness is that other people will then know you’re prepared. This can lead to the comment, “I know where I am coming if it ever hits the fan” or a version thereof. This is a rough spot and there aren’t any easy answers to it, so I’ll give you some of my thoughts on the topic.

For me there are two groups; the people I know and the people I don’t know.

If I don’t know someone and they make a comment like this, the answer is easy. I would just tell them “I wouldn’t”. If they ask why, I would simply tell them that my number one priority is to protect and provide for my family. I would go on to say that if it hits the fan, anyone who shows up who isn’t family would be viewed as a possible threat.

Some Christians have a hard time being firm with people because they feel they’re being rude. Christ was absolutely firm with people, He told people exactly who He was and never backed down. When Peter told Him not to go to the cross, He didn’t give a timid response. Peter got an earful of “Get behind me satan!”

Excuse the soap box for a minute: I think many Christian’s mistake meek with timid. Chip Ingram gave the best description of meek that I have ever heard, he said that meekness isn’t weakness. It’s “power under control”. Okay, back to the article.

This is a bit more complicated with people I know, who are aware that I prepare. I would hope they would follow my example and prepare themselves or at least ask for my help to get them prepared. The truth is that there are some people I know who will show up. I will help with what I can but there are others who will be told “I’m sorry, I can’t do anything for you.” Will it be easy? No. Will it hurt? Yes. As I mentioned yesterday, sometimes you have to shake the dust from your feet and when you do, there can be consequences. Stay firm!

I’m not heartless. If it does hit the fan, I will try to feed (some) people when I can. It will be simple food; beans, rice, cornmeal and flatbread.

Like I said, this isn’t an easy topic, but one that is better thought through now, before you have to actually give an answer.

 
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Sharing Preparedness

March 6, 2012 by

Sharing Preparedness

For those of you who share preparedness, here are some things I’ve discovered. If you have others, please add a comment and share with everyone. As far as sharing preparedness goes, I understand that some of you want to maintain Op-Sec and stay gray. For those who want to let your freak flag fly, here are some tips.
 
 
Start Small

When you talk to someone who isn’t a prepper about preparedness, start small, with examples of why you prepare. Make it about you to keep them from feeling attacked. If you bring up the possibility of an EMP attack from Iran, many people don’t know what to do with that, so they dismiss it. If you bring up something they understand, that they have dealt with, or at least are familiar with, such as a power outage, they can process it and understand why and how they could prepare.
 
 
Avoid the Tinfoil

Avoid giving examples that are far out, like FEMA camps, impending nuclear fallout from Fukushima or the government using Contrails. There are some things that are a little out there that I think might be true, but sharing this stuff with someone who doesn’t even see the reason to have more than a weeks-worth of food at home, is going to make them think you’re a kook.
 
 
Social Media

This might seem like I am being a little self-serving. Whether it’s this site, or another preparedness site you like, if you read an article you like, please share it. Most sites have the buttons for Facebook, Twitter and others at the bottom of the article. Feel free to “Like it”, “tweet it”, etc.

If you have a site “liked” on Facebook and a comment is made, click on “share” and add your two cents so that your friends can see it. If you make a comment on a post, only those who are fans of the page will see it, not the friends in your list.

Social media is a great way to bring attention to a site or an article you enjoy. It’s where the term “going viral” comes from. Personally, I would say that much of my traffic has come from links that are shared by visitors. I appreciate it when people share the site with their circle; it is a high compliment in my book.

 
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What Can We Do When People Won’t Listen?

March 5, 2012 by

This week I want to talk to you about sharing preparedness; how to share and how not to, what to do when people won’t listen and some of the reasons why they don’t listen. I’ll even share some ideas about what you can do when you hear the dreaded “If it ever hits the fan, I’ll just come to your house”.
 
 
What Can We Do When People Won’t Listen?

It is human nature to want to share something we believe in with people that we care about. When there is something that we know is important, that we know is good, whether it’s our faith, preparedness or anything else. Why they don’t see things as clearly as we do can be confusing, frustrating or even heartbreaking.

I have had a couple of e-mail conversations with people asking different versions of the same question; “Why does God ask some people to prepare and not others?” and “My family thinks I’m crazy because I want to prepare. How can I get them on board?”

First let me ask; who can truly know the mind of God? I don’t claim to. I have been thinking about this and going over scripture to see if there are any examples I could draw from, trying to glean His wisdom from other areas to see if they fit this topic as well. Some of the things you’ll read in this article you might not like, while others you might find peace in. Please know that I say them all out of love.
 
 
Different Parts of the Body 1 Corinthians 12:12

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”

Paul tells us that we are all different parts of the body, each with different gifts. We all know God gives us different kinds of gifts (besides spiritual gifts). Some people are athletic and some are intellectual. I think God asks some of us to live each day waiting for manna to eat, yet others He asks to prepare. The plan that He has for your life could be drastically different than a loved ones, but in the end it might all be for His glory.
 
 
Pearls Before Swine Mathew 7:6

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Jesus told the disciples not to throw the pearls (of wisdom) before the swine because they wouldn’t understand. Did you ever read the Bible before you were a believer? I did and it didn’t make sense, not until I took that step of faith and gave my life to Him.

Along the same line, some of the people you share preparedness with just won’t see the reason until something happens to open their eyes. If someone resists, you might save yourself some grief and just let it go, which brings me to my next point.
 
 
Shake the Dust From Your Feet Mathew 10-14-15

“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”

These two verses are important and something I am trying to live by more often. Jesus said that the people in the homes or towns would be worse off than Sodom and Gomorrah for not welcoming them, let alone not listening or refusing the good news. Jesus loved the people that were in the towns that might dismiss the disciples, but they were not more important than the mission He had sent the disciples on.

To be clear, I am not saying that the people who won’t listen to your reasons for prepping are doomed to hell. What I am saying is that if they won’t listen, maybe you should just move on and shake the dust from your feet.

God is calling many of His people to prepare; I see them find this site every day. Seek Him, if He is calling you to prepare, prepare with these people in mind if you must, but keep your actions to yourself. Bringing your actions to light could compound the negativity. Do not let their negativity or scoffing stop you. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. If you are obedient, any guilt or shame you feel is from the pits of hell.

God gave us the ability to tell Him no and walk into danger. We may want to choose differently for our loved ones, but maybe we should follow Gods example and let them find it on their own, even if it means some pain in the process.

(By trying to live more like this, I mean that I stand up for what I believe in, but if someone is antagonistic, a scoffer or pig-headedly resistant, I just shake the dust and go back to what I was doing.)
 
 
Easier Said Than Done

I realize this is easier said than done if it is a member of your immediate family or someone you love. When I first brought the idea of preparing to my wife, she was a little reluctant. We had a few conversations about it. I began searching scripture and we eventually got on the same page.

If she would have stood her ground and said “no”, I would have taken that to the Lord. If He continued to press preparedness, I would have prayed that she be open to me moving forward. I would have told her that I believed the Lord wanted me to do this, and that I have to be obedient.

My wife supports me, even if she doesn’t feel called to do something. If I feel called, she’s behind me. If she wasn’t behind me, I would still ask that some money go toward preparedness every week and assure her that I would not be over-buying. I would continue to prepare but always remain respectful of her feelings.

The best thing we can do is go to the King and ask for guidance and for His will to be done.

 
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Getting to know Chris

March 2, 2012 by

This week I have touched a little on community. I’m enjoying getting to know those of you who e-mail and post comments and I thought I would share a little about myself. I posted a while back about Friday content. If any of you want to answer these questions and send them to me I’ll post them as time allows. If you have an online business or blog you want to mention, feel free.

1. What do you do for a living?
a. I am level 2 client side IT for a large company in the medical industry.

2. If you could do anything you wanted for a living, what would that be?
a. I would own a large acreage set up with permaculture, gardening and livestock. I would have training facilities and cabins set up so that people could come for a weekend or longer and learn preparedness, homesteading and permaculture, outdoor skills and more. I don’t own all of these skill sets so I would have guest instructors. I would then document what I have learned via the blog. Hey! A guy can dream!

3. What is your favorite book?
a. Anything written by Raymond E. Feist. I’m a fantasy nerd, so what? 😉

4. What is your favorite movie?
a. Braveheart or the Lord of the Rings movies.

5. What is your favorite food?
a. Right now it is Wasa Crisp bread with peanut butter and banana.

6. What is your favorite time of the year?
a. The fall. I like sweatshirt weather and the changing of the leaves.

7. If you could vacation anywhere, where would that be?
a. I know of a cabin that is only one of two on a lake with plenty of peace and quiet and fish to catch.

8. What is your favorite fun thing to do?
a. Video games, I just wish I had more time to play.

9. If you could have lunch with anyone alive, or dead, who would it be and why?
a. Jesus or my grandpa. Jesus because I have so many questions and my grandpa because I miss him.

10. If you were the President for one day, what would you do?
a. 3 laws; One is a flat consumption tax of 10-15%. Two is that congress must read every stinking word of every bill they try to pass and no bill could be larger than 5 pages. Third, drug test for welfare. If I have to take one to get a job to pay for welfare, they’re going to take one to collect it. (saw the last one on Facebook)

11. What is your favorite kind of music?
a. I like many different kinds; rock, contemporary Christian, blues, classical, a little country. I don’t listen to the radio, so I don’t know that I could name one of the top 40 artists.

12. What is one example of how God moved in your life?
a. My wife and I have a good marriage. I give the credit for that to God. When things get hard, we go to Him.

13. How long have you been a prepper?
a. Seven years or so.

14. What is your biggest speed bump in prepping?
a. Money, as I am sure it is for most.

15. Would you call yourself a prepper, homesteader, survivalist or (add something else)?
a. Prepper, but would love to be able to call myself a homesteader one day.

16. What is the one prep item you want but don’t have?
a. A bug out location, hence a prepper and not a homesteader.

17. What is your number one reason for prepping?
a. I see the shape the world is in and do not want to be dependent on anyone to feed, or protect my family.

18. What got you started in preparedness?
a. The short answer is that I firmly believe the Lord told me to. The long answer, maybe some other time.

19. Which type of event concerns you the most?
a. Pandemic. With almost all other event’s, small or large, there is action that can be taken to mitigate their impact. With a pandemic, there isn’t much we can do besides isolate ourselves and pray a vaccine is found.

20. What is one thing people wouldn’t know about you?
a. I have Asperger Syndrome. For those who don’t know, Asperger’s is a high functioning form of Autism. There are many different things that go along with Asperger’s. One of which is social awkwardness and not picking up on social queues.

I’m usually a very private person, but I wanted to let you know for a couple of reasons; my wife acts as an editor for all of the articles that get posted. She does the normal editor tasks; spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. Because of the Asperger’s, I come across a little mechanical at times. My wife softens my words on those occasions.

We both make sure that the context never gets changed. The other reason I’m telling you is because I post to Facebook, answer e-mail and reply to comments on the blog on my own, so if things come across a little different, that’s why.

One of the symptoms of Asperger’s is being intensely focused or obsessed with a topic, for me that topic is preparedness and this blog. I spend a significant amount of time dedicated to both, keeping a balance can take effort. That is partly because it might sound weird, but I find great joy in researching, learning and writing about the things I have learned.

Some of you have posted comments or sent e-mails thanking me for this blog. While I appreciate the compliments, the way I see it, I just do the typing, God deserves the credit. I’m not a writer by nature but I enjoy sharing with all of you. The fact that anyone shows up to read what I write is humbling. I am truly grateful for all of you and look forward to meeting all of you, in this world or when we all get home.

 

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