Christians and Halloween

It's difficult for me to write about this, just because I shouldn't have to. Christians celebrating Halloween at churches is the deepest evidence we have that the supposed saints of today, are not reading their Bible. There is nothing holy about Halloween. The Bible is clear when it talks about necromancy and witches and also wizards. We are to avoid them as best we can and are not to associate with them under any conditions unless they reject their unholy past and repent.

Lets look at some verses.

Leviticus 20:26-27

King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ And ye shall be holy unto me: for I theLord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
²⁷ A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

Choose whom you shall serve.

Also:

Exodus 22:18

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Halloween has no holy or righteous association. No one thinks of our Lords gift of salvation. A child or adult that celebrates Halloween by dressing up or even giving out candy is still associating with the observance of the day. It is certainly by no means an opportunity to witness except by nonobservance. How are we to be an example if we set No example?

What finally set me over the edge with this was actually seeing a church with a sign in front of it that literally had the word Halloween on it. Unholy and unacceptable. They were advertising for a Halloween party they were going to have. If I have an opportunity I will try to get a picture of it.

I know that as Christians we are all coming to it from different directions but there are something's that just don't change, namely The Word Of God!

More Verses:

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 (NIV) Let no one be found among you... who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritist.

Isaiah 2:6 (NIV) You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full ofsuperstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans.



Revelation 21:8 (NIV) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Here is a quote from A.W. Tozer:

 "Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere. The world is whitewashed just enough to pass inspection by blind men posing as believers..."

Fundamentalist Christian Homesteaders

Elizabeth and I both know that the world sees us as "fundamentalists" and living as a couple that homesteads is just who we are. We don't liv our daily life trying to fit into a box or stereotype. We try to liv as separated from the world as we can but on the occasions where we can't help but hear worldly music like at a gas station for example, we don't hold it against ourselves. I know that technically we are fundamentalist Christian homesteaders. For us, we are just Bible reading Christians that prefer to depend on themselves and liv off the land. We arnt the crazy conspiracy, gun toting, camouflage wearing militia that the media portrays us as. I honestly don't even own any camouflage nor does Elizabeth, and the only rifle I own at this point is a .243 hardly an assault rifle.

I don't object to being called a fundamentalist Christian, but what bothers me is when people think they know what my theology and convictions are just because of the title that society gives us. Neither Elizabeth or I were indoctrinated with this lifestyle. We both chose it on our own terms.

There is an unworthy stigma with the word "fundamentalist". The only implication that the word  "fundamentalist" is supposed to give, is that we are Christians that liv our life by the word of God. We are not just Christians on Sundays. We are Christians 365 days a year and we do our best to liv a proactive life to give glory to God.

For us being a Christian and a homesteader are two very separate things. We do not believe that we are saved through legalism, we are only saved through grace.  You do not need to homestead to be a saint. There is no justification for that ideology. I do however think that the Old Testament makes it clear that to liv in the country creates a safer life for holiness verses living in the city.

I don't think anyone will argue that.

Being a conservative Christian is not something you set out to do, you either are or arnt. There is no middle ground. It is believing that everything is black and white that cultivates an eye for what is holy in one's life and what is not. It is for this reason that saints avoid television and movies. Citing Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes;

There are two types of Christians, those that read the Bible and say,"Well that wasn't meant for us today, we're different now", and those that say "What does the Word really say and am I holding my self to that standard? If I'm not, then I need to start."

We are conservative Christians first and homesteaders second.

I pray Yeshua blesses you abundantly

Prayer Closet Two

In the earlier posting about prayer closets I discussed the importance and utility of a prayer closet, but there are some points I think I need to touch on for people that may not be familiar.

Wether your Christian group has a church building or meets in a families house, every group has a need for prayer closets. Some groups of Pentecostals maintain a tradition of praying together in a room prior to meeting in a sanctuary. This sets an amazing tone for the hour or two that the saints are joined together. There is a chance that if everything is set in motion spiritually that there may not even be an opportunity for preaching. I've seen it happen before where a group of saints came out of their prayer closet and a flood of holiness flooded the room and there was no holding the blessing back. That is as true a spiritual communion with the Holy Ghost as one can get. When a blessing falls like that, there is absolutely nothing ostentatious about it. And it is also certainly orderly when considering that the time allotted for meeting has gone from being utilized for preaching, to being utilized for worshipping. There is never anything unholy in glorifying the Lord. There is a great chance as well that many will receive the Holy Ghost in these conditions, albeit with no coercion from other saints of God. In an atmosphere like that, everyone is in communion with God and only aware of their own person.

Now I say all that to clarify with this.

A prayer closet is intended for private or group prayer outside of a worship service.
It is absolutely expected that when Christians meet to worship, that they will pray together and out loud. The Lord gave what is known as The Lord's Prayer, with the expectation that the saints would pray this prayer together, both men and women in unison.

Prayer closets are intended for intimate moments with God, those moments should not be had in an environment that can make a person seem ostentatious or distracting to other saints, or at worst bewilders first time visitors.

The word of God encourages us to be civil and orderly in times of worship. Lets honor this.

1st Corinthians 14:39-40

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and in order.

I personally encourage you to read all of chapter 14. I don't feel that I am out of place.

Worse Than An Infidel

1 Timothy 5:8

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I would hate to think that one day after feeling that I had pursued the Lord with all my heart, that a simple and fairly unmentioned verse like this could be used as a reason for my rejection when I try to enter heaven.  For me, being a husband and a father is a very serious responsibility. I do all I can in my ability to make sure my wife is happy and provided for.  I will, as my biblical responsibility, do the same when I become a father. I am currently 29 years old, I've desired to be a father for 10 years now, so when that time comes I will be very thankful and will do all in my power to make sure that my sons and daughters feel that they are fully and fairly provided for.

I discussed with Elizabeth the idea of providing for our children so that they are financially stable when they leave our home. I told her that I desired to put away 100$ per month/per child till they reached the age of twenty or they got married, whichever came first.

She agreed that it was a good and feasible idea. Our desire is that if saints join us, that they would likewise honor this tradition. And for those that already have children it is not too late to start. Children should appreciate any thoughtful consideration put their way.

Fully the idea is that if two Porter youth intend to marry, they will jointly have roughly 45-50,000$ to spend on their home to establish them with as little debt as possible. Materially that is the greatest blessing a father can give his child, whether it be the father of the son or of the daughter, both are called to provide for his respective child.

With the said son having been taught a trade and also having been helped financially in this matter, he should be readily able to succeed in any venture he undertakes to provide for his wife and future children.

It should go without saying that the money provided for the children does not necessarily need to be spent on the house alone. It can/ could also be spent on tools/livestock/kitchen equipment and so on. The ideal is what is important, not so much how the money is utilized.

Prayer Closet Importance

Matthew 6:5-6

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.



When I quote this scripture, I take it seriously. I do not judge anyone for worshiping, praying, or practicing different traditions than my own.  As Christians, everyone of us follows the Lord in the way in which we feel convicted to do so. I will be honest though and say that this is a topic that we disagree upon with the UPCI. We aren't contentious about it. We just feel differently about it. As plain Chriatians we try not to be ostentatious. When we are at a worship meeting we seek to have a personal communion with God. We personally feel the best way to go about achieving this is to pray in private in a prayer closet.

You may be wondering what a prayer closet is. For us, it is simply a room with no windows that is dedicated to praying. A room with no distractions.

We are pentecostals, we feel that the best way to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost is by individual prayer. We are not apposed to two or more people praying together, there is scriptural justification for it's relevance. However we do feel that it is up to the said individual to decide if that is what they want. It is up to them to ask, we will not press ourselves on an individual that is seeking that blessing.

This is a topic that we feel strongly about. Inside of this topic we also feel that women are to pray with women, and men are to pray with men where group prayer is concerned.

The furnishings of the room are irrelevant as they are not strictly specified in the word of God.
It is appropriate to expect young girls that intend to use a prayer closet to be wearing a prayer covering. Likewise with boys, it is expected that their hair is short in accordance with 1st Corinthians 11. Even in ones home, modesty would be expected in a prayer closet, it is what is righteous.

There is no abuse in using the room to study the Bible or to sing unto the Lord or to worship him in other ways, including dancing. The room is intended to be dedicated as a sanctuary in the house. There is freedom in the Lord and this room is intended to remind the said saints of that.

This room can be any size, whether it be repurposed from a room used for clothing, storage, or even a garage. The intention is what matters. A garage, though seeming crude, would offer plenty of room for a piano and dancing. It would be glory to the Lord.

To truly feel liberated in prayer with the Lord, I would suggest not keeping a clock or watch in the room. Even five minutes of prayer can seem like three hours, and sometimes three hours feels like five minutes. This is a blessing from the Lord.

The current generation of Christians has it as it's responsibility to pray for today's lost generation of unbelievers. We must disassociate with routines and a lukewarm relationship with God. We are called to be the light and the salt of the earth. In order for that to take place we must be proactive as Christians, as the saints of God that we proclaim we are. Let us not falsely claim a name on the coat tails of our forefathers. We are the saints of today, and as saints At All, it is our responsibility to liv and act as such, even if the actions are a private communion with God that only we personally will know about.

To God be the Glory, I pray he blesses you abundantly.

In the name of Yeshua, Amen

Book Learning and Life Living

Elizabeth and I have always maintained a focus on learning skills that will help us on our farm. For example while she was in college she learned both how to make pottery and also how to weave. She has a loom and I look forward to the day she makes her first bed-rug. A bed rug is a woven heavy blanket. A 9'x9' blanket will weigh 25#'s they are intended for houses without electricity. Elizabeth worked on a farm in Indiana, she knows and teaches me alot. She is also very familiar with firearms. She cleaned my rifle! She's also working on a quilt. Her experience with sewing in 4-H helps I'm sure. Of course sewing her own dresses and my shirts goes a long way as well. She and my mother can produce annually now. There is alot to do and know on a farm, this only touches the surface.

You have to know what grasses and minerals will kill what livestock and under what conditions, Johnson grass comes to mind quickly with regards to that. You have to be able to determine what animal has killed your livestock and what course to take to eradicate the threat. Most satisfying of all, you have to provide your food at the end of the day. Whether it be cheese, sausage, steak, spaghetti, bread, milk. It's a lifestyle and a commitment, not a hobby.

I've been doing what I can to learn. We've had chickens for over a year, they still teach us plenty. I've grown up around horses the second half of my life. I don't expect that truck driving will help in any regard. I do however have a small foundation in woodworking. And wooden handplane making. There are many avenues I would like to take prior to us arriving at our farm, the future will determine if they happen. I've got a multitude of ideas and only one lifetime to see them through to completetion. Hopefully if I'm not able to fulfill them, then my children will be able to.
Whether it be animal breeding (I have two breeds of cattle I am wanting to cross), or whether it be the construction of the round barn I've designed with surrounding divided acreages, I have alot of passion in my heart that is matched by Elizabeth Ann. With her, I have faith that we will raise a wonderful family.

The core of our family's values will be our faith in our savior and to always encourage one another to learn as much as possible to make life easier on the farm. All the while, doing all we can to laugh and enjoy our life. A life without enjoyment is no life at all.

Our library comprises of at least three fullsize bookshelfs. All of our books pertain either to the Bible or to homesteading. Once we get to our farm, we will not have access to the Internet. All of our information will either need to be written down, or learned from experience. I encourage you to buy all the books you need too. I hope to get that part of the site started soon. A great majority of the books associated with homesteading can be had for very cheap from various sites if you don't mind buying used.

But the best teacher is experience, and sometimes that requires a good mentor. Many people are eager and willing to teach what they know to those curious to learn. Seek them out. Till next time this is Michael and Elizabeth praying The Lord bless you abundantly as you seek him and serve him.

Colonial Williamsburg And The Shaker Village

Last month Elizabeth and I took our first vacation in our married life. It took more than five years to make it happen but it was very worth it. We decided to focus our ten days off on several things. The first was an annual flea market. It had about six or seven thousand people in attendance but the lack of quality made it almost not worth mentioning let alone saying its name or location.

The second and greatest focus of our trip was going to Colonial Williamsburg located in the state of Virginia.

For any person interested in living off the land as a homesteader and living without electricity, visiting this place is a necessity if you can arrange it. For me it really put everything into focus with regards to intracommunity dependence when living this lifestyle. We as guys and women may like to think that we can do everything on our own but the truth is that we can't. We really do need to be a part of a community. It's also important that we bring a unique skill to the community for two reasons, the first is that we all need money to survive, the second is that for the next generation to learn the skills they need, they must have a teacher of the trade they want to follow. Whether the trade is weaving, shoemaking, tinsmithing, cabinetry, etc, etc. There is a multitude of possible trades out there but experienced craftsmen and women are rare in today's world.

The premis of Colonial Williamsburg is that it is supposed to be as identical as is practical to visiting Williamsburg in the years around 1750-1780. They have a multitude of craftsmen and great period correct architecture.

We spent three days there, we completely exploited it for all that we could get out of it and we were satisfied with that many days. However, to get the most out of your trip you will absolutely have to plan everything, with regards to days that the craftsmen are operating and also proximity to each other. We also suggest that if it's your first trip there that you first ride the bus they have around the perimeter of the campus, it will save you some sore legs.

I could go on and on about specific trades and what we saw, but nothing can do justice. We will be posting pictures in the coming weeks.

The third place we visited was The Shaker Village south of Louisville Kentucky. Once again absolutely stunning. Fortunately this is a place you can get all you need of in one day. The architecture will wow you. It really makes you wonder why more structures arnt made from stone today. I could go on and on about the productivity and genious of the Shakers but in order to really understand you really do need to visit their former community. It is no longer active as a community however it is a history preservation.

We took plenty of photos of all our vacation, we'll try our best to do it justice. If you have any questions just ask!

The Sabath

Elizabeth and I have not been influenced by the 7th Day Adventist, nor do we know anyone that encourages or perpetuates worship on Saturdays. Independently but coincidentally during the same week, we both came to the same conclusion, the seventh day of the week is Saturday. If we are going to be honest to ourselves and the Bible, we have to also be honest to the fact that the seventh day of the week is Saturday. There is no debate about that, it's indisputable. The only area that is arguable is how important it is to observe the seventh day's importance. When addressing this it helps to know the history and what caused all of Christendom to change from Saturday to Sunday.

Remember the importance of this to us is that we are trying to be as honest as possible to the Word of God without any outside interference.

The following is an email I received, I apologize to anyone that may claim authorship but it puts everything into perspective perfectly from a historical point. I emphasize that the personal decision to worship on Saturday vs Sunday is a very personal one and should be taken seriously. Many people object to Saturday worship. Be prepared.

The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

By Rev. Peter Geiermann, C. SS. R.B.

 Herder Book Co.

Saint Louis, Mo. 1946

 48

3. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

Q. What is the Third Commandment?
A. The Third Commandment is: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. 

Q. Which is the Sabbath day?A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.

Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead ofSaturday?A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday. 

Q. Why did the Catholic Church substitute Sunday for Saturday?

    A. The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday, because Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday and the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles on a Sunday. 

   Q.   By what authority did the church substitute Sunday for Saturday?
   A.    The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plenitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her.

I am not a Catholic, I am a Porter. The seventh day of the week is Saturday. We read from left to right. If we were to have seven blocks in front of us and we were told to pick up the seventh block, how many of us would pick up the first block? That's right, none of us. That's the core of my argument. It becomes a decision between tradition and fundamentalism. The latter term has a negative connotation because standing for ones personal principles ruffles feathers. 

My opinion is that I am living my life and no one else's, and in five years I will still only be living my life. I have to liv my life being honest to myself. Saturday is the seventh day.

We've Noticed!

Elizabeth and I have noticed all of the traffic we are getting on this blog from all over the globe!
We are asking that you take the time to comment on the posts that you like. We've had visitors from the Ukraine, Australia, and even Latvia!  We'd love to hear from you and learn what brought you to our site. If you have any questions we would be happy to answer them! Sorry for the absence of pictures, a lot of the posts I do are done while I am on the road with my cell phone, the mobile system makes it difficult to add photos. I'll be trying to do that in short time. Please check back monthly, and let us know when you are here!! We'd love to know more about you as well!!