Oh I am so eager to get to work on our back field. After a very harsh Winter, that is probably not over, I am chomping at the bit to get out there and do something.
Elizabeth and I have considered two options to get compost to our field. The first and best option is to talk with our neighbor behind us and see if he will allow us access through the back. If he does, I will be able to haul more weight at a time because I won't have to worry about driving over underground pipes. The second option is to construct a gate that faces our street. I'm not encouraged by this option as even the best caution can't prevent something from happening. We have both gas and water lines out front. If I have to go that route I will be limited to a 5 cubic yard dumptruck. That means I'd have to do as many as 150 loads to cover our backfield. I'm not saying no to doing that, but you can believe that if I'm able to minimize my loads by a factor of 1/3, that I'm going to do all I can to make it happen. I'd much rather do 50 loads than 150. I'm praying that Elohim bows His ear to hear us-as the Psalms say.
If I am able to start picking up loads this week or next, then our compost will have approximately two months to compress and decompose. I expect that should be enough for us to have a fair start by May 1st. Last year at that time, we had snow. So we are trying to play it safe with the frost dates.
We purchased a shofar! And I know exactly what you are thinking! A What??!
A shofar!
It's the horn that was blown around Jericho that brought the walls down. When the Scriptures talk about "blowing the trumpet", this is what it is talking about. For us it's a daily reminder that our walk with YahWeh didn't start 2,000 years ago, but rather-when time started. It's very easy for saints of today to see themselves as something completely separate from the Israelites, but the truth is in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are express about what changes happened from Old Testament to New. Interestingly a lot of the changes that todays Christians have made-aren't found in the NT.
I'm talking to myself here a lot too. I'm still finding what I believe on all this. For me, somethings just didn't add up until I changed my perspective, then it all made sense-all of it. It's just coming around to the full picture that is taking a bit of time-because we are essentially talking about a shift in culture.
I am thankful for the Scriptures.
A GREENHOUSE!
Yep, that's what we have committed to making. It will be 14'x30' and is supposed to cost somewhere between 500-1,000$. We'll see about that part. Regardless, it will be worth every penny for starting seeds and possibly growing greens in Winter.
It is simple, it's basic construction is of pvc-pipe and 6-mil poly-plastic.
Here is the link to what motivated us.
http://www.fiddleheadfarmers.com/1/post/2012/05/simple-greenhouse-plans.html
Hoping you all have a blessed week! We really need this to be a productive one. Growing season is coming way too soon.
In the name of our Saviour Yahushuah ha Mashiach, Yah bless.
Showing posts with label Anabaptist Pentecostals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anabaptist Pentecostals. Show all posts
Monday, February 17, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Are You Amish?
This is a question that Elizabeth and I get asked frequently when we go out in public. We don't take offense from it. We know that many people around the country are not familiar with the other anabaptist groups and are also unaware of the various differences between the multitude of Amish communities.
It's easy to see how someone unfamiliar with anabaptists would directly associate us with the Amish.
But here is something I perceive that many people don't know about the "plain folk", that is, we identify ourselves by the way we dress. It's a way of saying, "I belong to this or that community".
When a multitude of plain communities are living side-by-side it is a way to prevent awkward situations but also to preserve a communities distinct identity amongst the mass of plain folk. Just attend an auction and you'll quickly see how many different groups are present.
What kind of awkward situation could potentially arise?
Well consider this.
The Old German Baptist Brethren practice the "holy kiss", also known as "the salute". It stems from several verses in the New Testament that we understand to be a command.
The Biblical references are:
Romans 16:16, 1st Corinthians 16:20, 2nd Corinthians 13:12
"Greet one another with a holy kiss."
1st Thessalonians 5:26
"Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss."
1st Peter 5:14
"Greet one another with a kiss of love."
Now from what I understand and have seen there are some Amish communities that don't observe this. So if an OGBB man mistook an Amish man as a fellow of his community, you can imagine the awkward fall-out from trying to "greet him".
This is just one simple example.
The various ways in which subtle differences of standards are applied would include, but are certainly not limited to:
Colors of materials used, both jean material and shirt/dress material
Buttons vs Pins or hook & eyes
Cuts of a pattern, especially for dresses
Length of dresses
Tightness of jeans
Hat brim width
Hat color
Mustache or no mustache
Hair cut-for men
Beard length-some groups trim, others don't
Covering style-for women
Elizabeth and I are much less restricted in our freedom of dress. I strongly believe that an individual should be able to dress as they desire as long as they are modest and not following the fashions of
"the world".
The few things that Elizabeth and I are consistent with would include:
Her covering-we are happy with it and see no reason to change it. It fulfills its purpose and is attractive. It is not a typical anabaptist covering but we feel strongly that it is more Biblical than what is typically seen. We often have brethren bring this up in conversation. We try not to "beat them over the head with it". I don't need to tell them something that they can see for themselves. Many of them agree with us but don't want to be "the nail that sticks up that get's hammered back down". Being contrary is antithetical to the foundation of many anabaptist beliefs. We are starting fresh, without a heritage, so we have no family to worry about offending.
My hat-It's a simple straw hat, but I'm happy with it. I'd like to learn someday to make one for myself. Isn't that the homesteader tendency? When I leave the house I have it with me 99.99% of the time. I do remove it during prayer, meeting, and worship in accordance with 1st Corinthians 11.
My beard-It's simple to me. I just let it grow. I maintain it as proper hygiene determines and that's about the extent of it. I do have a mustache and always will, I do trim it. A man has to eat. I have wondered though, if I didn't, would it grow as long as my beard? Makes me chuckle.
The mustache is my red-flag to the Amish and Mennonites that I am not part of their community. The Amish strictly hold that no man is to ever have a mustache in their community. Interestingly I held myself to this standard before I learned that there were some "Brethren" communities that did the same thing as me. I'm not Amish and I don't pretend to be. That being said, people still mistake us. For me the entire beard issue comes down to a simple precept.
God created nature, "work with nature, not against it". What a waste of time and money shaving is. Not only that, but the early Christians taught that a man that shaved his face was effeminate, in other words, that he was trying to look like a woman! To me, shaving your beard is akin to telling God that he designed your body incorrectly, that you know better than him. He's our creator, I'll trust his judgment on the issue.
All of this to say, No, we are not Amish. But from the outside looking-in it can certainly appear this way. We describe ourselves as anabaptist and feel that this is an adequate way of identifying ourselves. There will be a time when we are horse-and-buggy, if the Lord tarries, and even then we will still have a separate identity from the Amish. For one, we would not believe that our buggies would need to be black or our farm wagons John Deere Green. Our freedom in Christ allows us to be free of such legalism.
An individual can be plain (or as I prefer, simple) and still "fulfill their identity" while simultaneously cultivating a culture of cohesion. The Amish disagree with this idea. That's why we could not join them with a clean conscience.
There are many different dynamics to this that Elizabeth and I are so accustomed to that we no longer are cognizant of all the vantages. Some of the small details we skip over unawares and other larger details we take for granted to be self-evident.
All that to say, if you have questions-just ask. Email us privately or message us on here and we'll be content to answer anything.
Shalom
It's easy to see how someone unfamiliar with anabaptists would directly associate us with the Amish.
But here is something I perceive that many people don't know about the "plain folk", that is, we identify ourselves by the way we dress. It's a way of saying, "I belong to this or that community".
When a multitude of plain communities are living side-by-side it is a way to prevent awkward situations but also to preserve a communities distinct identity amongst the mass of plain folk. Just attend an auction and you'll quickly see how many different groups are present.
What kind of awkward situation could potentially arise?
Well consider this.
The Old German Baptist Brethren practice the "holy kiss", also known as "the salute". It stems from several verses in the New Testament that we understand to be a command.
The Biblical references are:
Romans 16:16, 1st Corinthians 16:20, 2nd Corinthians 13:12
"Greet one another with a holy kiss."
1st Thessalonians 5:26
"Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss."
1st Peter 5:14
"Greet one another with a kiss of love."
Now from what I understand and have seen there are some Amish communities that don't observe this. So if an OGBB man mistook an Amish man as a fellow of his community, you can imagine the awkward fall-out from trying to "greet him".
This is just one simple example.
The various ways in which subtle differences of standards are applied would include, but are certainly not limited to:
Colors of materials used, both jean material and shirt/dress material
Buttons vs Pins or hook & eyes
Cuts of a pattern, especially for dresses
Length of dresses
Tightness of jeans
Hat brim width
Hat color
Mustache or no mustache
Hair cut-for men
Beard length-some groups trim, others don't
Covering style-for women
Elizabeth and I are much less restricted in our freedom of dress. I strongly believe that an individual should be able to dress as they desire as long as they are modest and not following the fashions of
"the world".
The few things that Elizabeth and I are consistent with would include:
Her covering-we are happy with it and see no reason to change it. It fulfills its purpose and is attractive. It is not a typical anabaptist covering but we feel strongly that it is more Biblical than what is typically seen. We often have brethren bring this up in conversation. We try not to "beat them over the head with it". I don't need to tell them something that they can see for themselves. Many of them agree with us but don't want to be "the nail that sticks up that get's hammered back down". Being contrary is antithetical to the foundation of many anabaptist beliefs. We are starting fresh, without a heritage, so we have no family to worry about offending.
My hat-It's a simple straw hat, but I'm happy with it. I'd like to learn someday to make one for myself. Isn't that the homesteader tendency? When I leave the house I have it with me 99.99% of the time. I do remove it during prayer, meeting, and worship in accordance with 1st Corinthians 11.
My beard-It's simple to me. I just let it grow. I maintain it as proper hygiene determines and that's about the extent of it. I do have a mustache and always will, I do trim it. A man has to eat. I have wondered though, if I didn't, would it grow as long as my beard? Makes me chuckle.
The mustache is my red-flag to the Amish and Mennonites that I am not part of their community. The Amish strictly hold that no man is to ever have a mustache in their community. Interestingly I held myself to this standard before I learned that there were some "Brethren" communities that did the same thing as me. I'm not Amish and I don't pretend to be. That being said, people still mistake us. For me the entire beard issue comes down to a simple precept.
God created nature, "work with nature, not against it". What a waste of time and money shaving is. Not only that, but the early Christians taught that a man that shaved his face was effeminate, in other words, that he was trying to look like a woman! To me, shaving your beard is akin to telling God that he designed your body incorrectly, that you know better than him. He's our creator, I'll trust his judgment on the issue.
All of this to say, No, we are not Amish. But from the outside looking-in it can certainly appear this way. We describe ourselves as anabaptist and feel that this is an adequate way of identifying ourselves. There will be a time when we are horse-and-buggy, if the Lord tarries, and even then we will still have a separate identity from the Amish. For one, we would not believe that our buggies would need to be black or our farm wagons John Deere Green. Our freedom in Christ allows us to be free of such legalism.
An individual can be plain (or as I prefer, simple) and still "fulfill their identity" while simultaneously cultivating a culture of cohesion. The Amish disagree with this idea. That's why we could not join them with a clean conscience.
There are many different dynamics to this that Elizabeth and I are so accustomed to that we no longer are cognizant of all the vantages. Some of the small details we skip over unawares and other larger details we take for granted to be self-evident.
All that to say, if you have questions-just ask. Email us privately or message us on here and we'll be content to answer anything.
Shalom
Friday, December 13, 2013
Reusable Diapers
Diapers are gross no matter how you go about it. I'll do what I can in this post to help you out the most I can.
Elizabeth and I tried two or three different brands of diapers. We tried out two different styles. One where the pad is snapped onto the diaper and then tucked into the cloth of the diaper, sort of like a blanket (these are called pocket diapers); and another where the pad is folded and tucked into the diaper, so that it's only being held by material at the front and back of the diaper (these are diaper covers). We purchased them through Green Baby Bargains.
Green Baby Bargains has one sale a day in regards to various children's items (educational, toys, household goods, etc.). Elizabeth has purchased all of my diapers this way and have saved quite a bit of money. Do your research on what you think will work best for your family and then watch for sales while you are expecting. We started with two dozen diapers and have recently purchased a dozen more. You can make it on 24 diapers but around the six month mark, we started having to wash daily.
Elizabeth purchased a package of Seventh Generation disposable diapers to begin with due to the meconium issue. We have heard it is hard to get out of the reusables. This was also a blessing as we were both exhausted. The other newborn issue is that she thought the diapers would fit because Abigail weighed over 8 pounds when she was born and the diapers are for 8-35 lbs. They didn't! Abigail is very tall and slim. It took about a month for her to fit and so she will be watching for a few dozen newborn diapers to add to our collection.
I'll start with pictures of the ones I dislike.
I dislike them for more than one reason. First The pad has to go between two layers, so when it's all soaked, you have to pull it out. Eww. Secondly, because it has a snap, you also have to unsnap it, even when it may be brown, double eww. And thirdly, THEY LEAK!!!, even when you double the layers, they are still likely to leak. You never have to double the other diapers!
The only nice thing about these diapers, is that the snaps are multi-colored. You would think that it wouldn't be that big of a help in any way, but it actually is-especially when your child needs to be changed at night. The brand is called Lulabye-Baby.
The inside of this diaper is adept at collecting random hairs in it, no matter how clean your house is. If you have a hair floating around in your house, you will find it here stuck in the material.
That yellow circle is where the pad snaps in.
You can see the male part of the snap at the top of the pad.
Here is one pad.
And here are two pads.
The pads stuffed into the diaper. The hole where you see the pad sticking out of is how you are able to tug the pad all the way through to the end of the diaper.
Here is one of two kinds of pads for the other type of diaper we have. This specific one is the one that I prefer. They are called Indian Prefolds. It's not too large, is relatively hands-free once the diaper has been used, and dries a bit easier than any of the other pads of this style that we have tried. You can get organic cotton ones for around $2.50 a piece.
This kind is guaranteed to work, albeit, it's a little larger and a bit thicker. There is an absorbent side (bamboo) and a non-absorbent side (cotton). These sometimes don't dry as well as the Indian Prefolds.
Diaper Safari brand!
This is what I was talking about when I said the pads were held by two pieces of material at the front and back.
Fold One.
Fold Two, then flip over, and
Voila!
Abigail never gets diaper rash. We strictly don't use any chemicals/powders/lotions or any other "thing". We only use baby-wipes. Babies naturally have soft smooth skin, they don't need our help. Her skin is only rough on her knees now lately because she's crawling all over the house. Let nature work for you.
If your child is crying there is a reason! Hunger, sleep, or wet diaper, or a need for love/security-this last one is frequent.
Many times your child will cry because they just want to be held.
Don't listen to those people that tell you that you are spoiling your child because you hold them when they want to be. There is a time and an age when you have to expect them not to be in your hands all the time, but that time is no sooner than when they can walk and understand what you are saying, otherwise you are just fighting with nature. Touch is the language that children understand the quickest. To touch a child is to love them.
I never thought about one of the facts of a homestead: Raising babies!
It's all relevant I guess, another aspect of life on the farm.
Well, this may start a tick of writing more about Abigail. Raising her is beautiful, I love it. She makes us so happy and she really is much easier to raise than what we had been led to expect.
Part of homesteading is saving money everywhere we can, we figured out that it would cost about
20$ a week to buy disposables. However our total monthly water bill for the month is only 50$ and we spend approximately 24$ a year on detergent. Recently our purchase of a dozen Diaper Safari covers and inserts cost us 118.40$ with shipping on GreenBabyBargains. If you were to three dozen, it would be around 350$. The savings are clear. Abigail will use these and so will her next sibling. I'm not sure how long they'll last after that.
Part of homesteading is saving money everywhere we can, we figured out that it would cost about
20$ a week to buy disposables. However our total monthly water bill for the month is only 50$ and we spend approximately 24$ a year on detergent. Recently our purchase of a dozen Diaper Safari covers and inserts cost us 118.40$ with shipping on GreenBabyBargains. If you were to three dozen, it would be around 350$. The savings are clear. Abigail will use these and so will her next sibling. I'm not sure how long they'll last after that.
I'm going to have to start those postings now. They're at the ends of my fingertips.
I'll space them out over the next weeks or so.
I'll space them out over the next weeks or so.
I pray to our heavenly Father that He bless you abundantly with peace and grace that can only come from a relationship with Yeshua our Messiah.
ASK QUESTIONS BELOW
Michael E McCartan
Michael E McCartan
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Lord and James
I'm not sure who will find this information useful but here is something you may not be familiar with.
The word that is commonly translated from both Greek and Hebrew as “Lord” is actually the Hebrew word “Yah”, as in “Yahweh”. This is interesting to me, so out of curiosity I cross-referenced this with a Bible I have that is written in Pennsylvania Deitsch. I wanted to know what the German plain-folk translated it as, to see if they felt it had a modern equivalent.
I was actually surprised to see that they didn’t translate it as anything! It was written as Yah in the Hebrew and it remained Yah in the Pennsylvania German.
The word that is commonly translated from both Greek and Hebrew as “Lord” is actually the Hebrew word “Yah”, as in “Yahweh”. This is interesting to me, so out of curiosity I cross-referenced this with a Bible I have that is written in Pennsylvania Deitsch. I wanted to know what the German plain-folk translated it as, to see if they felt it had a modern equivalent.
I was actually surprised to see that they didn’t translate it as anything! It was written as Yah in the Hebrew and it remained Yah in the Pennsylvania German.
Yah is the Hebrew name for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
I’m not sure what you can do with this knowledge but I still think that it is worth knowing.
I’m not sure what you can do with this knowledge but I still think that it is worth knowing.
Hallelujah, meaning "Praise Yah!" or "Praise God!", is not a comment towards God himself. It is a declarative exclamation telling the worshipers of Yah to praise him! This really changes the dynamic of worship. It takes things from being as simple as simply saying "Praise God", to actually having to be more proactive and to have to think of ways in which to praise Him.
Another factoid; there is no such book as the book of James.
It is actually the book of Jacob, or Jakobus in Pennsylvania German, I’ve also cross referenced this with a translation to Hebrew, I can’t remember the way it was spelled but it was clearly a version of Jacob.
Why was the name changed?
Because King James was a very vain man and he wanted a book named after him. Plain and simple.
I hope this helps you in some way.
It is actually the book of Jacob, or Jakobus in Pennsylvania German, I’ve also cross referenced this with a translation to Hebrew, I can’t remember the way it was spelled but it was clearly a version of Jacob.
Why was the name changed?
Because King James was a very vain man and he wanted a book named after him. Plain and simple.
I hope this helps you in some way.
Monday, November 18, 2013
The Lord Gives Providence!
I've told you all about how my family is doing a "Back To Eden" garden.
Well like many things, I get distracted by watching my daughter during the week and on the weekends I'm rushing to get everything done that I couldn't do because my hands were full.
Well one of the things I have forgotten to do, is source genuine woodchips.
It's easy enough to do, just call your local arborist and they'll be happy to dump them wherever you want them. I've had my list of distractions though.
I have taken the trouble to source compost. I should be able to get lots and lots of it. I'm very blessed that I can get it from one of the local municipalities for just the cost of renting a dump truck.
All of that to get to this point.
Today before Elizabeth was even ready to go to work, a man knocked on our door and apologized for the inconvenience as he told me that his trailer had acquired a flat tire and that they needed a place to park it. He asked me if in front of my house was ok. I'm a hospitable man, so I said sure! It's really no matter to me as long as Elizabeth is able to get out of our driveway.
Well some hours passed and I noticed that the trailer was still out there.
More time passed and I heard some noise coming from the trailer. I noticed that the trailer had a ditch digging machine on it. I figured they laid lines or pipe of some sort.
As I was looking out at the scene I saw a pickup truck parked behind the trailer that said something about "Tree Service". Immediately I jumped on the opportunity. Right in front of my house was a chance to secure many loads of woodchips, and I didn't even have to make a call.
I had a good conversation with the owner of the company. We looked at both sides of my house and decided which one was best for a heavy truck to drive on. He told me that sometimes I might see him once every two weeks, and that sometimes I might see him four times a day.
I'm not sure how large his trucks are that haul large loads of chips but from the way he described them, they sound pretty large.
I'm not sure when he'll expect to deliver his first load, but regardless, I have some preparing to do.
I need to have the back field mowed and tilled!
From what I understand, it doesn't matter which goes first. The woodchips or the compost. Though I'll concede, I would like to have all the compost dropped before I have too much woodchips.
It's nice to see the Lord working in my life and providing. I definitely see this as providence, as His will.
Well like many things, I get distracted by watching my daughter during the week and on the weekends I'm rushing to get everything done that I couldn't do because my hands were full.
Well one of the things I have forgotten to do, is source genuine woodchips.
It's easy enough to do, just call your local arborist and they'll be happy to dump them wherever you want them. I've had my list of distractions though.
I have taken the trouble to source compost. I should be able to get lots and lots of it. I'm very blessed that I can get it from one of the local municipalities for just the cost of renting a dump truck.
All of that to get to this point.
Today before Elizabeth was even ready to go to work, a man knocked on our door and apologized for the inconvenience as he told me that his trailer had acquired a flat tire and that they needed a place to park it. He asked me if in front of my house was ok. I'm a hospitable man, so I said sure! It's really no matter to me as long as Elizabeth is able to get out of our driveway.
Well some hours passed and I noticed that the trailer was still out there.
More time passed and I heard some noise coming from the trailer. I noticed that the trailer had a ditch digging machine on it. I figured they laid lines or pipe of some sort.
As I was looking out at the scene I saw a pickup truck parked behind the trailer that said something about "Tree Service". Immediately I jumped on the opportunity. Right in front of my house was a chance to secure many loads of woodchips, and I didn't even have to make a call.
I had a good conversation with the owner of the company. We looked at both sides of my house and decided which one was best for a heavy truck to drive on. He told me that sometimes I might see him once every two weeks, and that sometimes I might see him four times a day.
I'm not sure how large his trucks are that haul large loads of chips but from the way he described them, they sound pretty large.
I'm not sure when he'll expect to deliver his first load, but regardless, I have some preparing to do.
I need to have the back field mowed and tilled!
From what I understand, it doesn't matter which goes first. The woodchips or the compost. Though I'll concede, I would like to have all the compost dropped before I have too much woodchips.
It's nice to see the Lord working in my life and providing. I definitely see this as providence, as His will.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Anabaptist Dancing! Part One
This posting is a posting of honesty, introspection, reflection, and redirection.
When I was young in the pentecostal church I rarely-if-ever hesitated to worship our Lord by dancing, leaping, or even running the aisles. I'm talking about when I was probably eighteen to the time I was twenty-three.
It was around the time I turned twenty-three that I began to have personal contentions with the way the church worshipped. I began to feel that there was an absent focus on preaching but a very present focus on active worship. There wasn't enough preaching and too much music and dance. I let my focus on this become a distraction and a roadblock to my personal walk with God.
After I was married the contrast to my former self was stark. I really didn't worship God in the same way. Even though I was fellowshipping with the same congregation I became stiff and uptight. I no longer sang aloud, I never danced, and certainly never ran the aisles anymore. I began to look down on those that did worship that way as disorderly and out of touch with what God expected from us as worship.
It's funny how my contention was with the fact that there wasn't enough preaching, but that my focus became rather the way in which we worshipped. So I guess in the absence of preaching, I became focused on the one thing that was truly present. Worship. The altruistic purpose for which we meet in fellowship. To give God the glory.
I want to be clear that this is all a recent revelation to me. My eyes are being opened to the deception I let myself believe. No one indoctrinated me with this back then. I guess it was partially my thoughts on becoming an adult and "acting" mature that also firmed up my new conviction.
The word of God says that we are to be like children. This is very true. It's not easy to let that guard down for everybody, but it is a commandment.
David's Wife, Michal, was made barren because she mocked David for worshiping by dance. We should follow his example, clearly it is Biblical. Furthermore it is evident that if we try to dissuade others from worshipping in this manner, that we are as guilty as Michal
Here are the two parts of 2nd Samuel chapter 6 that discuss the offense of Michal.
6:12-16
12 And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
And here is 6:20-23
20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
The word "play" in verse 21 is referring to the instruments that David played, not the playing of a child. Nonetheless it would still be relevant even if it were misunderstood. Leaping and dancing before the Lord is a very shameless way of worshiping.
I honestly felt bad for David when I read this because for those that don't know, David was given Michal by Saul. The Bible says twice in 1st Samuel 18 that she loved him. I can only presume that the love was reciprocated because when Saul told David that in order to have her hand in marriage that he wanted one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, David came back with two-hundred. Seems to me that is a statement.
Well unfortunately for David, while he was away for a period, Saul took away his daughter as David's wife and gave her to another man. After a long while David was able to get her back. This scripture above transpired after he repossessed her. We can only infer that she no longer loves him.
That's sad. What's worse is that her own hatred that she cultivated in her heart caused her to become barren. Michal rebuked David for worshiping the Lord. It really is that simple.
That point aside, let's refocus on the overall point of this posting.
If we have the inclination to dance and leap before the Lord as a form of worship, we have the Word of God illustrating to us that it is holy and appreciated of the Lord. Also, the Word makes it clear that we are not to ridicule or persecute anyone for doing so. For me to observe this is a true exercise in humility. My pride is swallowed. I was wrong. However I am thankful for the experiences I had on my detour. It has made me the Christian I am today.
A congregation of dancing anabaptist pentecostals, that would be beautiful.
Since I've had this revelation I've come to the conclusion that there is a time for worship and a time for preaching and if a balance isn't met, then the needs of the people and the needs of God are not being satisfied appropriately. I'd have no problem meeting with pentecostals if I knew in advance that it was going to be a worship meeting, but I would have a problem if it was conveyed that there would be preaching and there wasn't any.
Bear with me, I'm coming around to this myself.
I've been to pentecostal services that were three or more hours long, I loved them!
Sometimes it would be two hours of dancing and one hour of preaching and honestly I am fine with that, I truly feel like that gives God the glory he deserves. But I've also been to meetings where there was twenty minutes of preaching and an hour and forty minutes of music and dancing. That kinda bothers me. That happening once is tolerable, but it happened three consecutive weekends in a row.
I pray to meet like-minded saints.
I know there are other anabaptist pentecostals out there, but we are all on different levels. I truly wonder how they feel about these things.
I know how the Amish and Mennonites of today look at it, I'll be writing about that soon. It seems to be at contrast with the Amish and Mennonites of the 16th century.
Bless you in the name of Yeshua
Friday, November 8, 2013
When All Else Fails, Plant Roses!
See this beautiful rose?
When we first moved into our house we were forced to mow it to the ground because the grass was too high, the second time we mowed it because we decided that we didn't want flowers obstructing Elizabeth's view while she did her weaving. Then a span went by where we weren't able to mow the yard.
When we got back to it, there were THREE rose plants!
They won't die.
Apparently you can't go wrong with roses.
It's beautiful, healthy, and can stand being mowed over multiple times.
I'm not sure how tall it will get, but at this point we are done trying to kill it.
If it has this much will-power it deserves to liv.
It only stands about 6-8"s but that was still enough for one of the plants to put forth a flower.
It was a nice dash of color against our house.
A word of caution about roses. Plant them away from deer and horses, both think that roses are a tasty treat!
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Real Butter! With Pictures
This is the starting product. A gallon of real milk. The top part is cream, the lower half is milk. When the two are separated you have cream and skim milk. The cream is what gives the milk flavor so when we make butter I drink the milk but I don't enjoy it.
This is us skimming the cream off the top. It's very thick compared to what you are probably used to from the store. From here we separate it in to two mason jars that are both half full.
We then put lids on the jars and shook them for about 15-25 minutes. It was stunning for me. It was my first time. After about 10 minutes I began to wonder if I was doing something wrong, I couldn't see that anything was happening. Then all of a sudden I noticed a lump in my jar. I tilted the jar over on it's side and I could see that there was a very large lump of butter beginning. We both became very excited, each of us was doing one. By the time that twenty minutes had passed we were just making sure that we had shook it enough, being as it was our first time, we weren't sure when to stop.
We were both very surprised by how much of the cream became butter. Both jars together only created a half cup of "butter milk". "Butter milk" is what they call the milk that is left over after making butter.
A view into one of the jars.
A view into the other jar.
Both jars side by side
This was us straining a jars worth of butter, getting the buttermilk.
This was us washing one of the jars worth of butter, cleaning it so that there was no buttermilk left on it at all.
And this is the final product, a jar full of butter!
Elizabeth and I are eager to make butter again. We found our Dazey butter churn hiding in a box in the garage. We really want to use it. It should be much easier on our wrists. I'm not sure when we'll get a chance to do that. I had hoped that it would be easier for us to get an extra gallon from our source but it's proven to be difficult. And neither of us really want to waste a gallon of drinkable milk. The skimmed milk is very unappetizing.
A note about real butter:
Do not keep it out like you do store bought butter, this butter will not keep at room temperature.
That being said, you will want to leave this butter out for a while before you intend to use it for a meal, or for bread, etc. It becomes very hard and difficult to spread when cold. Of course a simple remedy for a slice of bread is to put some on a slice as best you can and to microwave it. It doesn't take long at all. Simply taking it out from the fridge and letting it sit for a half-hour is plenty of time for it to become spreadable. It's very smooth. If you practice this, I encourage you to consume the butter inside of a week and certainly by the end of two.
Or you can try a French Butter Bell. We've not tried that yet for real butter. If you have please send us a message, we want to hear about it!
Because your butter will not have any preservatives in it, it will not keep in your fridge as long either. I think that if we had made one mason jars worth that we would have enough to last us two weeks. We eat like birds, so if you like butter, feel free to make as much as you want. Obviously with the cream from one gallon, you'll have a mason jar full! A quart of butter.
The truth:
This butter tastes exactly very similar to store bought, however if you know the cow that you got your milk from, then you know for a fact that this is the real deal and that it is much more nutritious and healthy for you. It's worth the fun of making it with the family, that's for certain!
Monday, November 4, 2013
My Struggle With Anabaptist Views Of Non-Violence
Quite a long title huh?
For those that are unfamiliar with groups of Christians that identify themselves as "anabaptist", that group includes the Amish, Mennonites, the Old German Baptist Brethren(O.G.B.B.), the Hutterites, and the various other groups that fall under the name of "Brethren".............and then you have us......Anabaptist Pentecostals.
I've not spoken to any of the other groups about how they look at non-violence except for the O.G.B.B., I expect that the Amish and the Mennonites agree for the most part with their interpretation of scripture.
What they told me is this. That they do not believe in violence and that they abstain from war.
This I can agree with.
Then they elaborated.
They told me that even if someone broke into their home, that they would not offer resistance, even if the invader initiated the rape of their wife.
I try to be agreeable as much as possible, but this was too much for me to handle.
I chalked my disagreement with them up to the fact that I was only then becoming familiar with anabaptists. I figured that there was something in the Word that I had skimmed over and that I needed to find.
So I read the New Testament again, I still did not agree with them.
I can only speculate that the other groups agree with their ideology.
It's been approximately five and a half years since I had that conversation.
Ever since then I have struggled with my partial agreement with them.
I agree that a man should not engage in violence. That violence is evidence of hate, and that those that hate will not enter into heaven.
The Bible tells us to forgive.
I agree that war is not the manner in which the Lord intended for us to resolve our disputes.
But I've always felt strongly that when diplomacy fails, and an individual or group resorts to aggression, that any man or woman has the right and privilege of self-preservation, including self-defense.
A saint of God will not instigate hate, violence, or aggression at any time.
But the other half of the disagreement revolves around the fact that to attain peace, after trying diplomacy, our only resort to neutralize violent aggression may be to utilize aggression ourselves.
When the dust has settled, we have peace.
The next aspect of this line of thought becomes; if we don't resist-is it suicide or martyrdom.
The fact of the matter is it can not be martyrdom if they are not persecuting us for our faith.
A random stranger invading our home has no idea what our faith is unless they ask. Even if we declare our faith at the moment of their attack, our faith will most likely play no role in why they chose us at their target.
If we permit the rape of our spouse, we are as guilty as the rapist.
The word of God calls us to be peace-makers.
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
I desire to be a peacemaker in all that I say and do. Diplomacy is always the first step. Having love towards everyone, our brothers and sisters, is imperative to creating and maintaining a peaceful attitude and atmosphere.
This week I met another Sabbath keeping anabaptist family. We discussed many topics. This issue was discussed. They agreed with me.
The verse the father used to reinforce his point was one that I've mentioned on this blog before. I've never heard it used in this context.
1 Timothy 5:8- 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 think this is an interesting interpretation of the verse, one that I'm not prone to disagree with.
Providing for our own takes on many different responsibilities, not just financial.
I feel that henceforth my conviction on this matter has been settled, however it didn't require me to compromise. I feel comfortable now about this. However I will continue to pray, and ask Yeshua for his guidance on the matter.
For those that are unfamiliar with groups of Christians that identify themselves as "anabaptist", that group includes the Amish, Mennonites, the Old German Baptist Brethren(O.G.B.B.), the Hutterites, and the various other groups that fall under the name of "Brethren".............and then you have us......Anabaptist Pentecostals.
I've not spoken to any of the other groups about how they look at non-violence except for the O.G.B.B., I expect that the Amish and the Mennonites agree for the most part with their interpretation of scripture.
What they told me is this. That they do not believe in violence and that they abstain from war.
This I can agree with.
Then they elaborated.
They told me that even if someone broke into their home, that they would not offer resistance, even if the invader initiated the rape of their wife.
I try to be agreeable as much as possible, but this was too much for me to handle.
I chalked my disagreement with them up to the fact that I was only then becoming familiar with anabaptists. I figured that there was something in the Word that I had skimmed over and that I needed to find.
So I read the New Testament again, I still did not agree with them.
I can only speculate that the other groups agree with their ideology.
It's been approximately five and a half years since I had that conversation.
Ever since then I have struggled with my partial agreement with them.
I agree that a man should not engage in violence. That violence is evidence of hate, and that those that hate will not enter into heaven.
The Bible tells us to forgive.
I agree that war is not the manner in which the Lord intended for us to resolve our disputes.
But I've always felt strongly that when diplomacy fails, and an individual or group resorts to aggression, that any man or woman has the right and privilege of self-preservation, including self-defense.
A saint of God will not instigate hate, violence, or aggression at any time.
But the other half of the disagreement revolves around the fact that to attain peace, after trying diplomacy, our only resort to neutralize violent aggression may be to utilize aggression ourselves.
When the dust has settled, we have peace.
The next aspect of this line of thought becomes; if we don't resist-is it suicide or martyrdom.
The fact of the matter is it can not be martyrdom if they are not persecuting us for our faith.
A random stranger invading our home has no idea what our faith is unless they ask. Even if we declare our faith at the moment of their attack, our faith will most likely play no role in why they chose us at their target.
If we permit the rape of our spouse, we are as guilty as the rapist.
The word of God calls us to be peace-makers.
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
I desire to be a peacemaker in all that I say and do. Diplomacy is always the first step. Having love towards everyone, our brothers and sisters, is imperative to creating and maintaining a peaceful attitude and atmosphere.
This week I met another Sabbath keeping anabaptist family. We discussed many topics. This issue was discussed. They agreed with me.
The verse the father used to reinforce his point was one that I've mentioned on this blog before. I've never heard it used in this context.
1 Timothy 5:8- 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 think this is an interesting interpretation of the verse, one that I'm not prone to disagree with.
Providing for our own takes on many different responsibilities, not just financial.
I feel that henceforth my conviction on this matter has been settled, however it didn't require me to compromise. I feel comfortable now about this. However I will continue to pray, and ask Yeshua for his guidance on the matter.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
How Much Does It Cost?
Well I suppose for each person the answer to this question is different. I'll try my best to relate everything to our real life example as it in all reality is probably a typical situation for anyone seeking this life.
Elizabeth and I came from two different types of families but yet were brought together by a common love for God and an interest in homesteading. She had been raised in a family that gardened annually and that encouraged her activity in 4H. I on the other hand didn't become acquainted with providing for oneself till I was in my early twenties. I had a small collection of axes and saws that I had used to fell some trees on my fathers land in PA. I had truly expected that I'd be able to finish a cabin that I had started. We both brought different experiences and tools to the family.
Even with the tools that we brought into this marriage, we still find that a particularly large portion of our income is put towards homesteading tools and supplies, not to mention the space they take up. We have a room that is dedicated to crafts. It has two looms in it, one is full size and the other is about large enough to make things about the size of a place-mat. Both looms were gifts.
I encourage you to write down what direction you want to go in with regards to homesteading. It will greatly determine your budget. It will also determine what you do and don't need, and from that you will know what you will be purchasing in the future. I say the future because Elizabeth and I have been married for over six years and we are still acquiring the things we know we will need in the future (Like pressurized lamps and clothing material).
A lesson that many a homesteader learns the hard way is to buy the best quality that they can afford. Being cheap doesn't pay off in the end. We feel strongly that all homesteading tools should be heirlooms. The next generation does not need to struggle as much as we do. Not only that, but if you figure out how much money you spend replacing inferior tools annually, you quickly figure out that you could be greatly ahead had you simply purchased quality. The one exception to this that comes to mind is buying Snap-On Tools versus Craftsman. Unless you've got the money laying around, don't waste it.
The reality of the matter is that if you are going to liv this life of homesteading full-time, it will literally cost thousands of dollars. It's a life of passion that gives us much pleasure. So instead of spending a large sum of money on a TV, spend that money buying something you can use to make yourself money.
I know I've made it sound like alot of money, but when you consider the different directions in which one can go, the truth becomes evident. Many of us will acquire things for free and that furthers our ability all that much. It is quite possible in many places in the U.S. to find draft horses for free, people just can't afford the hay and feed, but then you have the cost of leathers and implements.
I by no means have gotten to that point, but I will admit I entertain the fantasy. This is a case where once you own land, the horse, and the items pertaining to the horse, you only really have to worry about the cost of the horse coming up again a dozen or so years down the road.
I'm struggling as it is to make my plane-making venture work. Machinery is not cheap. Yes you can buy a table saw used but you never know how the previous owner took care of it. With machines it's best to buy new and to try to get a warranty. That costs money. On the upside, it's probably a machine you will own the rest of your life. Don't buy cheap with the express intent of saving money. Buy quality with the intention of owning something for a lifetime. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the rewards will show themselves in time.
I'm not sure how well I helped you, my goal was to be honest. There is no way around the fact that any venture you take in life will cost money. Homesteading will be expensive. Plan ahead and use your money correctly.
I hope this helps.
Lord bless.
Elizabeth and I came from two different types of families but yet were brought together by a common love for God and an interest in homesteading. She had been raised in a family that gardened annually and that encouraged her activity in 4H. I on the other hand didn't become acquainted with providing for oneself till I was in my early twenties. I had a small collection of axes and saws that I had used to fell some trees on my fathers land in PA. I had truly expected that I'd be able to finish a cabin that I had started. We both brought different experiences and tools to the family.
Even with the tools that we brought into this marriage, we still find that a particularly large portion of our income is put towards homesteading tools and supplies, not to mention the space they take up. We have a room that is dedicated to crafts. It has two looms in it, one is full size and the other is about large enough to make things about the size of a place-mat. Both looms were gifts.
I encourage you to write down what direction you want to go in with regards to homesteading. It will greatly determine your budget. It will also determine what you do and don't need, and from that you will know what you will be purchasing in the future. I say the future because Elizabeth and I have been married for over six years and we are still acquiring the things we know we will need in the future (Like pressurized lamps and clothing material).
A lesson that many a homesteader learns the hard way is to buy the best quality that they can afford. Being cheap doesn't pay off in the end. We feel strongly that all homesteading tools should be heirlooms. The next generation does not need to struggle as much as we do. Not only that, but if you figure out how much money you spend replacing inferior tools annually, you quickly figure out that you could be greatly ahead had you simply purchased quality. The one exception to this that comes to mind is buying Snap-On Tools versus Craftsman. Unless you've got the money laying around, don't waste it.
The reality of the matter is that if you are going to liv this life of homesteading full-time, it will literally cost thousands of dollars. It's a life of passion that gives us much pleasure. So instead of spending a large sum of money on a TV, spend that money buying something you can use to make yourself money.
I know I've made it sound like alot of money, but when you consider the different directions in which one can go, the truth becomes evident. Many of us will acquire things for free and that furthers our ability all that much. It is quite possible in many places in the U.S. to find draft horses for free, people just can't afford the hay and feed, but then you have the cost of leathers and implements.
I by no means have gotten to that point, but I will admit I entertain the fantasy. This is a case where once you own land, the horse, and the items pertaining to the horse, you only really have to worry about the cost of the horse coming up again a dozen or so years down the road.
I'm struggling as it is to make my plane-making venture work. Machinery is not cheap. Yes you can buy a table saw used but you never know how the previous owner took care of it. With machines it's best to buy new and to try to get a warranty. That costs money. On the upside, it's probably a machine you will own the rest of your life. Don't buy cheap with the express intent of saving money. Buy quality with the intention of owning something for a lifetime. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the rewards will show themselves in time.
I'm not sure how well I helped you, my goal was to be honest. There is no way around the fact that any venture you take in life will cost money. Homesteading will be expensive. Plan ahead and use your money correctly.
I hope this helps.
Lord bless.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
2 Gallons of Real Cow Milk!
This is what real cow's milk looks like. The stuff they sell at the store in no way resembles this. Once you have tasted and handled real milk it will anger you what they try to sell you. They exploit your lack of knowledge. Basically the milk they sell at the store is milk that has had all the cream taken out of it, they use it to make butter and other products. When you drink this at home you keep the cream in it, it is what gives it it's depth of taste and nutrition. Without the cream this milk is not appetizing, though I would still sooner drink it than what they sell at the store.
The arrow shows you where the division between the milk and the cream is.
Typically I shake the container before I pour a glass. Otherwise the first glass can taste like liquid butter, quiet a funny experience for a newbie. If you are a skinny guy like me and are trying to gain weight, this is the stuff you want to drink. It tastes great, is much cheaper than weight-gainer, and is also much much healthier for you.
This is supposed to be a one gallon jar, but it turns out to be a full five quarts. A quart of cream and four quarts of milk. It's a real nice treat every week. We consume about two of these containers a week. If we had teenage sons there would be no way that I'd be caught without a milk cow!
I've personally met the cow that gives us our milk, sadly her owners haven't given her a name.
She gives about 3-4 gallons a day they say. That's enough to satisfy her owners needs and pay for herself. We are currently paying 5$ a gallon container. To us it is more than a reasonable deal, especially considering that the cow is a Guernsey and that she is grass-fed not grain-fed.
We currently liv in the state of Arkansas where it is legal to purchase cow's milk from off the farm. I will never again purchase milk from the grocery store if I can avoid it. It is immoral that they try to call it milk. It is not milk.
I strongly encourage you if you are able to, to get ahold of some real milk. I've only had store bought milk my entire life. I grew up in Houston Texas. Don't buy the lies from the milk companies and big government that tell you real milk will kill you. It won't. If you're worried about it, just check the farms facilities and make sure that they practice proper hygiene. Be cautioned, some places do not practice proper hygiene, the burden lies on you to validate.
We made butter from a gallon we purchased. We'll be posting that probably later this week. We have plenty of pictures!
By the way, this is only our third week having real milk. We are still very new to it.
This is milk the way God intended it to be, unadulterated by man.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Pastors Of the Porters-An Invitation
We know that there are like believers out there. I know this, because we have met them. Granted those meetings were before we had this blog and also only in passing. You meet a lot of people as a truck driver.
Well, we need an individual or individuals that are willing to be our preachers. At this time, I do not feel that it is the will of the Lord for me to establish a home church and to lead it. I simply am not learned enough nor do I have a sufficient memory to communicate adeptly the ideas and their foundations that I have gleaned from the Word of God. I may be eloquent, but I am not where I need to be yet. I feel secure that there will be that time, it's just not now.
If you are an anabaptist pentecostal and are interested in leadership, please email us. Even electronic pastorship is appreciated.
porterhomestead@gmail.com
Lord Bless.
Well, we need an individual or individuals that are willing to be our preachers. At this time, I do not feel that it is the will of the Lord for me to establish a home church and to lead it. I simply am not learned enough nor do I have a sufficient memory to communicate adeptly the ideas and their foundations that I have gleaned from the Word of God. I may be eloquent, but I am not where I need to be yet. I feel secure that there will be that time, it's just not now.
If you are an anabaptist pentecostal and are interested in leadership, please email us. Even electronic pastorship is appreciated.
porterhomestead@gmail.com
Lord Bless.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Our Fiftieth Post!
I'd just like to say thank you to all our readers! Our last posting was our fiftieth. I honestly didn't imagine this day when we started this blog. I didn't know if we had enough to put on here. As time goes on we think of more and more things that we want to add!
We had misplaced our butterchurn and were just about convinced that one of us had put it in a box and taken it to the Good-Will. Fortunately I found it! It was in a box hiding on a shelf in the garage.
We are both very relieved, it is an heirloom from Elizabeth's family. We'll be using it soon to make butter.
We have a posting to make on some butter we've already made just using mason jars. It was a lot of fun and very simple. We were both very surprised by how much butter came from the cream, there was very little buttermilk.
Please if your enjoying our blog, vote on the home page and sign up for emails!
With you in the Lord
Michael and Elizabeth McCartan
The anabaptist pentecostals
We had misplaced our butterchurn and were just about convinced that one of us had put it in a box and taken it to the Good-Will. Fortunately I found it! It was in a box hiding on a shelf in the garage.
We are both very relieved, it is an heirloom from Elizabeth's family. We'll be using it soon to make butter.
We have a posting to make on some butter we've already made just using mason jars. It was a lot of fun and very simple. We were both very surprised by how much butter came from the cream, there was very little buttermilk.
Please if your enjoying our blog, vote on the home page and sign up for emails!
With you in the Lord
Michael and Elizabeth McCartan
The anabaptist pentecostals
Friday, October 25, 2013
Want To Join? What would your contribution be?
This posting is being written with the intention of provoking your interaction.
We'd like to hear what your contribution would be to the discussion of faith and culture.
I think to this point Elizabeth and I have made a fairly clear point of where we stand on our theology and our convictions.
We are curious about where you are with your walk with God and what brought you to our blog?
At this point we do not have a plot of land that we can liv off of, that won't happen for five to ten years, but when it happens for us, We are curious. Would you like to join?
We'd prefer families to purchase at least 10-20 acres. We'll let you know "where" when the time gets closer. We'll let you know this, land is selling there for 2,000$ an acre, a fair price.
If enough families commit there would surely be enough "sub" groups that everyone's ideological differences would be satisfied.
At this point the binding factors of our "preferred" community would be
1. horse and buggy
2. No electricity in the house
3. Electricity in the shop is fine for working men
4. Bi-weekly fellowship with like-believers
This means that every other week would be spent with a different community
5. Homeschooling for children
6. Men either work from home or with other men of the community
7. Higher education is not encouraged for women, unless they intend to remain unmarried
8. Higher education is only encouraged for men when there is no alternative.
9. Trades are encouraged above all else.
10. Women are encouraged to enjoy their life and to perfect the art of motherhood
Our Theological Establishment Is Founded On The Bible
the following statements are the theological foundation for our community
1. Weekly conversations on the Biblicality of our beliefs and convictions-this is a lot of fun to dive into, you learn so much that changes they way you look at the world.
2. We all believe in one God and that his name is Yeshua.
3. We are baptized in our Lord's name.
4.We Read from the Bible daily.
5. Legalism is heavily discouraged
6. We believe in water and spirit baptism
7. In situations where it is merited, we do believe in shunning.
8. There is to be MORE THAN one preacher.
There is more to the list than this, but that is why we need your input. This is only intended as a starting point.
I encourage you to contact me through email. I will respond.
And if you are comfortable with it, I would prefer to post your reply for others to read and comment on.
My email is Porterhomestead@gmail.com
Every individual brings a new and different dimension to a group. We all have different life experiences. We encourage discussion to move things forward. We are curious about what you would like to see in a community.
Having a community makes it much more simple for our children to find their future mate. Living states away makes things difficult for everyone, and many opportunities are lost as well. Not to mention the potential loss of a sense of identity.
Lord bless, We'll talk again later.
We'd like to hear what your contribution would be to the discussion of faith and culture.
I think to this point Elizabeth and I have made a fairly clear point of where we stand on our theology and our convictions.
We are curious about where you are with your walk with God and what brought you to our blog?
At this point we do not have a plot of land that we can liv off of, that won't happen for five to ten years, but when it happens for us, We are curious. Would you like to join?
We'd prefer families to purchase at least 10-20 acres. We'll let you know "where" when the time gets closer. We'll let you know this, land is selling there for 2,000$ an acre, a fair price.
If enough families commit there would surely be enough "sub" groups that everyone's ideological differences would be satisfied.
At this point the binding factors of our "preferred" community would be
1. horse and buggy
2. No electricity in the house
3. Electricity in the shop is fine for working men
4. Bi-weekly fellowship with like-believers
This means that every other week would be spent with a different community
5. Homeschooling for children
6. Men either work from home or with other men of the community
7. Higher education is not encouraged for women, unless they intend to remain unmarried
8. Higher education is only encouraged for men when there is no alternative.
9. Trades are encouraged above all else.
10. Women are encouraged to enjoy their life and to perfect the art of motherhood
Our Theological Establishment Is Founded On The Bible
the following statements are the theological foundation for our community
1. Weekly conversations on the Biblicality of our beliefs and convictions-this is a lot of fun to dive into, you learn so much that changes they way you look at the world.
2. We all believe in one God and that his name is Yeshua.
3. We are baptized in our Lord's name.
4.We Read from the Bible daily.
5. Legalism is heavily discouraged
6. We believe in water and spirit baptism
7. In situations where it is merited, we do believe in shunning.
8. There is to be MORE THAN one preacher.
There is more to the list than this, but that is why we need your input. This is only intended as a starting point.
I encourage you to contact me through email. I will respond.
And if you are comfortable with it, I would prefer to post your reply for others to read and comment on.
My email is Porterhomestead@gmail.com
Every individual brings a new and different dimension to a group. We all have different life experiences. We encourage discussion to move things forward. We are curious about what you would like to see in a community.
Having a community makes it much more simple for our children to find their future mate. Living states away makes things difficult for everyone, and many opportunities are lost as well. Not to mention the potential loss of a sense of identity.
Lord bless, We'll talk again later.
That Time Of Year Again.........
Last year I wrote about my peavance with the pagan day of halloween. This year I wanted to point something out to people that may think halloween is acceptable. It grieves me the number of churches that have a "trunk or treat" in the name of political correctness, I'll have no fellowship with that, nor will I greet them as our Word tells us to greet saints.
In what order do the holydays go?
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
So first people honor Satan with a day celebrating witchcraft and necromancy, not to mention lasciviousness and immorality.
After that, and only after that, we finally give God the thanks that he deserved long ago. Mostly by filling our mouths with calorie rich food. In all honesty it's more of a day for us than a day truly spent giving the glory to our Father.
And once everything has been done, we give God what Glory there is left and celebrate his birth. A holyday we are not commanded to honor, nor a day that resembles anything in the Word of God.
The word of God only tells us to honor Christ's birth.
If halloween is a "holiday/holyday, to what "god" is it holi/holy?
Isn't it just not that surprising that the English language changed the spelling of holy to holi. I'm just not that surprised. Man changed it to be "all-I-Day" and that is what many of the holydays are. Days that were initially intended to honor and glorify God. But nowadays are based in paganism and materialism-heathenism really. Between the sports and the parades on TV, how much glory really is given to Yeshua?
I understand if you want to observe days like thanksgiving or Christ's birth, what I encourage though is that you celebrate them on an arbitrary day and in a way inline with the Word of God. Cutting a tree and putting it in your house has it's foundation in paganism.
I'm not going to beat this dead horse. It's a conviction you either have and understand, or don't have and mock. Let me just finish by saying, Our god is a jealous God.
I pray this touches your heart. It touches mine yearly.
In what order do the holydays go?
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
So first people honor Satan with a day celebrating witchcraft and necromancy, not to mention lasciviousness and immorality.
After that, and only after that, we finally give God the thanks that he deserved long ago. Mostly by filling our mouths with calorie rich food. In all honesty it's more of a day for us than a day truly spent giving the glory to our Father.
And once everything has been done, we give God what Glory there is left and celebrate his birth. A holyday we are not commanded to honor, nor a day that resembles anything in the Word of God.
The word of God only tells us to honor Christ's birth.
If halloween is a "holiday/holyday, to what "god" is it holi/holy?
Isn't it just not that surprising that the English language changed the spelling of holy to holi. I'm just not that surprised. Man changed it to be "all-I-Day" and that is what many of the holydays are. Days that were initially intended to honor and glorify God. But nowadays are based in paganism and materialism-heathenism really. Between the sports and the parades on TV, how much glory really is given to Yeshua?
I understand if you want to observe days like thanksgiving or Christ's birth, what I encourage though is that you celebrate them on an arbitrary day and in a way inline with the Word of God. Cutting a tree and putting it in your house has it's foundation in paganism.
I'm not going to beat this dead horse. It's a conviction you either have and understand, or don't have and mock. Let me just finish by saying, Our god is a jealous God.
I pray this touches your heart. It touches mine yearly.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Grandparents, Be Thankful For Them
Everybody knows that parents are a necessary part of life for anyone growing up. Whether they be your birth-parents or even just legal-guardians. We've all had parental figures around us as we grew up instructing us as to what they thought we should do as life brought us a multitude of life-changing intersections.
Whether it be the decision of what occupation we should take up, or even, what do people do during their courtship years.
I grew up with two parents, my father is the quiet type and prefers to stick to his athletics and stock market interests. My mother on the other hand was a little more involved in my life. She would let me know when music I had purchased was too offensive for her to tolerate and when I should stay away from certain guys I had chosen as friends. She did what a mother was supposed to do. She made a delicious dinner every evening and we would all eat together, the entire family. She would clean the house and clean our laundry. She'd let us know if we let our room go too far and that we needed to clean it. I got my first job because of some stern encouragement from my mother. When she got a car to replace her van, she let me have the old car. I had a very fun youth because of it.
I like to think that I know my parents well. I know I don't know everything about them, or even a lot about them, but I like to think I know the things I should.
When it comes to my grandparents, I never really got to know either pair. Both grandfathers passed before I was old enough to understand who they were. By the time my mothers mother lived near us her health was so feeble that she really wasn't cognizant of who I was, she passed when I was ten or eleven. My fathers mother I knew a little better but I tried to keep quiet and keep my distance. She was unaffectionate and irritable. I tried to work around her quirks. I remember one time she took me on a small car trip around her town and showed me a sheep farm, she showed me a spring where the townspeople would fill up jugs. I cherish the few but deep memories I have of being with her. She lived about 22 hours from where we liv nowadays, so I only saw her very few times. She's passed on as well. Her house went to my aunts family, a piece of land went to my father.
I've never really been around friends that lived with or around their grandparents. But as I get older I wish more and more deeply as I go on that I had a pair of grandparents to fill that elderly niche that only grandparents can fill. They give us a deeper understanding of our heritage. They help us to understand ourselves and why some of us are writers and others of us musicians. I never really knew my grandparents, but I can truly say that I miss them. I miss them.
If all I can do is encourage you to enjoy and appreciate your grandparents, then that's what I'm trying to do. Granted you have the opportunity.
Grandparents symbolize honesty, virtue, and stability-in my opinion.
Through the years I've tried to find replacements for the grandparents I didn't know. I never really did have success. There's just no substitute for your own original grandparents.
My prayer is that in the event the Lord tarries till after I pass, that I be able to liv in a home filled with my grandchildren. I know that could be twenty-plus years from now, but it would fill my heart with joy. Every member of a home has a niche, every child, every teen, every adult. And every lesson we learn as we go through life's lessons in each of these stages, prepares us to be the grandparents that the Lord intends for us to be.
The purpose of life is to raise a better generation.
The meaning of life is to become the person it takes to raise that better generation.
Let the Lord mould you into the grandparent he needs you to be, today's and tomorrow's generation need people aware of the importance of altruism. It takes a lifetime to become that person, that's not an accident. It's his design.
I pray this posting brought peace to you and left you feeling edified. I pray God's blessings on your house, friends, and family. In the name of Yeshua, bless you.
Whether it be the decision of what occupation we should take up, or even, what do people do during their courtship years.
I grew up with two parents, my father is the quiet type and prefers to stick to his athletics and stock market interests. My mother on the other hand was a little more involved in my life. She would let me know when music I had purchased was too offensive for her to tolerate and when I should stay away from certain guys I had chosen as friends. She did what a mother was supposed to do. She made a delicious dinner every evening and we would all eat together, the entire family. She would clean the house and clean our laundry. She'd let us know if we let our room go too far and that we needed to clean it. I got my first job because of some stern encouragement from my mother. When she got a car to replace her van, she let me have the old car. I had a very fun youth because of it.
I like to think that I know my parents well. I know I don't know everything about them, or even a lot about them, but I like to think I know the things I should.
When it comes to my grandparents, I never really got to know either pair. Both grandfathers passed before I was old enough to understand who they were. By the time my mothers mother lived near us her health was so feeble that she really wasn't cognizant of who I was, she passed when I was ten or eleven. My fathers mother I knew a little better but I tried to keep quiet and keep my distance. She was unaffectionate and irritable. I tried to work around her quirks. I remember one time she took me on a small car trip around her town and showed me a sheep farm, she showed me a spring where the townspeople would fill up jugs. I cherish the few but deep memories I have of being with her. She lived about 22 hours from where we liv nowadays, so I only saw her very few times. She's passed on as well. Her house went to my aunts family, a piece of land went to my father.
I've never really been around friends that lived with or around their grandparents. But as I get older I wish more and more deeply as I go on that I had a pair of grandparents to fill that elderly niche that only grandparents can fill. They give us a deeper understanding of our heritage. They help us to understand ourselves and why some of us are writers and others of us musicians. I never really knew my grandparents, but I can truly say that I miss them. I miss them.
If all I can do is encourage you to enjoy and appreciate your grandparents, then that's what I'm trying to do. Granted you have the opportunity.
Grandparents symbolize honesty, virtue, and stability-in my opinion.
Through the years I've tried to find replacements for the grandparents I didn't know. I never really did have success. There's just no substitute for your own original grandparents.
My prayer is that in the event the Lord tarries till after I pass, that I be able to liv in a home filled with my grandchildren. I know that could be twenty-plus years from now, but it would fill my heart with joy. Every member of a home has a niche, every child, every teen, every adult. And every lesson we learn as we go through life's lessons in each of these stages, prepares us to be the grandparents that the Lord intends for us to be.
The purpose of life is to raise a better generation.
The meaning of life is to become the person it takes to raise that better generation.
Let the Lord mould you into the grandparent he needs you to be, today's and tomorrow's generation need people aware of the importance of altruism. It takes a lifetime to become that person, that's not an accident. It's his design.
I pray this posting brought peace to you and left you feeling edified. I pray God's blessings on your house, friends, and family. In the name of Yeshua, bless you.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Revival, And What It Really Means
I've been to dozens of church gatherings commonly referred to as "revivals". These were exciting meetings with well spoken evangelists lifting up the congregation and chastising them when the Lord prompted them to. In these meetings there would be many more people than the congregation would typically hold. Many would be visitors, many would be family that were not committed, and others were people that had heard through word-of-mouth. In these meetings it was always exciting to see new people hear about what we knew about the Lord. We were full of fire and wanted everyone to know and have what we had and to see what the full word of God had to give.
I took a lot away from these revivals and was glad to attend them for years.
As I got older I began to realize that not everyone was taking away the same thing I was.
Everything has it's season. Everyone has their "down season". We all need to be lifted out of it, sometimes we are able to do it on our own, other times we need the encouragement of another brother. Hence the term revival, "To bring back to life".
For the two camps (believers and new believers) the change had from the revival would look two very different ways.
For the New believer, the change could be disorienting. A world of new emotions flowing around everything they have known their entire life. Looking at the world through the prism of "what is holy and what is not holy?" alongside thoughts of "now that I believe, what do I believe?". All of which should promptly be followed by a reading of the New Testament. Reading the Word is the foundation of our faith, and the fertilizer that helps us to grow in our youth. Every Christian has been there.
For those people that have been believers and have had a walk with God, a revival should simply bring back to life our depth of conviction, not only to witness but also to purge our lives of any immorality that we have allowed into it. Whether that be through the media or even immodest/immoral clothing.
To maintain our separation from the world the Lord gave us commandments and convictions. Convictions are simple truths we live our lives by that we feel are biblical. The general public may be oblivious to some of our more simple convictions that are truly insignificant, but do matter to our Lord on a personal basis. I am not here to tell you what convictions you should have, or even what half of my convictions are. Many I have had and lived with for so long that I am almost not even aware of them, they are my normal.
After attending revivals, I had new eyes for what was sin in my life. I looked at things and people I had allowed into my life with different eyes. Some things are best to be ridden of, other things we have in our life, we have to tolerate against our will. The same goes for people. Sometimes in order to have a closer walk with God, we have to say farewell to people that we know are not healthy for us to be around. Other times, we have to adjust the way we interact with those that we have to be around.
After years of having attended revivals, my disappointment came from seeing the parable of the sower illustrated. It hurt to witness people come to know God but then deny him the next day.
We all walk our own walk with our Lord, and we are all on different levels with him. Don't give up and don't be discouraged. Be revived in your walk. Be firm. Count it all joy.
If you have any questions or need any support, we are here for you.
I took a lot away from these revivals and was glad to attend them for years.
As I got older I began to realize that not everyone was taking away the same thing I was.
Everything has it's season. Everyone has their "down season". We all need to be lifted out of it, sometimes we are able to do it on our own, other times we need the encouragement of another brother. Hence the term revival, "To bring back to life".
For the two camps (believers and new believers) the change had from the revival would look two very different ways.
For the New believer, the change could be disorienting. A world of new emotions flowing around everything they have known their entire life. Looking at the world through the prism of "what is holy and what is not holy?" alongside thoughts of "now that I believe, what do I believe?". All of which should promptly be followed by a reading of the New Testament. Reading the Word is the foundation of our faith, and the fertilizer that helps us to grow in our youth. Every Christian has been there.
For those people that have been believers and have had a walk with God, a revival should simply bring back to life our depth of conviction, not only to witness but also to purge our lives of any immorality that we have allowed into it. Whether that be through the media or even immodest/immoral clothing.
To maintain our separation from the world the Lord gave us commandments and convictions. Convictions are simple truths we live our lives by that we feel are biblical. The general public may be oblivious to some of our more simple convictions that are truly insignificant, but do matter to our Lord on a personal basis. I am not here to tell you what convictions you should have, or even what half of my convictions are. Many I have had and lived with for so long that I am almost not even aware of them, they are my normal.
After attending revivals, I had new eyes for what was sin in my life. I looked at things and people I had allowed into my life with different eyes. Some things are best to be ridden of, other things we have in our life, we have to tolerate against our will. The same goes for people. Sometimes in order to have a closer walk with God, we have to say farewell to people that we know are not healthy for us to be around. Other times, we have to adjust the way we interact with those that we have to be around.
After years of having attended revivals, my disappointment came from seeing the parable of the sower illustrated. It hurt to witness people come to know God but then deny him the next day.
We all walk our own walk with our Lord, and we are all on different levels with him. Don't give up and don't be discouraged. Be revived in your walk. Be firm. Count it all joy.
If you have any questions or need any support, we are here for you.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
We are Anabaptist Pentecostals
It's been several years since Elizabeth and I last stepped into a pentecostal church. Ever since then we have been conflicted about how we identify or should identify ourselves. We are plain and we are pentecostal with a little "p". My laptop keeps trying to uppercase the "p" so forgive me if I miss one, I am not that vain.
It's frustrating to know that there is more than one congregation in the local area that we agree with biblically but disagree with "culturally". It's weird here in the U.S. We are so removed from what people identify as culture in other countries that we can't identify what culture is in our own country.
I think the main reason for this is that we are taught in school that we are to be accepting of everybody and everything and that no one is ever wrong and that all people are always right. So all ideas and concepts that seem unique at first eventually get blended into the broad picture that is the U.S. landscape.
It's hard for me to communicate what I feel and am trying to say.
At the core of it, I am really just repeating what I have said before. Take a look at A READER'S EMAIL post. Good churches are still out there.
We are Anabaptist and pentecostal.
We are not ostentatious.
We are not Materialists.
Our sense of identity does not come from the media.
We liv separated and are a peculiar people.
Our walk with God is not focused on us but rather our families and our friends. We are here to encourage and edify them, for the strengthening of our community.
Since we walked away from our pentecostal congregation we have struggled with our identity.
People will ask us "what we are". We both just look at each other and say "plain pentecostal" but that really doesn't say everything for us.
People will push us further and say, "But what are you?" To which we finally just gave in and started calling ourselves Porters. A porter is a person that opens a door. And that's kind of how we view ourselves. We see it as having the best of both worlds. We are pentecostal yes, but it's not the centerpiece of our entire walk with God. There are 65 other books in the word of God than just the book of Acts, and 1st Corinthians 14.
"Both worlds" meaning that we have the joy of the Lord matched with the pleasure of simple living.
The sad reality that many people familiar with the Anabaptists groups are aware of, is the depression that is abundant in those groups. When individuals don't have the liberty to express themselves in various ways, depression will follow. Whether that be through playing musical instruments, or designing clothing to their own preferences. If we go about this world always concerned with satisfying other peoples ideas of what we should be, we ourselves will never be satisfied. A sincere deep walk with God matched with striving to utilize all the talents he gave us, will bring all the satisfaction he designed us to have.
For us, saying that we are pentecostal is an overstatement, the kind of thing that should be understood when we say that we are Christian. However being as the majority of modern Anabaptist are not pentecostal, the simple act of clarifying becomes relevant.
This week we have finally decided.
We are comfortable with being called one of two things.
"Anabaptist Pentecostal" or "Porter".
I don't feel comfortable being called a "plain pentecostal" anymore. My identity is deeper than a single aspect of my walk with God. The single word "anabaptist" has the deeper meanings that more strongly convey where my family is coming from.
By calling ourselves Anabaptist Pentecostals, we feal firm and established. Finally separated from our roots from years ago.
It was difficult back then to try to communicate to them
(the formal pentecostal church with a big P) why and how we didn't see things eye to eye. Their understanding of the Anabaptist was only what they saw on the surface or on the TV in their living room. They hadn't heard or read any of the theological ideas that establish the foundation of anabaptist ideology.
Honestly, I'm not sure where that conversation could start with the Pentecostals nowadays. The separation that once existed is now fading away with every generation that passes. The media is so deeply imbedded in everyone's life that it has become normal to just accept it. And that media establishes the culture of the youth. It undermines and rewrites what culture the parents try to instill in their child.
Being afraid to stand-out in a crowd has also cost the church it's identity. We call them Christians in camouflage. Sure you might notice them if you had belonged to them at some point, but otherwise they would just blend in to any other scene in America. They would look no less out of place in a bar than they would just leaving meeting. I couldn't speak so harshly if we hadn't left them years ago.
I'll leave you with these last words.
Regardless of your age and standing with your family or church, don't be afraid to liv separated and holy. It is our father we answer to, not our family members or our church. To reestablish separation, there has to be a first person to do it. Let it be you. From the clothing you wear, to the places you will and won't go. Start a home church, even if it's in an apartment. God bless! It's a difficult road, but the Lord blesses us abundantly for being faithful! We started this walk 6 years ago and we are still going. We are not where we want to be yet, but in time we will get there. Our children will be blessed with our support and direction. Think of your children as well : )
It's frustrating to know that there is more than one congregation in the local area that we agree with biblically but disagree with "culturally". It's weird here in the U.S. We are so removed from what people identify as culture in other countries that we can't identify what culture is in our own country.
I think the main reason for this is that we are taught in school that we are to be accepting of everybody and everything and that no one is ever wrong and that all people are always right. So all ideas and concepts that seem unique at first eventually get blended into the broad picture that is the U.S. landscape.
It's hard for me to communicate what I feel and am trying to say.
At the core of it, I am really just repeating what I have said before. Take a look at A READER'S EMAIL post. Good churches are still out there.
We are Anabaptist and pentecostal.
We are not ostentatious.
We are not Materialists.
Our sense of identity does not come from the media.
We liv separated and are a peculiar people.
Our walk with God is not focused on us but rather our families and our friends. We are here to encourage and edify them, for the strengthening of our community.
Since we walked away from our pentecostal congregation we have struggled with our identity.
People will ask us "what we are". We both just look at each other and say "plain pentecostal" but that really doesn't say everything for us.
People will push us further and say, "But what are you?" To which we finally just gave in and started calling ourselves Porters. A porter is a person that opens a door. And that's kind of how we view ourselves. We see it as having the best of both worlds. We are pentecostal yes, but it's not the centerpiece of our entire walk with God. There are 65 other books in the word of God than just the book of Acts, and 1st Corinthians 14.
"Both worlds" meaning that we have the joy of the Lord matched with the pleasure of simple living.
The sad reality that many people familiar with the Anabaptists groups are aware of, is the depression that is abundant in those groups. When individuals don't have the liberty to express themselves in various ways, depression will follow. Whether that be through playing musical instruments, or designing clothing to their own preferences. If we go about this world always concerned with satisfying other peoples ideas of what we should be, we ourselves will never be satisfied. A sincere deep walk with God matched with striving to utilize all the talents he gave us, will bring all the satisfaction he designed us to have.
For us, saying that we are pentecostal is an overstatement, the kind of thing that should be understood when we say that we are Christian. However being as the majority of modern Anabaptist are not pentecostal, the simple act of clarifying becomes relevant.
This week we have finally decided.
We are comfortable with being called one of two things.
"Anabaptist Pentecostal" or "Porter".
I don't feel comfortable being called a "plain pentecostal" anymore. My identity is deeper than a single aspect of my walk with God. The single word "anabaptist" has the deeper meanings that more strongly convey where my family is coming from.
By calling ourselves Anabaptist Pentecostals, we feal firm and established. Finally separated from our roots from years ago.
It was difficult back then to try to communicate to them
(the formal pentecostal church with a big P) why and how we didn't see things eye to eye. Their understanding of the Anabaptist was only what they saw on the surface or on the TV in their living room. They hadn't heard or read any of the theological ideas that establish the foundation of anabaptist ideology.
Honestly, I'm not sure where that conversation could start with the Pentecostals nowadays. The separation that once existed is now fading away with every generation that passes. The media is so deeply imbedded in everyone's life that it has become normal to just accept it. And that media establishes the culture of the youth. It undermines and rewrites what culture the parents try to instill in their child.
Being afraid to stand-out in a crowd has also cost the church it's identity. We call them Christians in camouflage. Sure you might notice them if you had belonged to them at some point, but otherwise they would just blend in to any other scene in America. They would look no less out of place in a bar than they would just leaving meeting. I couldn't speak so harshly if we hadn't left them years ago.
I'll leave you with these last words.
Regardless of your age and standing with your family or church, don't be afraid to liv separated and holy. It is our father we answer to, not our family members or our church. To reestablish separation, there has to be a first person to do it. Let it be you. From the clothing you wear, to the places you will and won't go. Start a home church, even if it's in an apartment. God bless! It's a difficult road, but the Lord blesses us abundantly for being faithful! We started this walk 6 years ago and we are still going. We are not where we want to be yet, but in time we will get there. Our children will be blessed with our support and direction. Think of your children as well : )
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