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

Plain Things

For those of you that are unfamiliar with plain culture and are unsure of how plain folk look at the world, there is a new periodical that might help to open your eyes.

It's called "Plain Things".

It's published every so many months by a group of anabaptist living in Kentucky.

Here is a website with information about subscribing. There is no prerequisite to subscribe. Anyone is able to.

http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/plain-things.html

I pray that Yah blesses you in all that you do and that you always keep your eyes on Him through whom we have salvation, our savior Yeshuah our Messiah.

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

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.

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.

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.

The Wisdom Of Attending College

I'll preface this post by saying that both Elizabeth and I have attended and graduated from college. In fact, she is currently finishing her MBA.

For us though, we view this as feeding the beast as a means to slay it. Elizabeth has many connections inside of her workplace that desire her to help. Her MBA will not only assist her in attaining these positions but also higher pay.

The higher pay is what is necessary to pay off the college she was expected to attend in the first place. College is the cure to the disease that it, itself creates-debt. This route does not and will not work for everyone. A lot of it goes down to where you liv, how your family supports you, who you know, and most importantly your organizational and work ethic. All of these have to work in just the right way. It's a very risk prone method of self-advancement.

I will not encourage my sons to attend college. I will however prepare them for life. Read THE TRADES OF MY SONS blog posting.

If Elizabeth and I had been raised in plain families, neither of us would have college debt at this point, and the both of us would be further advanced in our lives.



We have not always believed college to be a negative endeavor. It's only been with the current economic downturn that the negatives of college have become more and more obvious.

The only time I encourage college for an individual is when they have been guaranteed a job by someone they know very well, I.E. their father. Another stipulation that I encourage is that they know how the schooling will be paid for. And it's no shame to them if their father pays for it. And when I say "paid for", what I mean is, In-Full before the schooling is finished. NO debts or liabilities upon exciting the institution.

Here is a quote from a famous author.

"Students who acquire large debts putting
themselves through school are unlikely to think
about changing society. When you trap people in
a system of debt they can't afford the time to think.
Tuition fee increases are a disciplinary
technique, and by the time the students graduate,
They are not only loaded with debt,
but have also internalized the
disciplinarian culture. This makes
them efficient components of the
consumer economy."

-Noam Chomsky

I could continue on about how supposed "Christian" schools are teaching heretical ideologies and compromising the integrity of the family structure, but I trust that if you are reading this that you are already aware of that. It's a shame what state our educational system has found itself in from kindergarten to college.

I will say however that the college that Elizabeth is going to now, is actually worth it's name. They say they are Christian and they act and teach like it. I can't say the same for  the college she went to for her bachelors. Granted her current school charges for that type of environment.

We fully expect that ten years from now that Elizabeth will be a stay at home mom, and that our families income will be earned by me.

Happy Marriage Day!

We took this picture in the sand of a California beach. Your marriage should be your second most important focus of everyday. Second only to your walk with God.

Marriage is intended to be a happy union. There will be times of "intense fellowship", but overall a marriage should not be founded on straight faces, frowns, or discomfort in general.

Elizabeth and I have been married over six years now and every day we both do what we can to make the other smile. Everyone on this earth will only liv once, what's the point of living a life that is unpleasant. The happier you are, the healthier you will be and in return the longer you will liv. 

Elizabeth and I had been married for a while when I made the observation that there is no nationally celebrated "Marriage Day". We have many other "Days" in this country. We've got mothers, fathers, and even grand-parents day. But I've never heard anyone reference "Marriage Day". So with rebellion against a country that doesn't honor marriage as it used to be; I decided that we would make our own "Marriage Day". So with love in our heart and smiles on our faces we have always gotten much pleasure from celebrating our "Happy Marriage Day".

What day of the year do we celebrate our Marriage Day?

Is it our anniversary?

No

Is it the first of the year?

No

Is it a randomly chosen day of the year?

No

Our Marriage Day is every day that we are together.

We let each other know that we are enjoying a moment together when we say, "Happy Marriage Day!". We don't need an instituted Holy-Day for us to recognize each other out of formal obligation. Instead we choose to let each other know that we don't take each other for granted. Being genuine is the most heartfelt satisfaction that one can have, it's especially strong when our intentions can't be misinterpreted as "obligatory".

This is a special thing that Elizabeth and I share between us but I encourage you to do the same.

Sometimes we say it daily, and other times we might say it once or twice a week. It always makes us smile when the other person surprises us with it. It's a genuine exchange between us that isn't derived from pop-culture.

Always value your marriage, NEVER say the "D" word and do all you can to make yourself a better person in the marriage. When "intense fellowship" arises, be wise and take time to think about what has passed. If you still feel that they are in the wrong or have a habit that needs to be fixed before it passes to the next generation, bring it up when spirits are light. Loving spouses care about their children and understand that only the other spouse can truly help them to raise a better generation through improving themselves and each other.

Take critiques seriously and commit them to heart. You'll raise a beautiful family if you do.

It's easy to become angry when someone critiques us, remember it's not an enemy, it's a "life-partner". Life being the important word. Intense fellowship will help the two of you to better understand how to communicate as adults and to better understand the personal needs of each other as well as boundaries that may not seem so obvious.

Love your spouse. You should be married to your best friend. Treat them as such. When you are feeling rushed, look in their eyes for an "extended moment" and just let them know you love them. Enjoy the small moments together. Those are the valuable things in your life that no one can take away.

This part is solely for the men.

Look into your wives eyes.  Deeply.  Until you can see her soul.  Then take in all the information that doing such will give you. You'll better understand her needs and also why she may not always do all the things you want to.

For both husbands and wives.

Read "The Five Love Languages".

It's that simple. Learn which ways in which your spouse conveys and receives love and refine it over and over until the two of you are both satisfied with how each of you receives and conveys love.

A small story. Part of my personality makes it so that I enjoy surprises. That is one of the love languages. Elizabeth on the other hand prefers to have everything planned. It's part of her accountant personality. When we first were married I had to learn that Elizabeth didn't appreciate surprises because they changed the parameters of what she was dealing with at any time. I on the other hand had to educate her that I love surprises. Unpredictability makes me feel young and healthy. It took her a while to learn to come out of her "box", but ultimately she found ways to let me know she loved me by appealing to such. Likewise I had to find ways to go against my nature by planning things that we could do together. It was weird for me. I always prefer to do things off-the-cuff. I'm not sure if I'm doing well enough, but it's having that thought in my head that matters. There is always tomorrows marriage day.

Communication is the most important aspect of a marriage. Second is love.

If you are married to your best friend you should be able to talk about anything. You may have to wait till the right time, but still there shouldn't be any topic off-limits. When you talk, talk with love-without raising your voice. Resorting to raising your voice shows that you've already lost control and are not willing to talk person to person. Being an adult means that sometimes you have to concede and to change. Change.

Doing these things will teach your children what "normal" is supposed to be. That's important for your health, your spouses health, your children's health, and societies health in general.

Being angry, yelling, or not talking to your spouse is not normal. Seek Normal. It's what is healthy.

You will have happiness in your life and in your marriage when you have self-accountability.

When having intense-fellowship, I strong encourage you to hug each other and then to take a break to reassess what transpired. You may likely find that there was nothing to be gained and that likely it was simply an ego, either of yours or theirs, that was getting in the way. When they have the humility to concede error, don't have the arrogance to say "I told you so", or anything of the like. There is no profit in that. Be married and make each other better people. If you or your spouse concedes error, simply love each other and give each other a sincere hug. This is what is normal.

 Being defensive is unhealthy and can blind you to what or whom is truly in error.

With Christian Love, blessed with the gift of salvation from God and our Father, I pray for blessings of the Lord our Savior to be abundant in your marriage. Be Humble. Husbands, be the head of your house by example. Wives, understand your place in the home. A man may not always be able to communicate how he feels disrespected, but he will always know WHEN he feels disrespected.

Humility and submission will heal any bruise.

Two smiles to leave you with.



Christian Family Traditions

Elizabeth and I have now been in our modest home now for a little over three months. We have since been blessed with an adorable daughter that we love from the very depths of our hearts.

 Elizabeth has posted on her HOMEBIRTH EXPERIENCE. If you have any questions about it she will be happy to answer your questions. You can either post your questions under that blog entry or you can email us directly : )



Now that we seem to be finally settling in to our house, my question to you is this, What are your family's Christian traditions? With this I'm not talking about holyday traditions, but rather the day to day traditions. For example praying before a meal as you give thanks to the Lord for providing and blessing you. That is just one example.

I was not raised in a home where we belonged to a fellowship. I can remember going to church when I was very young, but I think we stopped going on a once-every-now-and-then basis once I was about eight. That being said, I can still remember us giving thanks at the dinner table. My family still does this, but only on holydays at formal family dinners.

As the head of my household it is my responsibility to set the standard for my family. Having not been raised by a godly father, nor having been raised around one, I am desireful of examples of how to be one. I know that it is my responsibility to instill in my children habits that will lead them in a
healthy relationship with our heavenly father.



Personally I try to maintain a personal tradition of reading ten chapters a day from the word of God, sometimes I don't succeed, but the wealth of learning is rewarding daily. I'd prefer to read five in the morning and five in the evening, but I usually have to read them all in the evening. Being a stay at home father has changed my schedule significantly. It typically takes about an hour, but sometimes less to read my quota.

Some people say they couldn't do that or that they don't have the attention span for it. I'll admit there are times I have to read a verse three or four times before I really begin to understand what it says. It's easy to skim over verses just doing a cursory reading, because in reality we don't really understand what is being said. I am guilty of this when it comes to books that have a long line of genealogy or even the book of Romans for example. The way that Paul phrases so many of his ideas in that book just leads me to scratch my head. I will admit there are times where I have read entire passages in that book several times, just to be left with a vague idea of what he was trying to convey.

This struggle to understand is worth it when I consider an eternity with our heavenly Father.

It also feeds my brain for a day of pondering the Word of our Lord!

So help me out, what did your family do on a day to day basis when you were growing up? What does your family do today?

What are ways that a father can build up his family on a daily basis? Did your father do something special?

I am asking you to respond. Write as much as you choose. It is all for edification. Glory be to our Lord, our Savior.

 

A petition from the McCartan family

 

 

Here is a photo of us just weeks before Abigail was born.

Be productive in reading the Word of God. It will make you wealthy, healthy, and wise.

Prayer Closet Importance

Matthew 6:5-6

King James Version (KJV)

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the name of Yeshua, Amen

Book Learning and Life Living

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

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

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

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

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

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

Colonial Williamsburg And The Shaker Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sabath

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

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

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

The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

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

 Herder Book Co.

Saint Louis, Mo. 1946

 48

3. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We've Noticed!

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

Being Porter

What does being Porter mean to me?
For me the essence of being a Porter comes down to the Bible and homesteading.

Firstly, the idea is to throw out all preconceptions of what a church is supposed to be; whether that mean the governing, the doctrine, or any other aspect all of which regard the theology in the opinion of a Porter.

The Bible is the only authority, it decides everything.

To make this as clear as it can be made, the point is this. If a society was to be formed and the only source it had to base it's existence around was the Bible-It most certainly would never in a million years resemble the Catholic Church. The Bible is the final authority, not any decree made by man.

The idea is to remain as simple and elemental as possible. It is simple for people to complicate what God has given us in his word, but if we always utilize his word the way he intended for us to, we'll always be where we need to be.

And in cases where people disagree, it is better for the individuals to fellowship separately than to create a restless congregation.

There are some terms though that can not be disagreed upon by Porters.

1. There is one God
2.Jesus died for our sins on the cross
3.We do not forbid speaking in tongues(in an orderly Biblical fashion).
4. We do liv off the land
5. The Word of God is the greatest authority.

If any of these terms are disagreed upon, that person and his family are not Porters, but are free as individuals to begin their own community.

The idea of being a Porter is that, with or without electricity, we shouldn't have to change the way we liv to exist in this world.

The needs of people have been the same for thousands of years. Food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation. If a tradesman appeals to these needs, his living can be made.

Are we currently Porters living with electricity, yes and it is against our will. The day will come when we are free of it. We pray that families will join us when that day comes.

So although we say that Porters don't use electricity, I guess you could correctly say that we are still in our conversion.

Family is the central focus of the Porter's life.

The meaning of life is to raise a better generation, the purpose of life is to become the person it takes to raise that better generation.

Being Porter is not a simple thing. For men it involves having a trade or farm. If you pursue a trade, it is one that you can do from home. I'm expecting that mine will be plane making.

Your mode of transportation is anything that is not fueled by a motor/engine. There is no ordnung so you are free to choose.

If you are a woman, then you have the honor or maintaining the domestic responsibilities. Just as you depend on your husband for financial health, he depends on you for food and clothing and to be the care taker of his children. Life is simple as a Porter but it is also alot of work.

The best comparison for Porters would be Pentecostal Amish that do not have an ordnung.

We see ourselves as plain Pentecostal homesteaders that do not use electricity or fossil fuel.

For long distance travel bus or train is fine.

Simple points that must be redundant.

Pentecostal Male

I thought it would be appropriate and perhaps appreciated by other Pentecostal males that might relate if I spoke about the difficulty of "coming out" from the world but still "blending in".

If you are a woman and attend a United Pentecostal Church International service, it's very easy to tell who is and is not a member of the church. You simply look for the tell tale signs: uncut hair, floor length skirts/dresses, unpeirced ears, no tattoos, skin covered.

But if you are a male, you are kind of stuck. Regardless of how dedicated you are to the Lord and your congregation you are virtually incapable of separating yourself from the heathens of the world. Sure you can make yourself look "clean cut", but so can any other man, not to mention So What? If being "clean cut" is the measure of a separated and saintly man, then there is a multitude of heathens that are passing themselves off as saints and are completely unaware of their false impression.

Here is where it may get a little breathy. When Elizabeth and I lived in North Manchester Indiana we attended two meeting houses there. Both were part of the Old German Baptist Brethren assembly. This is where both she and I were influenced by the plain lifestyle. Even though she grew up around the Amish and Mennonite, they were not an influence on her. Though I hope that someday she will post on why she felt convicted to cover.

Because I had been raised in a non plain family I struggled with both wanting to appease the UPCI and also obey my convictions and also my understanding of what the Bible refers to as a "peculiar people".

Eventually I stubbornly held by my convictions that Christians should not be camouflaged as heathens, but rather that they should stand out and be peculiar-even if we are plain and unassuming at the same time.

I'll describe myself. I have short brown hair, a beard that is about 20"s long. I wear button-up long-sleeve shirts.
My favorite is one that Elizabeth made for me. Another post I'd like to see her do, I've never worn a better shirt. It was her first one too.

I wear broadfall pants. If any of you guys have questions about them feel free to ask. I'll never go back to zippers and belts.

I also wear a typical straw hat like you would see on an Amish man. I wear one pair of boots that are leather pull-on. I feel strongly that men should only wear boots as they are the one type of footwear that conveys a man is always ready for work whenever and wherever it may need to be done.

I feel no shame in admitting that when I buy boots, that they usually cost about 120$. That may seem expensive but when considering that they will last me easily three and maybe as much as five years that is a good use of money. That comes down to 3 dollars and thirty three cense a month. That is being a proper steward of your money. And when you consider that my latest pair can be resoled, that's an even greater increase on the savings.

In a day when cheap boots may only last a year or less and still cost 40-60$, it is much wiser to forgo the cheap boots and to purchase the expensive quality boots. Call it a guilty pleasure as we "stewards of our money" are prone to say at such an extravagance, but the savings are real and cannot be denied.

Now back to the real point. The Bible tells us that we are a peculiar people 1st Peter 2:9. The real meaning of that word "peculiar" in the Greek is that we are a possession of God's.

I always drew issue with men that felt they had to make up for their inability to be as distinguished as their female counterparts. These were the men that would wear clothes that said "Jesus" or a Bible verse on it. It just seems desperate and tacky to me. Our sainthood should stand on it's own.

I've never had to resort to that, yet people still always know that I am a Christian. Some people ask me if I am Brethren, others ask me if I am Amish, others ask me if i am Mennonite, others even ask if I'm Mormon. I always tell them no-I am a plain Pentecostal, also known as a Porter.

Elizabeth and I were rejected by the UPCI, at least locally, for holding to our convictions. The UPCI has a strict "no beard" policy. I've yet to find the scripture to justify their stance, so instead of debating-I simply and passively walk away. Both parties feeling as though they have lost nothing.

The mentioned church feels that it is ridden of a problem and I leave feeling I am free to be genuine to my convictions and am not bound to appeasing them anymore.

The modern UPCI church has a problem with retaining male membership. One of the foremost reasons for this is that they undermine the masculinity of men that desire to join or have joined. The picture of an ideal Pentecostal male is a clean-cut suit wearing pencil-pushing accountant type.

I'll never look like that.

The female youth of the church are taught to pursue men that look like the aforementioned, when they are unable to find him they begin to feel dejected and gradually fade out of the church. It's a sad cycle that no one seems to be trying to do anything about.

I may have left the UPCI, but I in no way have left my walk with God.

The shame is, that aside from a few of the UPCI's standards being wrong-overall they have all of the doctrine right. Though I would prefer they use prayer rooms instead of being so ostentatious.

Our Children's Education

Our children will be either educated in a schoolhouse of children that are like-believers, or they will be home-schooled.

Either way, daughters will be expected to help at home and sons will be expected to pursue trades.

Recent history has shown many people that pursuing college comes at a cost that pays off in no way. Life does not need to be complicated by false promises from "for profit" educational institutions.

Student debt causes a type of slavery that only aids the school attended and indentures the former student for many decades of their life.

Our children will be expected to speak fine English and be knowledgeable in a multitude of topics. We do believe in education, but we feel strongly that it should come from the home.

When a child is raised away from a tv and computer, that child finds a large amount of time that they are able to dedicate to reading and studying various topics. Learning should be and is a pleasurable pursuit.

And for the child that doesn't enjoy learning, they will always have their trade/hobby to fill their time.

Learning and work is not all there is to youth, but this and the previous posting cover those sections of a child's life.

The Trades Of Our Sons

Daily as a Porter Elizabeth and I are thinking about the trades in which our sons will be brought up. From the ages of five up till their tenth birthday our sons will know to study and familiarize themselves with various trades. The day of their tenth birthday they will be expected to dedicate themselves to a trade. If they decide to change trades that will be fine. They will always have an occupation to fall back on. Their practicing of their trade will be financed by us, their parents. They will be expected to be expert and professional in their trade by the time they leave the house.

The only qualifications their trade must follow is that:
1. It must not utilize electricity
2. It must be able to be done on the property
3. Classes away from the farm are acceptable
4. In some cases it may be necessary to have a teacher come to the farm

Elizabeth and I are learned in various crafts, however we are professional in none of them. Had we been raised the way our children will be, I think that would be different. The time from ten years of age up to the age of leaving the home-whether that be 18 or even 25, is more than sufficient to be expert in a craft whether that be shoe-making or blacksmithing or wheelwrighting or even plane making.

Our sons will be provided with all the source material they could possibly need. They will also be provided with all the finest tools they should need. If ever they decide to change trades, the tools and materials will be kept and used with a different child that chooses that specific trade. If no other child pursues that trade, then the materials will be saved for grandchildren or sold to a family that needs it for their child. Resources and materials are too precious to be sold out of the community.

We are ever expanding our library to suit our life. We don't believe in public education but we do believe in home education. I'll expound on that in another post.

To bless our children with a trade and occupation is in our opinion the greatest gift of all. Much more valuable than a student loan or diploma. No job application required and they can work from home as their own boss. The way life was before the industrial revolution.

Our Lives

I'd just like to say this blog is still active. We've gone through some changes and adjustments over the last half year.

Elizabeth Ann is focusing on her Masters while I am on the road Monday through Friday. This week has been nice, I've only spent one night away from home.

Elizabeth has been taking a quilting class once a month that seems to be teaching her plenty. I thought she knew all there was to know about sewing so this is a great thing for our family.

Until recently I had been going out to Eureka Springs to learn the art of wooden handplane making. I've been amassing my collection of tools so that when the time comes, I can walk away from trucking and pursue tool making.

My teachers have taught me enough to get me going on my own. It's now time for me to sink or swim in my own "shop". With my current schedule I only have Saturdays available on a consistent basis. This will still be enough time for me to really dive deep and rely on the knowledge and experience that I have. I've got plenty of notes and books and if I find myself stumped I am sure that my teachers will help me out.

Getting started isn't easy. There is alot to know with regards to tools and techniques both of the instruments utilized to create the planes and also of the planes themselves. So many subtle details go into the creation of a single plane that even a craftsmen himself can and will still be learning about his creation 15 years down the road.

I don't expect to be rich making planes for a living, but it will able me to be home, and that is what is most important to me.

Elizabeth and my mother have been working feverishly caning fruit from the orchard and produce from the farmers market. Amongst all the jam there are now also 11 qts and 3 pints of tomato sauce. That is alot for anyone familiar with caning.

Our chickens are still doing fine. Big Bird decided to become broody for a while so to amuse her we gave her to false eggs. They were ceramic. She was so proud of them, but after three weeks of not getting off the nest for any real amount of time, we decided it would be best to take them away. That was our lesson on why a broody hen is a bad thing.

We also decided it would be best to build a chicken run and to put the chicken tractor inside of it. They've got less space than I'd prefer but they seem to be happy.

Building the run was quick and simple and has worked very well to date. We simply put some T-posts in the ground along the perimeter we decided and connected some wire fence using zip-ties. Their run meets against a horse paddock that has a wooden fence. We put two nails in a post to work as a "fence-catch", and it's worked very well as a gate. The only trouble we've had with the run is that sometimes the nails will come loose and also the chickens like to dig at the gate-bottom. We've taken care of that by laying some fence posts and a hay bale over their hole. I suspect they use that hole to get away from the sun.

They really appreciated all the caning scraps we gave them. For people that haven't had chickens before, if they are happy-they will let you know it! Our chickens sometimes sound like they are purring!

I am sure there is plenty more for us to tell you about. But for a quick update this should do alot.

Michael and Elizabeth McCartan

The Porters

Tonight

This posting is about how our "witness" is not about us, but rather about others.

I'm not sure where to start with this but it seems that in most cases that if I ramble that I somehow say every thing the right way the first time.

I'm finishing my second to last week of truckdriving, I'll be home probably by the time this is published. Tonight I am in Chetopa Kansas, a town not too far from the Missouri/Oklahoma state lines. I have a delivery here in-town that I was hoping to make tonight. The way that the facility is that I'm delivering to, you have to take a two-lane road and hope that the gate is open further down the road. If the facility is closed and therefor also the gate, you have no choice but to drive the full-length of 14 miles before you can turn around again. This being my first (and probably last) time here to this facility, wasn't aware of this. I called the plant ahead of my arrival, but being as it was closed, it was of no help. You can count all of this as a preface to the story.

I took the turn onto the highway that has the gate to the facility. Seeing that I had no choice but to continue on down the road, I kept going and going, all fourteen miles of it. I reached a small intersection and was able to maneuver myself into a U-turn, not always an easy thing to do in a semi.

I started my way back to Chetopa, thinking about all of the events through the day that had raised my stress and made me wonder what my purpose was. I thought about the gusts of forty mile an hour wind; the beating sun on my truck, it may be 60 degrees outside but the sun can make a driver feel like meat in a microwave; the frustration of potholes and cracks in pavement; the loneliness of the open road. I don't write all of this to induce sympathy, but just to show a relation that everyone feels. Whether you are a secretary for a company or a driver of a truck, we all wonder if we are here on this earth for a productive reason.

I finally came past the plant and sure enough I could tell for certain this time, I'd have to wait till the morning. So after my thirty minute detour, I decided to go a little further into town to a place where I saw a restaurant and some truck parking. I learned later the the restaurant is named "The Hornet's Nest".

I parked my truck in the mostly empty lot and waited to see if there was any movement in the building. I didn't see any signs of life, but once I saw an SUV park in their parking lot I figured I couldn't lose much.

I met the tail end of the trio that came out of the SUV at the entrance of the establishment. Two women and a boy of about six years of age. He reminded me alot of myself. Wide-eyed and full of optimism. The two women had ordered and the boy(Matthias) interjected that he wanted a rootbeer. I thought that a good idea and asked for the same to compliment a BLT that I had ordered. The trio had sat down. The waitress handed me my drink and as the order would take some time I looked for places to sit. I chose a booth that was next to theirs.

I liked Matthias and wanted to enjoy more of his happy personality.

I had only just asked if it was alright if I could sit there when the boys mother apologized for her dishevelment. I told her that I understood and thought nothing of it.

A conversation quickly began that spanned her lifetime in only a matter of minutes. A quick summation. I asked her what her church history was, she let me know that she has been raised Pentecostal and had married a young Pentecostal man in her youth. She let me know that she had two other children with him, both in their mid teens.

She continued to confide in me about her life and how it had become something outside of her control, that she felt abased and contrite but yet still felt that there was great distance between her and a relationship with God.

This was not a private conversation. There were several people that were able to hear this conversation, but were not a part of it.

I don't relay this story with the intent of glorifying myself, or exploiting this woman's situation. The intent of this story is to show that even I as an insignificant truck driver with limited social contact still have a place in God's plan and design.

I know that I seek the Lord, that he leads me and uses me in his own surprising way. I don't count myself as a prideful man, but after seeing the genuine love and humility in this woman's eyes for God, I truly feel deeply lacking in facets of my faith that I had no idea were there and void. I have few words that can describe the depth of this woman's faith. I genuinely seek to recreate it in my life. I have not seen it but a few times in all of the places that I have travelled to.

Our conversation lasted probably 25-35 minutes, it was deep and healthy. Two Pentecostals talking about their faith. As the conversation came to it's end, she related her fear of sinning and was uncertain of what the future held for her. I told her to repeat back to me something I have come to understand. "The life of a saint is lonely". I could write an entire post on that alone. I told her that when she felt weak to remember our conversation. I still don't know her name, but I'm sure the tears she cried at the table tonight are in a vial in heaven. Psalm 56:8.

I probably could have written this better or may have said too little/too much, but the point is once again, she was very thankful for me to be there and listen to her and to giver her advice. If I had changed any aspect of my day or even if I lacked the faith that God would use me as he saw fit, I could have very-well lost that opportunity to bring someone struggling in their life back to God. If I had not been inconvenienced by my half-hour detour, I would have completely missed her.

When you are upset about traffic or being late to work, or feeling uneasy about an appointment you have, remember this-The Lord Is Using You For His Kingdom. Even in discomfort and displeasure we are witnesses for His sake.

Tonight has much to teach me about a genuine relationship with God.

Elizabeth and I are the only "Porters" that we really know, but the heart of this woman is what every Porter everywhere should strive for.

I gave her the link for this blog, I pray that we hear from her. I know that the Lord is using her and has plans for her in His design. She'll be a reliable example for her son.

-Michael McCartan