Yeshua and a Homesteading Community

It seems lately that there has been an uptick in the number of messianics that are curious about the ways of the land; that is, homesteading in a communal way.

We've only got .80 of an acre, that's right, less than 1 acre! And I can tell you unquestionably that granted there are no municipal codes against it, 1 acre is plenty enough to keep two people busy.

Now that the seasons have finally changed and warmed up, we've got several projects moving along.
Elizabeth has her Warre Hive filled with bees! I've been busy at every opportunity getting this massive garden going. I sewed a quarter acre of buckwheat! Tonight I am in the act of getting our herbs and tomatoes in the ground.

Now is a good time for me to apologize for a lack of photos, if you'd like you can add me on Facebook, just let me know that you've seen this blog! My FB has a multitude of photos, also it's much easier to answer questions. Just look for Michael McCartan.

So now that you know what we are up to, let me tell you about what we could do additionally if there were no codes. We could have enough chickens to feed our family through the year. We could also have as many orchard trees as we desire(18+). We could also potentially have an area set aside for ducks, that'd be nice. There is enough room for a wash-house 15x15'. There is also enough room for a sizable greenhouse say 14x30'.
And you'd probably want a garden shed, large enough to dry onions and garlic and a two-story is optimal of about 12x12', anything larger than that is fine but there comes a point where it stops being a "shed".

I wouldn't want to do too much more than this as it could become a little difficult to manage the property efficiently.

Back to the messianic point, I'm not surprised that the majority of us are not familiar with the more menial tasks of homesteading. There seems to be about 5-10 percent of us though that have taken to homesteading in a serious manner.

There are regular talks of establishing a "messianic community", from what I understand there is atleast one community of such believers around here.

I would encourage an establishment of a community after an "amish model". Everyone would own their land, be horse and buggy, and have a trade they could perform on or near their land, and an avoidance of fuel-powered-machinery as well as electricity would be encouraged. At the very establishment of said community everyone would have to be on the same page on all matters and there would vitally need to be a bishop or person in charge of religious tasks in some capacity.

The difficult thing for most people to understand about this communal style is this, you are no longer "American" in terms of the modern understanding. You are no longer a part of the materialistic population. You are fully separated(holy). You are at that point entitled to begin your new culture that is not based on tv shows or radio programming, you are free to not only liv by what the scriptures say but to also start new traditions.

For some people this change in dichotomy is foreign, but I think to best illustrate the point think of it like this.

Imagine going out in public the first time you are wearing homemade clothing. I can assure you that even if your new clothing is expertly made, you will still feel awkward not blending in to every "American scene". When I first began to change my wardrobe I almost felt embarrassed in public. I was wearing clothing that fit my convictions but that I had not grown up with in my dresser. After going out in public the first few times, it was much easier. I began to see things differently. It was nice that people took what they saw of me for granted. When they saw me, they knew that I was a follower of Yeshuah/Yahushuah. They would apologize for cussing or would dress more modestly. Complete strangers would come up to me and just start talking about God. I've had women stand beside me and start singing church songs to get my attention, that was odd but I knew what was happening. My point is that if I dressed like an "American", I would have been a Christian in camouflage and none of those conversations or situations would have happened.

For the last 100+ years in this country people have gotten used to buying their clothing and trying to look like everyone else, that is not being a "peculiar people" and it is also not being set-apart(holy).

Think of the people I am referring to when I say, Muslim, Sikh, Indian, Jew, Buddhist monk, nun.
Every one of them brings a distinct picture to your mind. Now what comes to your mind when I say Christian? Perhaps a person with a cross on a t-shirt comes to mind. That seems a bit shallow to me. If the only difference between "us" and "them" is a cross on t-shirt we really are missing the mark.


 My point is not that believers should all look the same. I strongly speak against that. Personality is a vital part of every person born. My point is that if your clothing is homemade that people will not be able to miss it. That as a Christian you will have that distinct cultural impression on those seeking His face. We are to be a shinning light, how can we do that in camouflage in such a dark world?

It is only fair to let you know that when my family  began this journey that we went through many changes in our wardrobe to find what truly matched our identity. I tried several different types of broadfalls(pants with no zipper) and Elizabeth Ann went through (and still is) a variety of dress patterns to find what makes her happiest in her identity. Clothing is a very personal subject. The scriptures spend a lot of time talking about it. There is a reason that clothing is an important topic. What you wear is a billboard to the public telling them everything they want to know about your convictions and your ethics.

We are to be separated and as such, we will unavoidably stand out.

It is when we try to blend in with our Levi's that we forsake our calling.

When you change your wardrobe to one that everyone identifies as being Christian;

That is when materialists start to take notice and some if not most will avoid unnecessary interaction with you. Some will ask questions, but as soon as they have their answers they are promptly on their way.


I've gotten off on a tangent, but that needed to happen. I know there is someone reading this that feels it is addressed to them; maybe that's you.

My only other point I have to make about messianics and their desire for a communal style homestead is this, it's a lot of painful hard work. I enjoy it, but some people might not. And others might despise their niche in the family. Last night I worked in our garden with a headlamp from sundown to sunrise at 8am. I felt achy but satisfied.  When I was done, I had planted two 12' rows of tomatoes, two 12' rows of peppers, I had planted a grid of herbs 7x15', I had planted 6 rosebush starts, I had also planted two 12' rows of sweet potatoes. I also finished raking the last quarter of the field I had sewn with buckwheat.

It was a night of dedication that I can still feel in my feet, back, and joints, but the rewards will be enjoyed months down the road.

I was able to take many things off my to-do list, but there is still plenty that needs to be done. I want to get my polebean trellis up ASAP, and I have another tray of tomatoes that need to go in the ground. I'm hoping the weather will cooperate later today. Oh and I also want to get my cucumbers in! On and on and on it goes! But the food won't have chemicals in it and it won't come from Walmart.

If there is ever an economic crisis, I won't have to worry about grocery stores. As long as I can liv and pay my taxes, my family and I will be alright. Of course that's a whole other conversation.

I think a point worth making, is this, this movement/community needs as many people as possible for it to survive. And every individual has their niche. For some people, they are the workhorses, others edifiers, others cooks, mothers, bishops, farmers, tradesmen. The list goes on and on and on, and EVERYONE is NECESSARY! All ages, all personalities. Some are meant to crunch numbers, sew clothing, others are just meant to make people smile. Others are meant to watch children so new parents can catch up, others are needed to keep tabs on widows or the fatherless.

I think you get the idea, a healthy community is a dynamic community. The only things I think members need to agree on are  that the scriptures are the foundation and that as such an agreed upon cultural identity is imperative for cohesion. That'd simply mean that all people in the community would meat on the sabbath and that there would be a set standard for dress, clothing is an unwritten Language that says who we belong to in society.

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.

Back to Eden's Garden!

Ok, this will be a simple entry.

Recently I became aware of a new gardening technique that requires minimal weeding and no water except after seeding. No joke, and I'm sure I know what you are thinking. That's impossible unless your garden is covered in rocks and who can till that! Well here's the bonus, it doesn't involve covering your garden in rocks and you will also never have to till it either! Seriously!

 

I recently came across a documentary that shows this method. Simply put, you design your garden like nature. You don't till the soil for a multitude of reasons, but also you don't have to water. Leaving the soil alone keeps moisture in the ground and prevents weeds from germinating. The solution to all those problems and soil erosion? Woodchips!

 

Now these aren't "bark nuggets" but legitimate chippings from entire branches of trees bushes and shrubs.

 

 

 

We have a half acre in the back that we are considering gardening in this method, its the field that we used to have our goats in. We miss our goats, but this may be a good way of utilizing the field.

The field has been fallow as long as we know of. The house is about twelve years old. And we know that the field was certainly left alone for the two years before we moved in, and aside from the goats being in there, it has still been left alone. The field has a mix of meadow grasses, pesky weeds, and the typical wild herbs you would expect to see in any southern field.

 

I'm pretty certain we are going to do this. So watch our journey, it is going to be interesting.

 

I apologize for the odd fish-eye-lens effect, but this was the best panorama I could take with an IPhone.

 

So what you are looking at is the gate we have that separates our back yard from the back field.

The odd box object to the left of the gate is what used to be the housing for the goats. It was a dog house prior to that.

 

Here are some before pictures to give you an idea of what we are starting with. Now the theory is that you are not supposed to begin this program until fall, because that is when the leaves naturally fall from the trees. We'll see if we make it that long before we can't help ourselves. The underlying theme of this method is this. It's not supposed to be alot of work once the garden is established. That can take three years or more depending on where you liv and what materials you are relying on.

 

 

The most of this grass is about knee high, I think it's still growing from where the goats ate it. Other grass is up to my hip.

 

I'm not sure what this shrub is but it looks like it will be simple to deal with. It'll probably become a blogpost of it's own.........

 

This is a grain that grows in the field. I'm not familiar enough with the various grains to know what this is.

 

Here's our little dog Trixie next to a semi-common weed we have back there.

 

 

What is certain is this. If you follow this method aggressively and fulfill all of it's tenants, you will have the best garden you have ever had-growing the best produce you have ever tasted and you will not have to weed (as you currently know it) except with a rake, you will not have to water, and you will not have to till. Just plant your favorite seeds, and eat. Those are the steps, albeit, only after the garden is fully established.

 

Our soil in the back field seems to be very nice already since it's been left alone and has alot of diversity, so I am hoping that helps with the decomposition of the wood chips.

 

So our back field can be a test plot for you if you are on the fence about it. It will be alot of work upfront, but that's normal. It will all be worth it. I'm excited and eager. That is......if we move forward with it.

 

Here is the link to the documentary, watch it now! It will change the way you look at everything!

God Bless!

 

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/11883/Back-to-Eden

 

The Blessings of New Life

The Blessings of New Life

 

“A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” John 16:21

 

I must start this posting by stating I had a very easy pregnancy. The morning sickness was mostly isolated to a few weeks in August as we traveled to Colonial Williamsburg and back. I did have lots of swelling despite being on the Brewer Diet. My only other complaint would be the emergence of the dreaded PUPPS rash all over my stomach during the last two months; the intense itching was terrible. My only forms of relief were using black tar pine soap and drinking dandelion root tea. The tea helped the most. 

 

As my estimated due date approached, many people started asking if I was afraid of giving birth naturally. Most of the people I worked with were very uneducated about homebirths and many made predictions that I would ultimately beg to go to the hospital. To be quite honest, I was not afraid. I had stayed away from the “What to Expect” books (don’t ever buy these as a gift) and had focused on reading positive homebirth stories and hypnobirthing methods. Ultimately, the hypnobirthing was thrown out the window as it promised that I would not be in pain. I was in ALOT of pain.

 

I went into labor on Sunday with irregular contractions which I misinterpreted as Braxton Hicks; they soon escalated into 10 minute apart contractions the next day. By 8 pm on Monday night, the contractions were under five minutes apart. Unfortunately, it was excruciating back labor as the baby was trying to turn. She had been in the correct position (head down, face down) for the last three months but had turned during the last week (head down, face up). I took multiple showers and had Michael rub my back during each contraction just trying to get a bit of relief. My midwife checked me around 11:00 pm and I was only dilated to 3. She left around 2:00 that morning to get some sleep but the baby had other plans. My water broke at 5:30 am in a big gush and I told Michael to fill up the birthing pool.

 

After my midwife arrived, I was only at a 5. At that point, I started to get pretty discouraged. I was still experiencing back labor and by the time 9:00 rolled around, I was spent. I dozed between the contractions. Sometimes, there was enough of a lull that I could fall asleep but then the contraction would be twice as long and twice as hard. I was exhausted and needed relief. The midwife checked me again around 9:30 and I was only at a 7. I wanted to cry at that point.

 

She did give me some hope, though. If I could keep from pushing for the next half an hour, she would help thin my cervix manually or use some evening primrose oil. I clutched to that hope and ran with it. After what seemed like hours of contractions, I asked “How much longer?” It had only been 10 minutes. That was disappointing but I knew the end was near. The apprentice and my husband offered some much needed encouragement.

 

At this point, I asked my husband to pray over us once more as we began the final legs of our journey. It was such a special moment for me to have my husband there to not only offer encouragement but spiritual guidance as well.

 

Around 10:00, she manually pushed the rolled lip of my cervix back during several contractions and immediately, there was relief. I could feel the baby start to go down the birthing canal! Each contraction was bringing me closer to seeing my child! I found new energy and was very excited. Another eternity went by but soon I felt a very bad burning sensation and my midwife told me to reach down to feel the baby’s head. I remember saying that I didn’t want to (mostly because I was so focused on getting it out!) but she convinced me to take a break and let my body stretch. I reached down in the water and felt an immense amount of hair waving back and forth in the pool. Like seaweed in the ocean….

 

I joked that if the baby had that much hair, think of the beard it must have!

 

We were certain we were having a son,

 

A few more big pushes and I felt a huge gush! The baby was out! The midwife caught the baby and handed it to me. Michael and my mother-in-law gathered behind me and we all just couldn’t believe there was this crying, slippery baby with tons of hair. It was such an amazing feeling of relief. I remember saying over and over “Hi baby, it’s okay!” After a few minutes, the midwives were asking me to check on the gender of the baby and to our surprise it was a girl! What a wonderful gift from God.

 

The next few hours were a blur. I remember taking some Hem Halt, being lifted out of the pool, and placed next to the fireplace while we waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing, the placenta to deliver and stitching up a small tear. Various members of Michael’s family stopped by to see the baby and soon the midwives and my mother-in-law packed up their bags. Our little family was alone for the first time.

 

 

 

 

Takeaways for first time moms:

• When shopping for a midwife, think about what you need from her on your birthing journey. Are you one of those who ask lots of questions and want scientific answers? Do you need a cheerleader when that day comes? Ask for a client list. Call some of those clients and ask questions about the midwife – not their birth story. Everyone I talked to said the midwife I used was great and amazing but she wasn’t what I needed when that day came. I needed a cheerleader offering encouragement during every contraction and I was left discouraged more than once when I saw my midwife ignoring my pleas. I am thankful that I had a husband who stepped into that role.
• Ask about her methods for turning babies, dietary recommendations, and exercise regimens. My midwife did not know of any ways to turn a baby – others can. It may not have worked but we could have at least tried them. Having a child is comparable to running a marathon – you need to train for the big day. I wish I would have done more exercise than walking.
• Childbirth does hurt but there is a quote that I clung to: “The power and intensity of your contractions cannot be stronger than you, because it is you. - Unknown” Each contraction is one closer to bringing you to your baby. Embrace them and celebrate the end of each one.
• Don’t starve yourself during the birth. I did because I wasn’t hungry and have had a hard recovery. Force yourself to eat. Make smoothie ice cubes with a bit of avocado to keep up your energy. Drink chlorophyll water.
• Educate yourself. Do you want the Vitamin K shot and the eye drops for your child? We chose not to do either. Even if you have a hospital birth, you can opt out of these things. Let the placenta completely quit pulsing before the cord is severed. Newborns need this extra blood in their system. If you test positive for Group B strep, there are natural ways of combating this. Look for natural alternatives in everything you do – your baby will thank you for it.

 

Tips for newborns:

• Be sure to wake them up to eat in the beginning. Abigail wanted to sleep a lot and I thought it was just because of having a hard labor. She actually had jaundice and that can cause them to sleep too much.
• Co-sleeping has been the best thing for us. No blankets on the bed for the first few months. After that, be sure to have separate blankets for you and your spouse. Abigail always snuggles up underneath my arm and I have a light blanket covering the two of us.
• Clean around the umbilical cord during each diaper change with a Q-tip and water. Dry it with the other end. Continue after the cord falls off. If it starts looking reddish after the cord falls off, clean and slather with antibacterial ointment.
• Do not clean your child during the first week. Let the vernix soak into the skin. After that, you can wash the baby twice a week with a mild soap like Dr. Bronners. Be sure to get into the rolls around their neck and open their hands…it is a hiding spot for lint. If you cannot get them to open their hands, try stroking the back of the hand.
• Use reusable diapers to save money and as a healthy alternative for your child. We have not had a single case of irritation or diaper rash. There are many reviews out there and find what works best for your family. I currently use Diaper Safaris with Organic Indian pre-folds (Diaper Safari’s inserts are too bulky for daytime use) and Lalabye Baby diapers. I bought them from http://www.ecobabybuys.com/. They send daily emails with featured products at huge discounts. You may not get to choose from many colors or styles, but you can save a lot of money this way on baby products.

 

I will be posting a list of baby essentials for new moms/baby shower gift ideas as well as useful home remedies later. At this point, Abigail wears store-bought onesies and hand-me-down clothes. Soon, I will be making plain dresses for the upcoming bigger sizes and plan to post sewing tutorials. Please let me know if you have any other topics you would like for me to post on!

Menno Simmons, Our New House, and Selling My First Plane

Menno Simmons, Our New House, and Selling My First Plane

Lately I've been curious about the origins of the movement encouraged by Menno Simmons. I've been very interested in the documents that came from the meetings of his peers whether Mennonite or Swiss Brethren. 

You can find links here to those documents.  

http://www.gameo.org/library

My deepest interest like I said is with the early history. I've tried reading a variety of Menno's early writings and I think I just haven't found the right ones yet. Most of what I have found so far has only been fluff meant to encourage his followers or has been brief paragraphs about "the ban".  His most thorough writing I've found thus far has been about the educating of children, there is no mention of college. Menno's educational references are all made towards the word of God. 

I've only begun to read, so if I find any interesting pieces I will bring them to your attention. 

Here is a link where you can specifically find Menno's writings. 

http://m.ccel.org/

Simply do a search for "Menno" and you will find anything you are looking for. 

Menno was known as a prolific writer, so there is a fair chance that I just haven't found his "meat and potatoes" yet.  

It's surprised me with what I have found that he can write so much and say nothing, but yet clearly he has had an enormous affect on Christian history. I'm certain there are writings I am missing or perhaps better translations. 

Our New House

Last weekend we received our appliances so now our house is a home! All of our furniture is in as well. Now we just need to take over the rest of our library and we will be set. 

I do unfortunately have to update that during the move Elizabeth Ann's loom was damaged and will not be usable until I am able to repair it. I'll try to remember to do a post on it. Including pictures. 

Hand Plane Making

I've not yet even begun to make and sell wooden hand planes yet, but I have already "sold" one to a good buddy of mine. It's a good motivation booster and also encourages me all the more to leave truck driving. 

Well with all things in our life, everything is very fluid. We'll try to keep you updated. 

Michael E McCartan

Why No Pictures?

The absence of pictures on this blog is not because of an ideology. We've just been unfortunately in a position where we are most often only able to update the blog over our phones. Due to this situation we have to deal with the quirks of the phone and blog format, they have shortcomings.

In roughly a month or two we should both be living in our home daily. This will open up copious hours that heretofore have been waisted.

I should also make it clear that we try our best to use only photos that we ourselves have taken, and in the instances where we have used photos from other sources we will be replacing them in time with our own illustrations or photos.

I'm sure you have noticed that there are no photos of us. That will also be addressed in the future. We don't intend to paint this blog with our faces, but we will let people see us to better understand our walk with God.

We encourage questions! So let us know if we can help you in your walk with God!

Michael E McCartan

A Poor Update

A Poor Update

Alot has happened in the last 4 months. We've been so busy between my driving for a living, moving into our house, and everything else in-between. 

Elizabeth Ann is still healthy with our child. Everyone save a lone individual is certain that the gender is male. We'll see coming the first week of May or so. 

Elizabeth is eagerly looking forward to her homebirth. 

It seems that aside from one weeks break, all of my weeks driving have been spent going to Pennsylvania. Ordinarily I would enjoy this, but the routine has become less than pleasant due to weather and rushing to get home by the weekend. 

It looks like I'll be able to leave driving in another month. I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish by April 16th so that when I have to go renew my license I can have it changed to a civilian license instead of commercial. That way I won't be able to go back to driving. 

I'll be staying home to watch our child. It's not the way we prefer things to be, but being the first generation to convert requires us to make some sacrifices as our name's first plain family. 

My sons will not be put in this situation as they will have learned a trade before they marry. 

I have so much to tell about woodworking news that I am disappointed that I can't even leave a teaser! It would leave to many questions! 

Bottom line is that I've made many new and good connections and have also acquired many new books and tools. I will try so hard to keep an inventory for this blog once I am home fulltime. 

This blog will be much more active once I am home. 

I am very encouraged that I will have a two car garage to use as my woodworking shop. It will have all the room I'll need for anything I pursue.  

Elizabeth and I are not your typical plain people. I think as the blog goes along you will learn more about that. 

Just one unique example, Elizabeth and I both believe that through proper diet that the body is able to restore health to the teeth. 

We'll explain how and tell you about our discoveries/realizations as we have them. 

Elizabeth will be making some bone broth pretty soon, I'll try to get a blog entry out of it. The idea is to use the marrow to strengthen your own bones. 

There is much more to strengthening your teeth than this, but it is one example of a much greater picture.  

Orchard!

Our property has .8 of an acre. It's not alot but it is plenty of room to have a small orchard. Something great for us is that it already has a fruit bearing peach tree! We've not yet decided on what trees we will have but we will need to decide soon as the time to make an order has come!

A small update on our chickens. We've still got only two, both of which molted and are no longer producing eggs. Once I am home fulltime and we can let them out of the coop more, we will see if they resume laying eggs. If they don't, then their fate becomes questionable as chickens are not intended to be pets for anyone but children. 

We'll post some pictures of them, they are both very fat now and could use some good sunlight. 

We apologize for the absence of photos on our blog, it's not out of principal but rather that most times we are updating our blog from our cell phones which often causes us trouble. We have many photos we'd like to upload and will in due time once we figure out how to reliably. 

Lord Bless!

I've got several ideas for topics of theological discussion that I'd like to touch on. Once again, that may be a while. We'll see

Fundamentalist Christian Homesteaders

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

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

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

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

I don't think anyone will argue that.

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

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

We are conservative Christians first and homesteaders second.

I pray Yeshua blesses you abundantly

Prayer Closet Two

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

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

Now I say all that to clarify with this.

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

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

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

1st Corinthians 14:39-40

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

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

Worse Than An Infidel

1 Timothy 5:8

King James Version (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer Closet Importance

Matthew 6:5-6

King James Version (KJV)

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the name of Yeshua, Amen

Book Learning and Life Living

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

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

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

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

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

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

Colonial Williamsburg And The Shaker Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sabath

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

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

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

The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine

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

 Herder Book Co.

Saint Louis, Mo. 1946

 48

3. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We've Noticed!

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

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.