What would you do with them if it was summer? At least right now you can keep them on a schedule of completing school work. Be careful with your adult leverage. Most adults move rapidly from, "Go watch TV" to, "You are grounded for the rest of your life". Kids respond to gaining privileges from appropriate actions. Earning more freedom if much better than responding to losses. There are, however, kids that will push the envelope for the sake of having your attention. Consequences need to be real. These consequences need to be consistent, not based on how you are feeling that day. If a kid feels like they can test the boundaries and the boundaries move, that encourages them to make those tests frequently. Your television may not be helping their attitude. But simple things like TV time and computer time are leverage. Cell phone use is leverage. Remember the key; don't use all of your leverage at the same time.
In their free time, what could they do that would be interesting? I don't remember a time, as a kid that I was uninterested in having money. Back in the pre-Jurassic Park period we did recycling for money. Back then it was coke bottles. Okay, okay, soft drink bottles then. We did some grass cutting and weeded flower beds and such. There were always some really old people (like 30 and older) that needed some help. Today requires serious social distancing. No using their glasses for water or using their restroom. Still, getting paid could come in handy in households that have been restricted by one or more parents being out of a job temporarily. Someone in the neighborhood might need help digging up a space in their yard to put in a garden. It is a great prepping plan for right now. Do you have a pressure washer? There are homes in our area that are still in need of a cleaning job. You could make some money or even do something for a neighbor or friend as a ministry to them.
A word to the supervising adults- supervise! Please keep in mind that sex trafficking, and other perverse activities are rampant in our culture today. Children through young adults are favorite targets. People in your community might abuse your child or grandchild and threaten them if they tell. Don't leave that child or children alone. People will use various kinds of 'bait' to draw kids in, and you don't want to have that to deal with on top of this crisis. Be there but use the time to teach them to be safe, social distance, and yet productive instead of bored. This sounds like lessons that could last a lifetime. Oh yes, if you borrow tools make certain you take them back.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Double Standard or Single Purpose?
An analytical mind can sometimes be a curse. You cannot help but notice things. Your life would be so much more simple if you didn't. During this viral crisis on an international level, analytical people can not miss the double standards. On the one hand, the government wants us to keep the Learning Center open. It is a ministry of Little Cypress Baptist Church. They give us the regulations. No one is allowed in the Learning Center except the staff and the child that is being dropped off. No parents, no grandparents, no brothers or sisters. Their temperature is taken and if they do not have a fever they can come in. That is fine with us, of course, because our parents need to work and so do the LC staff. But the same people who made that decision made the decision to close the public schools. I digress. Little Cypress Baptist is then told, the same church that is the Learning Center, we should not have more than 10 people in a group. That effectively eliminates Sunday School, worship, and every other ministry program of the church. We are definitely out there on mission, but we are not supposed to assemble ourselves (Hebrews 10:23-25). We support the concept of social distancing. The problem is that the church must be considered a non essential entity for some reason in comparison to say, Walmart as one example. I was there. No one took my temperature. As I looked around I could easily count more than 10 people, some of which appeared to have come there straight from bed without changing. I saw more than 50, more than 100. They were handling things and putting them back on the shelves. They were touching the same baskets an some of them did not get the disinfectant wipe for their basket handle. No one was offended. No one said that people should not be there. I pumped gas with a dirty gas pump handle, too.
Back to the church I went with my yet unsanitized treasures. I arrived to see the Meals on Wheels program dropping off food to a group of senior adults. There they were, playing dominoes, telling stories. Why was this program allowed to continue? It is because we are trapped with a double standard. Who would take care of the children in the Learning Center if they were not there? Where would the senior adults get their lunch if they did not continue in this program? It seems that there is a single purpose. We are trying to be as careful as we all can. On the other hand we want to see needs met. This double standard is actually a dichotomy of caring. What would you do if the nation came under quarantine completely for two weeks? You would struggle to comply and try to help people the best that you could. Our church will be in the middle of that where ever they are. In the meanwhile, what about corporate worship? Are there people who are going to need to meet for corporate worship? The answer is yes. We take both sides of the double standard. Do not come to church. There will be no Sunday School, no Sunday morning breakfast, no meetings. The staff and a few volunteers will be here to carry out the worship time on video to be uploaded to the church website. But, we will not turn people who are well, and need to be in corporate worship whether they are lost or saved. Just worship at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.. Yes, we are trapped between the double standard sides. We want to obey the authorities and those who rule over us and we do not want to forsake the assembling of ourselves (Hebrews 10:23-25) so we are turning prayerfully to the Highest Authority for His direction and we remember the Great Commandment to love the Lord your God with your whole being and your neighbor as yourself. We will not all agree on our response as church leadership to this situation because of the dichotomy. We will have to re-evaluate based on the circumstances that confront us each day. But we all agree that our desire is to honor Jesus and meet spiritual needs just like Walmart is letting in people to meet physical needs, Meals on Wheels is meeting senior adult needs, and the Learning Center is meeting childcare needs.
Back to the church I went with my yet unsanitized treasures. I arrived to see the Meals on Wheels program dropping off food to a group of senior adults. There they were, playing dominoes, telling stories. Why was this program allowed to continue? It is because we are trapped with a double standard. Who would take care of the children in the Learning Center if they were not there? Where would the senior adults get their lunch if they did not continue in this program? It seems that there is a single purpose. We are trying to be as careful as we all can. On the other hand we want to see needs met. This double standard is actually a dichotomy of caring. What would you do if the nation came under quarantine completely for two weeks? You would struggle to comply and try to help people the best that you could. Our church will be in the middle of that where ever they are. In the meanwhile, what about corporate worship? Are there people who are going to need to meet for corporate worship? The answer is yes. We take both sides of the double standard. Do not come to church. There will be no Sunday School, no Sunday morning breakfast, no meetings. The staff and a few volunteers will be here to carry out the worship time on video to be uploaded to the church website. But, we will not turn people who are well, and need to be in corporate worship whether they are lost or saved. Just worship at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.. Yes, we are trapped between the double standard sides. We want to obey the authorities and those who rule over us and we do not want to forsake the assembling of ourselves (Hebrews 10:23-25) so we are turning prayerfully to the Highest Authority for His direction and we remember the Great Commandment to love the Lord your God with your whole being and your neighbor as yourself. We will not all agree on our response as church leadership to this situation because of the dichotomy. We will have to re-evaluate based on the circumstances that confront us each day. But we all agree that our desire is to honor Jesus and meet spiritual needs just like Walmart is letting in people to meet physical needs, Meals on Wheels is meeting senior adult needs, and the Learning Center is meeting childcare needs.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Some Day Syndrome
Why do Christians have an additional sense of uneasiness in these extraordinary circumstances that seem to be so much more common these days? I think it is because we have read ahead in the book of what is happening next. The world ridicules our biblical beliefs and often points to those beliefs as examples or our unfitness to participate in social dialogue and involvement in big decisions. Just think about all of the criticism that the Vice President of the United States has taken because of his biblical beliefs. People in Congress and the media openly expressed that he was unacceptable for the lead role in dealing with the Covid-19 event because he suggested that in addition to the medical response we might want to pray. How dare he reach out to a superior being at a time when humanism is supposed to win the day. We cannot change their reactions but how much do we hold back because we are afraid to face the same kind of ridicule or persecution?
Some Day Syndrome works like this.... We know that there will be an effort to centralize all government into a global entity some day. Some day there will be a person that heads up that entity that will build that one world government into a personal kingdom. We see this man in the Bible as the Little Horn in Daniel, the Man of Lawlessness in 1 Thessalonians and John speaks of his as the anti-Christ. When we see the circumstances of our world driving toward global governance it makes us uneasy. Or, we know that someday there will be a one world financial system. We start seeing the globalists in the news pushing for the end of cash and a more credit card style system way back in the 1970's. We go to electronically deposited payroll and bill pay systems, and we like it because it is fast and easy. Then we have a crisis that makes it impossible to engage with our resources and we feel helpless- but only for a little while and then it is all fixed. We do not think about all of the hackers and government entities that can hinder that system. We do not think about the Chinese who are now giving social credits electronically to those who seem to deserve the blessing of government for their loyalty. It is just easier to do it this way. After all, cash is paper, and paper can pass along viruses!
So, the uneasiness of the Some Day Syndrome sets in again. We read ahead in history in the book of Revelation and saw that the head of one world government institutes a system for buying and selling that requires nothing but a 'mark'. With the mark you are in. Without the mark you cannot buy or sell. Yes, there is that queasy feeling that our reality is moving quickly to match biblical prophesy. Now everyone has to listen to the value of socialism since it will be the only way to make government in the world 'fair' and 'effective'. Sounds like a one world government plan to me, The government will supply everything you need. They can control the ups and downs of the economy and if we need for money we will just declare that it now exists. Does that sound like a stimulus package to you? There is that uneasy feeling again.
We read the warning that the world of the future would be unrestrained in its evil. We see the evil of this world growing in areas like what is appropriate sexual behavior, and we are uneasy unless we have lost touch with the Word of God and the truth that it says what it says to us because God loves us and is trying to protect us from the wages of sin which is death. We cannot speak of these issues with the culture because who are we to say that we have the right answer. We are told that every path leads to God, and there comes that queasy feeling again. The book of Revelation also tells us about a one world religion which includes everyone. We watch the Pope and the ecumenical movements snuggle up to the Imams of Islam and that some how looks strangely familiar. Maybe we go on the internet and see the statue out front of the European Union building and it is a woman riding a beast. Yes, there is that uneasy feeling again. They call her Europa but you can find her in Revelation 17.
So what are we supposed to do with this Some Day Syndrome? What if the some day of these policies and plans suddenly become our reality? In Luke 21:28 Jesus tells us that when we see these things coming to pass we should look up because our redemption is drawing near. This is not a time for fear. When the smart people see the stock market go down drastically they get ready to invest, not sell. When we see the world take a big bump in the road, it is time to watch what God is doing and be ready to join Him in His work. His work is to share Jesus with a lost and dying world. There will always be people being drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation. We can be a part of that eternal, kingdom of God work, if we are paying attention to Him instead of that queasy, uneasy feeling that the world gives us. Look Up!
Some Day Syndrome works like this.... We know that there will be an effort to centralize all government into a global entity some day. Some day there will be a person that heads up that entity that will build that one world government into a personal kingdom. We see this man in the Bible as the Little Horn in Daniel, the Man of Lawlessness in 1 Thessalonians and John speaks of his as the anti-Christ. When we see the circumstances of our world driving toward global governance it makes us uneasy. Or, we know that someday there will be a one world financial system. We start seeing the globalists in the news pushing for the end of cash and a more credit card style system way back in the 1970's. We go to electronically deposited payroll and bill pay systems, and we like it because it is fast and easy. Then we have a crisis that makes it impossible to engage with our resources and we feel helpless- but only for a little while and then it is all fixed. We do not think about all of the hackers and government entities that can hinder that system. We do not think about the Chinese who are now giving social credits electronically to those who seem to deserve the blessing of government for their loyalty. It is just easier to do it this way. After all, cash is paper, and paper can pass along viruses!
So, the uneasiness of the Some Day Syndrome sets in again. We read ahead in history in the book of Revelation and saw that the head of one world government institutes a system for buying and selling that requires nothing but a 'mark'. With the mark you are in. Without the mark you cannot buy or sell. Yes, there is that queasy feeling that our reality is moving quickly to match biblical prophesy. Now everyone has to listen to the value of socialism since it will be the only way to make government in the world 'fair' and 'effective'. Sounds like a one world government plan to me, The government will supply everything you need. They can control the ups and downs of the economy and if we need for money we will just declare that it now exists. Does that sound like a stimulus package to you? There is that uneasy feeling again.
We read the warning that the world of the future would be unrestrained in its evil. We see the evil of this world growing in areas like what is appropriate sexual behavior, and we are uneasy unless we have lost touch with the Word of God and the truth that it says what it says to us because God loves us and is trying to protect us from the wages of sin which is death. We cannot speak of these issues with the culture because who are we to say that we have the right answer. We are told that every path leads to God, and there comes that queasy feeling again. The book of Revelation also tells us about a one world religion which includes everyone. We watch the Pope and the ecumenical movements snuggle up to the Imams of Islam and that some how looks strangely familiar. Maybe we go on the internet and see the statue out front of the European Union building and it is a woman riding a beast. Yes, there is that uneasy feeling again. They call her Europa but you can find her in Revelation 17.
Friday, March 13, 2020
Hurricane Co-vid19
There are principles of preparation that cross the type and scope of most all disasters. When a hurricane appears in the Atlantic, those of us who have gone through home reconstructions and renovation take note. Those who have not been affected in the same way may not even notice until the storm enters the Gulf of Mexico and there is a cone of expectancy pointed our way. Some people would accuse those with past experience of living in fear. Those with past experience examine their response as being wiser about what too do. It really doesn't matter for some, they think, because the chance of that storm coming right here is maybe 1%.. So what is the point? It is important to be prepared all of the time from wisdom and not fear. Those who come to our area from other parts of the country usually ask people who have been through the storms what they should do. Should they distance themselves from the threat? Should they shelter in place? Do they have the supplies to shelter in place and provide for all of their needs? Do they have special medical concerns that should affect their decision? If you are a person who has breathing issues, are prone to pneumonia, COPD, etc. the Co-vid19 virus should cause you to examine your situation carefully. It seems that the youngest in this situation are not the most vulnerable this time. I had the flu when I was in the 8th grade and was at home in bed with a 104 temperature. Believe it or not a doctor came to our house to treat me, which included a float trip in my bath tub with several trays of ice. After that week was over I went back to school for 3 days and then relapsed for another week. The additional consequences included being behind in school which required doubling up on school work though not really feeling that great. That experience is a part of my own evaluation of what an appropriate response would be for current circumstances. Don't over react, don't be complacent, don't worry about people's response to your choices. Make certain that you pray and listen to the wisdom of God in keeping with His Word. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight."
Friday, February 28, 2020
A Paper Towel and Sunglasses!
We are all hearing so much about one specific virus right now. It's interesting that we hear about the flu and colds and stomach bugs all of the time, but every once and awhile a new bug comes along and we are awaiting the potential of a devastating pandemic. The reason that these expectations are alive and well is because millions of lives have been lost in the past from pandemic situations. But are the answers to dealing with these situations really so different?
Right now we may spend some of our day looking for N95 masks to protect ourselves from the virus. By now you have noticed that the virus will remain unnamed for my purposes. With the bug everywhere, why would a mask make any difference? The instructions have always been to wash your hands and when you are finished, go wash your hands. There is great wisdom in this! But let's look at masks for just a moment. Isn't it true that I would not have to wash my hands all of the time if I would keep them out of my mouth and eyes? I know some of you are habitual finger lickers, as you turn almost every page with a lick of the fingers. Some of you are table wipers. You take the napkin and wipe of a spot on your table in the restaurant and then use the same napkin (on the same side) to wipe your mouth. I hope you are laughing by now.
The fact is, you could tape a paper towel over your face and nose and put on sunglasses and you would protect yourself from the worst source of germs- your self! No fingers scratching in your eyes. No subtle nose picking. No finger licking. Sure, you would still need to wash those hands before you handled food or fed the kids, but that is much less often. How many people touched that gas pump handle that you just grabbed? How many people just used the tongs at the buffet restaurant? Yuck! yet none of that would be in your system if you did not put it there?
The spiritual application might be that the world is going to be filled with all kinds of things that are sins against God. The personal question I must answer is how much of that am I choosing to pick up and put into my own spiritual system without even thinking? Being a student of the Word of God can prepare me to protect myself and my family from things that are going to create spiritual sickness and trauma. I thank Jesus that He is in His disciples and that His Spirit is actively teaching me what the Word of God means and how to apply it in my current circumstances and culture.
So, buy a mask to block those unchecked sneezes and coughs, and wash those hands. Keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose and mouth. Clean those surfaces with appropriate solutions of chlorine bleach and water (google it). But remember to be washed by the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) See you Sunday!
Right now we may spend some of our day looking for N95 masks to protect ourselves from the virus. By now you have noticed that the virus will remain unnamed for my purposes. With the bug everywhere, why would a mask make any difference? The instructions have always been to wash your hands and when you are finished, go wash your hands. There is great wisdom in this! But let's look at masks for just a moment. Isn't it true that I would not have to wash my hands all of the time if I would keep them out of my mouth and eyes? I know some of you are habitual finger lickers, as you turn almost every page with a lick of the fingers. Some of you are table wipers. You take the napkin and wipe of a spot on your table in the restaurant and then use the same napkin (on the same side) to wipe your mouth. I hope you are laughing by now.
The fact is, you could tape a paper towel over your face and nose and put on sunglasses and you would protect yourself from the worst source of germs- your self! No fingers scratching in your eyes. No subtle nose picking. No finger licking. Sure, you would still need to wash those hands before you handled food or fed the kids, but that is much less often. How many people touched that gas pump handle that you just grabbed? How many people just used the tongs at the buffet restaurant? Yuck! yet none of that would be in your system if you did not put it there?
The spiritual application might be that the world is going to be filled with all kinds of things that are sins against God. The personal question I must answer is how much of that am I choosing to pick up and put into my own spiritual system without even thinking? Being a student of the Word of God can prepare me to protect myself and my family from things that are going to create spiritual sickness and trauma. I thank Jesus that He is in His disciples and that His Spirit is actively teaching me what the Word of God means and how to apply it in my current circumstances and culture.
So, buy a mask to block those unchecked sneezes and coughs, and wash those hands. Keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose and mouth. Clean those surfaces with appropriate solutions of chlorine bleach and water (google it). But remember to be washed by the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) See you Sunday!
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
This Is Just A Test...
Everyone wants to know if the latest pandemic or military threat is real or contrived by political goals. Did China release a pandemic on their own people accidentally? Did they do this intentionally so that the protests for a more Democratic form of government would disappear from the news and go away? Only God knows. The novel corona virus 19 is real, but is it the next killer of millions like the Spanish flu of 1918? We don't know. We see China say that the number of new cases is in decline, but can they be trusted on that? Can I help you swing your focus to something more productive?
Do you remember hearing that tone on your TV or radio and a scratchy audio message coming on to tell you that what you are seeing and hearing is just a test of the emergency broadcast system? That mass communication was created during the cold war to give the citizens of the US of A a chance to respond to a potential nuclear attack. The more productive message for us today is why don't we go ahead and get a few things together now instead of fighting for the resources later? Today, batteries, flashlights, bottled water, plywood, hurricane clips, generators, and gasoline are available everywhere. But the first tropical storm that develops in the Gulf of Mexico and heads our way will set off a feeding frenzy for supplies. We will be battling for tarps and something to nail them into place after a storm.
So what if this serious pandemic fizzles out, and the next potential category 5 hurricane goes somewhere else? If we want to avoid the negative experience of struggling through the next crisis why won't we do some simple things right now? A friend of mine was discussing his failures with the stock market recently in a humorous way. He said, "I am really good at buying when the price is high and selling when the price is low". This seems to be one of our grave weaknesses as the human race. I can put off doing anything about the next crisis until one shows up. I can get around to things like God and the eternal destiny of my soul until it looks like I don't have any other choice. Little Cypress Baptist Church has been helping people prepare for these two events and everything in between for a long time. Of first importance is to make peace with God through His Son, Jesus. You cannot do this successfully on your own terms. You must come to God on His terms having acknowledged that you are a sinner like the rest of us, and that you believe Jesus is God's plan to save sinners.
You would understand that speaking to Him (what people call prayer) and telling Him that you want to surrender your life Him and to receive Jesus as your Savior and Master of your life means that your life will change if you are sincere. You will want to see Him bring His plans and His ways into your life even though you will still experience temptations. But as a new disciple of Jesus you will have every resource you need if you are praying, applying biblical truth, and involving yourself in a church that really believes and lives out the Gospel. If a church is unwilling to preach, teach, and live what Jesus has given to His church in the Bible, steer clear of such fake news churches. The most positive message is the one with all of the truth even if some of that truth is demanding.
Do you remember hearing that tone on your TV or radio and a scratchy audio message coming on to tell you that what you are seeing and hearing is just a test of the emergency broadcast system? That mass communication was created during the cold war to give the citizens of the US of A a chance to respond to a potential nuclear attack. The more productive message for us today is why don't we go ahead and get a few things together now instead of fighting for the resources later? Today, batteries, flashlights, bottled water, plywood, hurricane clips, generators, and gasoline are available everywhere. But the first tropical storm that develops in the Gulf of Mexico and heads our way will set off a feeding frenzy for supplies. We will be battling for tarps and something to nail them into place after a storm.
So what if this serious pandemic fizzles out, and the next potential category 5 hurricane goes somewhere else? If we want to avoid the negative experience of struggling through the next crisis why won't we do some simple things right now? A friend of mine was discussing his failures with the stock market recently in a humorous way. He said, "I am really good at buying when the price is high and selling when the price is low". This seems to be one of our grave weaknesses as the human race. I can put off doing anything about the next crisis until one shows up. I can get around to things like God and the eternal destiny of my soul until it looks like I don't have any other choice. Little Cypress Baptist Church has been helping people prepare for these two events and everything in between for a long time. Of first importance is to make peace with God through His Son, Jesus. You cannot do this successfully on your own terms. You must come to God on His terms having acknowledged that you are a sinner like the rest of us, and that you believe Jesus is God's plan to save sinners.
You would understand that speaking to Him (what people call prayer) and telling Him that you want to surrender your life Him and to receive Jesus as your Savior and Master of your life means that your life will change if you are sincere. You will want to see Him bring His plans and His ways into your life even though you will still experience temptations. But as a new disciple of Jesus you will have every resource you need if you are praying, applying biblical truth, and involving yourself in a church that really believes and lives out the Gospel. If a church is unwilling to preach, teach, and live what Jesus has given to His church in the Bible, steer clear of such fake news churches. The most positive message is the one with all of the truth even if some of that truth is demanding.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Crisis Preparation Saves Money And Can Be Fun
If you have not read the post before this one, it would be good to read it first. But if you don't have time for that, we will say that there are a number of biblical reasons for making preparations for a longer period than just this week for food and water at your home. FEMA also has noted reasons that the government says you will not be able to count on them for a undetermined period of time based on the level of crisis one might face. All of that said, let's look at motivation for Crisis Preparation.
One problem that we face on this subject is that there is a drive for normalcy that tells us that we won't have problems like others face. Families all over the world today are being faced with displacement from their homes by Islamic radicals, unexpected snow storms, and floods. This is the time of year that we begin to anticipate weather transitions that bring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Hurricane season starts in four months. And yet knowing all of this we assume that everything will be just the same for us because we are 'US'.
If people in crisis were asked what they wish they had done before the crisis, most of us could guess what they would say. "I wish I had something to feed my family and something to quench their thirst that is safe to drink. I wish I had shelter for my family and something to keep them warm in this winter cold. I wish I had a source of light, of water to wash with, and protection for security. I wish I had something to keep these mosquitos off and some sunscreen to deal with this sun as I work in recovery." These examples could go on for a long time if you put yourself in the shoes of others.
Isn't it 'tempting fate' or 'jinxing ourselves' or 'just being negative' to think about these things? No, for two reasons. First, as Christians we should not base our life on superstitions like fate and jinxes. That is for baseball players and such. God has already told us to make provision for our families. We are not supposed to worry about what we will eat or drink. Jesus told us that Himself. I doubt, however, that He told any farmers to stop farming because that was a lack of faith. I doubt that He told any women to stop stockpiling the food from the harvest to use through the winter and spring while the new crops came up. Worrying is a sin; working is not.
Second, Crisis Preparation done properly saves money. If you buy foods you will normally eat, then you will only be getting ahead on your purchases. You do not have to buy MRE's and such to be preparing for a crisis. So, if your family eats meat, then buy meat when it is on sale. Put part of the meat away in your freezer, or even better, in mason jars that do not require refrigeration. The Crisis Expo will show you how to do that if you sign up for that class in advance (883-8905). You can also learn about saving water in the Basic Preparation class at the Expo. If you are going to eat a lot of green beans through a year, then when they are on sale, buy more than you need that week or month. You can do this with all kinds of foods other than fresh vegetables and fruit.
Purchasing food in bulk or for storage requires watching the dates of food to keep the oldest cans up front to be used next. However, this method saves money because families are less likely to go out to eat if they know they have food at home. In fact, always having food on hand means that families that plan ahead can put something in the crock pot that will be ready to eat when they get home. That takes the pressure off of parents to get food ready when they are already tired.
Eating out is the most expensive way to feed your family. If you hate to do dishes, then use paper or plastic plates and bowls. Using throw away dishes is still significantly cheaper than eating out or doing fast food at home. Don't expect children or youth to agree. Sometimes we have to be the responsible adult and save the budget. I wish I had done this better when my own children were at home.
Needless to say, if we knew how to grow our own food and canned it, there would a sense of accomplishment along with having some of the freshest food in town. If we can the food in mason jars, we can enjoy it until the harvest time next year. Everyone seems to understand energy independence when we talk about oil and gas from other countries. Some how we need to grasp that food energy independence is viable for most families.
Gardening can be a family activity that results in sustainable living. If you do not know how to garden, find a friend that does. Join in on their garden one year and help them while you learn. Be with them for the whole process from plot planning to dirt preparation to seed selection, planting seedlings, weeding, mulching, bug issues, plant blights, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting. Don't buy a book and spend hundreds of dollars if someone you know can help you put your garden together for much less. The last thing I usually hear is that 'We are too busy already'.
How many of your activities are optional? Learning life long self sustaining practices may just be more important in the long run. I know that children may not be interested at first. My own grandchildren have changed their tune on this. Though they cannot be around all of the time, when they are hear they want to know what is in the garden. This year they helped me dig my sweet potatoes. We had a great time! Some children are better at focusing on a task than others. One of my grandson's did a great job of helping me pull weeds. The other was not so interested, but when I told him that we might find worms, he got more involved!
One problem that we face on this subject is that there is a drive for normalcy that tells us that we won't have problems like others face. Families all over the world today are being faced with displacement from their homes by Islamic radicals, unexpected snow storms, and floods. This is the time of year that we begin to anticipate weather transitions that bring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Hurricane season starts in four months. And yet knowing all of this we assume that everything will be just the same for us because we are 'US'.
If people in crisis were asked what they wish they had done before the crisis, most of us could guess what they would say. "I wish I had something to feed my family and something to quench their thirst that is safe to drink. I wish I had shelter for my family and something to keep them warm in this winter cold. I wish I had a source of light, of water to wash with, and protection for security. I wish I had something to keep these mosquitos off and some sunscreen to deal with this sun as I work in recovery." These examples could go on for a long time if you put yourself in the shoes of others.
Isn't it 'tempting fate' or 'jinxing ourselves' or 'just being negative' to think about these things? No, for two reasons. First, as Christians we should not base our life on superstitions like fate and jinxes. That is for baseball players and such. God has already told us to make provision for our families. We are not supposed to worry about what we will eat or drink. Jesus told us that Himself. I doubt, however, that He told any farmers to stop farming because that was a lack of faith. I doubt that He told any women to stop stockpiling the food from the harvest to use through the winter and spring while the new crops came up. Worrying is a sin; working is not.
Second, Crisis Preparation done properly saves money. If you buy foods you will normally eat, then you will only be getting ahead on your purchases. You do not have to buy MRE's and such to be preparing for a crisis. So, if your family eats meat, then buy meat when it is on sale. Put part of the meat away in your freezer, or even better, in mason jars that do not require refrigeration. The Crisis Expo will show you how to do that if you sign up for that class in advance (883-8905). You can also learn about saving water in the Basic Preparation class at the Expo. If you are going to eat a lot of green beans through a year, then when they are on sale, buy more than you need that week or month. You can do this with all kinds of foods other than fresh vegetables and fruit.
Purchasing food in bulk or for storage requires watching the dates of food to keep the oldest cans up front to be used next. However, this method saves money because families are less likely to go out to eat if they know they have food at home. In fact, always having food on hand means that families that plan ahead can put something in the crock pot that will be ready to eat when they get home. That takes the pressure off of parents to get food ready when they are already tired.
Eating out is the most expensive way to feed your family. If you hate to do dishes, then use paper or plastic plates and bowls. Using throw away dishes is still significantly cheaper than eating out or doing fast food at home. Don't expect children or youth to agree. Sometimes we have to be the responsible adult and save the budget. I wish I had done this better when my own children were at home.
Needless to say, if we knew how to grow our own food and canned it, there would a sense of accomplishment along with having some of the freshest food in town. If we can the food in mason jars, we can enjoy it until the harvest time next year. Everyone seems to understand energy independence when we talk about oil and gas from other countries. Some how we need to grasp that food energy independence is viable for most families.
Gardening can be a family activity that results in sustainable living. If you do not know how to garden, find a friend that does. Join in on their garden one year and help them while you learn. Be with them for the whole process from plot planning to dirt preparation to seed selection, planting seedlings, weeding, mulching, bug issues, plant blights, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting. Don't buy a book and spend hundreds of dollars if someone you know can help you put your garden together for much less. The last thing I usually hear is that 'We are too busy already'.
How many of your activities are optional? Learning life long self sustaining practices may just be more important in the long run. I know that children may not be interested at first. My own grandchildren have changed their tune on this. Though they cannot be around all of the time, when they are hear they want to know what is in the garden. This year they helped me dig my sweet potatoes. We had a great time! Some children are better at focusing on a task than others. One of my grandson's did a great job of helping me pull weeds. The other was not so interested, but when I told him that we might find worms, he got more involved!
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