Without a source of fuel you don't sterilize water, you don't cook, and you probably freeze to death.
I cannot stress enough the necessity for several forms of fuel. You need a variety of fuel sources to be modified according to the climate, your immediate needs, and the availability of other fuels. Never pass by an opportunity to use some really odd things as fuel.
I recommend several dozen cans of Sterno, two or three cords of firewood, Coleman fuel, lamp oil, candles, candle wax and wicks, charcoal, kindling, pine cones, tons of matches, at least two FireSteels, a magnifying glass (remember when you were a kid?), and about five boxes of these neat little pouches that burn for about 10 minutes (there are several brands of them). Gasoline should be used ONLY for your generator if you have one. Kerosene requires ventilation, so I don't recommend it, but it is cheap and plentiful.
Batteries are another source of fuel that are overlooked. If you do have a generator I encourage you to get a couple of "Power Station" devices that can be plugged in and recharged and then used later on. Most generators run for five hours on one gallon of gasoline, and most of these power stations will charge completely in as little as one hour. At the same time as your Power Station charges you can charge your rechargable batteries for use later. If you have a set of Walkie-Talkies you'll need to have fresh batteries to get close to the range that you're promised.
I encourage everyone to purchase a few hand-crank flashlights; some of these have radios integrated into them. For a couple of minutes of effort you can have save, reliable lighting for a couple of hours. If you have kids these are ideal to give them a sense of security and empowerment over their surroundings.
Candles are excellent sources of fuel and light, but I don't recommend using them unless it is winter AND you have no other source of light. That can be dangerous and they require constant tending to be used effectively. Oil lamps are a good choice if you can place one on a sturdy table or chair away from activity that might knock it over. I recommend that you buy several yards of wick material for your oil lamps and also buy about 100 feet of candle wick. If you use jarred candles you can keep melting them down, replacing the wicks, and you'll have candles available pretty much always. If you have any used #10 cans you can use one of these to construct a "candle stove". Invert the can, use a bottle opener to punch 3 - 4 ventilation holes in the top, and cut a door to access the candle. Please not that the can will get very, very hot. I've used one of these as a portable heater when we've lost power in the past and it worked extremely well. I was able to put a small pan on top and I boiled a cup of water in five minutes.
Sterno is one of those old, standby sources of fuel that can be used for cooking in a pinch. The new stuff is pretty fume-free, but you still need to use it in a well-ventilated area. My advice is to make sure to get a sterno stove for use with the cans. This can help you to ensure it is used safely. Please practice using sterno before you bring it into your house!!!
Charcoal is one of those things that you cannot have too much of. One chunk of charcoal can help you to start your fire (outside only). Commercial charcoal is lightweight, easy to transport, and makes an ideal way to help you get a good fire started if you're on the move. Charcoal during the spring and summer months is pretty cheap to buy, and buying the stuff that is already doused with a starter is probably a good bet for anyone. Store is somewhere dry and away from any electrical or heat sources.
Chapstick. Yep..old fashioned, sticky, in the tube Chapstick is flammable. Chop off a small bit of it, smear it on a bit of kindling and you'll have a warm fire going in a few moments.
Regarding firewood, if this is going to be your sole source for heating your home you're going to need to replenish it often. If you are fortunate enough to live near heavily wooded areas I would encourage you to get out there early to start gathering wood even if you think you have more than enough. Fallen wood will be taken quickly and within a few weeks people will begin cutting down trees and will try to burn "green wood". If you must cut a tree you should be prepared to let it cure or age for about 3-6 months.
Some people have said that they'll just burn their furniture. Not a good idea since there are so many chemicals in your household furniture that are toxic.
Make sure that you have a reliable siphon kit. There are several on the market that are inexpensive, reliable, and far safer than sticking your mouth on a tube and sucking.
Propane: As a camper I keep several bottles of propane around for use with a Coleman stove and the mini heater that Coleman also makes. You can use these indoors in a pinch, but you need to make sure to put a large piece of ceramic tile underneath. You don't want to catch your wood, carpet, or vinyl flooring on fire.
I have a couple of oil-filled electric heaters in my home. While they take a while to warm up, once warmed the oil stays warm and give off heat for several hours after the power supply has been turned off. We've set up sleeping bags around this heater at night for the kids when we've lot power and they've slept comfortably.
The Sun: Not to sound like a lunatic tree hugger, but the sun provides us with a tremendous amount of energy. Learn how to capture its power. I do have a small solar panel that I have used to charge my rechargeable batteries. I've also built a solar oven in the past (though it takes about 2 hours to bake one pan of cornbread to just done). But if you've got it, and it's free, take it.
The Wind: There are detailed instructions on YouTube and all over the Internet for building your own portable wind turbine. Look them up, print out a copy, and then experiment NOW while we have the materials and the room to fail and fail again (the Thomas Edison school of applied science method).
Never underestimate the value of aluminum foil. You can use it deflect heat to where you need it.
If you've come this far with me you'll be able to understand why I'm going to give you this last-resort of fuel supply. Sorry, it's gross. In the Bible you can read stories of the Exodus. The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years and cooked over fires made of something called shitims. What is a shitim? Well, what does the name imply? That's right. They burned not only the dung of cattle and goats, but in really hard times they burned their own. It will, according to ancient laws, defile the food and make it not worthy for sacrifice, but it is a burnable, renewable form of fuel. Dried properly it will burn nicely without much of a smell. OK...there, I said it. This would be your LAST resort, I'm sure.
My last and most important bit of advice is this: Use the least amount of fuel possible to supply your immediate needs. If you have a warm fire in your fireplace with two logs it doesn't make sense to add more wood. The hotter the fire the quicker the burn.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lesson 2: Water for Life
Generally speaking, most people don't give water a second thought. It's pretty much always been a part of our lives. We drink it, we cook in it, we play in it. It's often so plentiful that we allow it to run down our streets and we even use it to wash our cars.
But the fact is that water becomes very precious when it is hard to find.
Ask any serious prepper and they will tell you that WATER is the most important thing that you will be required to have; and it needs to be clean, drinkable water. So, what do you do when you go to turn on the tap and nothing comes out?
Well, if you're smart you've already made plans for this and you purchased a WaterBob and have it filled up and it sits in one of your bathtubs. A WaterBob is a tub-sized plastic sleeve that you fill up and seal. It comes with a hand pump as a method to get the water out, and they even recommend the best method for ensuring that your water stay drinkable.
I'm sure that you probably have a case or two of bottled water put away somewhere, too. So what happens when that is gone? Bottled water last longer if you can keep it in a cool, dark place, but this is only for about six months..and you really don't know how long it was in the store or the warehouse when you bought it. You can "refresh" it by pouring it back and forth between two pitchers for about 10 minutes and then boiling it for 2 minutes. The back and forth motion reintroduces oxygen to the water and makes it safer to drink.
Get a rainbarrel, or two, or three. In times of plenty you can use this water for your garden (you can buy attachments to hook it up to your garden hose quite nicely). The way that it comes off of your roof is fine for washing clothes, and watering your garden. But if you're going to drink it or use it for oral hygiene or cooking you will need to filter it completely, boil it for 2 minutes and then let it cool. Get water purification tabs for when you can't boil it.
There are plenty of sources of water that we overlook on a daily basis, though we have an aversion to using them:
1. Your water heater. You might have 60 gallons of water in there. Use it.
2. Canned goods that have been packed in water. Don't pour out the water that packed those beans away. Use it in a soup base. When water is scarce you should ALWAYS prepare thin soups that can double as a source of hydration. Plus, you'll need to eat less...it takes a lot of fluid to digest food.
3. Streams, ponds, lakes. If you have purchased a really good filtration system AND you also intend to purify it by boiling these are perfectly safe sources of water. The smell is what may turn you off, so this is where Gatorade, tea powder and different flavorings come in handy.
4. Wells. Suppose you have a well under your home but you have no power for the pump. You can use a 30 ft length of nylon paracord tied around the neck of a 16 oz water bottle and lower it down the well pipe to fill. You can add a fishing weight to the neck of the bottle if you're impatient. After a few minutes pull up the cord and repeat the process until you have the water you need. They make fancy well dippers, but they're about $50 each and they only hold about 1 liter of water. Just remember that when the sanitation systems begin to fail well water will likely be negative affected by organisms such as E-Coli. Add bleach, aerate for 10 minutes and then boil if you don't have a good filtration system AND purification method.
5. Friends/Bartering. Suppose you don't have a water source but you know someone who does. This is where your bartering will come into play. Maybe they don't know how to hunt but really would like to have some of the pork roast that you prepared last night because YOU killed a wild pig. Trade meat for water, but make sure that you boil it. You can't be sure that the water is clean until you take this step. If your neighbor is drawing water from an outside swimming pool this is especially important due to bacteria growth.
6. Plants. I know that it may seem odd, but there is a great deal of water stored in plants. Use your field guide to find out which one's you can eat. Be aware, however, that some plants can have a laxative effect when eaten in large quantities. I once ate too many wild berries and ended up with a horrible stomach problem. Beware, also, of insecticides and various pollutants in agricultural areas.
7. Public pools, parks, etc. I don't want to encourage you to get shot, but you may need to get out there and harvest water from your surrounding environment as best you can.
If you live near the beach (ocean, lake, or river) you can find relatively clean water by digging a hole approximately 6-10 feet from the waters edge. Dig about 4 or 5 feet and you should hit water. It will have been sand-filtered, but I still advise running through your fabric filters and sterilizing it out of an extreme sense of paranoia.
Filters are easy to come by at most hardware stores, but you can also use several layers of clean t-shirts in a pinch. Most simple filtration systems are sand-based and I recommend that you look into them. Some of you are smart enough to design your own system that works on a sand/drip process. In a pinch you can layer several coffee filters and slowly strain water through them..but again, BOIL IT BEFORE IT GOES INTO YOUR MOUTH.
Experts say that the least amount of water needed per person per day is 1 liter. This is combined water sources. Consider the water that is in a can of fruit cocktail a part of your liquid for the day. Remember that if you've stocked dehydrated or freeze dried foods you will need water for reconstituting those items.
I recommend that you practice efficient water storage practices. If you have plentiful water supplies being provided to you by nature you really need to find a way to store as much as you can.
Finally, I do recommend the ZeroWater and Brita filtration systems for home use. They don't KILL any bacteria, so some bleach or boiling will be necessary.
But the fact is that water becomes very precious when it is hard to find.
Ask any serious prepper and they will tell you that WATER is the most important thing that you will be required to have; and it needs to be clean, drinkable water. So, what do you do when you go to turn on the tap and nothing comes out?
Well, if you're smart you've already made plans for this and you purchased a WaterBob and have it filled up and it sits in one of your bathtubs. A WaterBob is a tub-sized plastic sleeve that you fill up and seal. It comes with a hand pump as a method to get the water out, and they even recommend the best method for ensuring that your water stay drinkable.
I'm sure that you probably have a case or two of bottled water put away somewhere, too. So what happens when that is gone? Bottled water last longer if you can keep it in a cool, dark place, but this is only for about six months..and you really don't know how long it was in the store or the warehouse when you bought it. You can "refresh" it by pouring it back and forth between two pitchers for about 10 minutes and then boiling it for 2 minutes. The back and forth motion reintroduces oxygen to the water and makes it safer to drink.
Get a rainbarrel, or two, or three. In times of plenty you can use this water for your garden (you can buy attachments to hook it up to your garden hose quite nicely). The way that it comes off of your roof is fine for washing clothes, and watering your garden. But if you're going to drink it or use it for oral hygiene or cooking you will need to filter it completely, boil it for 2 minutes and then let it cool. Get water purification tabs for when you can't boil it.
There are plenty of sources of water that we overlook on a daily basis, though we have an aversion to using them:
1. Your water heater. You might have 60 gallons of water in there. Use it.
2. Canned goods that have been packed in water. Don't pour out the water that packed those beans away. Use it in a soup base. When water is scarce you should ALWAYS prepare thin soups that can double as a source of hydration. Plus, you'll need to eat less...it takes a lot of fluid to digest food.
3. Streams, ponds, lakes. If you have purchased a really good filtration system AND you also intend to purify it by boiling these are perfectly safe sources of water. The smell is what may turn you off, so this is where Gatorade, tea powder and different flavorings come in handy.
4. Wells. Suppose you have a well under your home but you have no power for the pump. You can use a 30 ft length of nylon paracord tied around the neck of a 16 oz water bottle and lower it down the well pipe to fill. You can add a fishing weight to the neck of the bottle if you're impatient. After a few minutes pull up the cord and repeat the process until you have the water you need. They make fancy well dippers, but they're about $50 each and they only hold about 1 liter of water. Just remember that when the sanitation systems begin to fail well water will likely be negative affected by organisms such as E-Coli. Add bleach, aerate for 10 minutes and then boil if you don't have a good filtration system AND purification method.
5. Friends/Bartering. Suppose you don't have a water source but you know someone who does. This is where your bartering will come into play. Maybe they don't know how to hunt but really would like to have some of the pork roast that you prepared last night because YOU killed a wild pig. Trade meat for water, but make sure that you boil it. You can't be sure that the water is clean until you take this step. If your neighbor is drawing water from an outside swimming pool this is especially important due to bacteria growth.
6. Plants. I know that it may seem odd, but there is a great deal of water stored in plants. Use your field guide to find out which one's you can eat. Be aware, however, that some plants can have a laxative effect when eaten in large quantities. I once ate too many wild berries and ended up with a horrible stomach problem. Beware, also, of insecticides and various pollutants in agricultural areas.
7. Public pools, parks, etc. I don't want to encourage you to get shot, but you may need to get out there and harvest water from your surrounding environment as best you can.
If you live near the beach (ocean, lake, or river) you can find relatively clean water by digging a hole approximately 6-10 feet from the waters edge. Dig about 4 or 5 feet and you should hit water. It will have been sand-filtered, but I still advise running through your fabric filters and sterilizing it out of an extreme sense of paranoia.
Filters are easy to come by at most hardware stores, but you can also use several layers of clean t-shirts in a pinch. Most simple filtration systems are sand-based and I recommend that you look into them. Some of you are smart enough to design your own system that works on a sand/drip process. In a pinch you can layer several coffee filters and slowly strain water through them..but again, BOIL IT BEFORE IT GOES INTO YOUR MOUTH.
Experts say that the least amount of water needed per person per day is 1 liter. This is combined water sources. Consider the water that is in a can of fruit cocktail a part of your liquid for the day. Remember that if you've stocked dehydrated or freeze dried foods you will need water for reconstituting those items.
I recommend that you practice efficient water storage practices. If you have plentiful water supplies being provided to you by nature you really need to find a way to store as much as you can.
Finally, I do recommend the ZeroWater and Brita filtration systems for home use. They don't KILL any bacteria, so some bleach or boiling will be necessary.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Step 1 - DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS
I can't tell you what items to keep in your own home for emergency storage. This is to be determined by your own family likes, nutritional needs, storage options and, of course, budget. You should be able to determine how much you use in a month and then just start multiplying.
My suggestion is that you look into your pantry today and make a list of the items that you have. Make a note of which items you use often, which items you use occasionally, and which items you keep on hand for special times or for "comfort food". In my own home we use a lot of pasta, whole grains and natural oils, so we stocked up on non-conventional grain items such as millet and barley, but we also enjoy hot cereal made with hard, red wheat that we slightly grind and then steam.
One of the problems that I've heard die-hard food storers complain of is palate fatigue. They tire and bore of eating the same food over and over again. Even adults complain of eating rice if they eat it every day for a week, so if you have kids you need to factor in the need for variety in order to get them to eat. Don't forget about the value of candy, cookies, cakes, etc., and you don't have to go without these things if you plan and you learn how to prepare them in a different way. I've baked cakes over an open fire in a dutch oven that have been devoured eagerly by kids. For the most part, it's about having the right tools, practicing their use, and learning to adapt.
I have purchased many dehydrated and freeze dried items from a company called Emergency Essentials. I opened two cans of their product to try them and they are really quite good, so I ordered a few more items: Powdered Whole Eggs, Powdered Butter, Powdered Shortening, Freeze Dried Shredded Cheddar, among other things. I really appreciate these items since some perishable items will not be available.
If you've ever been in an extended power outage (2 or 3 weeks at a time) you've had some experience with cooking like a caveman, but you knew the lights were coming back on and the stores would be open again soon. WTSHTF we won't know when the stores will have food, and really, do we want to be out there fighting over a loaf of bread?
My food storage needs assume that you'll be hunting for meat and that you'll use your stored foods to supplement your nutritional needs. You don't hunt? Learn. You can't field dress, gut, and skin an animal? Figure it out. Once you've done it a few times you won't even notice the urge to vomit and you'll enjoy the meal you prepare. I also assume that you'll be gardening or foraging. Get a field guild for your area and learn which plants you can and cannot eat. Tiger lillies grow wild near my home and their stems and flowers are edible. The lower half of cattails are also quite rich in vitamin C and potassium and can be sliced and eaten raw. I am not Bear Grylls, so I won't be eating any grubs, nor am I Ozzie Osbourne, so biting the heads off of bats if out of the question.
I suggest that every home have a decent grill that can be used outdoors. If you have a fireplace get a grill apparatus to place inside. Pick up at least one large cast iron skillet and a large cast iron dutch oven (it needs the flat top for baking). Make sure that you have plenty of long handled, firesafe utensils and some very long oven mitts.
Do you have pets? Don't forget about storing food and supplies for them, but remember to store their food separately from your family food. Box and labels these items very clearly.
Buy enough items that you can use as barter goods. Don't smoke? Buy some cigarettes anyway and have them on hand to trade for food or fuel. Don't drink? Keep a few bottles on hand.
Don't neglect the power of condiments. Mustard is a great burn ointment. Vinegar can be used for antiseptic purposes, cleaning and preserving. Olive oil can be made into a lamp. Honey is a universally accepted antibacterial preparation. And don't forget to make sure that you have plenty of salt on hand - and I do mean PLENTY. Salt is crucial to maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance.
I will include a list of several links for your reference, but I want you to start with one that is easy to understand: www.thesurvivalmom.com.
My suggestion is that you look into your pantry today and make a list of the items that you have. Make a note of which items you use often, which items you use occasionally, and which items you keep on hand for special times or for "comfort food". In my own home we use a lot of pasta, whole grains and natural oils, so we stocked up on non-conventional grain items such as millet and barley, but we also enjoy hot cereal made with hard, red wheat that we slightly grind and then steam.
One of the problems that I've heard die-hard food storers complain of is palate fatigue. They tire and bore of eating the same food over and over again. Even adults complain of eating rice if they eat it every day for a week, so if you have kids you need to factor in the need for variety in order to get them to eat. Don't forget about the value of candy, cookies, cakes, etc., and you don't have to go without these things if you plan and you learn how to prepare them in a different way. I've baked cakes over an open fire in a dutch oven that have been devoured eagerly by kids. For the most part, it's about having the right tools, practicing their use, and learning to adapt.
I have purchased many dehydrated and freeze dried items from a company called Emergency Essentials. I opened two cans of their product to try them and they are really quite good, so I ordered a few more items: Powdered Whole Eggs, Powdered Butter, Powdered Shortening, Freeze Dried Shredded Cheddar, among other things. I really appreciate these items since some perishable items will not be available.
If you've ever been in an extended power outage (2 or 3 weeks at a time) you've had some experience with cooking like a caveman, but you knew the lights were coming back on and the stores would be open again soon. WTSHTF we won't know when the stores will have food, and really, do we want to be out there fighting over a loaf of bread?
My food storage needs assume that you'll be hunting for meat and that you'll use your stored foods to supplement your nutritional needs. You don't hunt? Learn. You can't field dress, gut, and skin an animal? Figure it out. Once you've done it a few times you won't even notice the urge to vomit and you'll enjoy the meal you prepare. I also assume that you'll be gardening or foraging. Get a field guild for your area and learn which plants you can and cannot eat. Tiger lillies grow wild near my home and their stems and flowers are edible. The lower half of cattails are also quite rich in vitamin C and potassium and can be sliced and eaten raw. I am not Bear Grylls, so I won't be eating any grubs, nor am I Ozzie Osbourne, so biting the heads off of bats if out of the question.
I suggest that every home have a decent grill that can be used outdoors. If you have a fireplace get a grill apparatus to place inside. Pick up at least one large cast iron skillet and a large cast iron dutch oven (it needs the flat top for baking). Make sure that you have plenty of long handled, firesafe utensils and some very long oven mitts.
Do you have pets? Don't forget about storing food and supplies for them, but remember to store their food separately from your family food. Box and labels these items very clearly.
Buy enough items that you can use as barter goods. Don't smoke? Buy some cigarettes anyway and have them on hand to trade for food or fuel. Don't drink? Keep a few bottles on hand.
Don't neglect the power of condiments. Mustard is a great burn ointment. Vinegar can be used for antiseptic purposes, cleaning and preserving. Olive oil can be made into a lamp. Honey is a universally accepted antibacterial preparation. And don't forget to make sure that you have plenty of salt on hand - and I do mean PLENTY. Salt is crucial to maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance.
I will include a list of several links for your reference, but I want you to start with one that is easy to understand: www.thesurvivalmom.com.
12-Step Prepper Program - Lesson 1
I've had a few friends ask me how to get started with making a home "stash" or survival bunker. I'll go into each of these subjects in-depth later on. STEP 1: DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS: If you have a family of two you really should plan for having a family of four. Why? Because you're going to underestimate how much food you will eat in a day, for starters. Then, you're going to have friends, neighbors, and family who will have not prepared the way you have. You should be prepared to share some of your goods AT BARTER with them. The Church of Latter Day Saints has a good, downloadable PDF that can help you determine your needs. Go to www.preparedsociety.com to see what the can help you with. STEP 2: WATER: If there are two of you residing in the home you will need a minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day. If you have no way to get water (via a pump, well, etc.) you need to know that you can't store water for long. You can pick up a couple of really good water filtration systems that work on a drip at many different retailers. Lehmans.com is one of those stores that caters to Amish customers. I would also recommend that you purchase a pocket filtration system such as the Katedyn Hiker. You can always go without washing for a week or two, but you need water every day for drinking. I've used the Katedyn Hiker on stream water and been fine after drinking it. Of course, it doesn't remove the odor. STEP 3: FUEL: If you live in a northern climate fuel is going to mean the life or death of you. Whether or not you are going to use wood, gas, oil, or a generator you will always need the basic raw material to produce fuel. There are many fuels available, some that you've never thought of. Have YOU ever burned a cowpie? Did you know that in biblical times it was not unheard of to use human excrement as fuel? I'm just letting you know. STEP 4: SHELTER: So, you plan on staying in your house. Sure you do. For so long as you are able you'll want to make sure that you have adequate protection from not only the elements but ALSO from anyone who might want to force you to SHARE your shelter with them. There is safety in numbers, but those numbers can also cause a great deal of stress unless you have adequate space for everyone to have some privacy and sense of ownership. STEP 5: SECURITY: Most of us think of security in terms of police protection. Think again. You also cannot secure your space with just owning weapons and having plenty of ammo. You need to be smart and save your ammo for the procurement of food (hunting) in order to make your food storage last longer. What I mean by security is simple; Do you know your neighbors? Do you have adequate lighting around your home that does NOT require electricity? Do you have any warning systems set up to alert you to an intruder? Do you have the materials necessary to repair your space in order to protect it? STEP 6: MONEY: In my opinion, WTSHTF money will be useless. I also don't think that gold, silver, or jewelry will be worth anything at all. You need to have items on hand that can be used for bartering. Do you have extra canned goods that you can barter for fuel? Are you a good hunter and you can barter meat for a cup of sugar? When I talk about money in this section it will have nothing to do with money as we know it. STEP 7: COMMUNICATION: I think we all know that the internet will be down. Our telephones will likely be useless, as well. How will you communicate? Do you own a shortwave radio? How about a set of good walkie-talkies that have a five or seven mile range? Do you know how to interpret the message and rumors that you will hear? STEP 8: MOBILITY: We're used to sitting down, turning a key, and rolling down the road. Forget it. You're going to use the gasoline in your tank to keep a generator going if you're lucky enough to have one. Bikes, wagons, good shoes. Plan to be able to repair all of them. This also goes to the subject of bartering. STEP 9: LIGHTING: I put this next to last because while I consider this essential, you can get by with very little of it in your everyday activities. If you have small children you'll want a secure way to provide lighting. There are many options besides candles. STEP 10: HYGIENE: Now, everyone has different needs, but we all need TOILET PAPER. One roll per person per week is typical. We'll to into this, as well. STEP 11: ENTERTAINMENT: I know this doesn't seem essential, but it really is. Think about all of the non-electric ways that we used to play when we were kids. Playing cards, books, crayons, chalk, paper, games. STEP 12: FAITH: I cannot stress how important this one is. No matter your faith, you will needed it. And you will need the support of friends, family, neighbors. I'm not suggesting we all turn into little Elmer Gantry's, but having a good Bible and a couple of books that bring you encouragement can help.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Surviving What's Coming
I cannot express this often enough; NOW is the time to prepare. I don't know how you want to do it. I won't even ask you to give up anything. What I WILL ASK is that you begin to formulate your plan; begin to put aside a few extra days' worth of food in a secure location. Most of all, make yourself right with God. We're really quite blessed to live during this time, friends.
Ezekial 4:
1 “Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.
4 “Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself.[a] You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5 I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.
6 “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. 7 Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
9 “Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10 Weigh out twenty shekels[b] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11 Also measure out a sixth of a hin[c] of water and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel.” 13 The LORD said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”
14 Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.”
15 “Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”
16 He then said to me: “Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of[d] their sin.
Ezekial 4:
1 “Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.
4 “Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself.[a] You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5 I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.
6 “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. 7 Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
9 “Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10 Weigh out twenty shekels[b] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11 Also measure out a sixth of a hin[c] of water and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel.” 13 The LORD said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”
14 Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.”
15 “Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”
16 He then said to me: “Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of[d] their sin.
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