Out of the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival which took place in the New England states (1790-1844). One Baptist group was convinced that Christ would return to earth on October 22nd, 1844. Many were prepared to leave, and when nothing happened, there was a falling away in that Baptist movement, headed by William Miller.
Since then, there have been others who have predicted a time of Christ's return. At present time, a large following on family-radio located in Oakland California, believe that Christ will return on May 21st, 2011. Under the preaching of a long-time radio preacher, Harold Campen, who has followers around the world in the millions, no secret is made of the impended rapture. I recently had my assistant print out the complete 39-page statement giving all the historical details. We are certainly told that no man knows the day or hour, and we certainly know that it can happen at anytime. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32) Like death, we believers should be prepared.
There are many uncertainties in life, increasing as we speak. One couple, both with advanced academic degrees, high salaries, having climbed the corporate ladder, were living in a penthouse in a Hong Kong hotel. Like any thinking person, they knew it was just a matter of time before a nuclear strike or some other event, creates a disaster. Life is too short, and children too precious, to stay in such a place. Most people do not realize that in any American town, there is only enough food in stores to last for four days, there are not that many warehouses, most food comes in on trucks, and in the case of a disaster, there will be no trucks transporting anything. I have encouraged people over and over to store food supplies. Even the South American Indians went to the mountain tops with their roots, fruits, meats, and freeze-dried them for any pending disaster. Those who prepared, survived.
When the disaster happens, act of man or act of God, the most important thing you can have is food and water. People in India started harvesting water many years ago, because they know there will be a shortage. The greatest problem facing the poverty-stricken country of Yemen is water, they have a 40% rate of unemployment, the country is destitute, but their greatest problem will be water.
The Hong Kong couple moved back to America, he continued with his job, she active in controlling production and survival on a farm which they had purchased. They felt it necessary to become self-sufficient, perhaps taking it to the extreme, but are able to grow all their food needs.
Professor of Anatomy, UNC Medical School, Dr. W.C. George said to me, “tell me about the farm on which you were reared.” He, like Dr. J.T. Dobbins, Professor of Chemistry, came from farms and wanted to hear all about farm-life when I was a boy. Our farm had been in the family for many generations, since the family moved down from Morristown, NJ. Each branch of the family had their own land, their own lifestyle and boundaries. All came together at the school and church, but I know that each branch of the family tree, cousins, all, had the same ideas, same methods, same practices.
On our farm, we had many apple trees, peach trees, pear trees, pecan trees, one great arbor for black grapes, one for white grapes, there were fig bushes, blueberry bushes, a large barn and pastures for cows, several pastures for hogs, a large pen for laying hens, a large pen for growing chickens. On the four hundred acres, crops were grown, mostly for sales, there were large gardens for the growing of vegetables, much was canned, dried or preserved.
This family farm, like most family farms of that time, was self-sufficient. There were wells for water all over the farm, there was a smokehouse always full of meat, a wash-house for laundry, this was before the time of appliances: electric stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. There was even a cider-mill, for the making of your own vinegar. Probably from the first landing of Americans on the east coast, such as my ancestors, they were self-reliant, not depending on anyone else for anything, certainly not government.
Wood was cut from the woodlands for cooking, and for heating the house in winter. You made your own medicines, such as blackberry wine, you cared for your animals yourself. My father's mules all knew that they went to the pasture on Sunday, on the family's day of rest. Every girl knew how to cook, sew and quilt; every boy knew the essentials of farming, carpentry, shooting a weapon in order to protect the family and property. Finally, battery-operated radios, and the farm family knew about the rest of the world, that world dependent on the food-stuffs, fiber (cotton), other cash crops which they grew (tobacco, soy beans, corn, wheat, etc.) which they grew, and which they sold in town in exchange for factory-produced equipment and commodities.
Until power lines came into the country-side, our family farm, like those of my cousins, had a Delco Light system (gasoline generator with large batteries connected in series, producing enough electricity for lighting in the house and in the barns). My grandparents was one of the first farms to have a tractor, a large noisy machine, large spikes on the metal wheels (early tractors did not have tires). Most of the farming was done with mule-pulled cultivators and machinery of every type. The innovation and self-sufficiency that has made America great, on farms, factories, in commerce, is still needed. I encourage every family to stock up.
How wonderful it seems, now, in spite of the ease with which we have learned to live; just flipping a switch for everything, to have the reliance of a hand-pump for fresh water, good soil for the growing of seed, laying hens, and even family work-dogs for protection. The true test of our Christian faith will come when it will be necessary to defend, our homes, our supplies of food and water, against our fellow human beings, who have not prepared...thirsty and hungry, who will try to take such from us. “The Great Disappointment” is in having accomplished so much, to have a lifestyle of luxury; the great disappointment and useless of it all.
No comments:
Post a Comment