It does not require a great imagination to see how difficult life will be when trade ceases and money buys nothing. A farmer with no fuel for his tractors will not produce much food and would be a fool to plant crops for market, forsaking needs of his own family and neighbors, if he even has any seed to plant. No one will work in a factory producing toilet paper when no one can pay for it or transport it to a market that no longer exists. Shouldn’t we begin thinking like squirrels, storing supplies for an especially long and difficult winter? In spite of all we are facing in years ahead, life is currently good for one third of people who will bear witness to violent end of Age of (violent) Man. This is ideal time to stock up on things we do not wish to do without, one, five, twenty years from now. The Boy Scout motto is Be Prepared. Those who value this motto should suffer least of survivors. Those who simply go with flow or fight shadows of evil will find themselves seeking Boy Scouts who learned their lessons.

My mother would tell me she has been hearing about end of world since she was a girl and now she is old and probably could not care less if it does end. My guess is that most folks feel same way and will not concern their selves with matter. They won’t be warning anyone that time is short or trade will stop.

If you are one who might want to survive four horsemen of apocalypse, you would do well to begin your exit from corporate Babylon. Such is not an act, but a process. The ready alternative is what used to be called black market. Today it is known as free market, underground economy, or cash economy. Though trade in this economy is also likely to grind to a halt, corporate trade will stop first. Familiarity with your local free market could buy you some time to stock up on supplies no longer available in Babylonian markets. It could also provide you with funds to buy corporate supplies after your corporate job disappear. If you are like wise pig who withstands wolf by means of foresight, you might save lives of many neighbors by carefully storing survival supplies. Basics like seed, clean water, water purification equipment, nuts and grains, fuel, electrical generators, lamps and many things we take for granted until we go hunting or camping. Fact is, near future will be like camping. The better your equipment, more comfortable you will be. If we are not at this point on divine timeline, we have lost nothing by caring and preparing. I’d like to close with a paraphrase of Serenity Prayer: Lord grant us courage to change what we should, to accept things we should not change and wisdom to know difference.

Freelance writer published on many websites and newspapers.

God wants us to be grateful to Him for what He has done, but He doesn’t want us to thank Him by thinking it is our duty to try and work for Him, paying Him back. Our gratitude should work like this. We are so thankful for what God has done; we overflow naturally in praise and thanksgiving to Him. That’s difference. When I find a good restaurant, I don’t consider it my duty to go out and tell people about it. No, but I do tell others about it out of pure delight. The restaurant so impressed me with its service, friendliness, and good food that I wanted to tell someone. It gave me great delight in telling others about its benefits. Likewise, when I praise God it’s not out of a sense of duty, but I praise Him because I’m so impressed by His goodness that I can’t help myself. I must praise Him. My delight for God is incomplete until I express it in word, song, testimony, or deed. I won’t let my gratitude become a debtor’s ethic, trying to payback God’s grace. I just keep on trusting God for more and more grace to thank Him more often. There is no limit to God’s grace. Keep on asking God for more grace. May I say that one more time? This is crux of this topic. If it were not for God’s enabling grace, I’d be unable to do anything at all. So Father in Heaven, give us more grace to praise you louder and more often. I know you want to give us more reasons to praise and thank you because it brings glory to you. Lord, show us your Glory!

Keep faith. Stay course. Jesus is wonderful and coming soon.

Pastor Terry L. Dashner Faith Fellowship Church 3101 S. 9th Street Broken Arrow, OK 74013 918-451-0270