Spiritual Preparedness

I've talked about this before, and I realize that some folks just aren't interested in this particular topic, but it is important. Here is what I want to share with you.

Figure out your relationship with God.  This is the most important prep you can make, because the one SHTF event we are all guaranteed to face is our own death. Think about that for a moment. All the things we may be concerned about - an EMP attack, the collapse of the dollar, nuclear war, the Yellowstone super volcano, a worldwide pandemic, or whatever - may not happen in our lifetime, if it happens at all. But death is guaranteed to come for us all. If we spend a lot of time and effort preparing for events that might not happen, shouldn't we spend at least of little time and effort preparing for the one event that will happen? 

Not sure about God? I understand. It certainly took me a long time to figure out my relationship with God. I'm still figuring it out. My suggestions? Pray (a simple "God, if you exist, help me find you" will suffice). Read the Bible. Talk to a Bible-believing pastor or priest about your doubts. Make sure they don't compromise on the Bible being the inerrant Word of God. Too many modern (read: liberal) "pastors" and other "Christians" try to compromise with Worldly Ways by deciding that certain passages (the ones that they don't like or that make them uncomfortable) are irrelevant today. Run far from these fake believers.

All believers should pray daily. "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2). Prayer is the heart of our relationship with God. 

All believers should read/study the Bible daily. "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,’" (Matthew 4:4, in which Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3).

Keep the Sabbath. We are meant to toil, to work, as part of mankind's punishment for the Fall.  But God engraved His example, the pattern of one day in seven for rest, in His Commandments. Set aside the Sabbath as a Holy day of rest, family, and worship. Join with other believers in worship on a regular basis. Christianity isn't meant to be a "do-it-yourself" religion. Christians are meant to be a part of The Church, supporting, encouraging, and helping one another.

Men, be the spiritual leader of your family. Set the example of regular Church attendance,  daily prayer and Bible reading. and living by God's Ways instead of Worldly Ways. Institute daily family devotionals. Pray for your family. Pray with your family. Read the Bible to your family. Better yet, read the Bible with your family. Take responsibility for raising your children to be godly men and women. 

A real men is steadfast in his love for his wife and family. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25). We are to put our wife and family first - even to the point of being willing to die for them. This means to put them above ourselves, our career, our friends, or our hobbies. Above even our own egos. [Questions: Do you pray for your wife everyday? When is the last time you lead your wife in prayer?]

Commit to live God's way, rather than by the world's standards. Learn and obey His commandments and teachings. A line form an Orthodox prayer puts it wonderfully: "Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments." Don't compromise with modern world. Don't be embarrassed by accepting the authority of God's Word over the whim of public opinion as the standard for right and wrong. It won't be easy, but will be worth it!
Quick, can you name all Ten Commandments without looking them up? Do you know how Jesus' answer regarding the most important commandment fits in with the Ten Commandments? Hint: the first five tell us how to love God, the second five tell us how to love others.  
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How To Not Panic In An Emergency

Probably the single most important survival skill is the ability to not panic, to stay calm in the face of danger, adversity, and intense stress. No amount of other skills, gear, supplies, cash, gold, silver, or guns & ammo will save us if we panic when we face a true SHTF event. Panic, and all our preparations are for naught.

So, the most important preparedness question we can ask ourselves becomes How can I remain calm and regain control when under extreme pressure? Although we can never be certain what our reaction to extreme pressure will be until we face it, there are things we can do, and practice, to increase our odds of remaining calm and in control.

A Navy Seal Technique: Box Breathing

You should practice Box Breathing often under normal conditions so you'll be able to remember the technique under pressure, which won't be as easy as you may think. Instructions for Box Breathing:

• Inhale deeply for 4 seconds
• Hold your breath (lungs full) for 4 seconds
• Exhale for 4 seconds
• Hold your breath (lungs empty) for 4 seconds
• Repeat as needed

More than just a psychological trick, there is actual medical science behind this technique. By using it, you are increasing the nitric oxide levels in your blood, increasing your blood flow, and reducing your blood pressure. These are physical changes that will help you regain or remain in control of your emotions.
 

Know, Practice, Memorize What To Do In a Crisis

Not knowing what to do, or not remembering what to do, in a crisis can be a cause of panic for many people. Learn now, practice now, and memorize now, what to do in a crisis, and what your priorities should be. I am emphasizing the word now because this is a skill you can learn, but you must learn it before a crisis hits. Its not a skill you can learn "on the fly" during a crisis. 

Two things that are important to learn are the STOP Plan and a set of ordered priorities for any emergency. I've written about both of these in an earlier article, DISASTER!! Tips & priorities for dealing with emergencies. Please read that article for more details, but for now, here are the basics:


The STOP plan (Stop. Think. Observe. Plan.) has been around the emergency preparedness field for a couple of decades now. It is an effective and easy-to-remember method for getting people to think through any emergency situation they are facing, rather than just reacting emotionally. 
  
>>>Stop. Don't panic. Stay calm. This is a good time to use the Box Breathing method.

>>>Think. Take a moment think about what is happening. You need to make rational decisions, and not react emotionally.

>>>Observe. Look around. What is your situation? What are the threats you face? What resources do you have available to deal with those threats? 

>>>Plan. Decide how you are going to deal with the crisis. Make a plan, share your plan with others with you, and stick to the plan, making changes only in relation to changing circumstances.

Depending on the circumstances, you may have only seconds to do the above. Or you may have hours, days, or even longer. Do the best you can do in the time you have. Thinking through possible scenarios ahead of time helps.   

Knowing the order of priorities in any emergency allows you to focus one step at a time on what is really important, rather than just being overwhelmed by everything at once. Here is a suggested order of priorities:

1) Safety. Quickly remove yourself and others out of the path of immediate danger.

2) Address serious medical concerns. Here is the basic order of concern for most injuries and conditions:

1. Make sure the person can breathe.
2. Stop any major bleeding.
3. Immobilize the neck/back if there is an injury to those regions.
4. Treat shock, hypothermia, hyperthermia, and/or heart attack. 
5. Treat dehydration.
6. Treat broken bones (immobilize/splint).
7. Treat lesser injuries.

3) Shelter from the elements. This may mean a formal shelter, a tent or other temporary shelter, or just warm clothes, rain gear, and/or a blanket.

4) Water. Clean water is a must in any situation, emergency or not.

5) Food. Last on the list, you can go longer without food than anything else on this list. 

God Helps

A number of people will roll their eyes at this bit of advice. Yet, I know this: My own relationship with God gives me great peace, comfort, and courage, especially in difficult times, as well as a sense of purpose, focus, and an understanding of what my priorities should be. I've adopted Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go," as my personal motto. And, I really do believe God answers prayers and can work miracles. 

I encourage everyone to "get right with God." This won't guarantee you'll never panic, but you'll be surprised how much it does help you face the obstacles and dangers of life. Pray and read the Bible daily. Commit to live God's way, rather than by the world's standards. Learn and obey His commandments and teachings. Keep the Sabbath and join with others in worship on a regular basis. 

Not Sure About God? Please talk to a Bible-believing pastor or priest about your doubts.

The Bottom Line

This article has given you a set of four very important tools to help you deal with any emergency or crisis without panicking.Please read the two other articles linked in this article for even more details, and practice, practice, practice...

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Return of the Gun Grabbers - And How to Fight Back!

"After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it." -- William Burroughs
  

The gun grabbers are back. Now that the Democrats have retaken the House, they are making no secret of their intention to pass aggressive and sweeping anti-gun and anti self-defense legislation in 2019. Many of the newly elected members are far-left anti-gun fanatics and feel emboldened by their success in the recent election.

Its not just the new members that are planning to gut the Second Amendment. Nancy Pelosi, still the odds-on favorite to be the next Speaker, gave an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo in which she said that gun-control legislation would be a top priority once the new Congress is sworn-in.

Yes, the GOP still holds the Senate, but the establishment GOP have a bad habit of learning the wrong lessons from elections.  And there are a number of GOP Senators who have a history of being very wishy-washy on gun rights, despite their usually pro Second Amendment rhetoric during elections.

Make no mistake, our Second Amendment rights and our Right to Self-Defense are under assault. In the coming year, our elected officials will be deciding on your right of gun ownership and your right to protect yourself and your family.

We must watch the politicians closely. We must pay close attention to our federal, state, and local governments, and fight efforts to curtail our rights on all levels. Two of the best ways to do this is to join forces with others to defend the Second Amendment and to let your elected officials know what you think about our Second Amendment rights.

Organizations fighting for the Second Amendment

 
A) National Rifle Association (Twitter,  Website,  YouTube)
B) Gun Owners Association (Twitter,  Website, YouTube)
C) Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (Twitter,  Website,  YouTube)
D) National Association for Gun Rights (Twitter,  Website,  YouTube)
E) The Second Amendment Foundation (Twitter, Website, Facebook)
F) Law Enforcement Alliance of America (Website)

If you are in Law Enforcement or the Military, consider joining Oath Keepers.  Even if you're not, you can support them by joining as an associate member. You can also sign up for their free email list. Website: https://www.oathkeepers.org/    
 

Contact Federal Elected Officials

• President Donald Trump - Contact the President of the United States by filling out the online contact form or by calling the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414 or the comments line at 202-456-1111 during business hours.
• Members of the U.S. Congress
  • U.S. Senators - Get contact information for your Senators in the U.S. Senate.
  • U.S. Representatives - Find the website and contact information for your Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 Contact State Elected Officials

• State Governors - Learn how to get in touch with your state governor.
• State Legislators - Find the names and current activities of your state legislators.

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Seven Affordable Knives That Make Great Gifts

Here are seven knives (plus a bonus), in no particular order, that make great gifts for preppers, survivalists, homesteaders, and outdoorsmen: 

1) Cold Steel Finn Bear - A great general-purpose utility knife for under $20. I've been using one for several years and really like it. It holds up well to heavy-use and is easy to sharpen.

 
2) Gerber Prodigy Survival Knife - Under $50, this 9.75-inch, full-tang fixed blade knife is a well-designed, high-quality, yet affordable, addition to any survivalist's or outdoorsman's gear. 






3) Condor Tool & Knife, Bushlore Camp Knife - Big and tough (10.5 x 3.5 x 1.8 inches ; 12 ounces ), the Condor Bushlore makes a great "beater" knife and will stand up to heavy use under the most rugged conditions. 

 

4) Victorinox Swiss Army "SwissChamp" - With 33 functions, the SwissChamp is a toolbox for your pocket that’s ready for everything from household quick fixes to the wilds of nature. 


 
5) Light My Fire Swedish FireKnife - This good quality fixed-blade knife comes with a built-in firestarter, so it is two very important survival tools in one affordable (about $32) package. 


 

6) KA-BAR US Marine Corps Fighting Knife - A true classic, the Ka Bar' was designed to serve our troops during WW II and is still doing its job, with honors, more than 70 Years later. 





7) Cold Steel Finn Wolf Folding Knife - The Finn Wolf is this author's EDC folder. After two years of heavy use, I do highly recommend it.


Bonus)  Japanese Hori Hori Garden Knife - This hybrid knife and garden scoop makes an excellent gift for the gardener in your life. The Hori Hori can do most anything in the garden - weed, dig, prune, transplant, measure, cut, harvest, etc. 

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A Big Mistake Some Preppers Make

Here is a big mistake that some preppers make:  Having an unbalanced approach to preparedness.   

By "unbalanced approach" I mean they put most, if not all, their time, effort & money into one or two (fun) aspects of prepping, while ignoring all the rest.  Some may buy gold and silver; others guns and ammo. Still others may get way into gardening. Which is fine. The mistake they have in common, though, is ignoring all the other (less fun) aspects of prepping to focus exclusively on their preferred prep.Yet preparedness requires attention to a wide variety of potential problems and their solutions, not just the fun ones.

Here is a great example of what I mean: Several years ago when the Doomsday Prepper series was all the rage, a local TV news program did a regular segment featuring local preppers.  One of the "preppers" featured was an somewhat older man (probably early 60s) who showed off his gun collection with great pride. I don't remember the exact number, but it was something like 89 firearms of all types. When they interviewed his wife, she complained that he simply wasn't interested in other aspects of prepping like food and water storage, and they still hadn't gotten those basics squared away yet. 

The gentleman simply wasn't a prepper or survivalist. He was a gun collector. Nothing wrong with that, but simply having a lot of guns doesn't make you prepared, if that is all you are doing.  Being a "prepper" was simply the excuse he gave his wife for buying all those guns.  

I think some folks make be making a similar mistake with gold and silver. The radio and TV ads make it seem simple: buy some gold and silver, then rest comfortably in the knowledge that you are prepared for any economic meltdown or collapse of the dollar. 

Precious metals certainly may have a place in any preparedness plan, but by themselves gold and silver are not a preparedness plan. Once doomsday happens, you are going to need more than just some, or even a lot of, gold and silver to survive.

The solution is simple: Don't concentrate all your efforts into only one or two categories of prepping because they are more fun than other preps.  You need to also do the less fun stuff of getting your finances in order, paying off debt, learning first aid & CPR, learning home repair courses, acquiring hand tools and gardening equipment, learning how to garden, getting you communication plans squared away,  prepping your home security, and accumulating at least a year's worth of food, water, medicine and other supplies, among many other things. 

Here are a couple of articles of mine you may also be interested in:

• A quick, no frills, down & dirty guide to preparing for the End 
• End-of-Year "To Do" List for Preppers and Survivalists

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