The Old Ways
November 18th, 2006 by Northern FarmerLast night I took a break from reading books of faith and studying the courses that I’m taking and I think I will tonight too. I’m tired but in the best way possible. A big job done today and the satisfaction of getting it done is huge. A job where a person needs some help, because it would be pretty difficult to do it with just immediate family. Working with cattle in the chute goes much better and much safer when there’s enough help where a person doesn’t get overwhelmed and make a mistake that could possibly injure them. But it’s done for the year now and I ain’t worrying about next year for a long time. But the break I took last evening was fun in many ways, I dug out an old Foxfire book and was reading one of my favorite subjects. And I mean favorite!
A couple of generations ago things were so much different that it’s very hard for people today to even imagine living like some of those folks did, not all that long ago in the scheme of things. The Foxfire books are so interesting because they are true testimonies of life back years ago given in eye witness accounts. Given by the people that lived them. Now I know people say, “we can’t go back to them daysâ€, and in a sense they’re right. But sometimes them days can come to us if we let them. What I read last night was the unimportance of money to so many of them folks back a hundred years ago or so. In fact they didn’t have any money, none! But then again they didn’t have any bills either. Talk about different then today!
They’d just take care of themselves, work there little patches of land, get together with the neighbors all the time. Church was thee thing of importance in life. Them folks were always together visiting or running off to church every chance they got. One thing stood out in the reading, that was the unimportance of time to those folks. It was stated like that too. The unimportance of time! Wow! And the chapter I was reading just burst out with this. Now I know the wise of the world will scoff at this and say how important money and time management are. But just think, those folks were happy, very happy, like little children. They weren’t getting into theological debates, far from it. Sometimes I think these theological debates a person comes across is just trying to justify our love for money and worship of our own time. Molding the words written in the Bible to justify our lifestyles.
So I was thinking, why do we try and follow the Word and at the same time follow the world in lockstep. And every year get deeper into the world no matter what we say about how we are getting away from it. I was praying today when I was feeding cattle this afternoon, “I want what those folks of old hadâ€. I know, that’s setting me up for all sorts of comments telling me they had it so much worse back then, outdoor privies and the like. Lack of modern medicine is another common answer, well I see how modern medicine works and it ain’t all that great. You still die, you still suffer, plus it takes millions of dollars to treat some diseases. We’ve come a long way haven’t we? A person got to work away from home, many times one spouse working just for the medical insurance. Now in my humble opinion that ain’t progress. That’s deeper bondage into modern slavery. It takes a family member’s time away to support an out of balance system where a few get filthy rich and the rest pay. I almost hate to talk like that but no one can say it’s not true.
Then this modern world takes away the God given joy of fellowshipping with the saints. You know, there ain’t nothing better than getting together often with folks that are in one accord, worshipping our Savior, having some great times, wishing it wouldn’t end. Well, those people years past had that! And being they didn’t worship money, they didn’t worship time. I love that! So when folks went visiting or off to church nobody cared how long it took or when they ever get around to leaving. Now everything is carefully structured so we get our little bit of visiting in, zoom home, get ready to make some more money to pay to someone else for protection in a society that wants to eat you up alive on the installment plan. Years ago the city folks that were paying for mob protection had it cheaper than the average family today. Society replaced the mob, bleeding the very lives out of families. You need this protection, that protection. For crying out loud, that’s where a person’s life goes to nowadays, paying for everything society wants to leech off a person.
Years ago folks knew they’d die and they had a faith in God that said they were going to go to heaven, simple. Now that faith is probably there a little bit in the average Christian, but actions speak louder than words. We want the world’s protection, plain and simple! So we dream of a simple life and still live with the world all the way and call it OK. We support companies that support death, and we support them willingly. We support investments in retirement accounts that give these companies power to further the agenda of hell itself. But we say we’re a people apart, but apart from what I don’t know. It sure ain’t the world! Now if anybody thinks I’m ranting about them, well whatever, but I’m more so ranting at myself. Sometimes when a person just thinks a bit on how much our lives support the system that hates God it makes a person sick. Those saints from a couple generations ago sure weren’t supporting that system. And they were happy. Now, I’m happy when I go to church or visit, but it’s in small bits and pieces and a person better get back to serious business to maintain our nitch in the system of the world.
We’ve lost so much and we continue to lose more day after day. I’ve mentioned many times in the past how more complicated life is now than it was thirty years ago, for example. Boy, was it simple then compared to now! But it eats in at a person’s life, this and that, a little more so called progress and it’s like that frog put in the pan of cold water on the stove, turn on the heat and the frog doesn’t have sense enough to know he’s about to get boiled alive. He just sits in that water accepting it. Pretty soon, boiled frog. Doesn’t even attempt to jump out, even though he could do it easily.
I just hunger for what them folks had! And I think it can be had, if a person just has faith in God to see him or her through. He always answers our prayers, it’s just I don’t think we are praying the right prayers, we just want to still hang on to that system no matter what. But then again I believe He’s showing people one step at a time the way out. Yes He is when I look at it. Even if it’s a slowing down of the downward spiral, it’s happening for those that trust in the Lord. And like faith, it grows and grows, the world’s influence will keep falling away.
November 18th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
What came to mind instantly when I read this was “Trust in the L-rd with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding… in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your Path.
So great about the Unimportance of time… When we here visit with the local Amish, we are enveloped in that and then… it’s back to the “real world”… I think we’ve lost some thing here. Amen to faith in our G-d
GP in Montana
November 18th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
Tom,
It is sad how we and our society have chosen prosperity over God and family. A few years ago I asked my Grandmother, who lived to be 102, how work these days compared to work when she was younger. She said that work when she was young tended to be more tedious, but that these days there is a lot more stress and pressure associated with work. Funny how our push for prosperity and things has just made our lives more stressful.
Jim
November 19th, 2006 at 12:02 am
You got me thinking, too and I became sad and mad to think how perverted life in this world has become. You wrote of medical insurance. That got me to thinking about just how much insurance has become a part of our lives. They got insurance for everything-life, health, dental, vision, disability, pet insurance, even insurance on the money we owe to credit companies; imagine-insurance to make sure they get the money we owe them-it’s all out of hand, Tom. A person can go bankrupt paying all the insurance policies to keep from going bankrupt. My grandfather would have split a gut laughing at how safe we try to make our lives. He worked to pay his few bills and provide for his family and left it at that. “Trust in God” was his motto for the rest of it.
Why did we get so civilized? We’re trying to do God’s job for Him by trying to safeguard against every pitfall. Man, you got me going now. I’m gonna go to bed and rest this weary mind.
God bless you, my brother!
November 19th, 2006 at 6:43 am
GP,
What a good comment! Yes! When I am around the Amish I sense being in a different sort of time, and I’m not talking about the old days, it’s just the “real world’s” time doesn’t have the power there. And when a person comes back to the “real” world there’s a huge sense of loss. Your on to something big there GP! God bless!
Jim,
I was thinking more on the subject this morning of how it’s changing so rapidly and we accept it hook, line and sinker. We incorporate it into our faith and say it’s OK, then wonder why everything is going down the tubes and why society can’t see it. Years ago many jobs were tedious, but then again there’s enough of that today to. Honest work is honest work, something to be thankful for. The sad part now is working to support all these things that are supposed to assure our safety and health, it costs all that time in our lives and accomplishes nothing except take time away from our families. I’m stewing on this subject.
God Bless!
John,
“A person can go bankrupt paying all the insurance policies to keep from going bankrupt”
Great statement!! What ever happened to trusting in God? You all got me really thinking this Sunday morning. Where’s my trust level at? Am I saying Lord, Lord and then trusting in the system instead? Allot to chew on here, and I like chewing.
God Bless!
November 19th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Hi Tom,
So glad you’re still gonna be around on here. Welcome Jim! We have been enjoying your posts too. You guys are spoiling us with all these great posts!
We were wondering how all you homesteaders out there handle health insurance when you don’t work an outside job? Do you just have major medical through farm associations or what? What about perscription coverage?
We’ve been discontent with the system for a long time now and have been learning all we can and taking steps to make that break. One thought that came to mind as we wrote our tithe check yesterday was that the TITHE is the best form of insurance there is………God doesn’t try to wiggle out of payin’ up when we “file a claim” either! Of course we realize it’s not the money itself but our obedience.
John & Theresa
November 19th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
John and Theresa,
Thanks for the comment! As far as the health insurance I have been doing a large deductable up to now so the hospitals and stuff don’t take the farm. But I’m rehashing the subject, we’ll see as time goes. Somethings gotta change! Although with large deductables I almost never go to a doctor, I think it’s been over two years now.
I think your right about the tithe! As I said this post was as much for me as anyone else, funny how that works around here, and a person just had better start trusting the Lord a whole lot more. Like they say, you can’t take it with you but you can send it off ahead! And your right, God never wiggles out of a claim, He always pays up bigtime to His people! God loves those that put their trust in Him! It’s so simple and yet so difficult to do, but it can and will be done!!
Thanks and God Bless!
November 20th, 2006 at 6:54 am
Well, I’ll agree with you on most of the old ways, but I’ll take a tractor (even if it is 50 years old) to a mule any day. My solution to modern times is to just be ignorant. Not stupid mind you, but I just tend to not pay attention to the news or modern events. Just putter along here in my own little world with my own little family going to our little church in our little town.
Boys are starting to wonder (like I did when I was their age), whats out there in that big ol’ world. I tell them theres not a whole lot, but I have a feeling they’ll have to find that out for themselves.
Health Insurance is going to be a problem for us pretty soon too. I’m hoping something comes along in the next 5 years or so, but I’ve been hoping that for the last 20 years. Guess we’ll probably do some major medical high deductible insurance that we can afford, then pay out of our pocket for the ol colds and flu stuff….. Or just wrap an ol sock full of garlic around our necks…. like they did in the old days :),
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
November 20th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Hey Brad!
But I would!
I don’t know, them old two bangers were only one small step above a mule, maybe that’s why I prefere them over the more modern ones! Intersting about just puttering along in our own little worlds, that’s following the Lord the right way, being apart from the world. That’s what I find myself doing more and more of. I love it!
With all the Lord’s healings I’ve witnessed and had myself even modern medical problems are falling to the wayside in my thoughts. I figure just give it to God, He wants to take em, but we want to hold on to them and do it ourselves. Jesus never worried if the sick and lame had Blue Cross so why should we. This trusting in the Lord is a slow process sometimes for a person to accept, but a person got to just keep handing over more and more to Him. I don’t think insurance companies would like faith healing to take off
About the garlic around the neck, well, at least it would be close by in case I’m hungry, kinda like the stuff although it does hamper the social life
Thanks and God Bless!
November 21st, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Interesting subject in light of todays medical costs. The days of handing the Doc a nice chicken are so over. I had a test done and the bill for READING the results was $81.00 A CT scan was suggested but the cost was over $3,000.00 With no health insurance one can hardly afford the $50″limited” office visit much less any tests. Suggestions???????
November 21st, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Patti,
Welcome to the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into! But everyone has to make their own decision, I’m stewing on it for ourselves. But our family did bring up the subject, and of course this’ll get us classified in the nutcase catagory by most. In the last year every ailment we’ve had has been healed by the Lord and there were some dillies! Ever since this family has all become children of God, He’s been taking pretty good care of us if I might say so. We still get sick every once in a while but He takes it away. My suggestion is follow your heart
God Bless!
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:01 am
HI Tom!
Now you done gone hit a subject that is right center stage in my own struggles with my faith. Do I trust God or do I trust in the ways of men?
Now I’m not giving any sort of advice to anyone else. Each person has to answer this on their own. I’m not judging anyone else’s decision and certainly not telling anyone what to do.
O.K. is that clear? I’m just referring to my own struggles within my own head, body and spirit. Four years ago I gave up my expanding career within the ’system’ with its paper promises of health insurance, retirement plan and most of all, the consistant paycheck to live a life apart from as you say “the Culture of Death”. Now, I can’t describe in just a few words, the struggle and insecurities that I had and still have–especially when my body tells me that something might be wrong.
But there are some basic laws of health that God set down during His Creation of the World. The most important ones are eat healthy foods, drink plenty of clean water, get plenty of exercise, get plenty of sunlight and fresh air, live with a positive attitude and the BIG ONE is to reduce STRESS. Stress is a killer even if everything else in one’s life is healthy.
Now doesn’t it sound like a life lived close to God’s Creation fulfills each of these basic laws of health? That was my way of thinking anyway.
And thru it all, TRUST GOD, trust God, trust God………. And then not fear death. Fearing death is not trusting God and the stress can lead to damage to a person’s immune system that can trigger the very health problems we most fear. I can say that concerning my own life……but I fear that people I love will become sick, injured or die. I sure haven’t figured out how to trust God when it comes to others that I love.
As for the modern medical system, it is really good at treating tramatic injuries but for everything else, I follow natural medical treatments. As I said before, I’m groundskeeper for a Christian based, natural health center which includes natural homebirth and also hospice care. I’m also developing a really interesting penpal relationship with an herbal medicine practicioner and teacher. God has given us sooooooo much that we can use thru what He has made.
But eventually, it comes down to my acceptance of my own mortality. If God chooses to take me home, I tell Him, here I am, my body is yours, do with it as you will. I pray for health and safety but when I’m out in the woods alone, tossing my chainsaw around, my life is definitely in His hands.
TRUST GOD, trust God, trust God. No, I don’t have any form of health insurance or any other insurance except what is required by law for my vehicles.
In my case, I feel this awesome sense of freedom and peace.
Trust God……..
Oh, by the way, I don’t wear a watch………………….
November 22nd, 2006 at 6:41 am
Steven,
What can I say???? I’m reading your comment, saying……yes…..yes…..yes…..yes! YES!! I thank God for people like you that stop by here!! Amen!!
I’ll be thinking on this all day now while working out there. While not wanting to continue on exactly the same subject I sure do feel a blog coming up in the next couple days or so to expand further on what you wrote so well. This view covers so much, the view from a faith based life. These views are the meat and potatoes of a believer. It shows every single person where their spiritual feet are placed. It’s showing me, I ain’t talking about one other person, everyone has to look at themselves, not at each other.
Thank you my friend, your words help lift a person up in a dark world!
God bless!