A message of insight and hope....
If the US economy collapses or disaster strikes today, would you be ready? Have you prepared? Do you know how to prepare? The Lord has been speaking to us and to many others for several years about what possibly could happen in and to our country. The Lord has given us many signs and warnings plus ample time to get ready. What does prepare mean to you? For some it means storing up food and water, learning to garden, getting a generator, buying guns and ammunition. For others, God is moving families closer together geographically. Ask the Lord what part you play and what if anything He wants you to do to prepare. Last year 2011, was a year of transition for many. This year is a year of God's divine order. He is strategically and divinely shifting and moving people to carry out His will and purposes as we experience even greater difficult times in the months and years ahead.
(At the bottom of this post is information on how to prepare physically, copied and pasted from a friend of mines newsletter)
In my opinion, however, the most important way to
prepare is about knowing where you are spiritually? Do you spend time in God's Word reading and then able to listen to what He has to say? Are you able to hear God's voice? Do you know how to discern His will? Would you have the faith or trust to do whatever it is He asked of you, no matter what? Are you able to obey Him immediately?
We are in a critical season in the history of the United States. What this country's beliefs and values were founded on, is being stripped away. Our freedoms are being taken away one by one. Casting Crowns has a song that says it very well: "It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray. Thoughts invade,
choices are made, a price will be paid. When you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day. It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade". Our country's welfare has been slipping away for years - one poor choice after another. But God is bigger than all of this and we can overcome! As believers, we are more than conquerors! We can't expect our government to turn things around. We the Church (all believers) need to rise up and shine our lights to this broken world.
The Lord recently gave me a vision and without going into details, there is an urgency that all believers must know how to hear God's voice and to be obedient without hesitation. I also sensed that those haven't received Jesus in their heart would need to make the choice to come to the Lord. Time is short and in His mercy, none shall perish.
The Lord showed me a passage out of Deuteronomy 31:11-20 that I believe interprets the vision quite well.
The Offer of Life or Death
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Most Americans believe they are Christians. They feel that going to church on Sunday (or even on occasion) fulfills their spiritual duty and that's all that is required of them. George Barna reports “Americans are increasingly comfortable picking and choosing what they deem to be helpful and accurate theological views and have become comfortable discarding the rest of the teachings in the Bible,” he said.
Gods word tells us much differently. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (josh 1:7-8)
Barna goes on to say that faith is more individualized and customized today. Christianity or faith wasn’t meant to be a buffet, where you can pick and choose what works for you. Christianity and faith is black and white. It's faith, trust and ACTION in the Word of God. The Psalmist writes, For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. What God tells us is black and white. We must be be doers of the Word.
The United States is facing consequences for choices we all have made over the past 40+ years. Our morals and values have decayed beyond recognition.
Here are a few statistics to show you America’s crisis. They come from the economic collapse blog.
- over 6 million Americans are behind in their mortgage payment.
- If Bill Gates gave every single penny of his fortune to the U.S. government, it would only cover the U.S. budget deficit for about 15 days.
- In the past 4 years, the number of Americans on food stamps has increased from 32 million to 46 million.
The solution is in God's Word - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14. If each one of us chooses daily and purpose in our hearts to walk with the Lord, to follow His ways, we can turn this country around.
Jackie Robinson, was the first colored person to play baseball in America. He says this: "Democracy works for those who are willing to fight for it and I'm sure the USA is worth defending! We have too much invested in our country's welfare to throw it away or to let it be taken from us".
This year it is imperative that we get connected or stay connected to a body of believers who follow the Lord wholeheartedly, study the Bible personally and hear God's voice! If you are not connected, there are many churches and other services that are good. You can email me and I will provide some places I recommend.
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
God Bless YOU -
Ken & Michele Cole
http://wantinsight.blogspot.com
michele@wantinsight.com, ken@wantinsight.com
This is how you can give to support the ministry God has entrusted us with, if the Lord so leads you:
Tax deductible donations can be made by visiting:
1. https://www.hhmin.org/make_donation_projects.php, select Ministry Projects, then use drop down box Ken & Michele Cole - Want InSight?
2. Or you can donate through my medical account, select Medical Projects, then Michele Cole.
3. Non tax deductible donations can be made directly to us by:
4. Paypal - account is michele@wantinsight.com
5. Send check to our home. Please contact us for the address.
Any donations made through Helping Hands will be anonymous. If you want us to know that you supported us through them, please let us know personally. Thank YOU Also - reminder of some events coming up - Please email me if you are interested in attending!
Bob Sorge will be here 4/4.
Joni Ames will be here end of April or early May.
Emergency Preparedness Info: by Joni Ames
Dear Friends,
With all that is going on and has been prophesied, I've tried to send info out from time to time on how to be prepared. I've decided to again do this since there are many new members to my mailing list in this season. In addition, I will try to maintain info on a sidebar in my newsletter, as well as place this on my website.
Much of the following information was forwarded to me by others. It is not my original info. But it said to feel free to forward it, so that's what I'm doing! :-D
It is a good idea to have an Emergency Preparedness plan in place for you and your family that is tailored to your own individual likes and needs. The items on this list are simply suggestions.
You can begin to prepare by going to Dollar General or Sam's Club or Costco and buying food in bulk. However, the average items do not have a long shelf life. So if you want to be prepared long term, buy items that have 20 year shelf life, such as the items from www.shelfreliance.com - In fact, you can even purchase those items at Costco.
It is smart to be prepared. The Bible says even the ants prepare! Even for bad weather scenarios such as tornados or hurricanes. Additionally, for earthquakes, terrorist attacks, flooding, power outages or pandemics.
Each family's need will vary, according to their own special likes, dislikes, and/or health concerns or special needs. Therefore, feel free to alter the lists below accordingly.
WATER
Other than air, water is the most important substance that your body requires for survival. The average person can only live 3 days without drinking water. If your power is taken off line, or the municipal water source is contaminated, you will not be able to turn on your faucet and use clean water. There may not be any water at all.
Here are six different suggestions to help prepare for this:
1) Using the rule of thumb of 1 gallon of water per person per day (for drinking, washing, cooking), store enough bottled water for three weeks. Keep in mind that you may need more in the middle of summer and if air conditioners are inoperable.
2) If you have enough forewarning about an emergency, clean out your bathtub with Clorox, make sure the stopper doesn’t leak and fill your tub with water. This water can be used for cooking, flushing toilets, bathing, or drinking water for your pets.
3) Purchase new 30 or 55 gallon “food grade” plastic barrels and fill them with tap water and a “water preserver” that will keep water fresh for 5 years (can find on-line at several places). Remember to purchase a hand pump to pump water out into smaller containers. (You can buy new barrels for around $30 and hand pumps on-line for about $15).
4) Buy a pump filter. There are several great types that hikers use that allow you to filter some nasty germs and make the water pure. Check your local outdoors shops or on-line camping sites (e.g., “REI.com,” “Campmor.com,” etc.) There is one good one called “MSR MIOX.” This is a very small (pen size) unit that requires a small cap full of water with a pinch of salt and then you push the button and it sends an electric charge through the mixture causing it to kill all of the bad germs in unclean water. The cost of this is around $95 and can be found at most outdoor shops or on-line.
5) You can boil water. This is ok for washing or food preparation, but it may not help the taste of the water. It is time consuming and requires a lot of energy which may not be available.
6) Chlorine Bleach. Adding 16 drops (1/8 of a teaspoon) of unscented, color safe bleach per gallon of water can disinfect water, but may not kill all germs and bacteria like the MIOX does.
Suggestion: use a variety of the above ideas to be ready for your family.
POWER and HEAT
If your power is taken off line, you may need to have a backup plan in order to cope with no lights at night, and with no power to cook with or store refrigerated food. Having no power means no hot water, no cooking (unless you have a gas cook top), no tv, washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer, etc.
People tend to panic fairly quickly when there is no power, which is one thing we are trying to avoid.
Here are some suggestions to help with power and heat:
1) You may want to consider purchasing a generator, although this can be expensive. You can purchase a smaller generator to operate your refrigerator, stove and some lights for around $500. Or, you could purchase a generator that runs your entire home automatically in the event of loss of power. These larger generators may cost up to $6,000 to have installed (depending on the size of your home). If you have a generator, be sure to keep the exhaust from entering your home. Generators must be placed OUTSIDE with good ventilation. Also keep in mind that natural gas availability could be disrupted, so you may want to consider getting a generator that operates on propane and purchase/rent a large propane tank outside of your home.
2) If you do not purchase a generator, you may want to consider buying a propane camping stove for cooking and warming water. This is not expensive, but you will need to have several canisters of propane on hand (most of these stoves have to be used OUTSIDE, but some can be used indoors as well – do not use indoors, unless product specifically says you can).
3) You may also want to consider cooking with a Dutch oven and charcoal. There are several books on recipes using this oven.
4) If you have an outdoor grill, you can cook using this, although keep in mind you have to be OUTSIDE to use this.
5) You may want to consider having a wood burning stove or fireplace insert installed in your home. This can provide an alternate source of heat if power is out and also a cooking surface for your home. Keep in mind to have a lot of wood available.
LIGHT
If your power is taken off line, you may need to have a backup plan in order to cope with no lights at night.
1) A generator would provide you with lights.
2) Have enough flashlights for your family. One per person is suggested. Also have back up batteries. Make sure you get good heavy-duty quality lights.
a. You may want a battery operated spot-light also.
b. For under $20 you can purchase “wind-up” flashlights that do not require batteries or flashlights that recharge by shaking or winding.
c. L.E.D. flashlights are good options as their bulbs last a long time.Note: Do not buy cheap rechargeable flashlights from dollar stores.
3) Candles.
4) Kerosene, oil, or propane lamps.
SANITATION
This is one area that a lot of people tend to forget. If you have no electric power, your bathrooms will probably not work for long, particularly if coupled with loss of clean water.
If you don’t want to be forced outside with a shovel, you may want to consider purchasing a portable commode. Walmart or Sears carries these and they work well. It has a double tank – one for clean water to flush and another for the waste. You can use chemicals to help with odor. You will also need to have some special, inexpensive toilet paper that dissolves. The top of the line commodes are about $99 and can be found for much less.
COMMUNICATION
During many types of emergencies, internet, home and cell phones may not be operational. We are working on a communication plan for our fellowship where we can communicate with one another during these type of emergencies. However, you may want to consider these as well:
1) Purchasing walkie-talkies that you can buy from many different places. Some require FCC licenses, while others do not. I would try to find the kind that has the longest range without purchasing a license.
2) CB Radios, Trunk Radios or Short Wave radios are also a good option for two-way communication.
3) Emergency Radio: Along with having two-way communication, it will probably be vital to be able to stay informed with current weather, safety concerns or government warnings through the local authorities. Purchasing a radio is a good idea. You can purchase a good “wind-up” or “solar” powered radio that carries a variety of NOAA, FM and AM stations for around $50. Some models even have a cigarette adapter that will run other electronic equipment.
4) Family Emergency Plan: From “Ready.gov.”
FOOD SUPPLIES
To plan for 6 to 8 weeks of food for your family (plus two others), you will want to purchase food that does not require refrigeration and must be storable for the longest time possible.
There are numerous ways in which you can plan for food storage, to include MRE’s (Military rations which are very good and don’t require water), dry-food (that requires water or oil, or both) and canned food (which may not have as long of a shelf life). There are many on-line sites that sell dried food and packages for families that are very cost effective. “Mountain House” is a good brand of dried-food and there are many others such as “Pleasant Hill Grain” which ship in bulk (even up to a 1 year supply).
Here are some examples of the type of food you may want to have stored:
Powdered milk Dried Fruit
Potatoes Dry Crackers
Peanut Butter Soups
Jelly Vitamins
Salt & Pepper (spices) Instant Coffee and Tea
White Rice Bouillon cubes
Bottled drinks Caned hams (no refrigeration)
Spam (helped get our forefathers through the depression and WWII)
FIRST AID KIT
Home First Aid Kits are fairly simple, however, you will need to customize them to your families needs. Keep in mind that you may have special medicine that is required (e.g., if allergic to aspirin, etc.).
Suggestions for First Aid Kit:
First Aid Book (a good book that give a lot of information)
Assorted Band Aids with different sizes
Triple Antibiotics ointment
Alcohol (for cleaning, sterilizing)
Cotton balls or Q-tips
Hydrogen Peroxide
Gauge Pads – assorted sizes
Medical tape
Bactine – will not burn
Merthiolate, iodine, etc.
Tums or Rolaids
Personal Doctors prescriptions
Eye Drops
Benadryl
Cough medicine
Soap
Latex gloves
Option: Dental first aid kit
Scissors
Extra Blankets or Emergency blankets
Hand sanitizer
Tweezers
Thermometer
Magnifying glass
Hand Cream (lotion)
Aspirin or Tylenol or Ibuprofen
GAMES
If you are home without power, the kids will get board quickly. If you go by the Boy or Girl Scouts, they have some great books that are free with great ideas. These books include games that you can make with house-hold items.
Another way to help the time pass is with some cards, battery operated radios and televisions, and cd players with stories for children. Magazines are also great to cut up with scissors, or you can make puppets, have a puppet show, etc.
MISC
Depending on the emergency, I would also suggest the following items be included in your emergency kit:
Water proof matches or lighter
N-95 rated respirators (adult and child sizes in case of bird flu)
Tent and sleeping bags (if flooded out or have to leave home)
Emergency kits for each of your automobiles with basic necessities
Extra batteries in various sizes
Pens, pencil and paper
Hygiene items for men and women
Toilet paper (several rolls)
Dish soap & dish towels
Basic tools, knife
Cash (Just in case ATM’s or Banks are unavailable)
Moist towelettes
Local Map
Can opener
Garbage bags
SITES & Resources
Some of the resources that I have personally used to purchase water filters, respirators, food, water pumps, etc., and have had good success, are:
Nitro-pak.com
REI.com
Campmor.com
Pleasanthillgrain.com
Book: “The official urban and wilderness survival manual” by Robert Pelton
LINKS to Emergency Preparedness Information
As you prepare your home emergency kit, please look at the following sites. Some of these sites have step-by-step plans and information that you can add to what we have provided above:
READY.gov (Very helpful site from Dept. of Homeland Security. Click on “Ready America,” to view various information on making a plan, preparing a kit, etc.)
FEMA.gov (Click on “Plan Ahead” button, then scroll down to information under “protect your family”)
AvianFlu.gov (Gives all kinds of information regarding bird flu)
SECURITY
Keep in mind that during disasters or pandemics, things are not normal and good people do not react normally. The bad people get even worse and the Law Enforcement people are either not available or very thin on coverage (as we saw with Katrina). Normally these emergency personnel are dealing with the same problems that you are with their families. It may be up to you (and the Lord) for your security either for a short or a long period of time. There are answers and ways that you can help protect your family.
First, it does help to have an alarm system in your home. A monitored system will bring help in most cases. If there is no power, the alarm system has battery backup, and if there is no phone service, your system may be equipped with a cell connection. If no cell connection, at least the Siren will alert others.
You can control your doors where no one can obtain entry. Don will share this information with our fellowship in the coming months. Keep in mind that 85% of burglaries are through the doors. You can also pin your windows open and still get air but the crook will have more difficulty gaining entry. There are also several inexpensive ways to alert you if someone tries to enter. If entry is gained there are several options other than deadly force.
A dark home has a way of inviting the wrong people. One way to keep them outside is to pin your windows. Using tomato sticks, not dowels, that are round but the square ones can help. Cut the stick approximately one eighth of an inch longer than the window top part and wedge it into the side. This is an inexpensive way to keep your windows from being forced open. There is also a door jam that you can buy from your hardware store for $20 and it prevents your door from being opened until you wish to exit.
Written by Donald W Parnell and Matt Peterson. Feel free to make copies.
Donald W Parnell CLI CFE
Director of Security
Sentry Watch, Inc.
1-800-632-4961
Rev 12-07
Here is stuff on the bird flu. check it out.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/index.html
http://www.latah.id.us/disasterservices/Disaster_Pandemic_StockpilingFood.pdf
EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES - including MEAT:
NITRO PAK:
http://www.nitro-pak.com/index.php/cPath/147?OVRAW=mre%20meals&OVKEY=dried%20food%20freeze&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=4088485511&OVKWID=10302678011
WENTZ FARM MARKET - CANNED BEEF, PORK, & CHICKEN:
http://stores.ebay.com/wertzfarmmarket29_W0QQ_trksidZp284.m184QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDR%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4
CASES OF CANNED, WHOLE CHICKENS:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Case-Canned-Whole-Chicken-Emergency-Survival-Food-6-Can_W0QQitemZ110286596251QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110286596251&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262#ShippingPayment
GWEN'S STORE - CANNED EGGS, BEANS, BUTTER, CHEESE, GRAINS, FRUITS, VEGETABLES:
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Gwens-Store__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ20427926
PLEASANT HILL GRAIN:
http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/foodpak1.aspx
FULL YEAR SURVIVAL PACKS:
http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/foodpak4_2_month_survival_foods_one_year_food_supply.aspx
DISASTER & SURVIVAL SUPPLIES:
http://www.first-aid-product.com/pgSurvival.htm?OVRAW=mre%20meals&OVKEY=mres&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=34656497512&OVKWID=218944996512&ysmwa=Tm81gw5CB92jPTfGIY9XvIWBMcMwaMJOVBN6XdK6miAXgjILS0rMuN45OFNIM1hS
EMERGENCY STORABLE FOOD - DEHYDRATED:
http://www.efoodsdirect.com/products.html
EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS:
http://beprepared.com/Default.asp?bhcd2=12378EBAY STORES:
http://stores.ebay.com/SAVE-30-TO-70-PERCENT-OFF-RETAIL/_i.html?_fsub=15
HONEYVILLE:
http://honeyvillegrain.com/b2b.html
SHELF RELIANCE:
www.shelfreliance.com/kerryblack
MRE DEPOT:
http://stores.ebay.com/MREdepot/_i.html?_fsub=20
