Homesteader Life

11 Responses to “One Step at a Time”

1. JFC Says:
   August 22nd, 2006 at 11:04 am

   Out of your many superb posts, this one ranks among the very best.

   To my fellow “aspiring” agrarians … let’s lay the foundations, even if we never live in the completed house! (And who knows how the Lord may bless faithful labor with unexpected fruitfulness?)

2. Jamie Says:
   August 22nd, 2006 at 5:01 pm

   I’ve been reading you blog on and off for a long time and this is my first post. I’m an engineer for DaimlerChrysler; helping make too many cars that we really don’t need for more money than we can really afford. Oh yeah, and part of my job is to find ways of doing it with less and less people, so in effect, shrinking the number of fully employed potential customers. Nice eh?

   I grew up on a 40 acre farm here in S.E. Michigan and because my dad got M.S. and had to retire from GM after only 13 years on the production line (I was 7) I was “lucky” enough to grow up working beside my dad, just as he grew up farming next to his dad.

   But my parents (good Roman Catholics) did what they thought was right at the time and encouraged me to go off to college and get an engineering degree. Being the youngest of 6 and their last hope for college, I made them proud.

   I’m now 41 with a wife, 4 kids and a small 10 acre farm. My main enterprise consist of selling naturally raised pork to a small but growing customer base.

   You’re one of my inspirations and this latest post is indeed encouraging for aspiring agrarians like me.

   Thank you and keep up the good work and His Good Work! This gift He has given you is truely a blessing.

   Jamie

3. Herrick Kimball Says:
   August 22nd, 2006 at 7:15 pm

   Well said Scott. I agree wholeheartedly. I hope you’ll be able to post your thoughts more often!

   BTW, I received the book.

   Best wishes,

   Herrick

4. Laura Webb Says:
   August 23rd, 2006 at 6:51 am

   It does my heart good to hear your reassuring words- that the little strides we are making will not be in vain.

   Something else my husband and I have talked about- ever wondered whether God is prompting us (Chrisitians) to prepare for the last days? We’ve pondered that. The Bible tells us that we won’t be able to buy or sell without “the mark of the beast,” which we will NOT be taking. It speaks of the rapture of the church, but is not specific about WHEN that will occur. If we have to live through some of the tribulation, then we will be in much better shape than those who are completely at the mercy of grocery stores and the government. If we won’t be here anymore, maybe God is prompting this investment in our homesteads/farms for the benefit of the new Christians who will try to barter and get by underground. Possibly helping believers in the future spurs me on to keep making my little strides too.

   Thanks for your insight.

   Laura (ChickenMama)
   http://www.blessedacresfarm.com (our blog)

5. jb chesser Says:
   August 23rd, 2006 at 12:11 pm

   To think of setting a foundation for the next generation is encouraging. The little steps matter.

   It is discouraging when I look at where I am and how much has to be done. I want to show my kids something other than suburban life.
   JB Chesser

6. reformed farmer Says:
   August 24th, 2006 at 6:23 am

   Jon

   “… let’s lay the foundations, even if we never live in the completed house!”
   Very well said, my friend. Thats the way we have to look at it.

   Jamie

   Thanks for the comments, glad to have you as reader! I’ve been planning on adding pork to our farm. I had planned on starting this year but piglets were a little scarce by the time I got a round to looking. May the Lord bless your efforts!

   Herrick

   Glad to hear you got the book, I’ve been going to call you for a few weeks now but have not had the chance. I hope to be posting more often, this is a busy time for us. Its been a wild few weeks on the hill!

   Laura

   I stopped over to your blog and enjoyed it very much. I think God is preparing us for something, thats for sure. I don’t think it is the tribulation however. I’m kind of an old fashioned Christian, who believes as most of the historic church has, that the verses in Mathew 24 were fullfilled in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. As a postmillienalist, I believe that bible teaches us that the future is Hope Filled! The short term future for this covenant breaking nation of ours dose look bleak. I think Gods faithfull people will build a new culture that honors our King, out of the ashes of judgement that are surerly comming.

   JB

   The Terry Clan will keep you and your efforts in our prayers. Every little step counts, do what you can, when you can.

7. JFC Says:
   August 24th, 2006 at 6:58 am

   I’m kind of an old fashioned Christian, who believes as most of the historic church has, that the verses in Mathew 24 were fullfilled in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. As a postmillienalist, I believe that bible teaches us that the future is Hope Filled! The short term future for this covenant breaking nation of ours does look bleak. I think Gods faithful people will build a new culture that honors our King, out of the ashes of judgement that are surely coming.

   Amen. In fact, it is BECAUSE of a postmillenial covenant theology (which teaches that covenant keepers are blessed and covenant breakers are punished, in history and not only in eternity) that I see imminent tribulation for the USA, but long-term blessing for those faithful to God.

8. Missouri Rev Says:
   August 24th, 2006 at 5:04 pm

   Scott, I concur with Jon, very well said and truly encouraging . . . we must endeavor with faith and diligence to lay an enduring foundation. This by no means will be a quick task, as it will require painful sacrifice and unending labor through a long, multigenerational process . . . a decidedly uphill one in our mammon worshipping society, which hates the truth and resists the Lord openly. The hardest question to ask ourselves is whether we are willing to toil through it by faith even if we are not rewarded personally in this life with the blessings that come from biblical agrarianism? . . . even if we suffer loss? Biblical agrarianism is true reformation in application, something the Lord works over many generations which results in a total change of the culture, to His glory and praise. This will never happen without a major cost and generational battle, neither will it happen with the autonomous, anti-covenantal, and anti-local community Christianity of today.

   Contrary to popular Christian cynicism, biblical agrarianism is not just another “utopian” lifestyle that will fade into the sunset of our never-ending secular culture. It is the mountain of the Lord that prevails on earth, not those of fallen man, and our grand American mountain is already quaking under the righteous hand of King Jesus. Biblical agrarianism is the true outworking of the Gospel of the present Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ruler of Heaven and earth, Who will Himself, as it pleases Him, displace our a secular (pagan) with a righteous one as He works in His people repentance and covenantal faithfulness. History is the vindication of this very encouraging truth.

   He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.” 1 Samuel 2:8-10

   Though it is likely that our generation will not see the glorious end of the present and growing reformation, we can certainly humble ourselves and put our necks to the yoke to become a stepping stone for those who will. Thanks Scott for vary encouraging post.

9. Homestead Herbs Says:
   August 28th, 2006 at 8:41 am

   Thank you Scott for a very encouraging post, together with wonderful comments from JFC and Missouri Reverend.

   “This by no means will be a quick task, as it will require painful sacrifice and unending labor through a long, multigenerational process”….oh boy how those words are timely and truthful! Battling self vs future generations’ inheritance, making sure the children don’t inherit the sins of their parents.

10. Emily Says:
    August 29th, 2006 at 12:36 pm

    Scott, praises be to God, you have lifted my heart today and brought tears to my eyes with your words. Maybe it’s just my age, but I seem to experience mood swings when it comes to an agrarian vision for my family. At times I am awed and inspired by the blogs I read and strive to achieve that which seems to lay continually beyond my grasp and eventually end up discouraged. No doubt there is more than a little envy thrown into the mix as well. Your wisdom and truthful perspective give me such hope! I’m under no illusions when it comes to the hard work and sweat involved in a life connected with the soil but as I grow older and my body begins to feel the effects, I have wondered “How in the world will I get anything accomplished?” I lost sight of the fact that I am laying a foundation for future generations and may never “live in the completed house” as Jon so aptly states. Thank you for bringing me back to reality! I am going to print out this post, and keep it handy for those gloomy days as a reminder that my labor is not in vain. God bless you mightily!

11. reformed farmer Says:
    September 2nd, 2006 at 6:22 am

    Hey folks,

    Things have been real busy around here! When I finaly got some time to use the computer, the mouse died and it took a few days to get it back up and running. More posts are comming, Lord willing.

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