How Churches Can Prepare For Persecution

By Tim Gamble

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Should churches prepare for bad times?

The answer is Yes! The Bible makes it clear that preparedness (both physical and spiritual) is not only prudent, but in fact is commanded by God. If you doubt this fact, please read my article Why Christians Should Be Survivalists which contains many, many quotes from the Bible. The idea that "We have Jesus, therefore we don't need to prepare" is both naive and anti-Biblical. 

 
What can churches so to prepare for bad times ahead?

1) Admit the need for emergency preparedness.  Yes, at some point Jesus will return and establish His Kingdom and we will all be safe. But until, we will face persecution, danger, and harsh times. In recent years, we've seen mass shootings at several churches and synagogues. Christians face doxing, deplatforming, debanking, and even losing their jobs just for trying to live out their faith. The tactics of bullying, intimidation, and violence being employed by the left against anyone supporting traditional values and beliefs are only growing in intensity. 

2) You don't have to call it "prepping" or "survivalism." Those terms have negative connotations for some people, and may meet with automatic resistance. "Emergency preparedness" or "disaster preparedness" are legitimate names for what I'm suggesting, and may be more acceptable to your fellow church members. Of course, you know your church better than I, so call it whatever you feel is appropriate. 

3) Realize that our rights come from God, not from Government, or even by majority vote. Therefore, no government, nor any voting majority no matter how big, may take away any of those God-given Rights. These rights include Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, and Self-Defense, among many others.

4) Realize that the traditional family unit is the building block of civilization. This includes traditional marriage, traditional gender roles, sex only within marriage, honoring your father and mother, and so forth. All churches should be teaching these things from a Biblical perspective, and doing everything it can to support healthy marriages and families. This will also strengthen your church. 

5) Church security is the place to start.  We want our churches to be open and welcoming to the larger community, but events have shown we do need to think about security also. Security cameras covering the entrances and parking lot are a good idea. A multi-camera CCTV system with DVR recorder can be had for under $200 (here's one such system on Amazon). 

Most churches cannot afford paid security, but perhaps they have police officers, military veterans, or others in the congregation who can act as armed security during services. Anyone in the congregation with the proper training can be volunteer security.  

6) Proper training includes professional-level First-Aid and Trauma Response. Mass-shootings and fire-bombings at churches and synagogues here in the US do happen these days. Having a professionally-trained response team is an important element to modern church security. Check out the excellent training provided by Refuge Medical and Refuge Training. (Yes, I am affiliated with these great folks.)

7) Create a church communications plan. Many churches have phone trees (sometimes called prayer trees or prayer chains), in which prayer requests and other information can be spread quickly to all church members. Basically, person A calls two predetermined people, who each in turn call two predetermined people. Those four people each call two people, and so forth until the entire church is notified.  if your church doesn't already have one of these, set one up. It can be used to pass on not just prayer requests, but all sorts of news and information.

8) Start a church community garden. If your church has, or can get access to, some open land, then start a community gardening program. There are many ways this can be done, from one massive garden that everyone works and shares its harvest, to individuals & families being provided smaller plots to garden as they see fit. The garden could be limited to church members only, or it could be opened up a larger community. The community gardening program would also provide encouragement and education to folks wanting to garden in their own yards.

9) Hold classes in food storage and canning. Churches could encourage and educate their members to store food and water. Chances are your church has a number of older members who would love to pass on their knowledge of canning and other food preservation techniques. If not, check your your local agricultural extension office.

10) Hold classes in first aid and CPR. Your church could offer all its members courses in first aid and CPR. You many have members already qualified to teach those courses. If not, contact your local fire department or EMS. Many will be happy to work with your church to provide first aid training.

11) Hold classes in budgeting and family finance. Encourage and educate church members on personal finances, budgeting, and becoming debt-free. There are a number of ministries which educate and encourage folks in their personal finances, and a lot of free and low-cost programs and bible studies available. Check out Dave Ramsey's website and radio program. Also, Money Matters with Ken Moraif. And Crown Financial. There may be others.

12) Hold other preparedness classes. Churches could provide occasional or on-going classes in preparedness and survivalism. How to do this and what subjects to cover are limited only by your imagination. Your church members could also work together to buy supplies in bulk, combining your individual purchases to get the best prices possible.

13) Sponsor scout-like youth groups - Your church could host various types of scouting and scouting-like groups, including Heritage Girls and Trail Life USA. Both are great alternatives to the now VERY woke Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. Your church can also start its own scout-like group using scouting handbooks and materials (anyone can buy them), but not being connected to the national groups. These programs are a great way to teach young people the values and skills that will help them no matter what life throws their way.

14) Store food and other supplies - A church I attended many years ago had a small room where they stored old coats & jackets, blankets, canned and dried food, baby supplies, and other similar things. These were then given to the homeless or other people in need that would show up at the church from time-to-time asking for help. Your church could do something similar - buying and storing supplies that could be distributed to either church members and/or needy folks in an emergency.

15) Emphasize Bible study and prayer. Our country is in need of prayer. Although we were founded as a nation based on Biblical principles, we are no longer a Biblical nation. Chances are most of our neighbors are unchurched, many are not believers, and some have never truly heard the Gospel message. It used to be that America took the Gospel to places that had never heard it, such as Africa and Asia. But now, America itself has become a field in need of missionary work. The Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19,20) doesn't just apply to professional missionaries in the far-corners of the globe. It applies to all of us in dealing with our friends and neighbors.

16) Activists and others may infiltrate (already are, actually) our churches to both spy on the "hate speech" and other disapproved activities within the church, as well as to sow discord among members. I suggest your church plan now for how to spot and deal with (remove) such individuals. This is actually a Biblical mandate:

"Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned." -- Titus 3:10-11 

We want people, even non-believers, to feel welcome by the Church, but NEVER at the expense of our relationship with God. 
 
17) Be prepared for attempts by LGBTQ+ activists to force your Church to accept modern views on marriage, sexuality, and gender. Imagine this: An openly gay couple starts attending your Church, and asks to join, but are unwilling to change their homosexual relationship. Perhaps they even demand that your pastor/priest performs their gay marriage at your church. How do you deal with their requests without violating their "civil rights" and running afoul of laws that are growing progressively liberal.  How do you deal with the bad press if they choose to challenge your Church in court, especially given that most modern media outlets will be decisively on their side? 

What happens if your Church is ultimately ordered by a court to perform a gay marriage?  At that point, you may be forced to dissolve your church as a legal entity, going underground and implementing your house church plan (see 18 below). Figure out the details of how to dissolve the church now. Talk to a Christian lawyer about this.

18) Form smaller "Home Churches." Consider forming or joining a home church, even as you continue to participate in your larger church.  Alternately, having a small group Bible study that meets in private homes that could become a worship group (home church) may be very useful should the Church in America ever be forced underground. Your current church could and should work on such a "break up into smaller private house churches" plan that would be implemented under certain circumstances.

What churches can do to help their members and communities prepare is in no way limited by this list. There are many, many other possibilities, and most also make terrific opportunities to reach out to the unchurched in our communities.

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Ad: Pocket-Sized, Readable copy of The U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Amendments. Know your rights, and be able to explain them to others. 

Soft Skills For Survival

By Tim Gamble

(Please Subscribe to this website by Email.)

In prepper circles, most talk centers around the hard skills we need: first aid, water purification, bushcraft skills, shooting & self-defense skills and so forth. But soft skills can also be very important, and fortunately they can be developed if we realize the need.

Learning and developing soft skills can be done. Start by realizing the importance of soft skills, then make an honest assessment about your own skill level for each of these categories. Decide which skills you need to develop and start researching those skills. There are lots of articles and videos about these skills on the Internet, and entire books have been written on each. You might even be able to find courses on soft skills being taught at your local community college. Most importantly, soft skills are best learned the same way hard skills are - through practice.

Important Soft Skills

Communication and Listening Skills - More than just the ability to talk, good communications skills include both active listening and the ability to explain ideas to others in a way they can understand.

Social Skills / Networking - A huge complaint I often hear in the prepper community is the difficulty in finding or forming community. Networking and social skills are about finding, meeting, and getting along with others.

Responsibility / Work Ethic -Taking responsibility for your own life and having a strong work ethic are closely related. The single most important thing you can do to survive any future chaos is to start taking responsibility for your own life now. Having a strong work ethic is a major key to success in life in any situation, not just in survival situations.

Teamwork - Are you a team player, or a lone wolf? Do you follow the rules, or do you insist on doing things your way and only your way? Is cooperation and compromise in your vocabulary, or do you see them strictly as "dirty words?" Working together with others to achieve goals, such as security and survival, is important.

Leadership Skills - Leadership is very different from just being the boss.  And it has nothing to do with forcing others to do what you tell them to do.

Creativity / Creative Thinking - Creative thinking is especially valuable during the chaos and confusion of a disaster or crisis. Disasters are unpredictable in both their nature and their consequences. The ability to think outside the box and to come up with solutions for unexpected problems could easily be the difference between life and death.

Logic / Critical Thinking - Disasters cause confusion and panic that can lead to purely emotional responses, which are usually not the best responses. The ability to remain calm, think clearly, and use reason in responding to the disaster is critical. 

Organization / Time Management - There's so much to do in terms of planning and logistics that it can be easy to get overwhelmed and let things "fall through the cracks." The ability to manage your time and to be organized is a highly underrated skill. 

Adaptability - Adaptability, the ability to recognize, accept and deal with change in a positive way, doesn't come easy for most of us, but fortunately it is a skill that can be learned.

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The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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The 56 signatures on the Declaration:

Georgia:
   Button Gwinnett
   Lyman Hall
   George Walton

North Carolina:
   William Hooper
   Joseph Hewes
   John Penn

South Carolina:
   Edward Rutledge
   Thomas Heyward, Jr.
   Thomas Lynch, Jr.
   Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts:
   John Hancock

Maryland:
   Samuel Chase
   William Paca
   Thomas Stone
   Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
   George Wythe
   Richard Henry Lee
   Thomas Jefferson
   Benjamin Harrison
   Thomas Nelson, Jr.
   Francis Lightfoot Lee
   Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania:
   Robert Morris
   Benjamin Rush
   Benjamin Franklin
   John Morton
   George Clymer
   James Smith
   George Taylor
   James Wilson
   George Ross

Delaware:
   Caesar Rodney
   George Read
   Thomas McKean

New York:
   William Floyd
   Philip Livingston
   Francis Lewis
   Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
   Richard Stockton
   John Witherspoon
   Francis Hopkinson
   John Hart
   Abraham Clark

New Hampshire:
   Josiah Bartlett
   William Whipple

Massachusetts:
   Samuel Adams
   John Adams
   Robert Treat Paine
   Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
   Stephen Hopkins
   William Ellery

Connecticut:
   Roger Sherman
   Samuel Huntington
   William Williams
   Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire:
   Matthew Thornton

First of Month (even though it is actually July 2)

By Tim Gamble

All my links: https://linktr.ee/timgamble 

Some first of the month notes, followed by some important Bonus Intel.

What is Dystopian Survival? Dystopian Survival is my term for a new type of survivalism based on the realities of the modern world. These include rapid technological change, the consolidation of power into a small elite class, the rise of tyranny, the loss of privacy and personal freedoms, and the decline of traditional Biblical and American values. Surviving these changes requires knowledge, skills, and attitudes that go well beyond just the typical wilderness survival, homesteading and stockpiling advice currently found in most of the prepper and survivalist community.

Join the Dystopian Tribe! If you are not already subscribing to this website, please join the Dystopian Tribe by clicking here. Subscribing by email is free, and you may unsubscribe at any time. You have my personal promise that I will never sell, rent, or otherwise share your email address with anyone else. Subscribing by email, along with bookmarking this website in your favorite browsers, are the best way to stay in touch despite any Big Tech censorship during this election year. 

Privacy Statement, Cookie Policy, and Other Important Notices for this website can be read at https://www.dystopiansurvival.com/2023/07/privacy-statement-cookie-policy-and.html

Statement on Resistance / Statement on Self-Defense for my websites can be read at https://www.dystopiansurvival.com/2024/07/statement-on-resistance-statement-on.html

First Aid Kits and Medical Supplies - This website is affiliated with Refuge Medical and Refuge Training. All Dystopians (that's you!) will automatically receive 10% off at checkout when visiting their store from links on this website. Their first aid kits, tourniquets, and medical supplies are high-quality, made-in-America products (no cheap China junk) that are great for patriots, families, preppers, survivalists, hunters, hikers, campers, and all other living people. Helps keep blood in the body and breath in the lungs during life's emergencies. Click here to be sent to their webstore and receive 10% off. Remember, you will automatically receive the 10% off at checkout. 

Recommended:  Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions (and How to Crush Them) is finally out and available on Amazon. I'm looking forward to reading this one myself. From the Amazon write-up: "If you don’t understand communist revolutions, you aren’t ready for what’s coming. But this is not a book about ideology or politics. Unhumans reveals that communism, socialism, Marxism, and all other radical-isms are not philosophies but tactics—tactics that are specifically designed to unleash terror on everyday people and revoke their human rights to life, liberty, and property. These are the forces of unhumanity. This is what they do. Every. Single. Time. Unhumans steals their playbook, breaks apart their strategies piece by piece, and lays out the tactics of what it takes to fight back—and win, using real-world examples."

www.TimGamble.com is my other website, which specifically focuses on all aspects of peaceful and moral resistance against the evil forces threatening America, the traditional family, and traditional Western civilization. Please check out the well-over 500 articles on that website! 

Kaleb House Matching Fundraiser continues until July 10. Kaleb House is one of the charities I support. It rescues and restores child victims of sex trafficking. Special donation matching is happening from June 1 to July 10.  This opportunity has the potential to raise up to $500,000 for Kaleb House! Please prayerfully consider donating. Go to https://www.kalebhouse.org/ for more info, including links to the secure donation page. 

Thank you,

Tim Gamble

Statement on Resistance / Statement on Self-Defense

By Tim Gamble

All my links: https://linktr.ee/timgamble 

For the benefit of the federal agents assigned to monitor my websites, I thought it would be useful to occasionally post my official Statement on Resistance, and my official Statement on Self-Defense and the Use of Force, in order to prevent any potential misunderstandings. Note that I do not in any way call for civil war, armed revolution, or political violence of any type. 

Statement on Resistance

By Tim Gamble  (11-20-2022)

We the people have an inalienable right to resist, by all means peaceful and moral, any and all oppressive or tyrannical governments, corporations, and other authorities, including individuals who by their wealth, station, influence or other means, exercise or attempt to exercise power over others. 

This Statement on Resistance is short and simple, but for the sake of clarity in these troubling times, I will explicitly point out a few things. 

First, this is a statement of peaceful and moral resistance. It is not in any way a call for, or an endorsement of, armed revolution, civil war, or political violence of any type. 

Second, resistance is an inalienable right, meaning that this right cannot be taken or given away by any means. This right is not subject to governmental or legal authority, nor is it subject to any vote. It cannot be legislated by politicians, nor regulated by bureaucrats. It is not subject to corporate policies or terms-of-service agreements. 

Third, "oppressive or tyrannical" refers to any exercise of illegitimate authority, unconstitutional power, and immoral acts. It refers to any attempt to limit or restrict our God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It refers to any attempt to revoke or restrict our personal freedoms as outlined in the Bill of Rights. It refers to any attempt to change or invalidate the Constitution, or any portion thereof, through any means other than the prescribed legal and proper amendment process. It refers to any attempt to limit, restrict, or take our economic freedoms for any reason, including the right to personal property, the right to work, and the right to engage freely in commerce (the right to buy and sell). It includes any attempts to deny or limit the rights of parents to raise their children, including overseeing their children's education and healthcare. It includes any and all attempts to force people into any form of collectivism, including fascism, socialism, communism, marxism, and maoism. It includes any attempt to cancel individuals who hold traditional viewpoints, values, or beliefs, or to otherwise bully people into accepting or conforming to so-called "woke" ideology. 

Fourth, this statement does not preclude self-defense and the use of force as a last resort to protect oneself or others from the threat of imminent harm (see my Statement on Self-Defense and the Use of Force).

Statement on Self-Defense and the Use of Force

By Tim Gamble  (January 20, 2020)

This statement reflects my views on Self-Defense and the Use of Force, prayerfully developed over many years of consideration. I do not seek to prove these views to the reader, but rather hope the reader will investigate the many sources given in the footnotes, should they have questions about why I hold these views. 

For the purposes of the following statement, I define self-defense as "the use of force, including potentially deadly force, as a last resort to protect oneself or others from the threat of imminent harm." This definition therefore excludes the use of force solely for personal gain, or out of a desire for revenge or vengeance. Also notice some key words of that definition - "last resort", "protect", and "imminent harm" - that suggest there are limitations upon the use of force in self-defense. Self-defense is not an excuse for the unlimited use of violence.  

Statement on Self-Defense and the Use of Force:

I strongly believe in the unalienable right of self-defense, including the defense of others. It is a biblical concept, which can be proved with numerous passages from both the Old and New Testaments. (see footnotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8)

I strongly support the Second Amendment. We have the right to possess the tools of self-defense, including guns and knives. (see footnotes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,)   

I reject retaliation, revenge, and vengeance, because God's Word makes it clear that such belongs to the Lord, not man. (see footnotes 1, 6)

I reject unwise and inappropriate use of force in self-defense. This includes being too quick to anger, and lacking self-control. Defensive force should only be used as a last resort. "Employing potentially lethal force out of anger, hatred, jealously, or revenge is always wrong and is condemned by Scripture." (see footnote 7)

I reject unprovoked aggression (the initiation of force without just cause). Aggression (force) is necessary, and ethical, in some circumstances to protect ourselves (or others) from actions or threats against our lives, freedoms, rights, or property. 

I reject the concept of absolute pacifism (the idea that force should never be used under any circumstances, even in self-defense or defense of others). I consider refusing to help defend those in legitimate need, when you have the ability to do so, to be a potentially immoral and cowardly act, because it suggests that life isn't worth defending.

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Footnotes

1) See the website Biblical Self-Defense for a lengthy examination of dozens of Old and New Testament passages on self-defense.

2) See the article Self-Defense by Fr. John Whiteford on the Orthodox Christianity website. 
 
3) A book on the subject of biblical self-defense that may be of interest is Stand Your Ground: The Biblical Foundation For Self-Defense, by Steve Jones.

4) The article The Six Things Americans Should Know About the Second Amendment, by Richard W. Stevens, contains an examination of self-defense within a Judeo-Christian framework.

5) See The Bill of Rights, particularly the Second Amendment.

6) See the page Revenge and Retaliation on the Knowing Jesus website for 37 verses on retaliation, revenge, and vengeance belonging to God, not people.

7) Quote is from The Biblical View of Self-Defense, on the Biblical Self-Defense website.

8) Watch the five minute video, Do Not Murder, by Dennis Prager.  

______________________

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Preparing for possible cyberattacks or EMP attacks

By Tim Gamble

(Please Subscribe to this website by Email.)

A few thoughts for preparing for possible cyberattacks or EMP attacks:

• Make sure you have / print hard copies of recent bank and other financial statements.
• Make sure you have / print hard copies of important insurance papers, including account numbers and contact info.
• Make sure you have / print hard copies of your contacts (names, addresses, phone numbers).
• Make sure you have physical maps of your area, also your possible bug out locations.
• Make sure you have cash on hand (ATM machines, credit cards, debit cards, even paper checks may not work, and banks won't be open for business - cash may be the only way to transact business for a few hours to several weeks depending on the severity of the situation).
• Make sure you have / print hard copies of important prepper/survival information (example: print instructions from the CDC on how to use Potassium Iodine to treat radiation sickness since you will NOT be able to look it up after a nuclear or EMP attack).
• Most stores and delivery services will not be operating while the grid (power, Internet, etc.) is down, therefore you need to have a minimum of several weeks of food, medicine and other supplies stockpiled BEFORE the event. More is better. 
• Have a plan to get home on foot if you are caught away from home when an EMP burst takes out all vehicle electronics. This means having good walking shoes or boots, adequate clothing for the weather, and a get home bag with a bottle or two of water plus a few other supplies you may need. Be armed. 
• Have alternate ways to heat your home in winter in case the power is out for an extended period. (Possibilities: woodstove, fireplace, propane heater). 
• Have alternate ways to cook if the power grid is down. (Possibilities: woodstove, camp grill, charcoal grill),

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What You Need In a Basic Tool Set

By Tim Gamble

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When I was living in apartments back in the day, it surprised me how many of my neighbors had no tools whatsoever. I know this because wherever I lived, I quickly became known as that guy with the tools - that my neighbors would constantly ask to borrow! Even basic tools like hammers and screwdrivers were in short supply with many of my fellow apartment dwellers. This article is for those folks who are completely new to the do-it-yourself world of self-reliance, as I explain what should be in a basic starter tool kit that everyone should own.

First, start with a basic Claw Hammer. Hammers are for, well, hammering, usually nails into things. The claw part on the opposite side from the head is used for extracting nails. Hammers can also be used to knock things apart, which can be a rather fun way of relieving stress, though that is strictly an "off-label" use!  Hammers come in many different sizes, weights, and claw types, and the handles can be wood, metal, or fiberglass. For your starter kit, I suggest a 7 oz. hammer, perfect for light household duty such as picture hanging. As you build your tool kit you'll want to add a heavier hammer and perhaps one or more specialty hammers at some point.

Next, you need some screwdrivers. At a bare minimum for your starter set, I suggest four - two Phillips head (the ones that look like a cross) in sizes #1 and #2, and two flat head screwdrivers (the ones with a straight edge) in sixes 3/16 and 1/4. You can buy screwdrivers in various lengths, but you'll probably start with six-inch ones. As you add to your tool kit over time, you'll probably want to add different lengths, sizes, and styles (yes, there are many more styles than just Phillips- and flat- head screwdrivers). You can also buy screwdrivers with interchangeable bits, which can be a space saver.

You will also want a pair of needle-nose pliers (six-inch) and regular pliers (six-inch). Pliers are great for gripping, holding, bending, and twisting things (which can be surprisingly useful activities). The needle-nose pliers typically also come with built-in wire cutters/strippers, which can also be useful. Both regular and meddle-nose pliers come in various styles and sizes, and you'll be adding to your starter kit over time.

An adjustable wrench should also be part of your starter tool kit. Like other tools, they come in various sizes, and you'll probably get a larger one at some point (the big ones can get surprisingly expensive), but you should be okay starting out with the standard six-inch in length with a 3/4 inch opening.

A retractable tape measure will prove to be an invaluable addition to your starter tool kit, provided you use it, as it will keep you from making too many mistakes. You can get them in almost any length imaginable, but I recommend a ten- or twelve-foot one for your starter kit. You can get longer ones later, if you need them.

A bubble level, sometimes called a spirit level, will help you make sure that picture frames, tables, and other items are level. You could use a marble, but a level really is more convenient.

An Allen wrench set, also called a hex-wrench set,  are those weird-looking, L-shaped, hexagonal pieces of metal, that are surprisingly useful for putting together those some-assembly-required pieces of furniture you buy at the big box stores, among other things. They come in both SAE and metric sizes, and you'll want a set of each.

You'll also want to add a good utility knife/box-cutter to your starter kit. Great for cutting things. I also find a good, sturdy pair of scissors quite useful.

A final item to consider for your basic starter tool kit is a set of precision screwdrivers. There screwdrivers are especially deigned to fit very small screws, like those found on eyeglasses and sunglasses, and in watches and various electronics. Like regular screwdrivers, precision screwdrivers come in various lengths, sizes, and styles. For your starter tool kit, just get a basic set.

At this point, your most basic starter tool kit is complete. You'll probably want to add a tool box, bag or case of some sort to store your tools in, to keep them together so you can actually find them when you need them.

You'll also find it handy to go ahead and buy a variety of hardware (items like nails, screws, bolts & nuts, washers, picture-hanging wire, etc). You can typically find small kits of various hardware at the big-box stores. Don't forget duct tape!

For a more complete discussion of tools beyond just the basics, I recommend the book by James Wesley Rawles, Tools for Survival.

As you build your tool kit and workshop. don't forget about safety equipment like protective eye-wear and gloves. Also, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and first aid kits are a must have.

The tool kit pictured at the top of this article is the Stanley 65-Piece Homeowner's Tool Kit, which mostly meets and even exceeds my criteria for a basic starter tool kit. In addition to the basic tools I mention in this article, it also has some additional drivers and a small socket set. The only thing missing that should be in a starter kit is an adjustable wrench, so you'll want to buy one to add to this kit.

Note: This article is a revised version of an article I wrote in 2015. 

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