Thoughts on the flu "pandemic"

First of all, Bryan, Micah and I have all had our share of cold and flu like symptoms which we believe was probably the H1N1 virus. To be honest it was less voracious than the regular seasonal flu.

Although statistics show that more folks are dieing from the H1N1 flu virus than the regular flu virus it should be noted that these same folks are allowing themselves and their children to succumb to the dangers of the virus. If a child is going to a daycare.....expect diseases to return unwelcome. If a child is going to a school.....the same is true about unwelcome visitors. A sick child that is being forced to participate in several activities at once while beginning to share a infectious portion of the flu virus is not being allowed to rest and as a result the body starts working overtime.

The second reason so many folks may be fearing the trauma of this H1N1 virus is because they have forgotten the "old path" Jeremiah 6:16. They have forgotten old fashioned remedies that our great great great grand parents knew. Simple substances like garlic, onion and cinnamon all have potent effects on any bacterial or viral infection in the body. Also anything with vitamin C, kicks the body into battle mode so that it is able to fight those darn bugs. So whip up a batch of chicken noodle soup and sip a cup of OJ while enjoying a little ginger cinnamon tea. So overall, God has given us natural plants and herbs for dealing with this time bomb without having to put our trust into man's ungodly money hungry vaccination system.....

So how do you face a person that thinks you are a walking disease because you refuse to get a vaccination that is only meant for profit and not meant for health improvement......simply explain to them you have already had the H1N1 virus or tell them you are not going to put your trust into man made non-sense.

Unassisted Homebirth Supplies

This is a basic list of supplies that are useful when performing a home birth (with or without a midwife):

• Sharp scissors for cutting the cord IF it's wrapped around in such a way as it has to be cut to get the baby free.
• Shepherds Purse Tincture in case of excess bleeding/ hemorrhage.
• grapefruit seed extract to take to prevent postpartum infection (mother prone to postpartum infection)
• towels
• ice
• snacks
• drinks (gatorade, juice, water)
• Bulb syringe
• a pan for placenta
• sterile gloves (3 pair)
• Peri bottle(s)
• 6 peri cold packs
• 2 plastic backed sheets (40X 72)
• 2 plastic cord clamps
• 1 bottle of providone (4 oz)
• 2 pairs of stretch briefs or mesh panties
• 10 chux pads 23 X 36
• After birth sitz bath herbs
• 4 oz bottle of olive oil
• maxi pads
• witch hazel pads (Tucks)
• rubbing alcohol for sanitizing
• Hydrogen peroxide in case of blood stains on carpet
• 15 towels, 6 washcloths, 10 old receiving blankets
• cloth diapers for baby
• 2 little hats
• onesie and gown, nice receiving blankets
• two cord ties braided with embroidery floss
• measuring tape
• baby scale
• Superglue for tears in peri-area

This list is very simple. Many of these items can be found in pharmacies, Wal-mart/Target, at online home birth sites, sewn or made by hand and at thrift stores/garage sales.

Update: Garden and Homebirth

It has been a long time since I have posted on this blog. Our garden work is finished, besides clearing the brush out of the garden, and canning work as well. I will soon post the total amounts of produce we accumulated this season. Keep in mind this was my second garden and I was sick with morning sickness for much of the summer, so my motivation to care for the garden was somewhat limited.

We are busily planning and preparing for our home birth where we found much of the supplies we need at local pharmacies, Wal-mart, on-line with various home birth websites, at garage sales and thrift shops. I have accumulated all of the items into a small tote container. It is amazing how quickly time flys. By this Friday I will already be 24 weeks along! Some folks are starting to notice a change in my appearance while others are still wondering. I have kept much of the plans to home birth a secret and only reveal minimal information about the condition of prenatal appointments and such. Thus far the heartbeat on a simple fetoscope has been 150 BPM.

A wonderful site: Shepherd's Hill

This web page was saved in my book marks. It is such an inspiration as they share many of our beliefs and homesteading practices. If you have a home management binder, there is a lot of great information in this website that will be helpful in designing a home towards glory to God.

Shepherd's Hill Website

http://pgburrell.home.mindspring.com/

James 3 and an update

I have been thinking about these verses quite a bit lately. We have such powerful tongues. Let us use them wisely. Let them not rule over us but let us control them with the power of the holy spirit.

James 3

1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.





Recently college has started at a Liberal college located in our town. A very blessed home school girl decided to brave the harsh territory and is currently enrolled as a freshman at this college. She wears a head covering according to 1 Cor. 11 and dresses in modest dresses. We invited her to our home last night to give her the opportunity to repair a choir dress to make it more modest. Although the sewing machine was slightly multifunctional, it was wonderful to know that she enjoys knowing God and obeying him.

Busy times at the end of the season

Today I made some homemade essential oils from herbs that were grown in our garden. It is very easy to make essential oils. First harvest herbs that you would wish to make into essential oils (lavender, sage, basil, thyme, mint, garlic etc). Make sure the herbs are at the pre-flower to flowering stage. Then get some clean clear glass jars and snip the herbs into pieces and put into the jars. Pour a light oil over top of the herbs. Jojoba oil and olive oil are common oils to use. Cover the jars with a plastic cover of some sort and avoid the use of metal as that can absorb into the oil and ruin the consistency. I used plastic sandwich bags and a rubber band. Next set the jars in a sunny window seal for 1 to two days. Other wise put the jars in a low heat oven (150 degree oven) for a couple of hours. I used a homemade solar cooker to keep the essential oil warm. After the oil was warmed I took a small funnel covered with cheese cloth and I poured the oil into small black dropper bottles. To get more scent and potency it is wise to squeeze the cheese cloth with the herb in tact. These essential oils will last 6 months in cool cupboard storage. These oils can be used for medicinal purposes, scent in household items, cleansing etc etc.

Besides making essential oils, I also harvested our kohlrabi, cut it up, blanched it and placed the blanched kohlrabi into freezer boxes for freezing. It was VERY difficult to peel the kohlrabi as it caused my hands to feel arthritic. Next time I believe I will harvest a few kohlrabi at a time rather than all at once.

Slope to Fascism

Are We on a Slippery Slope to Fascism?
by Jan Markell

I have been troubled as I hear people saying that America is heading down a Socialist or Fascist path very similar to what happened in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. But I must now acknowledge that these observers are much more right than wrong. One article that convinced me was Joseph Farah's editorial on World Net Daily for August 11, "None Dare Call it Totalitarianism." He wrote a follow-up on WND August 17 listing the comparisons to Nazi Germany. I do not always agree with Farah but I feel he has done his homework on the above.

On "Understanding the Times" radio this past weekend, I had Holocaust survivor Anita Dittman share her insights on this topic. Both she and her mother were sent to concentration camps and were scheduled to be gassed but were spared by one miracle after another. Both were Jewish believers in Jesus. They saw first-hand how Germany had morphed into a Fascist dictatorship.

So, is America on that slippery slope? Unless the church gets much more involved in restoring America, I would have to say yes. It seems secular humanism is the primary religion in America today as churches grow more and more silent and stray from sound teaching. And government is god.

How can we learn from Nazi Germany's mistakes? Is there time to reverse what is happening in our great nation?

In Germany, "mercy killing" became the policy. Over 270,000 handicapped people were killed because in Germany, murder had become "mercy." Pastors went to call on their elderly members in hospitals and they had disappeared.

Anita pointed to many other troubling issues, as the people were primed for a dictator with promises from Hitler, even if they were all false. Then the government took over private business, industry, and health care.

Hitler took control of the airwaves. He allowed no dissenters. Barack Obama has recently appointed Mark Lloyd, an extreme Leftist in ideology, as head of the FCC. He is not bashful in saying that he is going to fine conservative/Christian networks for presenting the kind of programming they do. The nearly $250 million fine money will be turned over to National Public Radio (NPR). Obviously no network could survive such a fine when radio today is suffering like many other industries. While you may think he will only target Rush and Sean, I assure you that "Understanding the Times" radio is in the crosshairs.

Pastors in Germany came under the gun -- literally. If they spoke against Hitler or his policies, they were punished. We have "hate crime" laws in America now that have pastors and other good and righteous people targeted.

Anita Dittman recalls that many of the German people were blind. They were in a daze. And, they were biblically illiterate, even if they were long-time church members. Most churches had been watered down and thus marched willingly along, making no effort to stand for truth. Perhaps, had they been biblically grounded, they might not have caved.

In Germany, Fascism was basically Socialism. The Obama administration could very well be destroying the free-market system -- as did Hitler, knowing that people will have no place to turn except to government -- and this government wants to institute Socialism. Newsweek magazine said months ago in its cover story, "We Are All Socialists Now." Not quite yet, but we're heading there.

Secular humanism and Darwinian evolution were pushed in Germany. The government was god and the leader, Hitler, was a messiah-type figure. Anita remembers what oratory skills he had. He edged his way onto the political stage thanks to his communication abilities and the many promises he made. He had charisma and a charming smile that made the country trust him. Economic times were tough as people didn't have jobs so Hitler used all the skills he had to win over the country. The Socialist Germany would be the ultimate nanny state and take care of everything. Germany would soon be a proud nation again.

Joseph Farah asks in the first article I referred to, "What do you call it when government-created joblessness is used to promote policies of government control? What do you call it when the government exceeds its authority under the Constitution and ignores any limits of power? What do you call it when the government strikes fear into the hearts of the sovereign citizens it is supposed to serve? What do you call it when government seeks to take over the private and personal health care decisions of people, establishing bureaucracies to make life-and-death decisions and banning unapproved transactions between doctors and patients?"

He continues, "Everything for which America has stood for the last 230 years is under attack -- not by angry mobs, nor citizen lawlessness, and not from threats by external enemies. The threat is from those in charge of government. Americans are being seduced into serfdom and slavery. The specter of totalitarianism hovers like a dark cloud dressed up in euphemisms that would make Stalin, Hitler, and Mao Zedong proud."

We can live in denial or we can call the church into action and individuals to prayer. If America remains a praying nation, some of the worst can be averted. So, will American Christians -- and Christians everywhere -- step up to the plate? Many believers are in a state of apathy and others are becoming more and more biblically illiterate.

And a nation like America is only as strong as her churches are strong.

In spite of some of the commentary coming from Anita Dittman, her book is a faith builder! All readers report that it is also a life-changer. It puts suffering into perspective. She believed that all things worked together for good during her ordeal and she lived to see that come true.

To learn more about issues related to current events and Bible prophecy, check out the "Olive Tree Ministries" link at olivetreeviews.org

Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell