Currently I’m reading books about Agriculture. One is “Sepp Holzer: The Rebel Farmer”, another is “Edible Forest Gardens: Ecological Vision and Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture.” As you can probably tell from the titles, the first is completely down-to-earth, while the latter has alot of “vision” and 50-cent words; but still is fundamentally changing how I look at growing food. That said: I have very little knowledge about growing food in general, so this isn’t surprising!

I’m seeing the complete truth in the above mentioned proverb. This earth is teeming with life! Watch videos such as Greening the Desert & Farming With Nature — Permaculture with Sepp Holzer and one can literally see the potential. As I read Holzer’s book the injustice highlighted are civil servants who won’t Listen and Observe nature, but rather impose regulations as they were written. Add all the rest of mankind’s rebellion against God to the mix and you see what we have today.

I see plenty of “let’s create the perfect world/humans through gardens” but seriously, I’m ok with putting up with (ignoring) that to learn a bit about neato agriculture. This earth is coming to an end, and when it my time to GO (Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus) I’ll be more than glad to drop my plow and go to that country that I’ve been waiting for.

Naturally gifted with a strong religious tendency, he had, since his first marriage, taken, not to denial, but to the side of objection, spending much energy in contempt for the foolish opinions of others, a self-indulgence which does less than little to further the growth of one’s own spirit in truth and righteousness. The only person who stands excused –I do not say justified– in so doing, is the man who, having been taught the same opinions, has found them a legion of adversaries barring his way to the truth. But having got rid of them for himself, it is, I suspect, worse than useless to attack them again, save as the ally of those who are fighting their way through the same ranks to the truth. Greatorex had been Indulging his intellect at the expense of his heart. A man may have light in the brain and darkness in the heart.

…by George MacDonald from his story the Gifts of the Child Christ.

Read “Triumph”. (pdf version)

Good quotes:

“Is it not a wonder that Christ and the Apostles (especially Saint Peter after the conversion of thousands in Jerusalem) did not ordain some headman to rule over the church? According to the new “evangelicals,” Christ and the Apostles must not have been thinking very far.”

“The world has peace only as long as property “rights” are not disturbed. But when people’s private possessions are in danger, their peace is already disturbed.”

My favorite section (I went through a very similar experience, but different teachings):

I must admit that I learned a good amount, in the past, from the writings and the sermons of these “evangelical” preachers. I used to be a solid Roman Catholic. Their teachings brought me to see that Roman Catholicism was wrong, but it led me only into a freedom of the flesh. Instead of being bound in my conscience as before, I now felt free to eat and drink with such teachers. I thought I must be a good Christian now and set myself against Catholicism with all the writings I could find to serve my cause. Everyone praised this understanding of mine, but it was not what entered the mouth but what came out of the heart that defiled me (Matt. 15).

I gladly accepted “evangelical” positions against auricular confession, papal rules, for this did not infringe on my flesh, and I could do so without the true spirit of Christ in my heart. I accepted many “evangelical” teachings, which were true. But the mystery of the cross of Christ and the narrow gate was not spoken about nor taught, just as it still is not taught in “evangelical” circles. They were totally quiet about this way of the cross that leads from Babylonian captivity back to freedom in Jerusalem. Much more, if anyone had dared to open his mouth about it, he would have been persecuted by them and delivered to the hangman. It is easy to see that these “evangelical” preachers are the evildoers to whom Christ says, “Depart from me” (Matt. 7).

You can buy a copy at: http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/more-Triumph.html

Where one problem lies, especially in “second generation” Christianity, is that the second commandment is held higher than the first. And, if a man or woman walks in morality, he is accounted as a fine Christian: despite the fact that he walks more or less pleasing the desires of his body, eye, and ambition: a “Christian” Epicurean.

Sports, hobbies, adornments in clothes, gluttony, the “arts”: if we are going to receive a genuine out-pouring of God Himself into our life, these will all have to go. And whatever space these occupied in our hearts will have to be filled with love to God.

I highly recommend the book. You hear of the revival of yesteryear, but almost never hear of the lives those Christians lived. This book records it.