A Proposition for You

I’m back, more or less. Thank you for being patient, may the Lord bless the new year before you. It probably has become obvious to you that I have yet to strike a good balance between writing and the many other hats I wear, though I do understand the important part a journal can play in enlightening and encouraging fellow Christian agrarians to fight the good fight of faith. There are many of you out there that have been a real blessing and encouragement to me because you have chronicled your agrarian life, its peaks and valleys, exhilarating victories and toilsome agonies, and the inexpressible joys and heartbreaking sorrows.

Being a minister of the Word and pastor of a small flock adds a dimension to what I do here that makes journaling a tad difficult, as I am also compelled by my sola scriptura worldview to sermonize my experiences, and rightly so. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15). Rick Saenz of Dry Creek Chronicles has encouraged me, however, to make simple journal entries without creating lengthy, highly edited sermons. (You might check out his latest posting that gives an insightful review on the Little House on the Prairie book series.) His advice is much appreciated and well taken; I’ll do my best. Nonetheless, this is like asking a hungry mule not to eat the deep, rich grass in the new paddock he has just scampered into. I speak from observation.

I would like to say that I’ll soon get the hang of consistent, weekly journaling so that my readers do not have to repeatedly search my blog for a new posting, but the vision we have undertook here has taken on real flesh and sinew and has become a very dynamic journey that has growing priorities and demands. There is much that has happened since I last posted that I need to fill you in on, much I have learned that is on my heart to share, and much I need to convey in the apologetics of biblical agrarianism and Christian community, but the manure and muck on my boots, pulled muscles and fatigue, and the cuts and scratches on my hands testify to the daily realities of an agrarian life which have put journaling on the back burner, and we have only just begun. The next several months look to be a very busy time for us as we begin an intensive down-to-earth education in mule driving, logging, and sawmill design and implementation.

That said, I do believe Rick is right, I need to put into a journal as much of our experiences as possible. But that applies to all of us for the sake of future Christian generations who will look to those who have gone on before them that have scaled the difficult mountains of a biblically agrarian life. In recent deliberations with my business partners, it was determined that a vital part of my job description with Missouri Woods is to write according to my calling in the Lord, so as to give the biblical reasons for the real hope we have in finding God’s grace and mercy in our endeavors to serve the Lord with the work of our hands in building Christian community. This is because the successes and failures that will come to Missouri Woods are not unto us, alone, but unto the greater body of Christ who, Lord willing by His rich grace and the illuminating light of His word, can learn from them . . . provided they are chronicled.

Though we may not realize it, the observations we all make and the lessons we learn from our small, seemingly mundane lives can have the same impact on others as those we gain from reading classics like the Little House of the Prairie series, which chronicled (in story form) the mistakes and victories of a Christian family living in rural America in the late 1800’s. You’ll note, however, that neither Charles nor Caroline Ingalls wrote on their arduous, though rich life. I have far more respect for them now than I ever did when I only dreamed of the agrarian life. I have come to learn that there is a world of difference between pontificating on the agrarian life from the comfortable couches of theoretical, wishful thinking . . . and actually living it.

I also understand that not everyone is gifted to write, though we are all commanded to defend the faith we profess and live. Perhaps there is a son or daughter of yours that yearns to write, maybe a fellow brother or sister in Christ. Encourage and nurture that yearning, but more importantly, live the agrarian life as they cannot chronicle it for you if you are not living it along with them. Move out of the entrenched parking lot of good intentions and head up the rugged, steep trail by faith. Break a sweat and get your fingers dirty and sore as unto the Lord, you’ll never regret it.

Finally, I am bursting at the seams to write, teach, and preach. Even so, what sweat and labor my 52 year old body can offer in carrying my share of the burden in the daily grind of chores and work is of far more importance to the success of Missouri Woods and our small Christian community than journaling, important as I may think it is. It all comes back to striking a balance within our priorities.

This all leads me to make a proposition for you dedicated readers of my blog. Since I cannot promise you before the Lord that I will always make weekly or monthly entries to my journal, though He knows that is my desire and goal, if you will send me your e-mail address I will notify you whenever I do post. This is so that you will not have to repeatedly waste your time going to my blog only to find that nothing new has been posted. To join The Rural Missourian notification list send your e-mail address to: RuralMissourian%%CRCRayville.org. Note: You will need to replace the %% with the @ to make this address work, as I have altered it to avoid spammers that can automatically detect e-mail addresses when searching Internet websites. Your e-mail address will be closely guarded and kept private.

Far better yet – if you think you have the heart of a biblical covenant keeper and a strong desire to seek first the Kingdom of God in all you do, if your are willing to humble yourself in esteeming others better than yourself while sharing their burdens, forbearing with their shortcomings, and forgiving their offenses against you – then come out and visit us and get your boots muddy and backs sore in learning what we are doing firsthand. I know Sam & Sadie will love to help you break into a sweat.

Perhaps these qualifications for a visit may seem high-minded or unreasonable, but please keep in mind that we fervently believe if ever the Lord should bless His people with success on earth in returning to a God-blessed lifestyle and culture, it will not happen because they move to rural areas to “live on the land,” raise chickens, farm organically, or log with mules, as the unregenerate do the same, but because He specifically promises to bless His people and their successive generations should they keep covenant with Him in obeying His commandments. This is one and the same as seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness wherein He promises to provide all our earthly needs. In a nutshell, I have listed below the long-term plans and basis for what we believe will lead to the success of both our Christian community and Missouri Woods.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them. Psalm 103:17-18

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33

If anyone will take to heart the vital truths in these three verses then they will have advanced far in their understanding of biblical agrarianism. Bottom-line: It is faithful covenant keeping with the Lord according to His commandments in all we do that defines biblical agrarianism and separates it from all other forms of agrarianism, no matter how good they sound.

It is not that we here in Rayville have already attained, by any means, as we are sinners in need of God’s grace as much as anybody else. We have learned from real experience, however, as God has been merciful in making our way though we have made mistakes, that these promises are true, true to every generation that names the Lord. Most importantly, these qualifying truths are the vital gatekeepers which protect the Lord’s people from the two fatal banes of Christian Community: self-righteousness and autonomy, both that of the community members and those who seek to join them.

May the Lord be gracious in leading you to keep covenant with Him in prospering the work of your hands. God bless – The Missouri Rev