Journal Entry -- March 3, 2007

Well, I’m Back

“Well,” as Sam Gamgee said, “I’m back” . . . but not from the land of Mordor, though at times it sure felt like it. The more I drive through the behemoth cities of our nation and the urban sprawl that rapidly metastasizes from them the more I am impressed with the total dominion the corporate industrial state has over our nation, both its people and land. You know what type of sprawl I am talking about, where good farmland and thick woodlands are replaced with expanding sterile neighborhoods of identical, expensive row houses spaced fifteen feet apart, bordered by glitzy skid rows of franchised commercial food joints, gas station convenience stores and payday loan centers, super malls and super Wal-Marts, and various entertainment businesses, all overshadowed by sparkling corporate industrial parks that stand tall in their steel, glass, and concrete armor. The ruling moneychangers have learned well the powerful alchemy that turns debt into money and people into slaves through the magic wand of “sound banking legislation and regulation.” One economy to rule them all, one economy to find them, one economy to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

While on the way to a Tennessee mule auction a few weeks back I spotted a B2 stealth bomber at sunset cruising slowly at low altitude through some low level fog and clouds. With it meandering so slowly bathed in an intense pink-orange hue it was truly a sight to behold, which reminded me of a black Nazgul flying its fell beast over the dead marshes of Mordor in methodic obedience to its master’s call. I know, JR Tolkien emphatically claimed that The Lord of the Rings was not an allegory, but he despised and feared the growing corporate, industrial state that emerged from WWI and made it very clear in his other writings. Besides, he did little in his trilogy to veil his concepts of real world evil, which can be summed up by the words of one of the evil characters in his trilogy, Saruman, the lackey of Sauron, “The old world will burn in the fires of industry. Forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machinery of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the Orc. We have only to remove those who oppose us.” This is the empire language of economic dominion, enforced by the sword of the state.

Even with its rundown, patchwork appearance I am most thankful to be back home where I can drive Sam & Sadie down the meandering dirt roads that lace the beautiful silent valleys crowned with trees, where the crisp wind in my face mingled with the smell of mule sweat and harness quickens me the to the simple realities of an agrarian lifestyle. Except for the sharp jolt from a pothole or bursting flight of cackling blackbirds, life can be gloriously subdued and peaceful when driving a team of mules down a backwoods road in backwards Missouri . . . no flashing billboards and profane neon signage, no bumper to bumper traffic with plumes of nauseous exhaust gases, no endless torrents of restless people that burn themselves out going everywhere, but nowhere important, like swarms of driven bugs endlessly circling a light bulb till they drop. The world is leaving us behind in the dust, which suits me fine, for we know Who made the dust and His meek shall inherit the earth.

Spring Has Arrived

In the perfect accompaniment of a booming thunderstorm I am penning this section of the blog entry while listening to a delightful Kruger Brothers song, Tennessee Stud, which is on their great CD, Up18North . . . and to put a finishing touch on the moment I am also enjoying a wonderful evening cup of coffee – Peruvian style – half milk and half coffee sweetened with sugar. Only in my case I have substituted the sugar for a dollop of raw honey and the milk with raw, organic cream that my daughter and I picked up this afternoon on the way home from piano lessons. It’s pretty simple, but it doesn’t get any better.

There is no mistake about it; spring has arrived in our neck of the woods for sure, though the orchestral announcement of lightning and thunder is not always the best indicator, as we have had tornados and thunderstorms at Thanksgiving. Some people mark spring by the vernal equinox that arrives around the 21st of March. The weathermen around here mark it by the calendar – March 1st. I mark it by none of these nor as some do by the green growth that explodes around here with a vengeance, as the muddy land is still locked in an oozy mosaic of rich browns and grays. No, I mark spring with the appearance of certain critters, chiefly turtles and turkeys. On the way to piano lessons we spotted two painted turtles sunning themselves on a log in a nearby bog and on the way home we managed to spot thirty-two turkeys that were congregating in open pastures in prelude to the courting dances of May. Later on, while we Missouri Woods boys were exercising Sam & Sadie with the wagon in taking them on the hilly Rocky Fork – Crooked River loop, I managed to spot sixty-five more turkeys, making it a total of ninety seven . . . yup, it’s spring for sure.

Treva Ropp Update

Treva was released from the hospital a little over three weeks ago and is doing far better than expected, which has been her case since the beginning, to the praise and glory of God. About eighty-five percent of the remaining open wounds have healed since arriving home. I have been unable to contact Philip since then until today when he called me. In keeping with his Amish practice he keeps an answering machine somewhere away from home and returns calls as he has time. As I thought, he has been making hay while the sun doesn’t shine, that is, get too hot as it becomes nearly intolerable to log in the hot, muggy woods of Missouri during the summer, which isn’t all that far off. He was upbeat and humorous as usual, and very happy that Treva is home and getting back on track. I want to thank you all for having faithfully kept Philip and Treva in prayer.

Why the Dangerous Work?

With Missouri Woods taking on real momentum, form, and direction, we have been quite busy both at home and in the various places we have traveled of late. This past February, besides interviewing old-time muleskinners and sawyers to learn all we can of the vanishing trade and training with Sam & Sadie to get them in prime shape, we completed three of the five blocks of a forestry course that is necessary to get certification as “Professional Timber Harvesters” by the Missouri Forest Products Association. All but one block is devoted to the chainsaw method developed by the famous logger Soren Eriksson called the “game of logging,” which is the safest method there is in felling trees. We are very impressed with the measure of control it gives the logger, something we are most thankful for since tree felling can be quite unpredictable and exceedingly dangerous.

I was once asked why we would we would ever choose such dangerous, toilsome work, when we all (speaking largely of me) look like great candidates for a new “over the hill gang” movie and this type of work surely requires young buckaroos in great physical condition, especially in the vital category of sprinting when trees come crashing down or mules take off. I am not denying that I am slower and stiffer than I use to be, but that’s largely physically, and even there this new calling has me feeling better than I have for years. But in my older age I have become, by God’s grace and years spent in the school of Christ, much faster in the realm of wisdom, precaution, and trust, trust in the Lord. Beyond the fact that God gives His people all the grace necessary to accomplish those things He calls them to, and He has called many old ones to do amazing things, who else should steward His land, steward His forests . . . corporations with safe, “efficient” machinery that strip mine the trees and leave the remaining forests greatly damaged and prone to disease (Pro. 14:12)? . . . the physically fit wicked that profane Him and defile His land (Lev. 18:24-30)? . . . or else our children or the inexperienced young among us (2Cor. 12:14-15)? If the present Christian generation in authority will not start the process of biblical reformation in economics and land stewardship, then who will? Passing the buck “while the getting is good” will only bring more tribulation and sorrow upon our children and grandchildren, and there are no age exemptions to biblical repentance and reformation, we will answer to the Lord for what we have passed unto the children He has given us.

We are called to live by example and Joshua was no spring chicken when the Lord called Him to lead His people into the Promised Land, for the Lord does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy (Psalm 147:10-11). I am not willfully naïve either, as I am constantly reminded at the end of each day by the painful aches in my older bones and muscles that I must pace myself as unto the Lord and spare my body by using the mind He gave me. There is no doubt about it, what we have set our hearts to do is very hard, dangerous work, but we have found it not impossibly so. In fact, by God’s grace and providential care, I think we could not be anymore qualified than we are for such a calling, as we are discovering that it is the rich understanding He has given us in covenant theology, biblical law, and biblical agrarianism along with the heart to do it that is making all of the difference in our progress.

It is not as many think the brawn or beauty of youth or the savvy of shrewd business tactics and the right connections that leads to true success and prosperity, though the world’s hastily gained riches may deceive many. No, it is fearing the Lord through obeying His commandments in faithful covenant keeping that leads to lasting true prosperity and generational blessings (Deu. 4:5-10, 6:1-3, 8:5-20; John 14:15, 1John 5:3-5). He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished (Pro. 28:19-20).

Somebody has got to lead the charge up the steep hill of agrarian reformation and I do not think it should be our children. The time will come soon enough when we will pass the baton to them, and, hopefully, a tangible, established baton that has already gone a long ways up the hill and cleared out some of the dangers. Speaking of danger, one cannot be any safer than in the center of God’s will, something I’ve learned time and again in the many years I have had the honor to serve Him in the dangerous adventures He has taken me through, thus far. We are all far safer doing the Lord’s will while pressed on all sides by imminent danger, than by living “safe and secure” in the comfort of our homes while living in rebellion to Him. Though I have stumbled many times in my human weakness and blindness and have, thus, come into many dangerous situations, many which I was not aware of until after the fact, the Lord has never failed to guide, uphold, and protect me. Great are the Lord’s tender mercies.

Maintaining Good Works

It never ceases to amaze me how many Christians steer entirely away from self-employment because it requires that one depend entirely upon the Lord’s daily blessing and providence to make a living sufficient to provide the needs of a family . . . especially when there is no “safety net” protection that corporate and government type jobs offer. It is the “high risk and extreme difficulty” of maintaining one’s own business in the giant’s world of corporate dominion that scares many away. We have been taught the world’s pragmatism that is far wiser and prudent to seek the “guaranteed” income and perks, worker-ant based “careers” and jobs proffered by the global colony, where come hell or high water that paycheck will be there, and if not, at least an unemployment check or other subsidy. I realize that not everyone has been gifted with an entrepreneurial bone and zeal for adventure, which can lead to very trying circumstances at times, and that some are called to labor under the oversight of others, but who should the Christian work for if given the choice . . . the corporate state or the godly businesses of the Lord’s people who have it in their hearts to bless their workers and their children according to God’s word? That said, you’ll likely ask, “Where are the godly businesses,” which is precisely my point. When is the Church going to wake up smell the roses of mammon?

I also realize that we live in difficult times and that many believers are forced to work where they can get it, for which they are thankful and rightly so, but is it the Lord’s best for the long run and their children’s future? I can hear the excuses now, “Can daily life ever get any different . . . this is as good as it gets this side of Heaven.” But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Just whom are we serving and whose kingdom are we truly building? I know from personal experience that it is hard enough at times to just make ends meet, but is our walk with the Lord ordained to be a diminished one of daily drudgery on a ruthless treadmill that is beyond His sovereign hand, which prevents us from even considering let alone planning our children’s futures according to the rich promises of our Savior and King? But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:31-32).

Dare we believe and hope for something far better, something that has no sorrow and enslaving strings added to it (Pro. 10:22), or should we in pragmatic resignation just throw in the towel to any hope of living in a godly culture and economy because the secular powers that be exercise tremendous dominion in seeming perpetuity (Psa. 37: 35-36). Or is it because they proffer many opportunities, good salaries, and plenty of credit, and who could ask for more in a world co-ruled by the devil (Pro. 15:16)? Perhaps, it’s the comfort and security of familiar territory, the guaranteed leeks and garlic of Egypt (Num. 11:4-6) which appear far more reasonable compared to the “uncertain provisions” of the wilderness that leads to the so-called promised land of God’s generational blessing (Phil. 4:19)? I have seen this fear or disdain of working directly as unto the Lord paralyze many brethren from the most glorious and worthwhile work there is, laboring under the gospel of the kingdom in covenanted union with likeminded brethren to build a godly culture unto the glory of our King and Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, while stewarding His lands according to His commands.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men (Titus 3:8). The word maintain comes from the Greek word proistemi, which means to rule, maintain, or be over. The word works comes from the Greek word ergon, which means labor, business, employment, or occupation. Those who believe in God, especially as their true and sovereign provider, should evidence such faith by being over and maintaining their own businesses, as He provides, which fruits are quite profitable to men. I realize that this would be a major leap for many, but in my opinion it is not impossible, else why would the Lord ask it of us through his faithful servant Paul, a tentmaking Apostle?

Is it the Lord’s will that the majority of American Christian men give their most productive time, sweat, gifts, an loyalty to corporations and businesses whose worldviews deny God and who exploit their employee’s valuable labor to insure the long-term continuity of themselves and the debt-based economy which empower them? In claiming that they are merely doing their biblical duty in putting “family first,” many Christian men are in fact putting them last by not seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness but rather in seeking first the kingdoms of men and their prosperity and peace. One could not put their families first anymore than by putting Christ first in being a faithful covenant keeper in building His kingdom first, promoting His culture first, and putting the community of Christ first. The popular though false notion that putting family first means doing whatever it takes, denies the truth that the Lord can provide all their needs in doing His work, His way, according to His commandments (standards).

Moving On

Once we are finished with the course in June we will receive our certification, which also opens the doors for us to practice restorative forestry on state lands, as well, which is something we believe the Missouri Department of Conservation may seek our services for. Perhaps you may think that contracting with the state betrays the tenets of biblical agrarianism. It really depends how and Daniel is a great example of one who did so righteously before the Lord in serving on the Babylonian government. Though we may live in a time of captivity like Daniel where the state has a stranglehold on nearly all things, the earth is not the Devil’s but the Lord’s and we are of the mind to do the King’s business in stewarding all His forests, even those the state lays claim to, if our King makes the way.

In fact, I couldn’t think of a better way to live out the Gospel than to be on the forefront of Christian community building and land stewardship, wherever that takes us. Someday when the Lord is pleased once again with His people here in America, having worked repentance and reformation among them, He will entrust the rich forests and farmlands back to those who name Him and prove it by keeping His covenant, so they can restore them to a biblically sustainable, generational productivity to His glory and honor. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (Pro. 13:22). Until then, we must do as all His people have been commanded throughout the many times they have found themselves in captivity by the hand of their Lord. Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace (Jer. 29:5-7). This is not talking about seeking the peace and prosperity of the wicked, nor replicating their methods in pietist isolation. It is proactive repentance and reformation at the local level of community according to God’s law, right where He would have us . . . on the land.

On a Painful Note

I finish this posting on a painful note, one that I brought upon myself by not following one of my two cardinal rules in dealing with mules that weigh nearly a ton each: before passing between Sam & Sadie when they are chained to their trough always be sure to part the red seas wide, that is, part their red haunches wide. This morning I didn’t part them wide enough and when passing through Sadie moved towards Sam and crunched me against him. I felt the muscle pop in my ribs and now I breathe like a rabbit and probably will for a few days until I mend. The other rule for which I have followed without error is always wear steel toed boots around them. My boots bear the many deep scars where they were stepped on by large hooves with steel shoes. Oh well, God is good to teach us lessons, if only we would consistently remember them.

Pictures

I have included some pictures of what we are doing. Please drop in and leave a comment or two, as is not only encourages me, but many others who read this blog. May God bless you in doing His will according to His grace. ---- The Missouri Rev


Yours truly test driving the logging arch for the first time, without a log. Ben Hur, watch out!!


Art is driving the arch with an osage orange log in tow. The neighbor's dogs are cheering on Sam & Sadie.


Jeff is giving the arch a brisk run with Sam & Sadie trotting along in unison.

The Rayville hazmat team. Actually, the crew is trying out the new safety gear and saws for the first time.

We start out with an enormous elm snag over 36" in diameter. It appears to be sound, so we expect it to land where we have planned it, Lord willing. Art is using a Jonsered 2171 with a 36" bar to make his first cut.

Now for the second cut.


The wedge drops; so far so good. We chose to create a high stump so we could cut more on it later.


Art makes the plunge cut to get the hinge just right and then moves the bar back away from the wedge cut until the dead giant silently starts its last journey down.


Success! The tree landed where it was planned.


Art enjoys the spoils of conquest, the delicious wedge of elm.


Art (on the right) and myself are out for an exercise run heading out of town to try the steep hills east of it. Because we are an uncommon sight in the Rayville area, Jeff follows behind in the dodge truck to keep us safe. The stumps from the downed snag make great seats.


After Jeff had worked them pretty hard on a few steep hills, I head it back into town.


Art faithfully follows as the rear guard.


Here's a good look at our harness setup.


Sam & Sadie make it to our store front and office for the first time ever. It felt good.