Notice To All Readers - By Tim Brown

Dear readers of The Omega Report,

I wanted to take the time to sit down and write you all, as I have you dear in my heart. The time I spent writing on the topics of Christian eschatology and preparedness for the days ahead were some of the best and worst of days. I remember over the last year hurriedly taking steps to prepare my family for the uncertain days ahead. God was stretching me in many ways, spiritually, family-wise, financially, etc. and in many ways we are still being stretched. My family has gone through a lot of transition and we have just recently been able to get financially stabilized as I am starting a job next week, God willing.

The last 2 years though, regardless of the difficulties, has also been the best of times. God called me in a time in my life when I was in a place of self destruction. He then led me through years of legalism in a certain denomination context, and then through that allowed me to get buried up to my head in an addiction that nearly cost me my life. However, through that I also learned the grace of God and the power of transformation that comes through knowing and accepting one’s identity in Christ. This pursuit of transformation and grace eventually led me out of the legalisms of my past and eventually out of the personal moral legalisms I held myself personally to. It has only been over the last 3 years where I can say I have truly learned how to walk with God, hear his voice, and do his will in a way where it is not my own fleshly efforts trying to accomplish his divine purposes, but his Holy Spirit working and leading within me. This has truly been life-changing for myself and my wife.

Things really came to a head in December when it became clear to me that I would never be able to serve in the kind of ministry context I was in, due to the fact that my views had changed so drastically from what they traditionally had been. Grace and God’s love filled my teaching, as well as showing people HOW to live holy lives through knowing their identity in Christ, not just tell them they had to go and live holy lives. I was asked to leave ministry at my church in December 2009, and have been looking for some kind of work ever sense, again starting one next week.

So why has it been so hard for me to find another ministry within the denomination I had been a part of? Because I refused to not be honest about who I am, what I believe, and where God has brought me in my journey of faith. The plain fact of the matter is, I am a former addict, former legalist, who now preaches grace and holiness without performance.

I say all this to say, that the Spirit has convicted me to not only be transparent in all these facets of my life, but to also be transparent with those who were the readers of The Omega Report. On the site, I mentioned that I began my Christian faith with a belief in Amellinalism, which later changed due to things that God was showing me through scripture and through other’s teaching. Any other teaching in my denomination would be cause for automatic dismissal, or of being labeled as a person in error. When God began to press upon my heart to write articles concerning his Son’s second coming (as I do still believe he is VERY near), I started The Omega Report writing under a pseudo name-as I wanted to not only protect my family’s privacy, but I was also still living with some residual fear about letting others in my circle of influence know the real me, and to some extent I am still afraid-just where I am in God’s process of working with me. But as I said to myself and my wife when I began looking at ministry again, I told her that I would never again where a mask, and that I would never again hide behind the fleshly attempts to create an identity for other people that is contrary to the identity that I have in Christ.

Duncan Conner, was my pseudo name. So let me introduce myself formally. My name is Tim Brown. I reside in TN and have a beautiful family of 5 (just had our third son!). I decided to continue writing, now especially sense I will be working again and hopefully will have more time. But another reason why I plan to continue writing is because as I mentioned earlier, God has been doing some amazing things in me that have led me to the conviction that my role in these lasts times is yes, to help people understand the Lord’s second coming, but so many more people are far more gifted than I am in that area. I have come to the conviction that God has called me to help set the captives free-to use my life as one who was hopelessly addicted to show others how to be free, and in general to help who the church and teach the church who they really are in Christ. This is the focus on that new web site that I mentioned in my last post on The Omega Report.

My new site is called www.timothybrownministries.com I just started it last week and I do plan to import all of my articles over from the old site to the new site. I still plan to keep The Omega Report up and going for you to use the articles and information as you wish. But any new material will be posted on the new site, and also I will be writing and focusing my attention on issues with regard to how we are to walk and how to walk in the Spirit in these last days-a much more compelling (if you ask me) and encouraging theme, that a lot of the craziness that we see in the world around us. The fact is this: If we don’t know who we are in Christ, then regardless of how much information we possess about the end times, we will still not be as effective as we could be, had we walked in the Spirit and accomplished the things that God wants us to accomplish in the intervening time between now and his second coming. I hope that the new site will be an extended and expanded section on Spiritual Preparation.

I pray that my writing under a pseudo-name does not offend anyone. I assure you it was partly about fear, and partly about privacy. But now I know that I do not need to hide behind any masks. I plan to keep any who were on the mailing list still on the mailing list. But if you decide you want to opt out, then when you get the e-mail, you may do so there. If I don’t hear from you, then I will assume we can still continue our adventures in the word of Christ together, and I look forward to getting to know you better, as you get to know me (the real me) better.

May God bless you richly and may he continually supply you with all knowledge and grace as you walk worthily in him.

In Christ,

Tim Brown (aka, Duncan Conner)

P.S., I mentioned that my wife and I just had our third son. We named him Connor…  Look forward to hearing from you.

A Final Message From Duncan Conner

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A couple of months ago I came to you to let you know that I had lost my job and that I would be focusing all of my energies on seeking employment in order to provide security for my family of 5. I began limiting the amount of extra work and volunteer work that I was doing and as a result I decided to not update The Omega Report as far as writing and posting new articles, and to keep posting news related to prophecy daily. I wanted to take a moment to update you on the situation and to let you know about the future of The Omega Report.

I have been tirelessly looking for work for 2 months now, and though I am currently following up on about 4 leads, I am still unemployed. The financial stress in our family is rising and I am at a point now where I am going to have to go out there and literally grab anything-though it may not pay all our bills. I am still praying that something will come through but have accepted the fact that God has his plans and that his processes are not always those that we would normally choose for ourselves. They are nevertheless his and are always best.

Having said that, it is with great sorrow that I am now going to have to step away from this ministry. I have tried to make time to produce new articles and provide new insights for the study of Bible prophecy and it has became apparent that I am no longer going to be able to do this. So looking to the new year, my intent is to cease updating the web site and adding new articles and news. I will leave all the information that is on there now currently, at least through to the beginning of the new year, and then sometime next year I will shut down the web site. Personally I would not like to see The Omega Report go away completely. If there are any out there who would like to get in the driver’s seat, I would love to work with you and hand it over to allow it to keep going.

Your kind words, insights, prayers, and friendship have been wonderful. I have loved interacting with you and learning from you, and look forward to continuing on in the relationships that I have formed in this ministry.

I know that many of you enjoyed the unique articles and news items that we posted on the site, so I would like to give you a few links to help you continue seeking out this kinds of information.

For news I scoured the web and hit all the main news sites like CNN.com, Fox News, etc. I found the Drudge Report to be very helpful, as well as various prophecy news web sites that are easily found by Google. A particularly helpful web site is also http://www.prophecyupdate.com/ You can also set news alerts through Google if you want that will send you news alerts for certain keywords like “Bible prophecy,” “Gog and Magog,” etc.

Also, please copy down all the sites that I have listed in my SOFL links section. A lot of the articles that I deemed the best of the best came from reading these others sites.

As far as the financial information, etc. is concerned here are some of the sites that I frequent:

Glenn Beck
http://www.glennbeck.com

Harry S. Dent
http://www.hsdent.com/

Stan Deyo
http://www.standeyo.com

Jerome Corsi
http://www.worldnetdaily.com
http://www.redalert.wnd.com

Mish Shedlock
http://www.globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot
http://www.sitkapacific.com

Walter Zimmerman
http://www.icap.com/

Gerald Celente
http://www.trendsresearch.com

Peter Schiff
http://www.europac.net/

Survival Information
http://www.survivalistboards.com/

I hope that these resources will be helpful for you. I wish you all the best in the days and years to come. I don’t know what will happen with America, the economy, whether these are the last of the last days or not. But I know who holds the day and who will care for us. Study the word, live godly, be ever ready for the appearing of our lord. Continue to prepare as best as you can, and live for Christ to the greatest of your ability. Until then…God bless you all.

In Christ,

Duncan Conner

Preparation For The Coming Days: Part 1 - What Should I Prepare For? - By Duncan Conner

In this series of articles I plan to lay out for you the exact steps that my family has taken over the last couple of years to get ready for what is more and more looking like the beginning stages of the very last of the final days.

A Little Background
When I write those words it feels almost surreal-and yet we as believers should not be surprised. The Lord told us numerous times in the scriptures that one day he would return, and he gave us clear signs to look for that will precede his second coming. Couple these statements with all the prophecies in the Old Testament, and you have quite a detailed roadmap as to what the final days will look like.

In 2007 I felt very convicted in my Spirit to begin a web site, with the aim of proving my and other’s insights into Bible prophecy, as well as provide resources for people to prepare for what will most certainly be dire pre-rapture conditions. As I have stated numerous times, we don’t know what life prior to the rapture will look like. Most Christians who believe in the rapture have classically assumed that they would see no trial, hardship, persecution, or difficult times, before the catching away mentioned in I Thessalonians 4:17. 2 Timothy 3:1 says that in the last days “difficult” times will come.

A very intriguing passage is the one in 2 Peter 3:3-4, 3 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with [their] mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For [ever] since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

I have personally always taken this passage to mean that in the last days, as we begin to see Bible prophecy start to be fulfilled and as we begin to see the pieces of the puzzle line up, Christian will no doubt begin to get excited more and more about their faith and the soon return of the Lord. However, the Bible says that there will be the naysayers, the mockers, the one who will challenge us and call us crazy and “Christian fundamentalists.” We’ve all heard it before right? “Every generation thinks there is the one where Jesus will come back,” “People have been setting dates for years,” etc.

The Bible teaches us clearly what the attitude of Christians will be toward the end of the age. Again, Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”

Are we not heading down this path? Anyone who sees what is going on in the world knows clearly that we are. And in terms of persecution, Jesus guarantees that those who stand up for their faith will be persecuted. Jesus says in John 15:20, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…’

Jesus also mentioned the signs that would immediately precede the time of the tribulation. He said in Matthew 24:6-8, 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars . See that you are not frightened, for [those things] must take place, but [that] is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are [merely] the beginning of birth pangs.”

The question is then, when will the rapture take place? Will it take place before or after the beginning of these birth pangs?

As many of my readers have e-mailed me recently, I am becoming aware that more and more people are starting to read the handwriting on the wall. Things have really ratcheted up over the last couple of years. I have always been someone to read the news headlines. I think and see in associations. When I see a list of news headlines I can easily see lines of connection running throughout them, and lines of connection that connect with other stories in the previous months or years. I also see the lines of connections from these stories and the many prophesies in the Bible that relate to the end times and the things that must be in place before the end times scenario can occur.

I can tell you, never in my life have I seen so many pieces of the prophetic puzzle coming together all at once. I remember the time when it would literally take months before I would see a news story that was relevant to Bible prophecy. And now I can’t hardly keep up!

Think about it. Look at what has occurred in human history just over the last hundred years. Knowledge has increased exponentially, the world is moving at an ever more rapid pace toward regionalization and globalization, American for the first time ever is moving toward Socialism, we are on the verge of having our entire financial system collapse, the decline of the U.S. has already begun, the world is clamoring and calling for One World Government, Israel is becoming more and more isolated, especially now under the Obama administration-which has shown itself to not be an ally for Israel. Iran is allying with Russia, and everyone believes that Iran and Israel will go to war soon.

Everything is moving toward the final goal that God has for mankind-the second coming of Jesus Christ! These are indeed exciting times.

Preparation 101
Now before we get into the basics of preparation, let me just say, the very first thing you have to do is determine what you are preparing to survive and how each disaster threatens you and your safety. That will give you the parameters necessary for the following steps.

This initial exercise isn’t hard as it only takes a few minutes of thought. I suggest you jot down some notes or switch into your word processor while you work.

But first, it’s important to realize that you cannot prepare for everything. There are a lot of preparedness resources out there with lists as long as the eye can see for things you should buy, get, etc. It’s important when you first start off to only prepare for those things that you think you will personally potentially face, and prepare ahead for things you could be facing within the next 5 years.

As yourself this question: What do you think it likely to happen in my town, around my area, etc. within the next five years? You will have to do your best on this one. I suggest spend some time in prayer over it. But you will need to extrapolate, evaluate trends, read the newspaper, and conduct your own research. At the very least, take a few minutes and consider your location. Pull out a map and look what’s within a 2-mile, 5-mile 10-mile and 25-mile radius of your home and place of work. Put on your pessimist hat and consider what might go wrong that could directly impact you and decide if that’s something you want to prepare for.

For example, if you live a “safe” distance outside of a flood plain, your house might still gets flooded in the 100-year flood, so should you prepare for it? I, but it’s your call. That nuclear plant 20 miles away has an excellent safety record. Should a nuclear disaster be on your list? Again, you make the call. Are you worried about a meteorite crashing into your house? Well, it has happened, but it’s probably not worth preparing for.

Finally, if you’ve been afraid of something since you were a child — whether it’s a raging fire or nuclear war–prepare for it. At the very least, you’ll sleep better at nights knowing you have done all you can.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1.) What natural disasters or extreme conditions, taking into account the times we are living in, taking into account all that is going on in the world, my country, my state, my city, my neighborhood, am I (we) likely to face in the next five years?

Make a list and rank them in order of most to least likely to impact you. You can review my list of possible natural disasters below if you need to.

If you are quite optimistic and you are not too concerned with the economy, your list might look like this:

1.) Heavy Thunder Storms
2.) Severe Winter Weather
3.) Nearby Flash Flooding

If you are like me, the top 3 on my list are:

1.) Collapse Of The Dollar
2.) Civil Unrest
3.) Martial Law

Obviously there is a big difference between the two lists, and how you prepare will be contingent on the kinds of things you put on your list.

2.) What other disasters or emergency situations might I face?

Add to your list the man-made or other disasters that you might face in the next five years (again, you can refer to our list, if necessary). Let’s say you have added these categories:

1.) Toxic Material Emission/Spill (From A Train Derailment)
2.) Riot Or Other Civil Disorder
3.) Nuclear Plant Problems
4.) Terrorism

3.) What are the ramifications of each item on my list?

Now, take your list and create a second column. Put the ramifications of each disaster in the second column. What do we mean by ramification? How the disaster or emergency situation could affect you. Think this one through very carefully, as everyone’s situation is different. For example, families with children have different concerns than those without children or single people.

Once you are done with that, finally, note if the ramifications could require evacuation (which is what we will cover in the next article, i.e. “Bugging Out”).

To keep using our example, results in a table might look like this:

Potential Disaster	Ramifications
Collapse of the dollar	Food shortages Gas shortages Massive unemployment Possible civil unrest Possible Martial Law
Thunder storm with electrical outage for 2 (average) to 48 hours (severe)	Food spoilage possible Lack of air conditioning/furnace Damage to house or car from nearby trees Possible local flooding (see below) Local transportation impaired by fallen trees, wires Lightning damage/fire potential
Severe winter weather	Electrical outage for 4 (average) to 72 hours (severe) would affect furnace operation Exposure problems Frozen pipes Disruption of travel, transportation Self or family members possibly stranded away from home Possible food shortages and empty shelves at local markets
Nearby flash flooding	Local transportation disrupted Danger while traveling in car or by foot Possible loss of some utilities
Nearby train derailment	Possible leak or spill of chemicals Short-term exposure problem Long-term cancer concerns Evacuation may be necessary
Riot or other civil disorder	Disruption of commute (ala Los Angeles) Stranded in car or office while family is at home and/or school Danger of riot spreading to my neighborhood Danger of local kids/low lives taking advantage of situation Attack or threat to personal safety Looting and rampaging by otherwise lawful citizens Fire with potentially no response by authorities Police are overwhelmed, cannot protect law-abiding citizens
Nuclear plant problems	Reactor vessel damage could result in release of radioactive chemicals to atmosphere Evacuation necessary
Terrorism	Threat to safety at work and during business travel Disruption of commerce, travel Less personal freedom, privacy as a result of government reaction to terrorism

Once you’ve created a chart like the one above, you know what situations you are most likely to face and can prepare your survival plan. For the next steps, go on to Part 2 (Will be published soon).

How to Put Together the Ultimate Survival Kit

There are so many debates when it comes to the perfect survival kit. In my opinion, the items you choose to be in a survival kit can be very different based on the situation you see yourself in (maritime vs. desert survival) as well as your level of skill. For that reason there are a number of factors that determine what items you ultimately put in it. For this article, I will explain to you how I organize my kit, the elements that make it up, and hopefully provide some inspiration for your own. As always, I’d love to hear your opinions, so feel free to comment!

My entire kit is based off of three tiers - one that I carry with me, one that I keep in my car (and sometimes on me), and one that is in my home ready to go in a moments notice if I had to bug out. Here is the three-tiered survival kit:

The Three-Tiered Survival Kit

First Tier
This ‘kit’ includes those items that you have with you at all times. This is your fallback kit. If you were stranded somewhere with nothing else except for what you have on you, than this is what you’d be left with. They should be with you at work, while you’re running errands, church, basically everywhere possible. Obviously when you’re showering you can make an exception, just have it close by to grab on your way to wherever you’re going. The following gear (which I call the Essential 3) is recommended for your first tier:

Folding Knife: If you’ve ever been in a survival situation (planned or not) you know how essential a knife is. This I consider to be your most important survival tool. Purchase a good quality folding knife. My knife of choice is the Doug Ritter RSK MK1 - good quality, good price, and thoroughly field-tested (by me) for my needs.

Fire Starter: This comes in second in order of importance for first-tier gear. For all you smokers out there thinking, “I’m all set, I’ve got my Bic” you might want to reconsider. A Bic Lighter is ok, but the fuel can run out quickly (especially if you’re not skilled at fire making) and they are a bear to start when they get wet. Instead of a fuel-based fire starter or worse (matches) I would recommend a “firesteel.” I recommend the ones from FireSteel.com or any of the Swedish FireSteel versions. These ’strike-style’ fire starters are far superior to fuel based ones because they last forever and produce a hotter heat output compared to a Bic and an added benefit is I’ve never had issues taking them on a plane. The only downside is if you have no fire-making skills you’ll need to practice with it a bit. In the meantime you can carry with you a simple tinder made by mixing a little Vaseline into a cotton ball which will easily light with this fire starter.

Cordage: Cordage is a fundamental part of survival. It’s used for bowstrings, lashings, fishing line, snares, trap triggers, nets, tying down shelters and more. While making cordage from natural materials is always an option, and is not too difficult to learn, it’s always a good idea to have some with you at all times. I would recommend at least 10 feet of good strong cord - my favorite being 550 Paracord. I carry around 10 feet of it on my wrist at all times in the form of a bracelet I made. The benefit of Paracord is that not only is it strong (it has a 550 lb rating - hence the name), but it is made up of a strong outer sheath and seven inner strands that can be used for multiple purposes. Just carrying 10 feet of Paracord is like carrying 80 feet of cordage!

While I would at the least recommend the Essential 3, there are a few other items you may want to consider carrying as part of your EDC (Every Day Carry) Gear or first Tier. Here are some other items I’ll have on me:

Coin Sized Compass: These are those small, coin-sized compasses you see in many mini survival kits. Try to get one of the liquid-filled ones since it doesn’t have to be completely horizontal to work.

Pinch Light: These little ‘pinch lights’ are perfect in a pinch (pun intended). They provide enough light for travel, for night time camp activities (building a fire, setting up camp), and the LED versions last forever.

Lock picks: We live in an unpredictable world. Since I’m all about preparedness, there may come a time when you are held captive by terrorists, kidnapped for ransom (visit Mexico), or your simply locked out of your house. Lock picks - and knowing how to use them - are a great addition to any EDC list.

Hand-Cuff Keys: It’s not unknown for kidnappers and terrorists to use handcuffs to hold you captive. Since many cuffs use a universal key, carry a spare in a location on your person that is accessible with handcuffs on.

Personal Protection Device: This could be a concealed carry pistol, mace, tactical flashlight etc. Just be sure you have the proper license if required.

The key to the first-tier kit is to incorporate it as much as possible with what you wear. While the above items could probably all fit on a keychain, key chains sometimes get lost. If your knife has a clip, clip it to the top of your pants. Wear a cordage bracelet, or use strong cordage as lacing for your footwear. Attach a small fire starter to your belt. Find creative ways to ‘wear’ your first tier gear. That way it will always be available.

Second Tier
The second-tier survival kit includes items that you can fit in a small carry bag (like a fanny pack) or if you’re in the military or field, this would be what you attach to your H-Harness. If it’s in a pack, have it somewhere close by like in your car or in some cases feel free to carry it with you (in a purse or “man purse”). And for insurance purposes, duplicate and upgrade the items you have in the first tier. Here’s a list of what I have:

Fixed Knife: In other words, non-folding. You’ll want a heavy duty, full-tanged knife that can take a beating and hold an edge. My favorite is the Bark River Bravo-1. If you want more details into what makes up a good knife checkout my article on how to choose a survival knife.

Full-Size Compass: Even if you already have a small one in your first tier, then this should be upgraded to a full-size compass for ease of reading an azimuth. I prefer a lensatic compass due to the accuracy I can get in the reading.

Water Container: Any collapsible, light, and easily carried container will do.

Fire starter: Again, for insurance purposes you’ll want to duplicate what is in the first tier. I just include another fire steel that is a bit bigger than the one I carry on me. I also have a film canister filled with cotton balls mixed with Vaseline.

Water Purification Kit: In a small kit like this, iodine crystals are a perfect fit. They come in a small bottle (you’ll want to buy the Polar Pure brand) and it can purify up to 500 gallons!.

Flashlight: The ‘tactical’ flashlights out there are an excellent choice. Check out the SureFire brand. You won’t be dissatisfied.

First-Aid Kit: This would be smaller than what you carry in your third-tier survival kit, but should include at least tweezers, a hemostatic agent (like QuickClot dressings), antihistamine, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, bandages, butterfly closures, moleskin, tape, and gauze.

Simple Shelter: This could be a shelter half, bivy, tarp etc. This simple shelter should fit in your small kit and is mostly used to protect against the elements. I have a simple bivy and space blanket combo - both small and extremely light.

Cordage: Again, I would recommend 550 paracord. Try to have around 50 feet.

Energy Bars: Any high-calorie, nutrient dense bar will do.

Signal Mirror: While any mirror will do, it’s best to buy the signal mirrors that have the hole in the center to accurately aim the reflected light.

Lock Picks & Cuff Key: I have a more extensive kit in this tier.

Multi-Tool: My Leatherman Wave has been a lifesaver for many tasks out on the road. This tool is so handy, it fluctuates between the first tier and second tier.

Third Tier
Your third-tier survival kit is equivalent to what others commonly refer to as a go-bag, bug-out bag (BOB), or 72-hour kit. This kit should include all those items that could fit into a good-sized backpack that will sustain you for at least 72-hours. It should be easily accessible and ready to go at a moments notice. I keep mine at my house. The most important thing is that you pack your bag for scenarios that you may encounter. Individuals living in the city will have many needs different than those in the boonies, so be sure to prioritize around your needs.

I also like to separate my bug-out bag into multiple tiers - each tier enclosed within its own bag - with the most important items being on top. This allows for easy access at night when visibility is low. They are based on the following priorities (in order of importance):

1. Personal Safety: This tier is in two separate bags: one is for personal security items and the second is for first aid. The first-aid kit is a bit beefier than what is in the second tier above.

2. Shelter: Personal shelter and sleeping bag. I keep these on the outside of the pack. I love the Henessy Hammock. It’s lightweight and super comfortable. If you are with a family and personal hammocks aren’t an option, you’ll want to consider a tent. .

3. Water: My pack has an integrated water bladder that I combine with the Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Microfilter. I also include another bottle of Polar Pure (duplicated from the second tier kit).

Since I live in an area where water abounds, finding water to filter is less of a worry. If you live in a more arid environment you may want to consider packing as much as you can carry.

4. Fire: This tier includes the same items listed above, as well as an efficient camp stove and fuel.

5. Food: I have some canned goods, but mostly freeze dried foods and MREs. Have enough for three days.

Besides what’s listed in the priorities above, I also include several tools and miscellaneous items such as an entrenching tool, 100-ft length of paracord, fish hooks and line, headlamp, small hatchet, playing cards, and something to read.

Conclusion
In summary, while the list above is what I use, it may not be suitable for you. It’s important that you organize and supply your kits with items specific to your environment, needs, and skill level.

The best advice I can give you is to put your three tiers together and put them to use. Practice using the various items in darkness and light, different types of weather and different seasons. Take your go-pack on a hike with you to see if you can even carry it for an extensive time period. Drop those things that aren’t working for you and add others you think you’ll need.

With time you’ll find a kit that is highly customized to you (and your families) needs. Best of luck!

www.tacticalintelligence.net

Finding Gog - By Jack Kelley

Those who labor to understand the nuances of the battle described in Ezekiel 38-39 quickly identify two major puzzles. One is the timing of the battle and the other is the identity of Gog, from Magog. Suffice it to say here that almost no scholar, certainly none I’m aware of, believes the battle of Ezekiel 38-39 has already taken place. Some believe it will occur just before the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week, while others believe Ezekiel is actually describing the Battle of Armageddon, which would put it at the end of the Great Tribulation. But all place it sometime in our future.

In my opinion, there are several reasons why Ezekiel 38 can’t be part of the Armageddon scenario. First, only some nations are involved in Ezekiel 38. For example, Saudi Arabia and Western Europe are said to be on the sidelines observing and others you would expect to see, like Egypt and Jordan, are not mentioned at all, although both appear later on. But Zechariah 12:3 says that in preparation for the Battle of Armageddon all the nations of the Earth will come against Jerusalem.

Second, how is Israel going to burn the left over weapons for 7 years as Ezekiel 39:9 indicates unless there are 7 years left in which to burn them? Rev. 21:24. says the nations will walk by the light of the New Jerusalem in the Millennium, so they won’t need fuel for energy then. And then you have Ezekiel 38:11 telling us that Israel will be a peaceful and unsuspecting people when the Moslem coalition strikes. Could that be possible near the end of the Great Tribulation when all the nations are gathering to attack? I don’t think so.

But most importantly, Daniel’s 70th week can’t start until Israel is back in covenant with God and the battle of Ezekiel 38 is what causes the covenant to be re-instated. (Ezek. 39:22) Armageddon comes at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, not the beginning.

As for Gog and Magog, the first thing to note is that while Magog is listed in Genesis 10, Gog is not. The list of 70 names in Genesis 10 is often called the Table of Nations because each of the men named there was the original ancestor of an ethnic group that grew to become a nation of people. For instance, Magog was the 2nd son of Japeth, one of Noah’s three sons, and bore the children who in time became known to the ancient world as the Scythians. They lived in central Asia and are believed to be the forefathers of today’s Russians. Many historical references support this view. For example, Josephus Flavius wrote “Magog founded the Magogians, thus named after him, but who were by the Greeks called Scythians.” And in some ancient Arabic documents, the Great Wall of China is called the Ramparts of Gog and Magog. It was built to keep the Scythians out of China.

So while the Russian people of today are likely descended from Magog, there is no such biological connection for Gog to either Magog or any other ethnic group. There is an unrelated mention of a man named Gog, a grandson of Reuben, in 1 Chronicles 5:4 but there doesn’t seem to be any connection between him and the land of Magog either. Clearly, while Magog refers to the millions of his descendants in today’s Russia, Gog remains a single individual.

Some say he’s a king or leader, and in a real sense I think that’s true but I don’t believe he’s of the human variety. The time spanned by his three appearances in scripture make that impossible.

The first one is in the first verse of Amos 7, but you have to be reading Amos from the Septuigent translation to see it. There, Gog is identified as a king, but of a swarm of locusts. To further shroud him in mystery Proverbs 30:27 states that locusts have no king, and observers of locust swarms agree that no obvious leader directs them, as a queen would direct a hive of bees for example. The swarm of locusts led by Gog in Amos 7:1-2 was symbolic of a judgment that was to come upon the Northern Kingdom, but the Lord relented because of Amos’ intercession.

(This hint also lends insight to another appearance of locusts, by the way. I’m referring to the one in Revelation 9, where a swarm of locusts comes out of the Abyss to afflict those on Earth who lack the seal of God on their foreheads. These locusts have a king named Abaddon in the Hebrew or Appolyon in the Greek. Here again, the Proverbs passage would indicate that these locusts are of supernatural origin like the ones in Amos 7, not ordinary locusts.)

The next time Gog’s mentioned is in Ezekiel 38:1, where he is called by name as the leader of a coalition of what are now primarily Moslem nations attacking Israel. His final mention comes from the Book of Revelation where he again leads the people from Magog against the Lord’s army at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:8).

Even if you’re among those who place the battle of Ezekiel 38 at the end of the Great Tribulation, the span of time between Gog’s last two biblical appearances is at least 1000 years, and while I believe that some born in that era will have long life spans, there isn’t any indication that natural humans born before the Millennium begins will live to see its end. This is especially true of God’s enemies, since all surviving unbelievers are removed from Earth at the beginning of our Lord’s reign.

So I’ve come to the conclusion that Gog is a supernatural figure. The Bible clearly states that behind the human seats of government stand supernatural figures manipulating the thoughts and actions of the world’s leaders. These figures are in Satan’s employ, helping in his effort to wrest ownership of Planet Earth from its Creator. Gog is at least the supernatural figure behind the throne of Russia, and perhaps is even Satan’s counterpart to the Archangel Michael, who commands the Lord’s armies.

In Daniel 10:13 Michael is identified as one of the Lord’s chief princes who in 536 BC came to Daniel’s aid in a supernatural struggle with the Prince of Persia, a nation barely emerging on the world scene having conquered Babylon just three years earlier. At its conclusion Michael told Daniel that he’d soon be battling the Prince of Greece, a nation that didn’t even exist at the time. In Daniel 12:1 we’re told he’ll protect Israel at the end of the age. And in Rev 12:7 he’s seen leading the angelic host in a great battle in heaven when Satan is defeated there and cast down to Earth at the outset of the Great Tribulation. Michael is clearly a supernatural warrior leaping across the pages of history in defense of the Lord’s interests. It makes sense that Satan would have a military commander leading his forces as well, since everything he does seems to mirror the actions of his Creator. With his multiple mentions in Scripture and the long span of time between appearances, Gog could easily be this commander.

Only time will tell if this view is correct. But one of the great advantages of living in our day is that we won’t have long to wait till we find out. You can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.

www.gracethrufaith.com

The Top 20 Emergency Supplies You Need to Survive Any Disaster

It’s important to have the right emergency supplies in your home before disaster hits.Nowadays, no continent on Earth is safe from catastrophe, and the same can be said for most U.S. states.

In 2004, over 300,000 people lost their lives in South Asia from the most devastating tsunami on record. A year later, here in America, New Orleans was all but destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Just a few months ago, Southern California was devastated by the worst wild fires in our nation’s history. On top of that, over a million people had to be evacuated, which was the largest evacuation of U.S. citizens since the Civil War.

Then a severe ice storm shut down power across the Midwest, leaving over a million people without heat and electricity for a number of days. A few lost their lives.

Our planet is clearly going through perilous changes. The fact that the polar ice caps are melting, and the fact that the weather is getting more severe all around the globe - well, it looks like disasters are going to become more commonplace - and kill a lot more people.

Many believe this is in fact the beginning of God’s judgments, which are said to occur in the ‘last days’, and catch much of the world by surprise. Whatever your beliefs are, it looks like it’s going to get a lot worse for the people of planet Earth.

If your area is hit by a major disaster, there’s a good chance that you won’t have any access to emergency supplies, and what stores do stock essential supplies are likely to be quickly sold or even taken by looters, as tens of thousands of people in nearby communities literally break down the doors of stores to get their hands on food and supplies.

Here is a list of the top 20 items SurviveAnyDisaster.com believes it is absolutely important that you have on hand. Not only should you have these on hand, but explain to your family members where they can find these items in your house (should something happen to you).

You Need:

1) Large Supply of Bottled Water, and the knowledge to procure water from contaminated sources. Two of the most common methods for procuring drinking water from contaminated sources are called “distilling” (which involves boiling water and collecting the steam in a “run-off” that then drips clean water into a separate container); the other method is called “filtering”, which involves pouring water through a manufactured or home-made “filter” system, in an effort to remove contaminates.

Before disaster hits, do some research online, and learn “how to distill water” and “how to filter contaminated water”. Then practice these methods at home with your family.

When shopping for bottled water, look specifically for “Food grade” water storage containers. These range in size from 1 gallon to 5 gallon jugs, to 55 gallon barrels and 250 gallon and 500 gallon mega-size containers (see link labeled “Water Storage Containers” at the top of the page).

2) Non-perishable Food - This refers to any food that does not need refrigeration and is packaged, canned, or bottled in a way to provide a long shelf life. Be sure to check expiration dates (see link labeled “Food Supplies” at the top of the page).

3) Candles / Wooden Matches / Lighters - (Candles, such as Sterno’s 60 Hour Emergency Candle) are specifically made to burn for longer amounts of time than traditional decorative candles. Like bottled water, it’s good to have a large supply of emergency candles, wooden matches, and lighters. A few weeks down the road, candles are likely to become your only light source, especially if firewood runs low and those wind-up emergency flashlights stop working.

4) Light weight Axe - Firewood is the most obvious source to provide heat during cold temperatures, and as long as you have a good axe, you can turn just about anything into firewood. Even if you don’t have a fireplace, you can still build a makeshift fireplace or wood stove in your backyard out of rocks and mud (usable once the mud dries). You can also use a patio fire pit, as commonly sold at home improvement stores, such as Lowes and Home Depot. (If you build an outdoor fireplace, remove the grill from the oven in the kitchen of your house, and use it for outside cooking, in conjunction with your firepit.)

Choose an axe that is both heavy duty, and light weight, because you may end up carrying it in a backpack over long distances, and the less it weighs, the better.

5) Propane for Cooking - There is something even more useful than firewood (in the early weeks of disaster), and that is propane.

Propane is the most obvious fuel source to keep on your property, and most people who own a bar-b-cue usually have one multi gallon propane tank tucked underneath or to the side. In preparing your home for disaster, if you have the money to spend, consider buying and filling five to ten of these. Or better yet, just as RV owners do, you can buy propane tanks that are extra large in capacity, and hold a lot more propane than typical 13 gallon bar-b-cue tanks.

Propane is a great survival tool in emergencies because it can be used for both cooking and heating (but I suggest it only be used for cooking, and that you get your heat from other sources, such as warm clothing and warm blankets; this way you use as little propane as possible, making it last longer).

Be sure to store any propane in your garage, or in a shed, or outside under a tarp - don’t store it in your home, as it can have a slow leak and poison the air.

Rather than use propane to fuel a full size bar-b-cue, I suggest you buy a much smaller compact propane stove, as commonly used for camping, as the right stove will be much more efficient, and use the least amount of propane.

6) Propane Camp Stove - As propane is the most common fuel used in outdoor bar-b-cues, a smaller two burner camp stove is best, for emergency purposes. When selecting a camp stove, choose one that can handle repeat long term use.

Warning about Lawlessness - In the event of a catastrophe, looters may be out scavenging for propane tanks, so keep yours well hidden, as much as possible. If you’re doing any outside cooking, keep in mind that the smell of your food can drift for a far distance, catching the attention of scavengers, who (in the wake up lawlessness) may be willing to kill or seriously injure you, to take any and all water, food, and other supplies you have on your property.

7) First Aid Kit - Make sure you have a well stocked first aid kit, which are commonly sold at drugstores and back country stores. With your kit, be sure to include a generous supply of Ibuprofen (pain reliever and fever reducer), and antiseptic spray for burns, stings, and cuts. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are also recommended by some, for washing out wounds, in preporation for bandaging. Anti-diarrhea medication is also recommended, as there is a chance you may eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water at some point, and suffer from it.

Radio and batteries - A small emergency radio is good to have around; if news is still broadcasting you can pick up reports to find out how the rest of the nation is faring during this time of devastation. A radio is only as good as the amount of batteries you have to power it, so keep a generous supply. Nowadays, there are emergency radios for under $50 that do not need batteries, but have a wind up dial that you crank, to generate power for up to 30 minutes or more. It might be smart to have both, this way if the wind up dial ever breaks, you still have a back up radio with batteries.

9) Flashlight / Lantern - it’s good to have 2 - 3 flashlights on hand, that are heavy duty and can withstand moisture and being dropped. Headlamps are even better, as you can wear them around your head, which frees up your hands for other use.

Today there are lanterns and flashlights that don’t need batteries; like the emergency radios mentioned above, these usually generate power by a wind up dial, and some smaller flashlights you activate by “shaking” for a short period of time. As it’s not known how reliable these devices are with repeat use, I suggest that you have both battery operated flashlights / headlamps, in addition to the wind up flashlights and wind up lanterns.

10) Heavy Duty Tarp - Tarp is sold in most home improvement stores; choose a dark color that doesn’t stand out (in case you ever have to hide out in the forest), and have 3 - 5 tarps of various sizes. Tarp can be used for a number of things - from building shelters in the forest, to building shelters underground.

Rain Catch -Tarp can also be used as a “rain catch” for catching rain water, for drinking. Lay the tarp out flat, and then hoist it into the air from all four corners, so it sags in the middle; this is where water from any rain will collect.

Warm Room - Tarp can also be used to help insulate a “warm room”, which is a room that is set aside in your house where all family members can meet together at night, to conserve body heat. Just as children like to build “forts”, choose one room in your house that you can seal off at night, and build a “fort” inside.

Stuff a bath towel or blanket under the door crack to keep the cold from coming in and to keep body heat from escaping. Also, hang up towels and blankets over the window, and even seal off with tarp and duct tape to help keep warmth from escaping at night through the window pane.

Now that you have a “warm room” sealed off in your house, build a “children’s fort” inside (out of tarp and blankets) that is big enough for your family to then crawl inside and sleep in. This is almost like the “igloo” such as Eskimos build in the freezing snow of Alaska. You’ll find that your body heat from you / your group will help keep this space at a warmer temperature than the rest of the house.

11) Bowie Knife - A good knife is an essential, and is going to cost some money. When choosing a knife, look for one where the blade runs to the bottom of the handle; and make sure that the store that you’re buying it from understands that you intend to do a lot of wood carving with it, so you absolutely need a knife with a handle that won’t fall apart with repeat use. (If by chance you have to flee your home and community at some point, a good Bowie knife - also called a “Survival knife” - can be used to carve a long bow, for bow and arrow hunting like the Indians of early America. For this reason, as well as for cutting up and carving game that you’ve killed (such as deer or elk), it is very important that the handle of your knife be exceptionally durable.)

12) Hiking Boots - Like your bowie knife, expect to spend some money on hiking boots. You want a pair that are going to last you, and not fall apart if by chance you end up wearing them for two years or more straight. When selecting a boot, let the store know that you need a pair that is built to withstand heavy hiking, and that is the least likely to need any repairs on the trail. You want a boot where the bottom sole is “stitched” to the rest of the boot, instead of simply glued to it, which is how most cheaper boots come.

13) Compass - If you have to flee your community, or if you’ve simply taken to nearby forests to hunt and fish for food, a good compass and knowing how to use it is an important tool to have. Some compasses even come with a built in thermometer and signaling mirror, which can help you out in a survival situation.

14) Bear Pepper Spray - Whether it’s wild dogs that have gotten loose, or cougars or bears that have strayed down into your community - pepper spray that’s strong enough to ward off Grizzly bears - called “Bear Pepper Spray” for it’s strength - can prove to be a life saver. Consider buying 3 - 5 large bottles, or one for each member of your family. You can also use it to fend off looters (as long as they’re not pointing a gun at you).

15) Cold Weather Sleeping Bag - To make sure that you’re protected by any exceptional drop in temperature, you should consider buying a sleeping bag that can hold up with repeat use, and will keep you warm to twenty degrees below zero. Depending on where you live in America - you’ll probably want to go even colder than that.

16) Cold Weather Parka and Snow Pants - Since you might find yourself out in cold weather during the day time, as you collect firewood, help out neighbors, and hunt and fish for food, it’s important to have the right coat and pants that can withstand the elements, especially snow and slush. As an added bonus, if you have to flee your community, you can even sleep in your coat and pants, if they’re layered right and / or rated to keep you warm enough.

17) Personal Hygiene Items - In preparation for a widespread disaster, and the possible collapse of government and our entire economy, you should be aware that the next time you go shopping at a supermarket, it could be your last. If the economy falls, stores are going to fast run out of food and supplies, and without new shipments coming, there will be no more stores to buy from. Not only is your money likely to be useless, but the items that you do need are going to be in high demand, which probably means very hard to come by.

Stock up now on toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss (the last thing you want to have happen is a dental emergency, when there are no more dentists available), bar soap for bathing, shampoo, bleach, bleach wipes (very handy), and laundry detergent. If you minimize your use of these items, you can make them last many months.

18) Outdoor Clothing - If disaster strikes, there’s a good chance you won’t be reporting to work in an office downtown, but you may find yourself helping out neighbors and others in your community by building shelters and reparing houses that may have been damaged. With this in mind, be sure to have clothing that can handle being outside in the elements.

Consider stocking up on clothing that’s geared for heavy use, such as that sold by outdoor clothing stores, such as Carhart. Have an assortment of pants, sweat pants, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, thermal underwear, and a few pairs of wool socks. If you can afford to buy more than the average person, don’t hesitate to do so.

When preparing for a natural disaster or large scale terrorist attack (such as a nuclear detonation in a nearby city), there’s no such thing as being over-prepared.

Buying More than You Need - Helping out other people in need - especially in an emergency, such as a widespread natural disaster - is the right thing to do. Be generous with what you have, and generous with what you know. Be prepared to teach your neighbors some of the methods you should start teaching yourself, such as how to distill water from contaminated sources, as well as how to make home-made water filters (which I link to at the top of this article) for procuring water that’s safe to drink.

While you’re taking steps toward preparing for disaster, most people aren’t, and when disaster strikes, they are simply not going to be prepared. Many are going to be without food and water and other items essential to survival.

Helping Friends, Family, and Neighbors - Please keep that in mind, and as much as possible, consider buying more than your family needs, so you can help out your neighbors (in addition to friends and family that may live nearby) when disaster finally strikes. They’re going to need food and water also.

Consider sharing this article with them, and talking about some of the basic steps every person should take in preparing their home for an extended emergency, where the electricity is down indefinitely, and there is no tap water, grocery store, or gasoline available for transportation.

19) Hiking Backpack - Things might get bad. Really bad. You and your family might have to flee the area; in fact you might have to flee the entire state.

If you still have a vehicle, and you have a full tank of gas, and there’s still a road to drive on - great, you’re in luck. Start driving and get out of dodge.

But at some point you’re going to run out of gas, and any gas station you come to is likely to be closed and out of operation.

When that happens, strap on your hiking backpack, and start walking. Have a detailed map of the state, and a detailed map of the U.S. and Canada.

No More Road? Just Follow the Railroad Tracks - If for some reason it’s not safe to travel by road, you can always travel by walking alongside railroad tracks. Make sure you have a specific map that includes railroad track routes, and then consider following one or more (make sure you have a good compass, and know how to use it before hand).

Railroad tracks criss-cross the continent (many in North-South and East-West directions), and may provide a safe passage should roads ever be un-safe to travel by.

No matter where you are in the United States, the smartest destination for fleeing the nation is to go NORTH, and into Canada, and head for the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies; you may even make it to Alaska.

In a worst case scenario, that’s why it’s important to have a full size backpack, as commonly used by hikers and the military for multi-day hikes. If in a disaster situation you ever have to flee your community - and have to leave your car behind - having a hiking backpack means you and your family can strap essential survival gear onto your backs, and make your way to safety.

When Disaster Strikes - Have you ever wondered why insurance companies call natural disasters an “act of God”?

Because, quite a few people still go to church, and recognize that “acts of God” have been occurring more and more frequently in the world. Around the world, the weather has gotten worse, and natural disasters have gotten bigger and killed more people. (Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans, a modern day Sin City, and the 2004Tsunami killed over 300,000 people in South Asia).

Most recently, the California wild fires forced the evacuation of over a million people from their Southern California communities, as thousands watched their homes and the surrounding hills go up in flames.

This winter, over a million people were left without power across the Midwest states, as much of the nation suffered a deep freeze and a large amount of snowfall where temperatures plunged well below zero. Without electricity to power there homes, many of these people had no heat, no light, no way to cook, no hot water, and a few lost their lives.

Luckily, the power came back on a few days later.

But what if the next disaster is so widespread that the power doesn’t come back on?

This question brings us to the most important item on this top 20 list of items essential for survival -

20) Holy Bible - Believe it or not, this world is not going to last forever, and neither are you. History is littered with the remains of fallen empires, and the Bible records many of these. In the past, God has judged the world for widespread wickedness, and he did it with a flood.

The Bible reports that God is going to do this once again, in the ‘last days’, but instead of a massive flood as occurred back in the days of Noah and the Ark, the Bible shows that God is going to use other nations to bring war against the most wicked nations, and a number of natural disasters across the earth, as a series of “judgments” for not accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and following God’s commandments.

Some Community News - By Duncan Conner

Hey all,

Greetings in the name of Christ.  I wanted to write and let you all know that I will be taking some time off this week, which means that I will be taking a little time away from the web site as well.  I will still continue to post news articles every day, however I will not be posting any new articles until next week.

Just to let you know, I am working on 2 major things for the site right now.  One is the series of articles that I have been talking about for some time now on step by step, what some of the things you can be doing right now to be preparing for the days ahead.  I hope that you have already started.  If not, better late than never.  We are in a lull right now–an inflated period where the economy is flush with bailout money.  As you know it started to collapse at the beginning of the year, and then after all the stimulus worldwide, they flooded the globlal economy.  Imagine it like blowing up a baloon that has a pinhole in it.  We discovered at the beginning of the year that our baloon had a pretty serious pinhole.  The baloon was deflating and deflating fast.  So what did we do?  We took as deep a breath as we could and blew into the baloon.  We blew it up really big, then let go, and said, “Wew, not it is blown up again.”  But it still has a hole in it!!!  So not too long from now, we are going to start to see the effects of this thing again.  RIGHT NOW is the time to be preparing if you haven’t already prepared yet.  More on this later.

The other thing that I am working on is a letter that I am crafting to my family.  I sat down the other day and started writing a heartfelt letter to my family (who are mostly non believers).  I wanted to write to lay out a case for the collapse of America, what Obama is doing, and how all this possibly relates to Bible prophecy.  I had no idea I would now be on my 50th page with this letter.  I plan to publish this letter on the site as soon as I am done, just in case it may be of benefit to any of you.

I look forward to taking a little R&R time this week.  Keep looking up, take the extra time to look at some of the other many articles and preparation resources you may have missed. God bless you all and see you soon.

In Him,

Duncan Conner

How You Can Get Involved In Community Organizing – By Glenn Beck

Dear Family and Friends,
 
Hope.  For change.  For the first time since Barack Obama came to power, I actually have some.  Yes, I too, like the mindless Obama minions last fall, long for change.   In fact, most Americans didn’t know what change he was talking about.  Change was just a rallying-cry that meant whatever the listener wanted it to mean.  And in fact, he was right, most Americans DID want change…including me.  Just not THIS kind of change. 
 
But just because we’ve made the mistake, doesn’t mean we can’t admit it.  We must put the parties behind us.  I can’t say this enough, this is NOT about Obama.  This is about the system…the system I talk about in “Common Sense”…an out-of-control government.

The change we now need, and quite franky, needed when Bush was in office, is to change our course back to the one charted by our Founders.
 
That won’t be easy.  We will all have to unite, in order to accomplish that goal.  My critics keep saying, “Glenn Beck is building an army!”  Apparently completely unconcerned with the army Obama has spoken about building or the one ACORN founder Wade Radke talks about building in his new book.  The one he, himself, claims also includes AmeriCorp.
 
But I, am not building an army.  All I am is a humble, “community organizer”, organizing a radio and television community.  And I’m trying to learn how their system works.  As I mentioned, they are building an army, but what I will tell you is a big, central power structure will fail.  The only thing that will stop the gears of whatever it is they’re creating, is small, individualized groups of Americans.  That kind of grassroots effort was celebrated when Obama was doing it during his campaign, and is certainly celebrated by those who believe in what ACORN is doing.  Those same people aren’t exactly breaking out the confetti for us now though.
 
So what must we, as a “community” do?  First, we have to identify our critical stands, where we cannot fail in our efforts.  We have to draw a line in the sand over several make or break issues, in order to keep the progressives from fundamentally transforming America.
 
What are those issues?  Well, I would really like to get your input, as Constitutional “Watch Dogs”, as to what you think those things are, but let’s start with these.
 
Health care reform.  The overhaul being proposed is an absolute disaster.  Obama has taken such a hard stand over this because he knows that it could drive a stake through the heart (what’s left of it) of our current Capitalist system.  The three sell-out Republican Senators who are uniting with three Senate Democrats to find an acceptable government health care “compromise” are badly misguided, and are doing a great disservice to their country.  Maybe they’ve seen the “Princess Bride” one too many times and believe that a Capitalist system that’s just “mostly dead”, is preferable to “all-dead”.  Unfortunately, unlike the movie, our nation doesn’t have a “Miracle Max” available to resuscitate us after we’ve been tortured to death…or, to “mostly death”.  This catastrophic bill can’t pass in any form.   That’s stand number one.
 
Cap and Trade.  Yet another death blow.  This would be the kill shot to our already fragile economy.  In Obama’s own words, if his plan passes, electricity rates would “necessarily skyrocket”.  Whether that means 50%, 100% or more, who knows?  But by his own admission, it would be devastating to Americans’ budgets.  He doesn’t care.  And whether he ascribes to the Al Gore hoax that the planet is burning up, or that, as I suspect, it is just another way to gain power and remove freedoms, it doesn’t matter.  This bill must not pass.  Stand number two.
 
Card check, or any of it’s ugly step-sisters.  I told you months ago that this union-backed, card check bill was just a way to focus our attention on something we all knew was horrific, while they tried to back-door their actual agenda through…binding arbitration.  All this is part of the “Employee Free Choice Act”.  Gosh, how could anyone not be in favor of “free choice?”  Well, the problem is, we already have it, and through their “1984” type double-speak, this would actually eliminate it.  It can’t pass.  Stand number three.
 
Let me know which issues you feel are critical.
 
So, what I’m asking of you, is that you become a Constitutional Watch Dog.  My staff and I can’t be everywhere at once, and as hard as we try, we can’t catch everything.  But with the power of ten million of us being ever vigilant, I like our chances to stop them. 
 
A couple of weeks ago, our new watch dog, Bofie, arrived with her trainer.   I know, no self-respecting man would ever have a dog named “Bofie”.  But hey, no self-respecting man would break down and cry like a three year old girl over a Kleenex commercial on national TV either.  Let’s move past that.
 
Anyway, we spent two days going over commands and getting the new dog familiar with our old dog…the manly named, Victor.  At one point, the trainer put on his protective suit, and in order to see how the dogs would work together, got them all riled up and asked me to give the attack command.  Both dogs sprinted toward him and then suddenly, stopped.  I thought, what kind of crappy, yet ridiculously expensive dogs are these?  I mean, I might as well go down to the pound and pick up a pair of Chihuahuas, instead of these two sissies.  But as I was headed toward the phone book to find the nearest pound, the trainer stopped me and explained that they had reacted exactly as they’d been trained.  “They’re trained to be worthless woos-cakes”, I asked?  No, he said, their job is to get between the attacker and me, and if the attacker doesn’t move, they just make sure he stays there until help arrives.  If the person is stupid enough to move, they tear his face off, but if he stops…they stop.
 
That’s why I’ve chosen the name Watch Dogs.  I’d like for you to fiercely guard and defend the U.S. Constitution.  Whenever you see someone attacking it, get between them and it.  Bark like crazy.  Send me “twips”…tips on twitter, email me, call me on the show.  We will then amplify your bark to a national audience.
 
My family and I always felt safer when we saw our watch dog patrolling our property.  What I’ve noticed in the last two weeks is that two watch dogs, sends a much more powerful message.  Imagine how powerful that message will be with TEN MILLION.
 
Be vigilant, stay strong,
 
Glenn

www.glennbeck.com

Meeting America’s Challenges: With Faith, Hope and Common Sense – By Glenn Beck

Dear family and friends,

There is a line from the 1980’s movie, “The Abyss” going through my head lately.  The movie takes place deep under the ocean on an underwater oil rig.  The oil employees there have been joined by members of the military, because strange water-shaped aliens have appeared.  The military personnel are concerned that what they’ve seen may come from the Russians.  But one of the crew members aboard, tries to get the rest of the crew to view the miraculous form they’ve witnessed with, “better eyes than that.”

That’s what I’m hoping you will now do.  Look at what’s going on today, with “better eyes” than you’ve ever used before, because it is more important now than ever before.  We must view them without the eyes of democrats and republicans that most have unfortunately used for too long.  Then we must question, as Thomas Jefferson said, with boldness.  And accept the truth, no matter whether we disagree with it or its possibilities make us uncomfortable.

The last couple of days I’ve tried to outline some of the serious challenges we are facing.  Today, I want to talk about what you and I can do about it.  I know it may not seem like it at times, but I’ve actually been filled with hope and optimism recently.

As I have looked at the issues we face with “better eyes”, I honestly believe that I now understand what the problems are.  As anyone who, like me, has been through a twelve step program will tell you, admitting that you have a  problem is half the battle.  Now, we just have to DO something about it.  But that of course, leads to the inevitable question…what?

That’s an obvious question to ask.  Another good question to ask yourself might be, why are no solutions even being discussed in the public forum?  I feel there are a couple answers to that question.  The first one is…many people don’t know how to identify the problem.  Another one is fear.  Too many people are afraid to suggest any solutions because they might be ridiculed or dismissed as an extremist.  I’m way beyond the point of caring about any of that.

It’s taken an awful lot of research, piecing together the pieces of a giant puzzle, and quite honestly, prayer, to come to the conclusions I have.  I have truly agonized over what to do for our country for years now.  I’ve waited until now to put this down in writing because I didn’t want to provide any half-baked answers, but instead offer several different concrete courses of action from which you can choose.

You may also be wondering, ‘Glenn, what’s the big hurry all of a sudden, why does everything have to be done right now?’  Well, we are at a crossroads in our history right now.  Either Barack Obama continues with his pledge to “fundamentally transform the United States of America”, as he promised in Missouri five days before the election, or we travel down the path back toward the trail blazed by our Founding Fathers.  There can be no hesitation.  Hugo Chavez proceeded with his transformation of Venezuela at a slower, more cautious pace than Obama’s first six months.  In fact, on a live TV broadcast from Caracas on June 2nd of this year, Chavez quipped admiringly, “Hey, Obama has just nationalized nothing more and nothing less than General Motors. Comrade Obama! Fidel, careful or we are going to end up to his right.”  Now, I’m sure that was funny to Chavez and Castro, but it certainly wasn’t funny to me; and I hope and pray, not to you.  The clock is ticking on our opportunity to make a difference, but we still can!

First of all, over the next two days, I’ll be outlining the critical issues, over which, we MUST draw a line in the sand.  I’ve pondered these things carefully and truly believe we have to win these battles I will share with you this week, to save our Republic. But I will also ask for your input.  In the meantime, here are some vital first steps to take.

First, consult with trusted spiritual advisors for guidance. That could be a member of the clergy or a trusted, spiritual friend.  Also, to me, and to most of our Founding Fathers by the way, this includes seeking the guidance of the Lord in prayer.  I know, this is something that invites the ridicule of the mindless, godless spawns of hell (I say that with love, of course).  Again, I couldn’t care less.  If there was ever a time when we needed guidance from a Higher Power, it’s now.  To you, that higher power may come in the form of a spoon…whatever, go with it.  Unless the spoon is telling you to kill, cook and eat your neighbors, or in any way bring harm to others, then, obviously, that’s not a “higher power”, that’s A spoon.  But we must have inspiration on our side for this struggle.

Second, now that you’re (hopefully) freshly armed with inspiration, read the news and study issues from multiple sources, with “better eyes.”  You’ll see things clearer and be far less likely to be deceived.

Third, question everything.  Yes, even from me.  Mom used to tell me that I had a head on my shoulders for a reason…USE IT.  And with so much information available today from SO MANY sources, there is a ton of bogus nonsense circulating.  My credibility means everything to me right now, so before we put anything on the radio show, or Fox News, we check, double check, triple check and more, at times…and even WE, sometimes don’t get it right.  But one thing we NEVER start with is mass email.  Some of them are written so cleverly, and even cite news organization sources or mention that they’ve “checked” the information for accuracy. MOST of those stories aren’t true.  There is so much truth to use in defense of our great nation right now, it seriously damages our cause when we fall prey to these Internet hoaxes.  In other words, whether it’s a story on Fox News or something from your best friend, trust, but verify.

And the fourth thing I’d like to get across today is, remember your traditions and heritage.  One of the most shocking things said during the course of the presidential campaign last year came from Michelle Obama.  During a campaign stop, she said, “and Barack knows that we are going to have to make sacrifices, we’re going to have to change our conversation, we’re going to have to change our traditions, our history, we’re going to have to move into a different place.”  First of all, one can’t change one’s history.  Oh, you can re-write it, certainly, to make it a lie, but that doesn’t change it.  Secondly, I don’t want to change our traditions and history!  It is our traditions and history that make us who we are…we are AMERICANS!  And we will fight to stay AMERICANS!

I will have more details, tomorrow.

Stay strong,

Glenn

www.glennbeck.com

How to Learn from History – By Glenn Beck

Dear family and friends,

Yesterday I shared my thoughts on the challenges and threats facing America as I see them.  What I’m going to share today are some examples from history of countries, including our own, which faced similar challenges (to greater or lesser degrees) and how those countries faired while confronting those challenges.

I wanted to look at history because too many people call into the radio show or send an email after watching the television show and tell me “not too worry” about America because we’ve faced worse hardships before and have not only overcome them but have emerged stronger.

I understand the American spirit.  I understand that we are the country that took on the Nazis, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan and won.  I understand that we stood toe-to-toe with the Soviet Union over 40 years and defeated them in the Cold War.  I know that we are a country of fighters and that Americans are capable of conquering any challenge—but the belief that great things happen to America just because we’re America—that’s just plain wrong.

Thrift, hard-work, sacrifice by our parents, grandparents and their mothers and fathers went hand-in-hand with the thrift, hard-work and sacrifice we collectively made as a country—that’s what produced unparalleled strength and success.  Today, we face difficult times.  We stand at cross-roads as a country.  Where we eventually end up will be determined by the decisions each of us makes today and in the weeks and months ahead.

Great countries don’t collapse, they transform.  The Soviet Union in 1991 didn’t disappear after its political and economic model collapsed, it transformed and is still transforming.  Weimar Germany’s government collapsed as did its economy but Germany continued—at first down the national socialist path—and now as a democracy.

The Soviet Union

For almost 70 years, the Soviet Union was considered one of two world super-powers.  At its military peak the Soviet Army enlisted over 5 million men and women and amassed over 30,000 nuclear weapons.  With a push of a button it could literally have set into motion a series of events that could have ended life around the globe.

It’s amazing to consider that the political and economic foundations of such a country could collapse, literally overnight, following a meeting in the woods of a handful of political leaders.  So what brought down the Soviet Union?  It’s budget deficit and foreign debt soared during the 1990s following the price decline of it’s most lucrative export, oil.  In the early 1980s oil was about $35 a barrel and by the late 1990s was struggling to stay at $13 a barrel.  Inflation was running 20%-25%  a month as food and other consumer goods began to disappear from store shelves.  The ruble’s international strength declined.  Although the official commercial exchange rate was 6 rubles to the dollar, tourists and foreigners could easily obtain a 30 rubles for a dollar.

Despite their economic challenges, soaring inflation and worthless rubles the Soviet people wanted to remain Soviets.  They believed in and loved their country.   Polls and referendums regularly showed that 76% of the people wanted to remain united as a Soviet Union with some changes taking place, but not a wholesale collapse of their political and economic structure.  But despite these feelings, the vast majority of Soviets did nothing as a relatively small but dedicated group of political extremists pushed their agenda forward. 

The great revolution that ultimately transformed the Soviet Union really began in a lodge in the woods just outside of Brest (Belarus) with a handful of radicals determined to change their government.  Those same radicals permitted only ONE HOUR of debate before calling on a vote to dissolve the Soviet Union and replace it with the short lived Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Soviet Union was transformed into Russia.  Initial hopes that Russia would be an ally on global military and economic issues was lost by the arrogance of our political leaders who insisted on putting NATO’s tanks and soldiers closer and closer to their borders even after we promised that would never happen.  We saw Russia as weak and broken and sought to dictate how they should live their lives.  Joe Biden typifies that arrogance.  He recently said, “I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold…Russia has to make some very difficult, calculated decisions, they have a shrinking population base, they have a withering economy, they have a banking sector and structure that is not likely to be able to withstand the next 15 years, they’re in a situation where the world is changing before them and they’re clinging to something in the past that is not sustainable.“  Couldn’t they say the same thing about us?  Isn’t our situation similar to that of the Soviet Union prior to their transformation—certainly not as grave—but similar.  One of our pillars of economic growth—manufacturing represents a mere 12% of our GDP.  America is no longer an export powerhouse and we regularly import tens-of-billions of dollars a month more than we export.  Our dollar is weaker, not only on the official exchange rates—which are always in flux.  But weaker as a symbol of our strength.  Russia, Brazil, India and China are now regularly calling for the dollar to be replaced or at least have a reduced role as the world’s currency.  Our money supply stands at a staggering $8.3 trillion.

Where We Are Today

Russia is now an oligarchy.  It has abandoned communism and socialism as failed doctrines.  Now, a small group of political and business elite run the country while getting rich.  Those who speak out against their shared interests risk joining the ranks of journalists killed there since 1992 in contract-style killings.  Those businesses that don’t play along find themselves losing lucrative government contracts or have their executives jailed (Yukos founder Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky) or forced to flee (BP CEO Robert Dudley) or publicly attacked and vilified (Igor Zyuzin of Mechel). 

I don’t believe that this is our destiny as a country.  Once the transformation process begins a lot of factors influence the outcome.  I do not believe that the Germans in Weimar Germany knew in advance that the ultimate result of their inflationary policies would create 40% unemployment where a smooth talking and hate-filled Adolph Hitler would find a very receptive audience.

When the Soviet Union was being transformed the vast majority of people there did nothing while it happened. When Hitler wrote Mein Kampf and talked about killing the Jews, the people did nothing.

I am not saying that our political leaders want to take us down these roads.  I don’t believe they do.  But they have been open to their desire to transform and re-make America.  The question we have to answer is will we, like the Soviets and Germans, sit and do nothing while our country is being transformed?  Will we too let a relatively small group of radicals transform and re-make America?  Or will we take a stand and become a watchdog of liberty, freedom and the Constitution?

Tomorrow I am going to tell you about some questions that you need to ask yourself before becoming a ‘watchdog.’  You need to take a measure of why you are and where you stand.

With love,

Glenn

www.glennbeck.com

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