The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. In an update on Puerto Rico, we can see that this is fertile ground for church missions.

Easy Vegetables

Reader T.J. sent in this video from GrowingYourGreens on what he believes are the top three easiest vegetables to grow. This is actually a pretty interesting vlog because most of this gardening is done in an urban area on very small plots of land. If you are stuck in the city or suburbs, this is a good channel to follow. Just don’t stay in the city too long when SHTF hits.

Christmas Power Outage

While much of New England had a white Christmas, about 20,000 people in Massachusetts were in a blackout condition. The cause was a quick change of temperature and high winds. Most of the outages were on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. The loss of power really isn’t a big deal in itself, but it underscores the need to have backup sources of heat. Even if your house is heated with fuel oil or propane, most modern heating system require some form of electricity to operate. While this power outage was quickly dealt with, you don’t want to be in that situation where you are weeks without heat in your shelter. Thanks to G.P. for the link.

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Preparedness Notes for Monday – December 25, 2017

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To those who are celebrating the Advent of our Lord and Savior, the team at SurvivalBlog wishes you a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. For those who choose to celebrate our Lord through the Biblical feasts, stay safe out there during this holiday season. Our prayer is that each and every one of you enjoys the family time and stays safe on the roads.

Glock 21 .45 ACP, by Pat Cascio

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The Glock 21 .45 ACP pistol is under review in this article. I was most fortunate to have been able to test one of these pistols before they even came on the market, when I worked for the late Col. Rex Applegate.

Handguns for SHTF

Many people believe that they can get by, when the SHTF, with just a handgun. Maybe they can and maybe not. I’m inclined to think that a handgun is an up-close and personal defensive weapon, not one that was designed for offensive use. However, a good handgun can perform both duties, given the limitations of the round that the gun is chambered for.

Many readers will, no doubt, have a favorite handgun that they consider their “end of the world” handgun, and I have no problem with that so long as it is a well-built firearm, chambered in a man-stopping caliber: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, or one of other similar handgun calibers. Like most, I have my own ideas about which handgun and caliber are the best to have around when the SHTF. My thinking on this doesn’t come lightly. As a gun writer with more than 25 years experience, I’ve had the chance to fire thousands of firearms over the years and have formed my own thoughts on this subject. I’m not saying I’m “right” and you’re “wrong”, not in the least. I’m just saying I have a lot of experience in this matter and have formed my opinion based on a lot of things.

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Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on investing in vintage motorcycles and mopeds. (See the Tangibles Investing section, near the end of this column.)

Precious Metals:

Gold Prices Expected To Trend Higher In Quiet Holiday Week

o  o  o

2018 Gold Price Forecast: A Major Bottom Is Forming

 

Stock Markets:

Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Finish Lower After Trump Signs Tax Bill Into Law

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Husbands are not Christ. But they are called to be like him. And the specific point of likeness is the husband’s readiness to suffer for his wife’s good without threatening or abusing her. This includes suffering to protect her from any outside forces that would harm her, as well as suffering disappointments of abuses even from her. This kind of love is possible because Christ died for both husband and wife. Their sins are forgiven. Neither needs to make the other suffer for sins. Christ has borne that suffering. Now as two sinful and forgiven people we can return good for evil.” – John Piper

Preparedness Notes for Sunday – December 24, 2017

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December 24, is the anniversary of when John Joe Gray’s legal troubles began. He and his family were self-sufficiently holed up in their Texas ranch for a few days short of 15 years, in defiance of a warrant for his arrest. This was the longest standoff in American history, in which he has faced the administrations of four different county sheriffs before the district attorney dropped the charges.

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A Christian Prepper’s Perspective on Giving- Part 4, by R2

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Four Types of Giving

Yesterday, we started describing the four types of giving outlined in the Scriptures, starting with an offering to the Lord. Today, we’ll finish up this series with the last three types of giving, on which we have instruction. The most controversial one, and the one that is probably on most people’s mind, is next up.

2) Tithe

This is the method of giving that most think of when we talk about giving to the Lord. It is the most controversial one, because the basic church structure today depends upon it to survive, yet there is no mention of it in the New Testament. Doesn’t that strike you as ironic that many churches that teach that the Old Testament has little to offer the modern believer, particularly with respect to laws and commandments, will go to the Old Testament commandments on giving to justify their very financial existence? I am approaching this from the perspective that there is one Bible and that both the Old Testament and the New Testament are part of that Bible. We derive God’s lessons for living life from both parts of the Scriptures.

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Letter: Concerns on Chemicals During Tornados

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Dear editors,

Our family includes small, climbing, curious children, and so all our hazardous chemicals are on high shelves in our first-floor utility/laundry room (the one space we have in our home that is currently inaccessible to them).

I recently have been wondering what would happen if a tornado were to hit our house – we have numerous chemicals that are not to be mixed with the others on pain of toxic clouds of death. On the other hand, tornadoes are hardly precision instruments (the bleach might as well end up 30 miles away as on top of the ammonia, for example). What are the SurvivalBlog reader’s thoughts on whether this is worth being concerned about?

Thanks for your service to all, – M.R.

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Good news! The pending Defense Authorization Act has provisions to transfer thousands of Army surplus 1911 firearms to the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

The Age of Junk Science

John Stossel had an interesting segment on his show: The Chocolate Hoax and Media Sensationalism. A media science writer put together a piece on how you could lose weight by eating one chocolate bar a day and used twisted data and facts, ignoring the real science. He then published this piece in a new science journal that did not depend upon peer review for acceptance. The media news, including ABC and TV affiliates along with magazines like Prevention ran with the article. It is a good warning to be skeptical of anything you pick up from the general media.

First Amendment

In a glaring example of why the founders included the First Amendment in our Constitution, a London assembly has stepped off the deep end. The assembly has voted to have pro-life Christians arrested and prosecuted for peacefully protesting abortion clinics and praying for women. Video documentation shows that the protesters stand quietly, offering support and prayer, but not blocking or harassing. Anti-protesters, on the other hand use bull-horns, shouting, insults and even occasionally violence in response. Guess who gets targeted by the government for “harassment”? If not for the Constitution, that would be us. Thanks to D.S. for the link.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – 1 Peter 1:3-5 (KJV)

A Christian Prepper’s Perspective on Giving- Part 3, by R2

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How Does the Lord Value Your Gift?

The Lord does not value the gifts He receives in the same way that man values gifts. The exception perhaps is a mother valuing gifts she has received from her children. I can’t tell you how many times I have sat in church during the obligatory sermon on tithing to your church just to see some un-Biblical practice being followed.

Give in Secret

On one occasion, the pastor of the church we attended thought that he would encourage the congregation to give by being an example. He held up the check that he was going to donate to the cause (I don’t even remember what that cause was) and declared that he was starting the offering by giving $100.

The first thing that came to mind was the Lord’s instruction on giving to the poor:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” Matthew 6:1-2

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The Editors’ Preps for the Week

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. Steadily, we work on meeting our prepping goals. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities. They also often share their planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, property improvements, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

JWR

Dear SurvivalBlog Readers,
The Rawles family spent most of the week traveling. We’ve returned to very wintery conditions.  Once we got back to the ranch, we did our unpacking and reorganizing. The Greenhouse path still needs to be shoveled, so we’ll have to update that greenhouse within a greenhouse report next week.  Lily started to plan the layouts for the gardens for this coming summer.  Lord willing, we will be doubling the planted area and will be branching off into new crop growing adventures.  More on that later.

We are looking forward to reading comments from readers about your preps this winter.  May you all have a blessed Christmas week, – Avalanche Lily Rawles

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