"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious."
Thomas Jefferson
Michael and Pamela stayed at Campmeeting through the last Sabbath and stayed to help with the general cleanup during Sunday morning. Michael mentioned to Pamela, "Mom and Dad always stay to help with cleanup after every Campmeeting. Through the years of doing like that has made a 'habit' that I don't want to change!"
"It seems that this national Sabbath keeping church organization is a real 'homegrown' sort of group, is it not?" exclaimed Pamela.
"Our group here is similar to Mormons as Jared said, we are basically a lay, unpaid organization. Most of our pastors are on a pay scheme of some sort. But our national group here is not paid for their services. It's kind of like farming; it's volunteer work!" said Michael.
Michael and Pamela helped out cleaning the kitchen, helped put the pews from the chapel into the storage shed.
After helping the local members cleanup the Campmeeting site, Michael and Pamela climb in the Michael's Cobalt and take off for Fort Collins to continue to gather, store, sell, or give away the two newlywed 'materials.' Michael comments to Pamela "Between storing, selling or giving our stuff, do you think we can survive long enough to find a home in Wyoming?"
"Honey, I think we can last awhile, but we need to use some speed to find property in Wyoming."
While conversing together on their home trip, Pamela was able to put together a flowsheet the two agreed would be the best way to search for Wyoming property. The quickest method was online. But Michael suggested that after they make their online 'property purchaser' statement, they need to do some footwork; we need to make our presence known to Wyoming 'non computer' property sellers!
"Dad and I wandered some backcountry east of Cheyenne to the Nebraska border. Some nice places were around Carpenter, Burns, Pine Bluffs, and Albin. In general, it's rolling hills with some trees and creeks.
We need to be sure we have water rights too. If we can find some property, we can move a trailer onsite and then purchase a module home." Michael mentioned.
And in as much as the real estate market is recovering from the real estate depression in '10/'12, Michael and Pamela are able to find a nice spread of property between Albin and Pine Bluff, Wyoming. It was 80 acres from a much larger spread where a couple died in a car accident and the couple's children, that now have legal rights on the property, and have children of their own, are building homes away from the original homestead"Michael, this house can definitely become our home! It's perfect with trees that are old enough to make some nice shade on a hot day, and they are deciduous, so they lose their leaves to allow the sun to warm us up in the winter. The house just big enough for us and a few children, when it becomes time for children." said Pamela.
"It looks good to me too." said Michael.
Days passed as they enjoyed their 'new' old home. The previous owners had a garden and Pamela was able to water and coax some of the plants into surviving another few days. They were able to be pretty independent; in addition to the garden, the property had a well for water, and they purchased some cattle and chickens at the Centennial sale barn in Fort Collins for meat and eggs.
Michael is able to find a software company in Cheyenne that would let Michael telecommute to work. They would send an email regarding the java code Michael needed to create, and the time limits. The managers appeared to be working from a level table in that they knew the pros and cons of coding and telecommuting. They did not make nearly impossible targets and goals to reach. Michael was happy every Thursday when the automatic deposit paycheck could be seen on their online bank account.
Life in the new home was going very well, except every Sabbath required a longer trip to a fair sized congregation. There were not many local Sabbath keeping Christians by Albin. So three out of four Sabbaths, Michael and Pamela spent at home. They received DVDs from a few congregations of past talks by their pastors.
But after lunch, Michael and Pamela had their own version of a Sabbath school class. They traded the position of offering the topic, or originating a question to be answered by referring to the Bible. One Sabbath, Michael offered the duty to verify the validity of the 'When does Jesus come?' talk from Campmeeting.
Michael says "Joseph Clark says that Ezekiel 38, 39 and Zachariah 14 are referring to the same time. They both end the same in that the LORD terminates the oppression. What about Daniel 11? Can't we say the same thing? They all end the same. The beginning of Daniel 12 seems to be the beginning of the millennium, is it not?"
"It looks like that. That implies that the prophecies preceding the LORD's help are the same time. Ezekiel talks about Gog and Magog. Zechariah does not name the attacker, but the LORD fights against the oppressors. Daniel 11 goes into many, many, and many details about the attackers, but ends the same as the other prophets, no one will help the northern King. The oppression ends and the LORD is in control.
"Is an eagle ever in there?" asks Michael. "But look at Ezekiel 39:2129: 21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. 22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. 23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. 25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
"It looks like it is all for God's glory! So America is not there. I think that means that America is turned into a thirdworld nation or we neglect Israel. Look at Zechariah 14" said Michael.
" 1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle."
Pamela remarks "But look at verse two in Zechariah 14: 'For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle;' Since when does America battle against Israel?"
"Like I said, we are turned into a thirdworld nation or we are forced to neglect Israel." said Michael. “Pamela, as I wandered the web the other day, I found a news brief about a recent military development in Persia, Iran.
They have a new drone missile. Some news people say Persia has tested a few nukes, so they can use their drone unit to send a nuke within a couple thousand miles!
A few days later, in thought about their studies a few days before, Michael concludes that they need to construct a wind generator and a solar water heater to survive! “Pamela, in our Bible studies added to my reading today of Proverbs 8, I think we need to put up a wind generator and a solar water heater. Proverbs 8 backs up my faith that God will provide, He is a guide to me. Look at the verses! It is wonderful! Start at verse 17.”
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. 18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
“God has provided us with an income to allow us to use a wind generator for our power and a solar water heater for hot water.” said Michael. In the next few weeks, Michael, Pamela and a few friends from the valley successfully setup a plan to construct a wind generator and a solar water heater. But they needed a few other parts for the construction that Michael would pick up in Cheyenne.
Michael left early the next morning with Pamela to pick up the parts. They stopped by some stores on Dell Range to select the parts. But before they left Cheyenne, some signs at a bookstore caught Pamela's eyes. “Oh! Michael, there's a 50% off sale at that bookstore! Let's go!” Michael turned into the parking lot and the couple went into store.
“Oh Pamela, they even have some books on sale for up to 80% off! And look! Here is Mark Steyn's America Alone! ” said Michael as he grabbed the red covered book. “Oh, look here is a quote from Joe Liebeman!
“The thing I quote most from it is the power of demographics... But the other part is a kind of confirmation of what I know ... that Islamist extremism has an ideology, and it’s expansionist, it’s an aggressive ideology. And the title I took to mean that we Americans will have ultimate responsibility for stopping this expansionism.” Senator Joe Lieberman (Democrat of Connecticut)
“That's the one mentioned at Campmeeting! How Muslims want to control the world. Let's look at Steyn's information.” said Pamela. Michael checked out with Steyn's book, and they went back to the car to return home.
Michael completed the construction setup for friends to help with next week. There was some code work to do, but in any off time, Michael sped through Steyn's book.
He got up to grab a cup of coffee and returned to his lazychair in the corner of the living room. He kicked back, sipped his coffee and pondered the world outlook of Mark Steyn's book. 'The future in Europe, Africa and Asia looks pretty futile. Muslims have babies faster then anyone else! Where are the women liberation people in Saudi Arabia?' thought Michael.
'Steyn offered a reasonable solution.........reform Islam. And in Pamela's Dad's paper, Ibrahim Kazerooni, says that if Muslim's are given a choice of which sect of Islam to be in, 99.9% will leave Wahhabism, the Saudi State Religion! Wow!'
'Do we have a real Statesman, rather than a career Politician, to do what it will really take to reform Islam? To face the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia to reform their Saudi State Religion?'
It's a bright afternoon outside as a prairie dog ran for his life as the shadow of a valley hawk crossed his space. Michael ponders his life, 'As that prairie dog runs for his life, Pamela and I may have to run for our lives with Jesus.........'