Our Ministry: To teach people how to live a God reliant life.


Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How is everyone
doing? I pray everyone finds this blog in good health and spirits. I woke up
real early this morning because I have poison ivy on both of my arms that
started bothering me. I put some Benadryl Gel on it but it is still bothering
me a little. So, I decided to write this blog and make some coffee.



Yesterday I spent the day putting in a propane line that connects our propane
cook stove and fridge to our 100 pound propane tanks. Before, we were using 5
gallon propane tanks individually hooked to each appliance. It is great having
our appliances hooked to a larger tank. The next thing we need to do is seal
the windows in the back rooms and install a propane heater. My plan for that is
to get another 100 pound tank just for the back rooms.



Earlier last week a co-worker and I started talking about my family's life
style. For those of you who have not read my blogs before or do not know me, we
live without electricity. This confuses some people because they think that we
are against electricity or technology. This isn't true at all. The truth is
that we are against being in bondage and relying on any person, company, or
government to provide our needs. We should only depend on our Father in Heaven.



I have heard people say that they do not believe in the Bible because it
promotes slavery. No where in the Bible does it say that we are to be slaves.
Infact, it tells us not to become slaves to put ourselves in bondage. Now,
there are people who are forced into bondage against their will by their
government or by other people. But most people are in bondage because of what
they do. What the Bible does tell us is what to do once we are in bondage or
slavery.



So, are you in bondage? There are many forms of bondage. If you are in debt
then you are a slave to your creditors. In the old testament, if you could not
pay your debt, then you had to work for your creditor until your debt was paid.
Today, you must work for an employer until your debt is paid. If you don't pay
your debt in a certain time then your assets can be frozen and wages garnished.



Do you need anything other then food, water, clothing, and a safe place to
sleep? Of the things I listed, do you depend on anyone (other then God) for
them? If your answer is "yes" to either question, then you are in bondage.



This leads me to my family's lifestyle. See, we are not against electricity or
technology. We just don't need them to live. Now, we are working on ways to
have some electricity. But, we will do it in a way where we are not dependent
on the electric company or the government (who controls the electric company).
Our goal is to be 100% off grid. This means that our house isn't hooked to any
government or company utilities. Currently we are still hooked to rural water.
Being off grid and staying out of debt are two ways we can live a God reliant
life.



Some have told me, "But Joe, you are dependant on propane." No we are not.
Refrigeration is a luxury. If we need to, we can eliminate the refrigerator and
can our frozen items and vegetables. We can also buy dry or non-refrigerated
milk. For cooking, we have a wood cook stove and for heat we have a wood heat
stove. We currently heat our water with wood, so that wouldn't be a problem.
But currently we are not dependant on one company or the government to supply us
with propane. We have two companies in Okemah, Oklahoma and more in surrounding
towns that can fill our propane tanks. Since we take the 100 pound portable
tanks to the company to have them filled, we can have them filled at any company
that sells propane. We are not in bondage to any one company.



I hope that this has helped people understand why we have chosen to live without
being connected to the electric company. I am going to write more blogs on our
lifestyle in the future. Take care and God Bless.



Love,

The Oklahoma Tomcat