- Take responsibility for your own life. A big part of this is learning to be self-reliant, not waiting around for your parents, your teachers, your boss, your friends, or even the government to tell you what to do, or to do things for you. You are responsible for your own life. Even when bad things beyond your control happen to you, you are still in control of how you respond. Your life, your responsibility.
- Be honest. In the short run, it may mean some pain, but honesty is truly the best policy in the long run. Lies have a way of making things worse, and usually get discovered eventually. Also, always keep your word. And never cheat people. Develop a reputation for honesty, integrity and good character.
- Life is unpredictable, so be adaptable. Life is full of surprises and unexpected events, tragedies, and opportunities. Developing your adaptability is the best way to deal with the unexpected.
- Get married early and stay married. This runs counter to modern advice, which says to put off marriage until you "grow up", build a career, mature and know what you want out of life. But in reality the opposite in true. Married people, especially married men, mature faster, are more responsible, work harder, and are more ambitious than their single peers. Married people tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than single people.
- Who you know is often more important than what you know. It can be hard for modern, highly individualistic Americans to admit, but we all need people. Life is not a solo sport. Lone wolves rarely do well in the long run. Shelve your ego. Meet people. Make friends. Network. Build community. Be a part of other people's lives, and let other people be a part of your life. This will pay many, many benefits throughout your life.
- Don't compare yourself to other people. Instead compare your current self with your younger self, and always try to improve on that younger self. This will be both emotionally healthier and more effective than comparing yourself to others. Always be improving over your former self.
- Take care of your health. Your health and fitness is immeasurably important to your life, success, happiness, well-being, and preparedness. Your physical health, along with your spiritual health, will determine your future more than anything else.
- Avoid debt. Spend less than you make. Sound advice, but how many of us really follow it? Not many, apparently, since credit card debt is at an all-time high and personal bankruptcies are surging.
- Be a builder, not a consumer. Modern civilization is set up to make you into a consumer. Corporations and the government need you to spend as much money as possible. This is good for them, bad for you. Be a builder instead. Build savings. Build a business. Build a homestead. Build a family and a life. Sure, you have to buy stuff along the way, but be smart about what you buy. Don't mindlessly consume, no matter what Uncle Sam and his puppet masters in big business want you to do...
- Go for quality over quantity. The one with the most toys when they die, still dies. Life isn't about accumulating stuff. Preparedness isn't about accumulating stuff, either. Be more intentional about the way you live your life. Quality beats quantity. In preparedness, the temptation is to buy everything at once, but money is always a factor and many folks end up buying cheap gear they can't depend on this way. Buy a little at a time so you can afford better, more dependable gear.
- Take care of your stuff. Sure, it costs money to change your car's oil every three months, but it costs a lot more to replace a blown engine. Taking care of your stuff pays big dividends over the long run.
- Develop your relationship with God. This should be the number one priority of your life. Not your career. Not your spouse or your children. Not your reputation or your bank account. Take care to develop this, and all else will turn out okay. Make prayer and Bible reading a daily habit.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
12 Life Lessons for Patriots, Preppers, and Everyone Else
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Radical Actions: Spread Constitutional Literacy
Here is a radical idea in today's world: Spread Constitutional Literacy by giving away pocket copies of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It's an idea that I've been promoting (and doing) for many years.
Pocket Constitutions are available from Amazon (the one pictured here is currently $1.50 each with free shipping for both prime members or when ordering 24 or more). You may also be able to order pocket Constitutions from various political and educational organizations that occasionally offer them for sale. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so ordering them through my links to Amazon will help to support this site in a small way (at no extra cost to you).
Pocket Constitutions make great giveaways for:
- Back-to-School
- History and Social Studies Classes
- Halloween Trick-or-Treat
- Spring and Fall Festivals
- Campaign Events and Political Rallies
- Business Events and Promotions
- Homeschoolers
- Scout Troops
- Churches and Sunday School Classes
- Bible Study and Prayer Groups
- Clubs and Civic Organizations
- "Little Free Libraries" (those boxes in many neighborhoods)
- Gab = https://gab.com/TimGamble
- Twitter = https://twitter.com/TimGambleSpeaks
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Gun Owners of America Announces Inaugural Convention
This two-day weekend event is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees and will feature speeches from leaders in the gun rights movement, educational panels, meet and greet sessions, and musical performances from major artists. Additionally, the convention’s festivities will kick off on Friday August 16th with an exclusive industry expo for manufacturers, retailers, and other firearms businesses.
GOA is also excited to share that all attendees will be able to lawfully carry while in attendance.
Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:
“With gun owners, manufacturers, and dealers facing ever growing pressure and outright hostility from so many anti-gun forces today, this election is without a doubt going to be the most critical in history for Second Amendment rights.
“With that in mind, our goal is to make this the premiere event bringing together Second Amendment enthusiasts and advocates as we prepare for the political fight of our lives this November. I can’t wait to reveal more details as we lock in speakers and other guests of honor.”
Kailey Nieman, GOA’s Director of Development, added:
“We’re thrilled to be putting on this event for our valued members and strategic industry partners. Between the educational panels and keynote speakers, the invigorating musical performances, and our large industry expo, this will be a can’t miss Second Amendment celebration.
“Our greater GOA community is battle tested and laser focused on our no-compromise mission, and attendees can expect to leave G.O.A.L.S. energized and ready to make an impact on the serious challenges facing our Second Amendment. This conference will be a major springboard for our organization and the greater community as we head into November.”
Admission to the summit will be free for GOA members, and those interested in joining GOA or confirming their membership is up to date can do so here.
Companies interested in attending the industry expo can learn more here.
Will You Listen?
There was an old man who lived in a small town near a river. The old man was a Christian. He went to church every Sunday, and he prayed and read the Bible everyday. He was a good man, and well liked in his community.
It had been a particularly wet winter, and the spring was no different. The river that ran by the small town that the old man lived in was quite full. In fact, the only reason the river had not yet flooded was the presence of a large dam a hundred miles up river from the small town. The dam was successfully regulating the river for now, but was finally at full capacity.
The old man was watching TV one evening when he heard the bad news. The dam was beginning to fail. If the rain didn't stop soon, the small town where the old man lived was sure to flood. The weatherman came on and said that the forecast was for more heavy storms. The old man prayed "Lord, keep this town and me safe. I place my trust in you to handle this situation."
The rains were heavy the next morning when the old man woke up. He turned on the radio to listen to his favorite Christian music station. The radio announcer was giving a dire warning. The dam had failed. The river was flooding. People in the small town were being told to evacuate immediately. The old man prayed "Lord, keep this town and me safe. I place my trust in you to handle this situation."
The river began to rise. Streets in sections of the small town nearest the river were flooded. People were leaving as fast as they could. A knock came on the old man's front door. It was his neighbor checking up on the old man and asking him if he needed a ride out of town. The old man said "no." After his neighbor left, the old man prayed "Lord, keep this town and me safe. I place my trust in you to handle this situation."
Later that afternoon, the flood waters reached the old man's neighborhood. It quickly flooded the streets, and eventually became high enough to flood out the first floor of the old man's house. The old man retreated to the second floor of his house. He heard a commotion outside. It was some rescue workers in a boat searching for people who were trapped by the rising flood. They waved at him and brought the boat near the old man's bedroom window. They shouted at him to open the window, and they would get him into the boat and to safety. The old man simply shook his head. He would place his trust in the Lord. If it was His will, He would save him.
Finally, the boat had to move away from the old man's house. Soon after, the house, damaged by the flood, collapsed. The old man drowned.
The old man went to heaven. He was happy, but something concerned him. He asked the Lord, "Why did you not save me when I placed my trust in you?"
The Lord smiled patiently at the old man. "I sent you the news report to warn you the day before the flood. I sent you the radio announcement that you should flee to higher ground on the morning of the flood. I sent your neighbor to offer you a ride out of town when it was still possible to drive to safety. I sent the boat of rescue workers to save you minutes before your house would collapse."
Kaito KA500 Emergency Radio. This one has is all: AM/FM/SW/NOAA (weather alert) bands; powered five ways (electrical cord, USB port, AA batteries, solar, and hand-crank); plus flashlight, reading lamp, and cellphone charger.
Monday, February 26, 2024
Your Reputation Matters
I suggest that, far from naive, your reputation will determine your future.
Within the prepping, survival, and resistance communities, we talk a lot about food, water and other stuff we need to survive. We talk about knowledge and skills we need to survive. We even talk about the attitude we need to survive. All that is important. But there is one thing that is also important that I rarely, if ever, hear talked about: the importance of our reputation to our survival.
When I say "reputation," I don't don't mean what others think of us, but rather what they think about us. After all, we shouldn't care about what others think of us (except for God and maybe our spouse). But what others think about us, our reputation, does matter.
The difference is important.
What others think of us is based on their feelings, and those feelings may have nothing to do with us. If someone doesn't like me because I am a committed follower of Jesus, for example, their dislike of me is based in their feelings about religion or the Bible, not me. I have no control over that, and therefore shouldn't worry if they like me or not.
On the other hand, our reputations are grounded in what we do and say, and we do have control over that. So, if someone doesn't like me because I once cheated them in a business deal, then their dislike for me is based on my actions, not their feelings. I have earned a bad reputation.
Our reputations are important before a disaster.
Our reputation, that we have earned through our words and actions, does have a lot to do with our success, or lack thereof, in life. It will affect our business dealings, our career, our personal relationships, and most other areas of our life. Ultimately, it will affect the opportunities we have, the money we make, and more importantly the kind of people we have in our lives. These things, in turn, can have a large impact in what preparations we can make for the future. Finally, our reputation will definitely impact our ability to form tribe or community.
Our reputations are important during a disaster.
Imagine a grid-down scenario - let's say after an EMP event. We will be trying to survive in a chaotic world filled with other people. Our reputation will affect the willingness of others to trust us, to help us, and to cooperate with us. Will our neighbors see us as good folk, trustworthy enough to barter with or even to cooperate with for mutual security and assistance? Or will they see us a untrustworthy, even dangerous, and to be avoided?
Our reputations are important after a disaster.
At some point the disaster will be over. Law and order will once again be established. A government or some sort of authority will form. And we will be held accountable for our actions during the disaster. Our reputations that we earned during the disaster will affect our place in the newly established society.
Am I being naive?
Some preppers and survivalists like to brag about the lengths they will go to survive. Some even claim to be willing to do terrible things such as shoot innocent people because they may potentially become a threat at some point, or even to just steal their stuff. They sneer at anyone objecting to their lack of morality, accusing us of being naive, and even weak.
I don't think so. In fact, I suggest that they are the ones being naive in thinking that their behavior during the crisis will not have consequences at some point as things begin to calm down. The fact is our actions – good, bad, or indifferent – do have consequences, both immediate and in the future.
What reputation do we want to have?
I'll answer that question for myself: I strive for a reputation of integrity, fidelity, competence, and strength.
Integrity. More than just honesty, although that is an important part of it, integrity is the unwavering adherence to a moral code. I want people to know that they can trust me to be honest, and that I will always strive to do the right thing.
Fidelity. More than just loyalty, although that is an important part of it, fidelity is faithfulness - living up to your obligations and duties. I want people to know that I will keep my word, that I will always do what I say, and they I am dependable and reliable.
Competence. Competence is having the knowledge, skills, ability, judgment, and wisdom to be effective in all aspects of life. I want people to know that not only do I intend to live up to my word and obligations, but that I also have the ability to do so.
Strength. Physical strength, as well as arms and armament, can be a part of this, but by strength I am especially referring to is strength of character, as well as to drive and determination. I want people to know not only do I intend to live up to my word and obligations, and have the ability to do so, but I also have the strength and determination to accomplish my purposes.
From a survivalist point-of-view, having a reputation for the first three should make people want me on their side - promoting cooperation, community, and assistance. A reputation for the last should make me a less interesting target for the bad guys, or others hoping to take advantage of me, my family, and my tribe.
Sunday, February 25, 2024
College Is No Longer A Measure of Success
Thursday, February 22, 2024
23 Action Steps to Defend the Second Amendment
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
1) Know Your Rights - We have a natural (God-given) right to self-defense, and this includes the tools needed to defend ourselves. This unalienable right is recognized and guaranteed by the Second Amendment to U.S. Constitution. Guns are a very useful, even necessary, tool of self-defense. They are also great for hunting, providing food, recreation through shooting sports, and collecting. But their primary function, as enshrined in the Constitution by our Founding Fathers, is for self-defense, against both bad people and bad governments.
Action Steps:
A) Read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
B) Get a "pocket copy" of both (various organizations often give away such copies).
C) Read the article "The Six Things Americans Should Know About the Second Amendment" by Richard W. Stevens.
D) Check out the Biblical Self-Defense website.
E) Learn the laws of your state and locality regarding firearms, self-defense, and concealed-carry & open-carry. Your local gun store should be able to help with this step.
2) Work to Change Unconstitutional Laws and Excessive Regulations
Many states and localities have passed legislation that violates the Second Amendment and/or otherwise restricts our inalienable right to self-defense. We must work diligently to change these laws and to prevent new restrictions. This takes time, effort, and awareness. The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Action Steps:
A) Know the positions of political candidates regarding guns and self-defense. Do not vote for candidates that do not fully support the Second Amendment or that favor restrictions, even so-called "commonsense" restrictions, on guns and self-defense. This is especially important in state and local elections!
B) Make your voice heard. Pressure your politicians at all levels to be pro-Second Amendment, and to resist all gun control efforts. Many politicians end up voting in the direction they feel the greatest pressure. We have to make sure we out-pressure the Elites. The Elites are very good at this, and have the support of the main stream media and academia. We have to be better than them. Write, call, email, and visit your elected officials often. Attend town halls. Write newspaper editorials. Be outspoken.
D) Many gun rights organizations provide legislative alerts and suggested actions to take. Join their email lists and/or follow them on social media to stay informed of these opportunities. (A list of some of these organizations is in step #3 below.)
3) Join Forces with Others Defending the Second Amendment
C) National Association for Gun Rights (Twitter, Website, YouTube)
D) The Second Amendment Foundation (Twitter, Website)
E) Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (Twitter, Website)
4) Know the Facts
Over the years, many politicians and activists have been caught reciting facts and statistics that were highly distorted or even completely made-up. Opponents of the Second Amendment have no qualms about lying to get their way. It is crucial that we know the real facts and statistics so that we cannot be mislead, and so that we can correct the record and prevent others from being mislead.
A) Visit and explore the Gun Facts website
B) Download and read the free GOA ebook Gun Facts 6.2 (link opens a .pdf) - if someone knows of a newer version of this book, please drop a link to it in the comments section below.
5) Promote Gun Ownership
A) Own guns and enjoy them.
6) Schools and Zero-Tolerance
Schools have enacted zero-tolerance policies that go way beyond banning the actual weapons from schools. School kids have, and are, getting suspended, expelled, and sometimes arrested for such absurdities as merely using the word "gun", drawing a picture of a gun, having one of those green plastic army men with a gun, biting a pop-tart into the shape of a gun, having a toy "bubble gun" or water pistol that looks nothing like a real gun, and even holding their forefinger and thumb into a gun shape while playing on the playground (no more playing cowboys and Indians, or even cops and robbers).
School officials are smart enough to understand the difference between a half-eaten pop tart that is sort of in the shape of a gun, and a real gun. They intentionally overreact to such an incredible extent not to discourage guns on campus, but to instill a deep-seated fear of guns into students. The Elites know that if the current generation of students are afraid of guns, it will be easier to ban guns once they grow up.
A) Fight these absurd zero-tolerance rules in your kids' schools. Stand up to administrators who think your kid should be arrested for biting a potato-chip in such a way that it vaguely resembles a gun. Point out the absurdity of pretending that the tiny plastic gun that the green plastic army man is holding is the same as the real thing.
7) Men, Get Your Woman Into Shooting
Think about it. Wherever mothers go, there go their children. The more that children are exposed to responsible gun ownership, and the safe and fun use of guns, the less fearful they will be of guns, despite the anti-gun indoctrination in our schools.
The long-term future of the Second Amendment is being determined in the fight for the hearts and minds of children. The anti-gun activists know that the more fearful children are of guns while they are young, the more fearful they will be when they grow up. Then those fearful future adults - who will be voters, politicians, judges, bureaucrats, school administrators, teachers, and in other positions of influence - will be easier to convince to do away with the Second Amendment and accept complete gun confiscation (the ultimate goal of gun control).
Suggestions:
I'm not a woman, but I do have some commonsense suggestions for how to get your wife or girlfriend into shooting:
- Be patient.
- Make it fun.
- Don't be a jerk, talk down to her, or make it into some macho thing.
- The purpose is to get her into shooting, not to show off your skills or to impress her with your manliness.
- Don't take over and try to make decisions for her.
- Let other people help - you're probably the wrong person to teach her how to shoot, no matter how good you are.
- Take a class together.
- Don't "take her" shooting or hunting, instead go shooting or hunting together (an important difference, especially to a woman).
- Let her progress at her own pace.
Nigeria: Muslim Terrorists Kill 23 in 3-Day String of Attacks
AD: Proverbs 22:3 T-Shirt - "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Available in men's, women's, and youth sizes, and in multiple colors.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
5 Warnings About Bank Safe Deposit Boxes
ROLOWAY Large Fireproof Document Bag. The ROLOWAY Large (17"x12"x5.8") Fireproof (to 2000°F) and Water-resistant Document Bag is perfect for your important documents, cash, and other valuables.