The Easter Bunny is back. However, during this un-American period, when J6 political prisoners are locked up for their beliefs and President Trump is persecuted for threatening the Deep State’s permanent power, another bunny story leaps to mind: Richard Adams’s adventure novel, Watership Down, about a warren of anthropomorphized rabbits fighting for their survival. Among the many trials along their journey, the rabbits must escape an idyllic warren that belies its true purpose as a meat farm where our furry friends are kept tranquilly happy before being skinned and eaten.
The parallel to Marxism’s alluring but deadly Utopia is unmistakable. In order to secure future peace and prosperity, they must also defend themselves from a vicious tyrant ruling a powerful but despotic bunny police state. Fighting those who insist on their subjugation, the rabbits of Watership Down put their lives on the line time and again for the chance to be free. With warrantless surveillance, State-sanctioned censorship, and endless media propaganda all strangling America today, this beloved tale is an allegory worth re-reading.
Adams’s novel is also filled with heroes. There are prophets, warriors, thinkers, and true leaders. There are moments when great personal sacrifices from the unlikeliest of heroes end up saving the whole group. Every rabbit has a purpose, a destiny that aids in the warren’s survival.
That’s an important message that is often lost in today’s postmodern world. It is tempting to become so discouraged with current events that life feels meaningless. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You are not a “clump of cells.” You are not an “accident.” You have been brought into this world for an important reason. Whether you realize it yet or not, you have a personal calling.
Some people are teachers or healers or builders. Some are parents and grandparents. Some are meant to fight, some are meant to counsel restraint, some are meant to lead, and some are meant to spread wisdom. When you seek out your purpose and pursue it to the best of your abilities, you become a hero to those who learn and prosper from your presence. Heroes give others hope and create new heroes in the process.
For Christians, Easter is a time for hope. It is a time for reflection about the meaning of sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption. It is an opportunity to concentrate on the eternal blessing of being saved. It is a chance to put the chaos of this life into proper perspective.
What does it mean to be saved? Imagine the earth collapsing all around, an immense hole opening up beneath your feet, and the startling recognition that you have begun to fall. Your arms and legs flail, your mind races, and you grab at every tree root or jagged rock within reach. You find something to grip, clutch desperately, but it will not hold. You can feel yourself slipping and realize that you will soon fall away. Then, out of nowhere, a hand reaches down, grabs you, squeezes you with strength you no longer possess, and lifts you to safety. That’s what it feels like to be saved.
For some, it comes when all seems lost and that last fingerhold is about to give way. For others, it happens in the most unexpected time or place. In every case, though, there is a moment — sometimes inexplicably long in the shortest space — when you realize that you are not alone, that Christ is with you, and that all will be okay. And being pulled up to solid ground for perhaps the first time in your life, you are left with the unmistakable revelation that nothing going forward will ever be the same.
When that hand reaches for you and you take it, nothing else matters. It is Christ’s embrace alone that grips the mind from that instant. You don’t take a breather, thank the hero, and walk away. You find yourself entranced deep in your soul with an overwhelming sense of having been redeemed. Whatever path you had been treading fades away, and out of nowhere, a new path appears. Heroic sacrifice delivers hope and brings new heroes to life.
Does this seem too miraculous to be true? In an age when science is worshiped like “settled” dogma and religious teachings are rewritten to meet “woke” demands, God’s miracles are often ignored. Craige McMillan recently wrote an essay, entitled “Are You Reticent about the Supernatural?,” in which he tells the story of four children with life-threatening injuries who were inexplicably healed at a hospital one evening. The local newspaper never ran a story about the event. People who heard the story, but did not witness it firsthand, chose to forget it. Yet it happened. It was a miracle. And as with so many other miracles that happen all around us, people looked quickly and then turned the other way.
Will you turn the other way? Or would you be willing to open your eyes and see what God is doing? Will you believe — in miracles, in heroes, and in redemption? Because if you can find the courage to recognize that there are great forces guiding us today, then you will also come to the realization that, though the ground may be falling all around us, there is a steady hand within reach.
There’s a wonderful scene in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln when Daniel Day-Lewis pushes back against his advisers’ pessimism about ever passing the Thirteenth Amendment by exclaiming: “We’re whalers! … We’ve been chasing this whale for a long time. And we finally placed a harpoon in the monster’s back. … We finish the deed now. … Or with one flop of his tail, he’ll smash the boat and send us all to eternity.”
Every time current events threaten to spoil my mood, those lines echo in my head. We’re whalers! What we are doing in this life is not easy. Defending American liberty from those who would oppress us is hard work. Resisting State censorship and groupthink comes with dire costs. Opposing immoral government policies when the whole news media apparatus embraces Deep State goals is not for the faint of heart. But that is always the way things are when men choose to leave the safety of home, embark upon dangerous adventure, survive on tiny boats, float adrift in vast seas, and slay an enormous beast.
However bad today might look, tomorrow could be tremendous. All it takes is a little bit of faith and determination to find out.
No matter how great the waters around us or how choppy the waves, not one among us will drown if we refuse to lose our way. Part of staying on the right path includes recognizing the difference between living the good life and living a good life. Those who meekly follow woke scripture and the politically correct doctrines of the State may certainly be rewarded with money and titles, but those who embrace truth, defend life, and act with conviction will always be wealthy. No matter how ruthless tyrants can be, they still pale in comparison to the strength and blessings of an Almighty God.
So I ask again: do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that God reaches down to catch us when we fall? Do you believe He makes heroes out of those least likely to be so? Do you believe living well is more important than being well rewarded?
If so, then no trial in this world is too daunting. No adversity can best perseverance. No tyranny can conquer those who insist on freedom. No villain can steal the hero’s faith. Believe, and you will find an outstretched hand when you least expect it. Save others, and you, too, will one day be saved.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
