A Boy Scout Lesson:

[Dennis1209]

The Boy Scout Oath, or Promise, reflects a commitment to biblical principles and values. Sixty years on, I can still quote most of them. I want to talk about the Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared. I believe we have the God given right to defend ourselves, our families, and those not capable of defending themselves. I believe it is wise and prudent to be semi-prepared for unseen circumstances before it is too late.

The severe thunderstorm and tornado season (2025) has been especially devastating for many in Tornado Ally and Dixi Ally. Not to mention a year later western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and other areas are still reeling from Hurricane Helene.

From experience (2009) and what I learned, the government cannot and will not cater to your needs and well-being; that is a personal responsibility. What you have and prepared for is all you have.

From personal experience, when the power grid goes down for an extended period, for whatever reason, life as we know it drastically changes, becomes uncomfortable, and can become dangerous and deadly. A little preplanning and thought go a long way in alleviating much of the pain and suffering, and the opportunity to share with those in need is enhanced by slipping a Bible Salvation Tract into the ice and commodities.

Examining historical records, flooding, wildfires, mudslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms are being described as historic, unprecedented, never-before-seen, once-in-a-lifetime events, or even 500-year occurrences. In other words, disasters are picking up in frequency and intensity, birth pains sound familiar, not to mention potential terrorism.

The Mississippi-New Madrid fault zone now has geologists very concerned with what is happening (fracturing beneath the bed). Not to mention their escalating concern about the changes in the Yellowstone Park caldera. It is not if, but when.

We do not realize how soft we have become until the electrons stop flowing into our homes, businesses, and infrastructure. In the small village where I lived before retirement, the water continued to flow, but we had a boil alert (we were all on electricity). It was cold showers every day for a couple of weeks, and July temperatures of 95-100 degrees. If that was not inconvenient enough, the sewer lift pumps lacked emergency backup power. Toilets and drains were exploding into homes, spewing sewage everywhere.

After enough trees and debris were removed from the roads to allow for venturing out, the local Quick Trips and gas stations eventually obtained backup generators and reopened. All of them were a madhouse, cars lined up for blocks, cash only, fights breaking out. The ice deliveryman was sold out from the delivery truck.

Now living in the boondocks, I have a well and septic system, so I don't worry about the sewer system exploding. However, without electricity, there is no well water. We don't realize how much water we use until it's gone.

Unrelated to water usage, and due to my wife’s disability, I installed two handicap toilets that happen to use only one gallon of water per flush, instead of the standard four gallons. That turns out to be a blessing.

I guess the point of my rant is that the more stocked up on the essentials of life as we are accustomed to, the less miserable our families will be when unfavorable circumstances arrive. Plus, the blessing of forethought, probably being able to help your church family and neighbors.

From the Book of Dennis, 2 Opinions: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 😊

[Marilyn C]

4 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

The Boy Scout Oath, or Promise, reflects a commitment to biblical principles and values. Sixty years on, I can still quote most of them. I want to talk about the Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared. I believe we have the God given right to defend ourselves, our families, and those not capable of defending themselves. I believe it is wise and prudent to be semi-prepared for unseen circumstances before it is too late.

The severe thunderstorm and tornado season (2025) has been especially devastating for many in Tornado Ally and Dixi Ally. Not to mention a year later western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and other areas are still reeling from Hurricane Helene.

From experience (2009) and what I learned, the government cannot and will not cater to your needs and well-being; that is a personal responsibility. What you have and prepared for is all you have.

From personal experience, when the power grid goes down for an extended period, for whatever reason, life as we know it drastically changes, becomes uncomfortable, and can become dangerous and deadly. A little preplanning and thought go a long way in alleviating much of the pain and suffering, and the opportunity to share with those in need is enhanced by slipping a Bible Salvation Tract into the ice and commodities.

Examining historical records, flooding, wildfires, mudslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms are being described as historic, unprecedented, never-before-seen, once-in-a-lifetime events, or even 500-year occurrences. In other words, disasters are picking up in frequency and intensity, birth pains sound familiar, not to mention potential terrorism.

The Mississippi-New Madrid fault zone now has geologists very concerned with what is happening (fracturing beneath the bed). Not to mention their escalating concern about the changes in the Yellowstone Park caldera. It is not if, but when.

We do not realize how soft we have become until the electrons stop flowing into our homes, businesses, and infrastructure. In the small village where I lived before retirement, the water continued to flow, but we had a boil alert (we were all on electricity). It was cold showers every day for a couple of weeks, and July temperatures of 95-100 degrees. If that was not inconvenient enough, the sewer lift pumps lacked emergency backup power. Toilets and drains were exploding into homes, spewing sewage everywhere.

After enough trees and debris were removed from the roads to allow for venturing out, the local Quick Trips and gas stations eventually obtained backup generators and reopened. All of them were a madhouse, cars lined up for blocks, cash only, fights breaking out. The ice deliveryman was sold out from the delivery truck.

Now living in the boondocks, I have a well and septic system, so I don't worry about the sewer system exploding. However, without electricity, there is no well water. We don't realize how much water we use until it's gone.

Unrelated to water usage, and due to my wife’s disability, I installed two handicap toilets that happen to use only one gallon of water per flush, instead of the standard four gallons. That turns out to be a blessing.

I guess the point of my rant is that the more stocked up on the essentials of life as we are accustomed to, the less miserable our families will be when unfavorable circumstances arrive. Plus, the blessing of forethought, probably being able to help your church family and neighbors.

From the Book of Dennis, 2 Opinions: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 😊

Hi Dennis,

I loved the personal stories of your life. We are similar, out in the country with 4 water tanks, and a generator that is well used. We stock up lots of basics and food, so, those who come behind can use them. 

all the best, Marilyn.

[BibleStudent100]

On 5/31/2025 at 11:21 AM, Dennis1209 said:

From personal experience, when the power grid goes down for an extended period, for whatever reason, life as we know it drastically changes, becomes uncomfortable, and can become dangerous and deadly.

Thank you for sharing these experiences.  It seems like we need to be more self-dependent rather than relying on the government.  With weather going more to the extreme levels, we ought to plan more for "uncooperative" weather events. 

[Dennis1209]

4 hours ago, BibleStudent100 said:

Thank you for sharing these experiences.  It seems like we need to be more self-dependent rather than relying on the government.  With weather going more to the extreme levels, we ought to plan more for "uncooperative" weather events. 

I agree. Short of documenting historical records and statistics for natural disasters and nature revolting, linearly coming on like birth pains, with some highs and lulls (divers places). It is undeniable that the media is emphatically proclaiming and using accurate terminology, such as 'never seen,' 'unprecedented,' 'historical,' 'once in a lifetime,' and 'a 500-year event,' etc.

Scripture is jumping off the pages of the Bible today, and I could bore you to tears citing examples; it cannot be overlooked. I truly believe time is short.

Even the biblical River Euphrates, as predicted, is at historical low levels and drying up. In places, the residents now call it the Euphrates Creek. Many historical sites and biblical relics are being discovered.