Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

Matthew 16:24-25 New King James Version (NKJV)

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.



Sunday, October 9, 2016

Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot 10 October, 2016

Prayer Breakfast: Servants of Christ
0700 at BJ’s Restaurant
Hamilton Montana

Oh Father, grant that those who worship you this day may present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to you. By the power of the Holy Spirit make us strong to fulfill our ministry this day. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Morning Psalm: 71

3. Breakfast Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

4. Breakfast is served

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:
          a. News around the valley
          b. Week 31 of 52 weeks of preparation by Tess Pennington
                             
6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

7. Benediction
          May the Lord make you strong to do the work of ministry. Amen

Upcoming Events:
          0700, 17 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 24 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 31 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 7 Nov 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 14 Nov 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 21 Nov 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 28 Nov 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0645, 15 April 2017 – March for Jesus Christ

Follow the Fellowship of Christian Veterans:

Week 31 of 52: Inventory Management

Keeping your preps organized can be very challenging to say the least. Most of us do not have ideal storage areas and are putting our preparedness and food supplies in every free nook and cranny that is available to us. If you’re not careful, this can lead to an unorganized mess. However, in order to know how much you have and how much more you need, you must to be able to account for it. The reality of this situation is if you are ever truly in an emergency, you want these preparedness items and equipment to be accessible and easy to find when you need it the most.
There is no clear cut way to store preparedness supplies. Some store their like preparedness items in groups (i.e. stored foods, tools, equipment, tack and household items), while others store them according to need (baking needs, short-term food supply, long-term supply, etc.) Whichever way you choose to organize, ensure that the area chosen is free from natural elements and insects. This also helps reduce other pest issues. The best way to keep track of your preps is with a master inventory list. Here are some suggestions for organization and for creating a Master List.
Organizing the Storage Area:
  • Take out all your preparedness items from the area they are being stored in.
  • Thoroughly clean the area you are storing your preparedness items and food.
  • Ensure that the area you are choosing to store your food is free of the enemies(natural elements and insects).
  • Label each container, bucket, tub or package with it’s contents, pack date/year and any necessary instructions.
  • Assign locations in storage area helps to keep items more organized (Med. Supplies, Baking, Sanitation, Breakfast, Canned Goods, etc.).
  • Grouping items that are used together can be convenient.  For example, keep baking needs such as flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, etc. next to one another for easy access.
  • Place goods with the longest expiration date in the back and work forward to the closest expiration date.
  • Systematically rotate and organize your storage.
  • Food storage inventory should be checked every 6 months to make sure that food items are properly rotated and are used within their expiration date.
Creating a Master List:
  • Use Excel or a spreadsheet software program to better organize and categorize your preps.
  • List everything! Nothing should be exempt from your inventory list.
  • Add the location of where the prep items are stored.
  • Alphabetizing the list and including the location of where it is stored can be helpful when you’re in a pinch.
  • Store your Master List in your Emergency Binder.
As you have found in the last 30 weeks, preparedness involves acquiring a lot of gear, tools and food. Knowing what you have, how much you have and where to find it is imperative in keeping track of your preparedness supplies.
To learn more tips for organizing your emergency preps, click here.
To find out how to better inventory your preparedness supplies, click here.

Action Items:

15.        Take all of your preparedness items out of the storage area and thoroughly clean the area.
16.                Organize your preparedness supplies.
17.                Develop a master list of your inventory supplies.
18.                Store the master list in your Emergency Binder.

Preps to Buy:

  • Three Ring Binder (the larger the better)
  • Dividers
  • Printer Paper
  • Highlighter Pen (optional)
  • Printed Out Information
  • Pens
  • Labels
  • Plastic containers or bins or under bed storage containers
  • Shelving units


Self-Control

October 9, 2016 Worship Service

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot, 3 October, 2016

Prayer Breakfast: A Friend of Souls
0700 at BJ’s Restaurant
Hamilton Montana

Oh Father, you who are the source of our life, strength, and ministry. In your presence alone we find help, hope, and life. Send us from this hour as a healing reminder of your love to all whose lives we touch this day. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Morning Psalm: 103

3. Breakfast Reading: Hebrews 8:1-12

4. Breakfast is served

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:
          a. News around the valley
          b. Week 29 of 52 weeks of preparation by Tess Pennington
                             
6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

7. Benediction
          May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Upcoming Events:
          0700, 10 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 17 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 24 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0700, 31 Oct 2016 – Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot Prayer Breakfast
          0645, 15 April 2017 – March for Jesus Christ

Follow the Fellowship of Christian Veterans:

Week 30 of 52: Nutrition and Exercise

Each emergency provides us with its own set of unique challenges. One aspect of emergencies that is always present and yet one we tend to overlook is the fact that we must adapt to the physical challenges an emergency presents. Some may find themselves chopping more firewood, or scaling rooftops or bending over more while gardening, thus putting more stress on the back. In any case, if your body is not prepared to handle this influx of physical activity, you will be more susceptible to injuries and strain.
The term “survival of the fittest” is not just a phrase someone coined to describe the evolution of organisms who best adapt to the environment. In a survival sense, those who are the fittest will have the greatest chance of surviving. Our bodies were not designed to sit stagnant at a desk for 8 hours a day. We have large muscular systems that were created to help us maintain a physical activity level. Yet, we have been conditioned to be sedentary due to our jobs, and ease of transportation. How do you think you can survive if your body is not conditioned to make it?
Here’s another scenario, say you and your family have made the decision to bug out of the city. If you have not conditioned your body to hike with multiple pounds of gear strapped to your back, then you will a very difficult time bugging out. Lugging around extra pounds on your body on top of all the gear you have in a bug out scenario will quickly wear you out, could potentially cause an injury and even put you in harms way. Therefore, we must begin preparing the body now for those physical activities we may find ourselves in. Here are a few changes to consider:
You are what you eat – Make healthy snacks ahead of time to avoid binge eating. When you are ready for a more dramatic change, get rid of your weaknesses (junk food, sodas, ice cream, chips, etc) and begin incorporating more healthy meals into your diet. To learn more about healthy eating habits,click here.
Drink lots of water. We all know that water helps your body and organs function properly, so start drinking more water. It really does a body good.
Bring on the protein. Adding more protein into your diet helps rebuild muscles that are torn from exercising. It also provides with more energy.
Strengthen your muscles, especially those in your back by stretching exercises such as yoga. Cardiovascular activities are also a great way to strengthen muscle groups and lose the extra pounds.
Stretch regularly – Stretching promotes blood circulation, strengthens and elongates muscles. Stretching before any type of activity can assist in preventing injuries from occurring.
Create muscle memory. Any activity you believe you will be doing in an emergency situation, begin practicing in order to develop muscle memory. You want your body to be able to fall back on what it knows and what it is used to doing when an emergency occurs. This “second nature” response is very beneficial in an emergency situation.
Take your vitamins. Vitamins have a beneficial effect on the body and also help build stronger muscles as well as assist in building the immune system.
Stop the bad habits. Make a commitment today to stop consuming anything that is harmful including alcohol, tobacco products, and harmful drugs and substances. You do not want to be dealing with withdrawl symptoms during an emergency.
Personally speaking, I dusted off my elliptical machine last year and began incorporating an exercise program into my daily life. My goal was to prepare my body physically for working outdoors. When I began, I could barely do 20 minutes at the lowest setting. The more I continued, the easier it got and I have worked myself up to 45 minutes/ 2-3 times a week. I have also included doing yoga to further strengthen my muscles. What I did not realize is the largest change I noticed wasn’t the sweat equity, but I became more aware of what my body needed. Another great reward was the increased energy that I had. With three kids, a busy lifestyle and my homesteading hobbies, I needed all the energy I could get; and spending time on the elliptical gave me that much needed energy boost.
What you may find after incorporating physical exercise and stretching is that not only will you begin a physical transformation, but your mind and spirit will transform as a result of making healthier choices. Being physically well is realistic and a very important aspect of preparedness. Peter Holy, CEO of 123 Feel Better Company suggests that, “A physically healthy person is someone who strives to do all that they can to maintain their body at the optimum level of functioning both in times of sickness and good health…Total health reaches far beyond Physical Wellness, but adequate Physical Wellness provides a good foundation for a whole and complete life.”

Action Items:

1.            Start an exercise routine and make a commitment to do at least 10 minutes a day of physical activities and gradually build up when your body gets used to the workout.
    1. Begin a daily vitamin regimen.
    2. Plan healthy meals before you go grocery shopping and stock up on healthy snacks such as fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, trail mixes, eggs, yogurt, etc.
    3. Always stretch your muscles before doing any type of physical activity.

Preps to Buy:

  • Speak with a wellness advisor or physician about what your physical exercise plans are and short/long-term goals. See if they can give you any pointers.
  • Buy any exercise equipment needed for your exercise regimen.
  • Begin purchasing foods that will enhance your health. Some super foods to consider can be viewed here.
  • If you plan on hiking outdoors, consider a good pair of hiking boots. More information can be viewed here.


October 2, 2016 Worship Service