Some thoughts on
serving God or Mammon...
by a brother from the
early Church.
Lactanius (lac TAN shus)
260-330; Roman convert
serving God or Mammon...
by a brother from the
early Church.
Lactanius (lac TAN shus)
260-330; Roman convert
(Lactantius writing against those who promised wealth and prosperity and an easy walk as
Christians...)
"Satan, having invented false religions, turns men away from the Heavenly path and leads
them into the way of ruin. That path seems to be level and spacious and delightful with all
kinds of flowers and fruits. For Satan places on this path all things which are esteemed on
earth as good things- wealth, honor, pleasure and all sorts of enticements.
But hidden along with these are also injustice, cruelty, pride, lust, fights, ignorance,
falsehood ,folly and other vices. But the end of this way is as follows: When they have
reached the point of no return, it is suddenly removed, along with it's beauty. It is so
sudden that no one is able to foresee this fraud before he falls head-first into a deep
abyss...
"In contrast, the Heavenly path seems to be difficult and hilly, covered with painful thorns
and strewn with jagged rocks. As a result, everyone must walk with the greatest care and
must take precautions against falling. On this road, God has placed justice, self-restraint,
patience, faith, chastity, self-control, peace, knowledge, truth, wisdom, and other virtues.
But, along with these go poverty, lowliness, work, pain and all kinds of hardships. For,
whoever has extended his hope beyond the present life and chosen better things, will be
without these earthly goods. Because he is lightly equipped and free of hindrances, he can
overcome the difficulty of the Way.
For it is impossible for the man who has surrounded himself with royal pomp, or loaded
himself with riches, either to enter this path or to persevere in the face of these difficulties.
( Matt 7:13-14:19:23-24)
Christians...)
"Satan, having invented false religions, turns men away from the Heavenly path and leads
them into the way of ruin. That path seems to be level and spacious and delightful with all
kinds of flowers and fruits. For Satan places on this path all things which are esteemed on
earth as good things- wealth, honor, pleasure and all sorts of enticements.
But hidden along with these are also injustice, cruelty, pride, lust, fights, ignorance,
falsehood ,folly and other vices. But the end of this way is as follows: When they have
reached the point of no return, it is suddenly removed, along with it's beauty. It is so
sudden that no one is able to foresee this fraud before he falls head-first into a deep
abyss...
"In contrast, the Heavenly path seems to be difficult and hilly, covered with painful thorns
and strewn with jagged rocks. As a result, everyone must walk with the greatest care and
must take precautions against falling. On this road, God has placed justice, self-restraint,
patience, faith, chastity, self-control, peace, knowledge, truth, wisdom, and other virtues.
But, along with these go poverty, lowliness, work, pain and all kinds of hardships. For,
whoever has extended his hope beyond the present life and chosen better things, will be
without these earthly goods. Because he is lightly equipped and free of hindrances, he can
overcome the difficulty of the Way.
For it is impossible for the man who has surrounded himself with royal pomp, or loaded
himself with riches, either to enter this path or to persevere in the face of these difficulties.
( Matt 7:13-14:19:23-24)
Peter Walpot, an Anabaptist Elder , (Hutterite), some 500 years ago, made the
statement, "A Christian cannot own private property". I would ask, in the light of
Lactantius' words, "Is private property a hindrance to your Christian walk and
witness?"
statement, "A Christian cannot own private property". I would ask, in the light of
Lactantius' words, "Is private property a hindrance to your Christian walk and
witness?"
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
This page shall be a sort of "newsletter for our
community in Kingman, Maine called
SHILOH.
We will publish news, building projects,farm
plans and the like. Also pictures of what is
happening at SHILOH and amongst our
neighbors that our Dear Savior has called us
to minister to.
Hopefully this will be a monthly peek at
SHILOH to share with all.
Joyful Noize will also be sent as a monthly
newsletter via email and snail mail.
community in Kingman, Maine called
SHILOH.
We will publish news, building projects,farm
plans and the like. Also pictures of what is
happening at SHILOH and amongst our
neighbors that our Dear Savior has called us
to minister to.
Hopefully this will be a monthly peek at
SHILOH to share with all.
Joyful Noize will also be sent as a monthly
newsletter via email and snail mail.
COLD NEWS...DUE TO LACK OF CASH (and experienced workers), our Wood Cook/
Heating Stove project is on hold til next year.
Heating Stove project is on hold til next year.
We are continuing to finish off the interior of our summer kitchen; (electric, insulation
etc), We will move our extra refrigerator into it after we get some linoleum.
Our funds have to go toward getting 10 cords of firewood for our long winter coming. If
the Lord touches your heart, know that we can use all the financial help we can get.
Nevertheless, taking heart from the witness of other communities ' struggles and that our
our lord Jesus, we are thankful that God will take us thru safely til next spring!
etc), We will move our extra refrigerator into it after we get some linoleum.
Our funds have to go toward getting 10 cords of firewood for our long winter coming. If
the Lord touches your heart, know that we can use all the financial help we can get.
Nevertheless, taking heart from the witness of other communities ' struggles and that our
our lord Jesus, we are thankful that God will take us thru safely til next spring!
AUG 6, 2009
INVASION OF THE GIANT TOMATO PLANTS
Though the weather this season has been lousey up here in Maine (as well as
the rest of New England), it has been reasonably dry in the greenhouse. Our
tomato plants are even higher than shown in this photo. Thats Wade ,a neighbor
and good friend standing with a plant 6' high ( now there are plants over 8' high!
We soon shall be selling them at our roadside stand.
Most of our vegetables were drowned outside. Oh well, farmers we;re not yet!
the rest of New England), it has been reasonably dry in the greenhouse. Our
tomato plants are even higher than shown in this photo. Thats Wade ,a neighbor
and good friend standing with a plant 6' high ( now there are plants over 8' high!
We soon shall be selling them at our roadside stand.
Most of our vegetables were drowned outside. Oh well, farmers we;re not yet!
FRED JONES
Although we got hit hard up here in Maine with
tomato blight due to the weather, we've turned our eyes and hands to weather,
weathervanes, that is, as a source of income . (all is not lost, we are having a
moderate success selling our tomatoes due to the shortage around
us...thanks to our greenhouse).
tomato blight due to the weather, we've turned our eyes and hands to weather,
weathervanes, that is, as a source of income . (all is not lost, we are having a
moderate success selling our tomatoes due to the shortage around
us...thanks to our greenhouse).
These are truly SCALE weathervanes; airplanes, ships animals etc....
all "life-like! With other Maine crafts people, we're setting up a CRAFTSMEN GENERAL
STORE...check out www.shipshopworks.com , to see our progress with this help to all of us here in
northern Maine.
all "life-like! With other Maine crafts people, we're setting up a CRAFTSMEN GENERAL
STORE...check out www.shipshopworks.com , to see our progress with this help to all of us here in
northern Maine.
Last month, we had a wonderful visit by Freds
daughter, Ahna and Layne, her son and Freds
grandson...here he is having a ball rolling in the hay
field!
daughter, Ahna and Layne, her son and Freds
grandson...here he is having a ball rolling in the hay
field!