11 Items You Need To Get Now – Preparing For Disaster

These items will be the first to go off the store shelves
By Ray Gano

My name is Ray Gano, in my past not only did I jump out of perfectly good airplanes serving with the 82nd Airborne, I learned to eat bugs, snakes and yes even monkeys. I have also lived through several natural disasters. The biggest was the 1989 San Francisco earthquake that measured a huge 7.1. Buildings, homes, roads, and lives were destroyed. It even put a damper on the World Series, which I was disappointed because my team the SF Giants lost.

We are reminded of the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, my wife, family and I learned some ever valuable lessons. The real eye opener is that we learned what disappeared off the shelves at the local Mega Mart when these sort of events take place.

Fast forward to today and my wife and I were sitting at Ground Zero in Texas for what is being called the Swine Flu / Mexican Flu pandemic. In fact, the World Health Organization is telling us that this fall we will see a rise in the H1N1 flu virus. Not only that, we are now hearing that the vaccine is just as dangerous and already 25 people have died in connection with it.

It can’t happen to you? Think again…

In the world we live in we face dirty bombs and terrorism globally. 9-11 is proof to that. What would happen if a dirty bomb, a weapon of mass DISRUPTION, was exploded on US soil? Dick Chaney once stated that it is not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN” something of this magnitude would take place.

With all of this staring us in the face, what are we doing about it?

The best time to prepare you and your family is now when you have the time; patients and clear thinking are in your favor.

This list is not totally chronological, but important things are at the top of the list and ones I would seek out first. You will need these items if and when a disaster arises. When disaster takes place, these items will also be very hard to find. The best thing to do is have these items now so that when the need arises, they are there for you and your family.

Another point I would like to make, you should try to have extra on hand for others you care about, trade and for sale; because if you need them, so do others.

Please take the time to review this document, when printed is about 12+ pages chock full of information. Have this on hand and start working on it today.

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11 Items You Need To Get Now

1. Water

Water, water, water!!! You can not have enough water! Also have on hand water bottles, bottled water, water jugs, 5 gallon jerry cans, canteens, ect. All these items and the water will be the first items to go. In all the disasters I have been in, water was either cut off, or in very short supply. If you hear of a disaster coming your way, clean out the bathroom tub with regular bleach as fast as possible, make sure you rinse the tub and then start filling it up with COLD WATER. If there is residue bleach, that is ok, it will help preserve the water. Duck tape the over flow hole so that you can get maximum water in the tub. Start filling jugs, canteens, bottles as fast as you can, you do not know how long the water will last. You must move as fast as possible during this time! Make this your primary focus if you are to remain in the home. Do not use hot water!!! Your hot water heater is a secondary reserve. This is why you fill everything you can with a cold water source. If you have multiple bath tubs, fill all of them. Speed is of the essence.

Now, if you are really thinking ahead, 50 gallon water barrels are good to have. You can purchase these at feed stores, farming supplies, ect. Fill them and rotate the water about every other month to every 12 months.

2. Food

Try to keep on hand 30 days worth of food. Large amounts of canned, dried and frozen goods are a very good idea. One of the best investments we have ever made is the vacuum food sealer, these small appliances suck the air out of bags and seals them.

This is a great way to create dried food meals, pre made meals, ect. This also gives dried grains, beans, rice and such extra shelf life. Canned goods and dry goods are the best to keep for long term. Remember to have several hand operated can openers around. I personally keep a P-38 US Army can opener on my key chain. Believe it or not, there is a lot you can do with a P-38.

3. Battery Operated Items

Such as flashlights, lamps, radios and the extra batteries needed to keep them going. If you are able to find “crank” operated items, then get them. Keeping extra battery operated items on hand is also good when one breaks and can also be used in trade.

Here is a GREAT radio that I highly recommend. Not only does it have a lot of purposes and you can hand crank it, but it will also act as a charger and has a built in cell phone charger.

• Emergency Hand-Crank Power Generator
• Built-in Cell Phone Charger, Flashlight, and Emergency Siren
• Frequency: AM/FM/TV-VHF/NOAA
• Rechargeable battery pack provides reliable, renewable, internal power for everyday use
• Stereo headphone jack

In fact I have set up a list at Amazon that you may want to bookmark titled "2012 End of The World? - Gotta Get These Items If You Plan To Make it" I have some good books as well as the radio and other items I am recommending.

4. Camp Fuel Operated Items.

A camp stove that runs on camp fuel is a great investment. These can run on just about anything. Camping lanterns as well as the old fashion oil lamp and other items are also good to have. They even make camp ovens. Coleman Fuel, it is impossible not to stockpile too much of this stuff. What comfort these items bring is what makes or breaks surviving critical times. The thought of simple warmth is a great motivator in times of distress. Remember to get “tune up” kits for all your items to keep them running at peak performance. Example: Wicks, mantles for lamps, gaskets for stoves.

For oil lamps, make sure you have on hand lamp oil, wicks and maybe an extra chimney. If any of these items are scarce, stockpile so that you have these on hand! If you run out of lamp oil, you can move to Coleman fuel as well. Sooty, but it works.

A quick note on Coleman lanterns that utilize a mantle; although they give off great light, these mantles are very fragile. Make sure you have an excellent supply of these. You will break the mantle almost every time you move the lantern. Once you do not have any more mantles, your lamp is not very functional if at all.

Final addendum to camp fuel is also have on hand plenty of Candles, Wood, Seasoned Firewood, Charcoal & Lighter Fluid, these items too will be in short supply.

5. Barter Items

Gold and Silver Coins, the new president “gold” coins, gold & silver bullion, these are items that maintain value and barter-ability. (www.apmex.com) Have a lot on hand so that you can use these. We do not know what shape the US economy will be in. In fact with the Mid-East war about to erupt, the intelligence agencies are saying that the US can come under an oil embargo much worse than in the 1970s. If oil is used as a weapon and the dollar is dumped in lieu of the EURO, the paper you have in your pocket may not be worth much at all.

6. Tools & Ducktape

Hand tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, hand drills, saws, tape measures, bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil) Anything that one can use to build with or cut down with. Don’t forget the nails, screws and most of all DUCKTAPE. It is amazing all the things you can do and repair with DUCKTAPE. I would buy a whole case of duck tape because when you start using it, you will run out pretty fast.

7. Weapons, Hunting & Fishing Items

Guns, Ammo, Knives, Bows, Arrows and Slingshots. In fact it is a good idea to get everyone in the family a good fold up wrist rocket AKA sling shot and a solid knife. Many a squirrel have fed a family due to the sling shot and quick cleaning with the knife.

Include a good supply of fishing gear as well as snare wire and trapping items.

Pepper Spray, Clubs, Bats and other self protection items are also good to have on hand as well as multiples of each. Have enough to “arm” the entire family with at least one of each. In doing this, you can have many of these items “stored” all over and within an arms reach if needed.

The key to all of these hunting, fishing and home protection items is that if you do not know how to use them, they are pretty much useless. So if you purchase a gun or rifle, take it to the range as well as take some lessons if you have not used a weapon before.

For Fishing, get to know the local fishing areas around your home. You would be very surprised at all the fish you would find in simple city drainage water ways. When I lived in CA, a drainage ditch was one of my secret bass fishing areas. Get to know these areas and get to know your fishing gear.

8. Camping Gear, Tents, Backpacks, Sleeping Bags, Sleep Pads, Tarps, Stakes, Rope, 550 Cord (parachute cord), etc.

Pretty much anything that you may need so that you and your family can live out doors. You may not be able to stay in your home after a disaster, so camp out in the back yard and have a “guard post” in the front.

9. First Aid Supplies & Personal First Aid Kits, Medications and Vitamins

Put together a major family first aid kit. A very large fishing tackle box or better yet a plastic bin that you are able to close and secure is even better. Remember when putting your supplies together, check any expiration dates.

If you take prescriptions, it is good to have an extra 30 day supply on hand if you are able.

10. King James Version Study Bible

If I had to grab and go and could take only one item, it would be my bible. There is more knowledge, comfort and answers in this single book than all the supplies one could take. This is the most priceless item on this list.

NOTE: People are going to ask, why did you put this at #10 when you consider it #1? Well it is people’s expectation. If I would put the bible at #1, no one would take it seriously and jump into the “survival” items. Here at #10, the importance of it being #1 is well understood. I also want to reinforce here that I call out a King James Version and not a NIV, NASB, or some paraphrase. The KJV has been saving souls for over 400 years. With your life on the line you will need some serious answers; the modern versions do not deliver. Believe me you will thank me on this one once we make it to heaven.

11. Family Pictures

When I went through the 1989 SF earthquake, this was one of those “I wish I thought of that” items.

So many people lost their homes and personal possessions. On top of that, they lost friends and loved ones. The idea of family photos all of a sudden become a big deal.

For those few who thought of taking family pictures, these were also a great comfort and is the second most priceless item on this list.

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ADDING TO THE BASICS

Ok now that you have the basics and you understand why they are just basics. Now you can start filling in the holes. The following is a good list of items that if hard times hit, these items will become rather scarce rather quickly disappearing from the mega store shelves.

The following list is in no real order, but these are items I know that will be scarce.

I know and understand that you can become very overwhelmed with all of this. In many cases people become like “deer in the headlights” and never take the first step.

The key to eating an elephant is taking one bite at a time. That is the same thing you can do here. By taking “baby steps” you can assemble the items you need. For example, while you are shopping at mega mart, pick up one, two or even three of your items on the list. When you get home place these items in your storage area where you keep your emergency items. After a while you will have a fully stocked emergency cabinet with the supplies you need for you and your family.

FOOD & WATER ITEMS

Water filters and non electric purifiers

Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks (Life savers!) If you are able to get a stash of P-38 US Army can openers, they in themselves will be good trade.

Honey/Syrups/ white, brown sugars

Vegetable oil (for cooking) (Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)

Grain Grinder (Non-electric)

Aluminum foil Reg. & Heavy. Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)

Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)

Garden seeds (Non-hybrid - Heirloom) (A MUST)

Tuna Fish (in oil), jerky, dried or preserved meats (protein)

Flour, yeast & salt

Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Winter time)

Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies

Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)

Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.

Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)

Paper plates/cups/ utensils (stock up, folks...) Great fire starters too.

Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillon/gravy/ soup base
Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky

Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts

Chocolate/Cocoa/ Tang/Punch (water enhancers)

Teas

Coffee

Wine/Liquors (for bribes, barter and medicinal, etc.)

Paraffin wax

Chewing gum/candies

Chickens / Goats – if you have the room and if regulations permit with in the city

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HEALTH AND SANITATION ITEMS

Portable Toilets

Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)

Propane Cylinders

Baby Supplies: Diapers, formula, ointments etc

Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)

Vitamins (Critical, due to daily canned food diets.)

Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)

Feminine Hygiene/Hair care/Skin products

Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)

Garbage bags - Impossible not to have too many, there are a thousand and one uses.

Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel

Fire extinguishers (or.. large box of Baking soda in every room...)

Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc

Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams

Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)

Laundry detergent (Liquid)

d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer

Mousetraps, Ant traps, Cockroach traps, if you got creepy crawlies, get traps for them.

Shaving supplies - razors & creams, talc, after shave. A good shave can make a bad situation look good.

Reading glasses

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ALL THE OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE ITEMS

Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal)

Clothes pins/line/hangers – clean clothes are a moral booster

Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky, noisy target for thieves; maintenance, etc.) Nice to have around though.

Coleman's Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278

Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)

BIG DOGS and plenty of dog food

Matches ( "Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.) waterproof with melted paraffin

Writing paper/pads/pencils/ solar calculators

Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts

Flashlights/ LIGHT STICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns

Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Jot down ideas, feelings,
experiences: Historic times!)

Tarps/stakes/ twine/nails/ rope/spikes

Backpacks & Duffle bags

Garden tools & supplies

Cigarettes – GREAT FOR BARTER!!! That is if you do not smoke.

Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies

Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)

Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel

Bicycles...Tires/ tubes/pumps/ chains, etc.

Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/ mats

Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)

Board Games Cards, Dice

Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)

Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.

Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)

Woolen clothing, scarves/ear- muffs/mittens

BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook / US ARMY SURVIVAL GUIDE

Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)

Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
etc. (extras)

Lumber (all types)

Wagons & carts (for transport to & from open Flea markets)

Cots & Inflatable mattresses (for extra guests)

Gloves: Work/warming/ gardening, etc.

Bailing wire, 550 cord, strong rope plus the tools to cut these items.

Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts

Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.

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Where Do I Start? - STORAGE

Now this is not the end all to be all lists. There are probably a thousand things I am missing here, but this gives you a start. I encourage you to adapt to your needs, again this list is just a starting point.

Another thing, the best time to plan for an emergency is now. You don’t have to go out and buy everything on this list, but start now.

First thing to do is determine a place to keep all your emergency supplies. Then start working on the list. Odds are that you have a lot of these items already. Problem is that they are all over the house. In an emergency sometimes time is working against you. If you have all your items in one single place; that means you can be more effective for you and your family when the time for action is called upon.

You can also refine this list and create what is called a “Bug Out Bag” AKA BOB. By getting a small back pack, place in it items from this list, at least the top 11 and put this in your storage area. If you have to leave in a hurry, you have these items ready. It is good that each member of the family have a BOB. If an emergency takes place, your family can quickly evacuate the area and head to safer ground.

Now you can refine even more and create a work BOB and auto BOB. Same ideas, just smaller and adapt to the needs.

Example, for your Car BOB you would put a blanket that you can place on the ground if you need to change a tire or do some auto work. In your Work BOB maybe a fire hood to protect you from an office fire and chem light sticks so you can see to escape a building.

Again, you have a better idea of your surroundings than I do. Plan ahead and try to put in place the items needed to better ensure your survivability.

For more information on what you can do or if proper Christian stewardship is important to you, visit our website http://www.prophezine.com and visit our PZ Stewardship area.

You can also contact us at info@prophezine.com

I leave you with the follow words from Proverbs…

Proverbs 3:5 – 7 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

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About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine (www.prophezine.com). Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000 (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “TEOTWAWKI the Data Library. This DVD covers how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance. Order it at http://www.prophezine.com/pz_store/

Here is what God’s Word states…

Ephesians 6:13 (KJV) Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all,
To Stand.

When is Spring Coming?

By Ray Gano

It is Monday, and it is still cold. Do you believe it, we are suppose to get snow here in Texas again!

Folks, God blessed Texas with His own hand..

Brought down angels from the promise land..

Gave them a place where they could dance..

If you wanna see heaven, then here's your chance..

We've been sent to spread the message….

God blessed Texas.

OK … OK … so it is a country and western song.

But still, we live south of the Mason Dixon line, there ain't supposes to be snow in these here parts.

"Snow is for them thar Yankees north of the Mason Dixon." (yep, that's how we speak down here in Texas)

I have to say though, it really makes you appreciate the spring when it comes.

I am already making plans on starting on our garden here and I have some new things that I want to try out.

Experiment #1 - Planting strait into bags of soil. Yep, I was reading an article on "no tilling gardens" and in the article they laid bags of soil down in a row, cut them open and planted right in the bags of soil. I thought that this was a great idea and if this is something that works for me, then it can work for anyone. One of the main reasons I want to give this a try is for all the folks who live in the city, specifically apartments. If one can lay a bag of soil on a patio and grow things, well one can have a garden. It may not be huge, but one can do it.

So, $7.00 for a bag of soil and some seeds and you are good to go.

Experiment #2 - Old carpet weed barrier. I read about this idea in one of the many forums I belong to. Take old carpet and lay it on the ground with the burlap facing down. Cut holes in the carpet and that is where you plant. The rest of the carpet acts as a weed barrier as well as retaining moisture in the ground.

We have a horrible problem with crab grass invading everything. I have raised beds for this reason, but I want to take advantage of the area we are not using. I have tried other weed barriers and they just can't keep the crab grass at bay.

So I am looking forward to giving this a try in those areas where the crab grass is prevalent.

So why am I mentioning my garden? Here is some interesting info from Eric deCarbonnel 's report "2010 Food Crisis For Dummies." This is one of the best, well researched articles out there. I have shared this with folks in the past and his findings are now showing up in the Main Stream Media. People are starting to take notice.

2010 Food Crisis for Dummies

by Eric deCarbonnel If you read any economic, financial, or political analysis for 2010 that doesn’t mention the food shortage looming next year, throw it in the trash, as it is worthless. There is overwhelming, undeniable evidence that the world will run out of food next year. When this happens, the resulting triple digit food inflation will lead panicking central banks around the world to dump their foreign reserves to appreciate their currencies and lower the cost of food imports, causing the collapse of the dollar, the treasury market, derivative markets, and the global financial system. The US will experience economic disintegration.

The 2010 Food Crisis Means Financial Armageddon

Over the last two years, the world has faced a series of unprecedented financial crises: the collapse of the housing market, the freezing of the credit markets, the failure of Wall Street brokerage firms (Bear Stearns/Lehman Brothers), the failure of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the failure of AIG, Iceland’s economic collapse, the bankruptcy of the major auto manufacturers (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler), etc… In the face of all these challenges, the demise of the dollar, derivative markets, and the modern international system of credit has been repeatedly forecasted and feared. However, all these doomsday scenarios have so far been proved false, and, despite tremendous chaos and losses, the global financial system has held together.

The 2010 Food Crisis is different. It is THE CRISIS. The one that makes all doomsday scenarios come true. The government bailouts and central bank interventions, which have held the financial world together during the last two years, will be powerless to prevent the 2010 Food Crisis from bringing the global financial system to its knees.

Financial crisis will kick into high gear

So far the crisis has been driven by the slow and steady increase in defaults on mortgages and other loans. This is about to change. What will drive the financial crisis in 2010 will be panic about food supplies and the dollar’s plunging value. Things will start moving fast.

Dynamics Behind 2010 Food Crisis

Early in 2009, the supply and demand in agricultural markets went badly out of balance. The world experienced a catastrophic fall in food production as a result of the financial crisis (low commodity prices and lack of credit) and adverse weather on a global scale. Meanwhile, China and other Asian exporters, in an effort to preserve their economic growth, were unleashing domestic consumption long constrained by inflation fears, and demand for raw materials, especially food staples, exploded as Chinese consumers worked their way towards American-style overconsumption, prodded on by a flood of cheap credit and easy loans from the government.

Normally food prices should have already shot higher months ago, leading to lower food consumption and bringing the global food supply/demand situation back into balance. This never happened because the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), instead of adjusting production estimates down to reflect decreased production, adjusted estimates upwards to match increasing demand from china. In this way, the USDA has brought supply and demand back into balance (on paper) and temporarily delayed a rise in food prices by ensuring a catastrophe in 2010.

Overconsumption is leading to disaster

It is absolutely key to understand that the production of agricultural goods is a fixed, once a year cycle (or twice a year in the case of double crops). The wheat, corn, soybeans and other food staples are harvested in the fall/spring and then that is it for production. It doesn’t matter how high prices go or how desperate people get, no new supply can be brought online until the next harvest at the earliest. The supply must last until the next harvest, which is why it is critical that food is correctly priced to avoid overconsumption, otherwise food shortages occur.

The USDA—by manufacturing the data needed to keep supply and demand in balance—has ensured that agricultural commodities are incorrectly priced, which has lead to overconsumption and has guaranteed disaster next year when supplies run out.

An astounding lack of awareness

The world is blissful unaware that the greatest economic/financial/political crisis ever is a few months away. While it is understandable that general public has no knowledge of what is headed their way, that same ignorance on the part of professional analysts, economists, and other highly paid financial "experts” is mind boggling, as it takes only the tiniest bit of research to realize something is going critically wrong in agricultural market.


USDA estimates for 2009/10 make no sense

All someone needs to do to know the world is headed is for food crisis is to stop reading USDA’s crop reports predicting a record soybean and corn harvests and listen to what else the USDA saying.

Specifically, the USDA has declared half the counties in the Midwest to be primary disaster areas, including 274 counties in the last 30 days alone. These designations are based on the criteria of a minimum of 30 percent loss in the value of at least one crop in the county. The chart below shows counties declared primary disaster areas by the secretary of Agriculture and the president of the United States.

The same USDA that is predicting record harvests is also declaring disaster areas across half the Midwest because of catastrophic crop losses! To eliminate any doubt that this might be an innocent mistake, the USDA is even predicting record soybean harvests in the same states (Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama) where it has declared virtually all counties to have experienced 30 percent production losses. It isn’t rocket scientist to realize something is horribly wrong.

USDA motivated by fear of higher food prices

The USDA is terrorized by the implications of higher food prices for the US economy, most likely because it knows the immediate consequence of sharply higher food will be the collapse of the US Treasury market and the dollar, as desperate governments and central banks dump their foreign reserves to appreciate their currencies and lower the cost of food imports. Fictitious USDA estimates should be seen as proof of the dire threat posed by higher food prices, as the USDA would not have turned its production estimates into a grotesque mockery of reality if it didn't believe the alternative to be apocalyptic.

While the USDA may be the worst offender, the United States isn’t the only government trying to downplay the food situation out of fear. As one Indian reporter writes, governments are lying about the looming food crisis.

… some experts and governments, in full cognizance of the facts, want us not to create panic and paint a picture of parched crops and a looming food crisis. This, they say, would push up food prices unnaturally, lead to hoarding and ultimately result in a situation where many more millions across the world would go hungry. And whether it is the developing world or the developed, it is those at the bottom of the pyramid who are the most affected in such scenarios.

This leads to a confusing divide between reality and government pronouncements, or even between the perspectives of government departments

Confusing divide between reality and government estimates

For months now, the media has been reporting two distinctly, contradicting realities. One of these realities is filled with record crops and plentiful supply, and the other is filled agricultural devastation and ruin. It has been a mad, frustrating experience to read about agricultural disasters and horrendous crop losses in virtually every state combined with predictions of a US record harvest, sometimes in the same article.

You can read the rest of this lengthy article at…

http://www.marketskeptics.com/2009/12/2010-food-crisis-for-dummies.html

My advice is that you start thinking about putting in a garden this spring. I will keep you posted on how our garden does.

Like it or not, things are going to get weird out there, as if now isnt weird enough.

Just to let you know, we are ramping Wisdom Farms website back up again and we are changing the business model. Tracye got buried with the site. So we are moving to a "registered user" model. Tracye is adding articles and updating the site. She is not going to produce a newsletter, but all articles are for folks who choose to register at Wisdom Farms and will gain access to the site. She is still getting things in order, but you can check out the site at www.wisdomfarms.com. Make sure you register and you will gain access to the information.

He Rides a Black Horse

By Ray Gano

In the last several months I have been seeing a drastic increase in the cost of food. Milk is sitting at $3.25 a gallon, Cheese has gone up $2.00 for a quarter pound block and butter is sitting at $3.65 a box.

Folks, we are coming to the end of the age. We are beginning to see the foundations that have been put in place, start to take effect.

During the tribulation we know that food will become scarce and the cost will sky rocket.

We read in Revelation 6:5-6…

Revelation 6:5 – 6 (KJV) And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Christ himself stated..

Matthew 24:8 (KJV) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

In this Christ was speaking of wars, rumors of wars, false Christ’s, earthquakes, famines, pestilences. He was speaking about now, the end of the age.

Matthew 24:7 (KJV) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

When one does a study on this verse we learn that he is using verbiage which equates to that of a woman about to give birth, or the birth pangs as it is commonly stated.

Birth pangs do not slow down, ask any mother, she will attest to the fact that they increase in strength and timing. They get harder and more painful as well as coming more frequently.

That is exactly what we are seeing today, read on…

Forget Oil, the New Global Crisis is Food

BMO strategist Donald Coxe warns credit crunch and soaring oil prices will pale in comparison to looming catastrophe.

A new crisis is emerging, a global food catastrophe that will reach further and be more crippling than anything the world has ever seen. The credit crunch and the reverberations of soaring oil prices around the world will pale in comparison to what is about to transpire, Donald Coxe, global portfolio strategist at BMO Financial Group said at the Empire Club's 14th annual investment outlook in Toronto on Thursday.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," he warned investors. "It's going to hit this year hard."

Mr. Coxe said the sharp rise in raw food prices in the past year will intensify in the next few years amid increased demand for meat and dairy products from the growing middle classes of countries such as China and India as well as heavy demand from the biofuels industry.

"The greatest challenge to the world is not US$100 oil; it's getting enough food so that the new middle class can eat the way our middle class does, and that means we've got to expand food output dramatically," he said.

The impact of tighter food supply is already evident in raw food prices, which have risen 22% in the past year.

Source - http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=213343

In this article Mr.Coxe is pointing out the production of biofuel / biodiesel is one of his primary concerns. If you do not know, biofuel / biodiesels are produced by using corn, wheat, sugar beets, ect. Many of the grains and produce used to make biofuel / biodiesel is also the same thing we use to feed the livestock thus promoting a healthy food supply.

Living here on the Gano Ranch, we have seen this directly as well as having an effect on us as these prices go up. In fact this was my main topic for this week’s Prophezine’s This Week In Bible Prophecy Show.

Watch Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbDntNOq3G0

We have noticed the cost of our chicken feed going up and even our dog food, which is also predominately made from grains.

With the continued cost of rising livestock feed going up, the products such as meat, diary, poultry and eggs are also going up.

Soon the rule of supply and demand will impact us. But which demand will win out? Will the demand to run our machinery win or will the demand to feed our livestock win.

No matter what, in the end, we learn that food will become scarce.

We read in Revelation 6:6

Rev 6:6 (KJV) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states…

“a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; "Choenix", the measure here used, signifies as much as was sufficient for a man for one day, as a penny was the usual hire of a laborer for a day as found in Mat 20:2; so a choenix of corn was allowed to each man in Xerxes's army for a day, according to Herodotus ; the same quantity for a day was given by the Romans to their shepherds and servants, and is generally said to be about two pounds; according to Agricola it was two pounds and a quarter.”

So we learn that a measure of grain is approximately 2 pounds and the cost for that grain will be an average day’s wage.

In 2006 the average hourly pay across the board was $16.31. If you add benefits the average was $19.57 per hour for non supervisory workers. To get yearly income figure you take approx 2000 hours per year per hour ($16.31 x 2000) and you come up with $32620.00 for a full time employee for a year’s worth of work.

Source - http://www.visualizingeconomics.com/2007/11/04/has-middle-americas-wages-stagnated/

We have 52 weeks in a year so if you minus 104 from 365, that gives you 261 days a person works on average. This is not counting vacation time. That comes to an average of $124.98 or $125.00 per day if you round up.

Now this is US Dollars, but you can take your countries currency and basically do the same rough math and come out with a figure that meets to your countries’ currency.

So what does this tell us?

For approximately two pounds of wheat, it will cost the US consumer approximately $125.00. The cost for 6 pounds of barley will also cost approximately a days wage or $125.00. Now this is during the tribulation. What prevents the price making a climb up as we draw closer to the end of this age? Here is an interesting side note about barley; it is what beer is made from. Pay attention later in the article discussing alcohol.

One other point to make, we also know that the population of man is also going up thus making the current supply and demand even greater.

In reading the second part of Rev 6:6 is says “see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”

The oil spoken of here was olive oil which was used in their lamps, to bath in, cook with but primarily it was used as an energy source. As for wine it was and still is a luxury.

In past articles I have pointed to Isaiah 5, the judgment of nations, as what will befall the United States as well as other nations that turn their backs upon God. But take note of what is spoken about here; we see greed, the cost of food going up and extreme drunkenness.

Isaiah 5:8-10 (KJV) Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah.

Isaiah 5:11 (KJV) Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

In reading these verses, we see that man driven by his greed will work to possess all that he can. He will displace all others not caring for his fellow man. He will drive off from their lands all others, and take possession of all they can and all for themselves. We see also that the land will not yield properly. Here ten acres only yields one bath or approximately seven gallons of wine. It does not tell us why, but I bet it is through the continued overworking of the land to the point that the good earth no longer produces. Again greed and the worship of self are to blame.

We continue in Isaiah and see that man will rise up and begin his day early with strong drink and do this until the night.

These things are taking place today. We are sittng at the edge of the end of the age. In Revelation 6:5-6 God’s judgment befalls man. It will be worse than today, but today we are already seeing the foundations begin to stir.

Folks, time is at hand and Jesus is returning very soon for his bride. If you do not know the Lord, you will be left behind to face the tribulation. If you are left behind, the odds are against you and you will most likely die a horrible death. If you choose to come to Christ during the tribulation, you will see persecution by the antichrist who despises all man, but especially those who love God. In that case scripture says that you will give your head and be a martyr.

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Matthew 7:21(KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22(KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23(KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. .

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com

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