Welcome friends, to Promised Land. This is intended to be a family weblog in which we, the Shropshires, may come to share our musings, thoughts, convictions and reflections on , faith, family, multi-generational vision, agrarian living or any other subject the Lord lays on our heart to share with you.
We are a Christian family of four- Allen (father) Janis (mother) Tyler (son 22) Matthew (son 20) As the Lord has directed us, we are a Homeschool family and always have been. The formal years of schooling may be over now, but education, for all of us, goes on. We will always remain a Homeschool family as a result.
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD::And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 6:2-7
Three generations of Shropshires live on this too small piece of land (6 acres) within a city of 45,000 in the desert region of southern Idaho. We are surrounded by “townies” and big agriculture. However we are able, with the Lord’s abundant blessings, to supply a large portion of our food needs on this property by raising grass-fed beef, meat goats, dairy goats, chickens, bees and two large gardens. We pray that the Lord will someday move us out of this city into a full-time agrarian life, but until he leads us out, we are to show ourselves faithful stewards of what he has given us here, and wait (sometimes impatiently) on Him. Some would maintain that in living on an acreage within a city, we have the best of both worlds. (agrarian life and city conveniences) However the paradigms are in constant conflict. Consumerism vs. thrift. Depending on a system vs. depending on God. Veiled autonomy vs. community. City services vs. providence of God. We pray the Lord might see fit to someday call us out of this urban, industrial world into one of agrarianism where we are to rely upon Him and not this consumer economy for our needs.
Finally brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you. I Thessalonians 4:1,11
Now therefore, give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace nor their prosperity for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever. Ezra 9:12
Although we live within this town … this center of dependency, our hearts are not here and we long to be free from this modern day Egypt, and for the Lord to lead us into a Promised Land. It is our heart’s desire to one day establish a multi-generational farm (a pattern we see repeatedly in the scriptures) on which many generations of Shropshires can be raised up for the glory of God.
Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Joel 1:3
That it may never be said of us-
And there arose another generation after them, who knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done. Judges 2:10b
It is our wish that this blog may be an encouragement to others on their own journeys, by sharing the trials as well as the triumphs, our thoughts and experiences, as the Lord leads. We hope to become friends with many of you.
Keep in mind- this is our blog, and we will maintain control of the content. We welcome, encourage and solicit comments. We remain open to other thoughts for discussion, but we are not obliged to entertain or publish any derogatory or inflammatory remarks or comments. We reserve the right to delete any that are not Christ honoring. It is our wish that Jesus Christ be glorified in all that is published in these pages as in our lives.
We also retain the right to be wrong ourselves at times and pray we will remain teachable. We are in a constant process of sanctification, and should the Lord show us where we err, we wish to repent of those ways!
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them to thy sons, and to thy son’s sons. Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. Deut.: 4:9,10b
And Finally…
“If you know one thing well and set out to explain it clearly and completely, you may find yourself explaining many things. You may find the pamphlet you sat down to write has become an encyclopedia. Hence the old story of the simple cobbler who proposed to write on fixing shoes. Once fairly started, he found he could not write about fixing shoes without writing about hammers, benches, pegs, and awls; he had to touch on leather as well, on tanning, on cattle, and the anatomy of the human foot and leg. In the end, he had written a book about everything. The cobbler had become a philosopher.”
Castle Freeman Jr.
The Ax Book by D. Cook
In throwing our hat into this Christian agrarian blogging community, I understand that we at PROMISED LAND have a few things to say. A few of those thoughts and ruminations may even be rather profound at times, although, as conversations go, most are quite ordinary. That is to say, that revelations are few and far between. However, conversations between friends and loved ones, common place though they may be, are very satisfying to both parties and are what relationships are made of. That is because we all relish being known and knowing others. It is in sharing our everyday life with one another that we begin to know and love others.
In writing about those everyday things that make up our life, perhaps we will find, like that philosopher cobbler, that there are many, many aspects of our family that we will share with you, especially as it relates to faith, family and stewarding the land. It is our wish that you may find inspiration and encouragement as we share, and just as all conversations are two sided, we hope to glean some encouragement and inspiration as well.
Grace and Peace to you,
The Shropshires
March 4, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I am hoping that you could give me some clarity on some things that I have been thinking over. I have been on the road to understanding that an agrarian life is a biblical life. As I discuss this with my family and friends, they acuse the whole lifestyle as being retreatist, and bring up the idea that maybe its ok for me and my children, but it couldn’t possibly be the right worldview for the church in general to hold. Because, what about children growing up in godless homes, who will reach them with the gospel? Or,what about unmarried adults, where do they fit in the multi-generational idea? Or, our church has such a thriving your program that draws in unchurched kids, whats wrong with that? Or,we have a “go and tell” religion, how are we to acomplish the great commission if we all have our family farms and try not to participate in the culture around us? I have a hard time answering these kinds of questions, and then it casts a shadow on what I think I know to be true. It does not help that I know myself to have a tendency to jump on the bandwagon and so consiquently, I want to be careful not to get caught up in some trend that takes me, and my family, out on a tangent that isnt really Gods plan. Any help for me in sorting out these thoughts?
March 8, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Hello Shropshires,
So glad I found you. We have much in common. We are in the western U.S. as well (Wyoming). We own 6 dry, windy acres, too. We have homeschooled 4 children into adult-hood. We have been married much longer then we’ve been without each other. We love the Lord Jesus, just as it is evident that you do. To top it off, I’m a career fire-fighter in a town of about 50,000. Is that uncanny or what? Anyway, I’ll put you guys in my ‘Blogs I read regularly’ favorites file. I’m looking forward to a profitable meeting of the minds.
randallgerard
March 10, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hi Angela,
You’ve asked some really good questions; questions I’ve wrestled with for years. While it is very true we have an obligation to tell others about Jesus, there is more then one way to skin that cat. Too often, christians who take the ‘go and tell’ approach end up looking just like the folks they’re trying to reach. It’s hard to speak prophetically to a people caught up in idolatry when you are personally up to your neck in the same things they are. There needs to be some visible differences between the way christians live and the way non-christians live.
When we decided to homeschool, one of the many accusations-in-the-form-of-questions we recieved was the ‘retreatist’ question. People accused us of abandoning a system that needed a christian influence. But over the years, we found that the mere fact we homeschool made for many opportunities to present the Gospel, because our faith was the reason we homeschooled. In defending homeschooling we quite naturally defended the faith. We wanted to, first of all, pass on that faith undefiled to our children. In seeking to raise them consistently in the ‘nurture and admonition of the Lord’, we were given many opportunities to influence others. Without leaving our own home. Without exposing our young children to the soul-deadening agnosticism of the public school.
Ultimately, it’s a question, not only of strategy, ie. ‘go into all the world and spread the gospel’; but also tactics. HOW can we do this, while still allowing the gospel to transform our homes and churches and maintaining that necessary separation from worldliness. We simply have a fundamental disagreement about what it means to be ‘in the world, but not of it’. Whenever we can, wherever God gives opportunity we must speak up with all boldness. But, the other part, which is just as essential, is a life-style informed by and lived according to the scriptures. If we think of our witness to the world as an airplane, one wing is our verbal testimony, the other is a holy life. Airplanes don’t fly very well without both wings.
In my opinion, many well-meaning christians ignore the hard work of conforming their lives to the Word, and indeed seek to do things exactly the way unbelievers do, in a misguided attempt ‘to be all things to all men’. Consequently, we have the tragic spectacle of pierced and tattooed ‘christians’, mortgaged to the hilt, wearing the same clothes, listening to the same music, watching the same movies, putting their kids in the same schools.. all to prove to the world the life-transforming power of the gospel?! What’s wrong with this picture?
There has to be some tension, some antithesis, between how christians live and the how the unbelieving world lives. Otherwise, there are few opportunities generated ‘to give an answer for the hope that we have’. You and I may not draw the lines precisely the way the amish do, for example, but they do get lots of questions. The world wants to know WHY they are living so differently from the dominant culture. So you see, without that contrast in life-styles, there is no compelling reason to take the message of forgiveness and transformation seriously. We are not living our faith. Until we do, they have no reason to listen to us.
March 11, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Angela,
You have raised important questions. Ones I believe all christian agrarians have had to deal with. I think Randall has explained very well although it is hard to address properly in just a few comments. Perhaps a later post or even a series. There is no doubt that this is a long lonely road – that is if it is company we desire. As for me, there is a deep conviction growing within me to rely less and less on cultural norms and put myself and my family in a position where we are forced to rely on the hand of God. I believe that farmers have a much clearer picture of that provision than someone who works in a city. I wish for my sons to understand from whom their help comes. Our help comes from the Lord!
This blogging community has been a great encouragement to me. So many living the gospel within their everyday!
I was reading this morning about Gods promise to Abraham – that in him, all the families on earth would be blessed. How’s that for a great commission? God had global plans for Abraham – and the Lord then gathered around him a family. It was through Abraham’s response to his family that those plans were to be accomplished. Genesis 18:19 “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” What God had promised Abraham was to effect the world through him. Don’t let anyone tell you that raising up generations of children who love the Lord is not an effective way to reach the lost. It’s not being retreatist, it is actively proclaiming the gospel as you live it before men!
Randall,
Good of you introduce yourself. I have been following your writings for some time although I have missed hearing your thoughts of late – they are always insightful as your above reply to Angela shows. It was exciting to hear the surprising similarities in our paths! Drop by anytime!
July 8, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Allen,
Sorry to hear about Tyler’s mysterious blood loss.. we’re praying too. We hope the situation is resolved soon, it must be very stressful for you all.
On a happier note, we might just ‘drop by anytime!’ as you suggested. We’re going to be passing through your area on our way to the west coast on 7/21/08. We’ll probably stop driving for the day somewhere close to you. If you want us to stop and visit, email me. We’ll be bringing a tent (we always camp when it’s warm), so if you can spare a flat spot outside for it, we’d love to meet you. If it’s not a convenient time though, that’s o.k. too. No worries either way.
God Bless,
randallgerard
July 12, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Randall,
We’d love to meet you brother! You are most welcome to stay and save the tent for later. Beds will be in order after your day of driving. I’ll e-mail you.
Allen
July 26, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I have enjoyed your website, notice you said southern Idaho… Anwywhere near Boise???
Trusting HIM,
Jon
July 26, 2008 at 9:02 pm
130 miles away. Are you from Boise or just familiar with it?
Allen
July 26, 2008 at 10:51 pm
We live in Boise..
Not from here.. moved here from St. Louis MO. in 2001…. At that mileage, I have a good guess as to where your at…..
Found your blog through Herrick Kimball’s “Delibrate Agrarian” blog…. We have just started traveling down the “Christian Agrarianism” path that is evident in Herrick’s blogroll.. I would love to converse with you, knowing that we are in the same state, which is alot dryer than the states that most of the bloggers reside in…
August 16, 2008 at 10:16 am
Allen,
Have you grown Cantalopes and Watermelons here in Idaho? We planted both plants to late (killed a watermelon plant also) i think and am concerned that the fruit won’t make it before the season winds down.. I was thinking about setting up temporary greenhouses over them to extend the growing season for them..
Jon
August 19, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Hi Jon,
Yes we’ve tried to grow them both with OK results. The cantalopes have done better than the watermelon but we feel our season seems to be just a tad short. We have harvested some nice ones of each, but our yields have been fairly low. Now that we have bees I suspect that would increase just like everything else did. Janis and I were just thinking that we could do better if we put down black plastic to warm the ground earlier in the spring to extend the growing time..
Just 30 miles away in the Hagerman Valley there are many farmers who grow wonderful crops of both but their season starts about two weeks earlier and goes about two weeks longer. I suppose that is because they are in the canyon and it is so protected. Hagerman is also consistently the hot spot in the state.
Boise is usually a few degrees warmer than here. I would have thought they might do better there.
Good hearing from you.
Allen
August 23, 2008 at 7:55 am
Allen,
Well, I have to be honest, this is the first real garden my wife and I have ever planted. We have tinkered both here and in St. Louis with tomato plants once in a while, and last yr we helped some of our friends with their garden in Middleton, but we are newbys in every aspect when it comes to all things self-sufficient. My gut is telling me we started them to late in the season..
Do you know, is there a season to buying Cornish Cross??? I just butchered my first chickens last week (4 of them) and when i bought them from Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell in the first week of June they told me they stopped selling Cross in Mid June each yr. I have not done much research on this, just a question that popped in my head as i was typing..
In HIS grip,
Jon