We have officially started up “Shabbat” or the Sabbath (our day of rest). Our family refers to it as Shabbat which is the Jewish word for “rest” or “cessation”. I will probably do a “Life Lesson” on Shabbat but I have decided to focus on some memory verses/quotes regarding pleasant words for this week. Below is a list of verses that have to do with kind words or pleasant words. I am going to discuss the importance of pleasant words, review these verses and then assign one verse to each person in the family to memorize and repeat at the next Shabbat: Continue reading Lesson 002 – Pleasant Words
All posts by Anthony Berg
Wholesteading?
What is Wholesteading? Wholesteading is a term that we coined to capture what this blog is all about. Wholesteading is the marriage of two of our greatest passions: WHOLE living and homeSTEADING. For us, our quest to live wholly was naturally followed by a desire to create a homestead. What does whole living and homesteading mean to us? Continue reading Wholesteading?
Building Our Dream Home
A major part of our move to a wholesteading lifestyle is our dream to move out of the suburbs and on to a hobby farm. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find a hobby farm that meets the needs of an 8 person family, that matches our architectural and design preferences, and that simultaneously fits within our budget. After an exhaustive search we decided our best option was to purchase land and design our own house.
Below is a summary of the steps involved in building our custom home from beginning to end…please leave a reply if you have any questions on the process:
Click on any of the pictures below to learn about each step:
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Coming soon:
Interior Paint
Plumbing Fixtures
Electrical Fixtures
Full House Tour!
Faith and Family
My wife and I have observed that in life there are two levels that people operate at. The first level is the day to day level where we work, pay bills, distract ourselves, and just generally get by. The second level is when we are aware of, or even focused on, the things that really matter, like our relationship with God, our family and friends, and sharing our time and resources with those in need. Continue reading Faith and Family
Lesson 001 – In the Beginning
I thought long and hard about what the first lesson should be and it seems to me like it should start at the beginning with the creation account in Genesis. Continue reading Lesson 001 – In the Beginning
Better than a Hallelujah
Today was one of those rough days for me. Not because anything tragic happened but just because it was a Monday morning, I had to get up at 4AM, I was on an airplane heading away from home, my allergies were acting up so my eyes were itchy and my sinuses were so bad I had trouble hearing most of the day, and my weekend was so wonderful that the contrast of a 14 hour day of work seemed unbearable. By the time I got in the rental car I felt purposeless, lonely, like a hamster on a wheel, and just generally down-trodden. Continue reading Better than a Hallelujah
Don’t forget to turn the Light on…
As some of you know, I am a father of four wonderful children. This weekend I stumbled across an unusual picture my 10 year old daughter Haven drew and left laying on the couch in our living room…it was unusual because it Continue reading Don’t forget to turn the Light on…
What Is Our “Christian” Responsibility to Haiti?
When you first heard about the recent calamity in Haiti, what was your initial response? Was it sadness, depression, pity, compassion, or grief? How long did that emotion stay with you?
As you continue to hear about the chaos and depravity in Haiti, has it already become old news to you? Do you change the station for the promise of a possible new tragedy or celebrity mishap to offer you some sort of entertainment? Do you hear the fundraisers and pleas for resources and quickly dismiss them because you think that someone wealthier or more powerful than you is in more of a position to help?
Most of us have a natural tendency to assume some one else will take care of it. But, as Christians, those “someone elses” are supposed to be US! Reflect with me on the following: Continue reading What Is Our “Christian” Responsibility to Haiti?
Margin: A foundation for happiness
I was flying home from Indianapolis last week after a hard week of work and school. I was exhausted and craving time with my family. My plane was on the final approach for Atlanta and it was already dark so all I could see were the lights of homes and businesses spreading out all the way to the horizon.
I began to think about all the people, striving to own a little more land, a little bigger house, and a nicer car. I started thinking about all the stress and anxiety that must exist just below me because of the down economy, strained relationships, hectic schedules, etc. I also wondered how much happiness, joy, contentment, and fulfillment I was flying over. I began to think about my own happiness and the goals I have set for my life and for my family. I realized that what I am craving in life is not more money or success but simply time with my family (specifically time when I am not preoccupied with financial burdens, distracted by work, or cranky from exhaustion, stress, and personal commitments). Continue reading Margin: A foundation for happiness
Contrast: Nidal Hasan vs Pervaiz Masih
I was doing my routine scan of today’s headlines and stumbled across a video on CNN that I think is the ultimate contrast to the recent events at Fort Hood. Instead of a wealthy, educated, Jihadist targeting non-Muslims, this story is about a poor, illiterate, Christian saving Muslims – both died living out their faith. Not sure if it fits in with the other content on this site but I thought it was worth passing on: Continue reading Contrast: Nidal Hasan vs Pervaiz Masih