American by birth, Tennessean by choice; Christian by Gods sovereign election, conservative by common sense
Well, the Lord has spoken. Via His Divine decree, He has orchestrated events that made it clear we are to retire to the State of Tennessee. However, for personal reasons, we will maintain dual residency in both states, but only for a few years.
Though my wife will still be in California much of the time. I will be in Tennessee getting our homestead ready. I will miss the people in our lives, our church family, the San Bernardino National Forest, the Deserts, and especially boating and fishing in the Pacific Ocean. But there’s no water drought in the South. And Tennessee is a different kind of border State. She borders eight Southern States that are abundantly blessed with lakes, and their fish are plentiful.
The political climate
Thankfully I am more in line with the political, social, and fiscal climate of Tennessee than other States considered. So, understanding the history of the Civil War in the South, I guess you can say we ‘succeeded the union of California.’ We’re escaping a state that has been liberal and socialist far too long, but even worse, is becoming a Communist state. Another reason for this move is we’ll get a bigger bang for our buck. And let’s not forget Tennessee is one of the five freest States in the U.S.A, and I intend to help continue that.
And so, to my fellow Tennesseans, do not fret when you hear that “another Californian” has moved to Tennessee. We’re American by birth, but Tennessean by choice. Furthermore, this refugee is not a liberal, a RINO, nor a CINO. But by God’s grace, am a born-again bondslave to Christ, who is so conservative, that I am ‘to the right’ of Reagan and today’s Republican establishment. Therefore, I’ve already ordered a “Don’t California my Tennessee” T-shirt.
Henceforth, glad to be a citizen of the Confederate States of America (CSA).
Our future homestead
By God’s grace, our Lord has provided us with a lovely custom-built farmhouse that sits on a ten-acre homestead way out in rural Country Tennessee. As Governor Bill Lee said, “You want to know what’s right about America, you got to look at rural Tennessee!”
What a culture shock this will be. After policing the mean streets of Los Angeles in a city populated by multiple millions. We will be retiring in a city with a three-digit population that’s a lower number than our new area code.
Our goal is to become self-sufficient. This is our first home not having to rely on the government to provide us with water. Instead, God will be providing us with His fresh water, created from His earth, via our well. We will no longer be paying for a socialist sewage system, socialist gas, or a socialist street sweeper. Though our new community does not have taxpaid street sweepers, I can sweep our own street thank you very much.
Paul told the church in Thessalonica to work with their own hands, so that they would lack nothing, and not have to depend on others (1 Thess. 4:9-12). But not only do I desire to be self-sufficient, I hope to be able to help fellow Christians and/or neighbors in need. Especially during a disaster or catastrophe.
For starts, we’re looking forward to having chickens again. As soon as we decide on the right coop, and predator resistant run, the chickens will probably join us our first month. And of course, Roosters make great Sheepdogs for those egg laying girls. The other animals will come later.
“The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land.” – Deuteronomy 28:8
It would sure be nice if the sellers left one of their Black Angus behind. They were the first thing that caught my attention when my Garmin said, “You have arrived at your destination!” Lord willing, the beef will come.
Once we’re unpacked and settled in, my first duty will be resurrecting our Ham Radio Stations, and a tornado warning alert system. That way we’ll be in an ongoing state of ‘severe weather’ readiness. For EmComm purposes, I hope to acquire formal training to become a certified Storm Spotter.
I can’t wait to do my first comprehensive reconnaissance of our land, from boundary to boundary, fence pole to fence pole. Looking forward to seeing some Southern snakes, frogs and salamanders, and who knows what else that we’ll need to be watchful of.
Future goals
Then Lord willing, over the next six months, we plan to do the following home improvements,
- A built-in whole house standby generator backup system
- An ATV or UTV
- Satellite internet
- A safety shelter / safe room
- A she-shed for the wife (for the times she is in Tennessee)
- An underground tornado shelter
- A security and surveillance system (NFI)
- A firearm that would be illegal in Calif.
- A 30’x5” tapered flag pole (or poles) flying a 5’x8’ Tennessee State flag, the Gadsden flag, and the Confederate flag.
- A shop
- Some strategic tactical preparations
- And misc. farm equipment.
Church
We desire to belong to a healthy church that embraces the five fundamental Doctrines of Grace, that practices a Regulative Principle of Worship, Covenant Theology, and a full-strict subscription to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
I understand that churches are almost everywhere in Tennessee, and there’s no perfect church, but it must be Biblical and healthy, as Doctrine and Theology matter. So, I hope it’s possible to find that church not too far away. If not, a small Acts 2 gathering inside our home, might be Gods will for us (and whoever else). I am also excited to evangelize and herald the Gospel in the streets of our communities, being engaged in local civic and community activities, while being a sheepdog.
Though despite California’s tyrannical Governor, and his draconian mandates, the church I pastored in California never shut down for Covid. I doubt I would ever see those types of lock-downs in Tennessee (in my lifetime). Nonetheless, I plan to always be ready.
We’re very thankful for those that have been praying for our journey. Please continue to pray for my wife and I, and how the Lord might use us in Tennessee.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” – 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Soli deo Gloria, and Semper Reformanda!
For those of you desirous to know what happens when you die, please read my Gospel tract below.
The headlines read “Terror attack at Orlando gay club Pulse leaves about 20 people dead, 42 others wounded; gunman dead following hours-long standoff with police.”
Video on ‘The fallacy of using Revelation 3:20 in evangelism’ (Behold I stand at the Door and Knock)
Black nor any Lives Matter @ Abortion Mill, Rome & Security 👶🏿
About The Author
Bill Rhetts
An ordinary sinner saved by an Extraordinary Savior. Radically saved, and radically changed, by a Radical God. For more details, see the above 'About me' tab.
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We ordered our underground shelter & whole house generator. The generator won’t be installed until August, and the shelter “3 to 5 months.” Why? COVID. Had our wheels of commerce not believed the lies & exaggerations of the authorities & media, they would not be so behind today.
Dear fellow #Tennesseans . Do not ask the Government to bring high speed internet into our rural country. Don’t California our Tennessee, that is #socialism , keep it private.
Recently after visiting another church, I posted the following on my Facebook wall.
“Visited another church this morning. Immediately upon entering the building it looked like a scene from the movie Jaws. Then the sanctuary looked like the beach, even a surfboard, shorts, and guitars on the stage. I’ve come to accept that there’s no church nearby that practices the regulative principle of worship. But at times the Bible Belt looks too much like California. Can I find a psalm or hymn singing Church that’s Biblical and healthy, that believes in, and practices the inerrancy and immutability of the Scriptures? When did the south go south on us? Surfs up dude! No, I did not stay for the service. Re-visiting another church.”
Some of the emoticon reactions and comments inputted under the aforementioned post were interesting. Apparently, most did not catch my use of the words a “regulative principle of worship.” Others suggested that I did not understand that the beach scene was connected to their children’s ministry or their Vacation Bible School.
The answer’s yes, I did realize that. However, it is my goal to never complain about a problem without offering a solution to the problem. But the solution is what most overlooked, which is practicing a regulative principle of worship. Because if we practiced a regulative principle of worship, many of these contemporary problems would be eliminated.
However, one Facebook friend sent me a personal message about that post, asking me “Hey Bill! Can you send me resources you defer to that explain the regulative principle of worship? I want to know more.”
Bang, he got it! And Lord willing I hope I will always want to know more too.
And so, what is a regulative principle of worship? Below is what I messaged back to my Facebook friend.
A regulative principle of worship (aka RPW) is the opposite of a Normative Principle of Worship. Or as I’ve stated before, in summary, while gleaming from a dictionary, [1]
“We uphold and practice the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW), which means we do not have contemporary music, nor bands, nor anything that might be construed as entertainment, nor other practices outside the Scriptures. A RPW is “a principle stating that Scripture prescribes or “regulates” the permissible elements of public worship. In contrast to the “normative principle”… affirming that whatever Scripture does not prohibit is permissible, the regulative principle requires that elements of worship must be explicitly commanded, clearly exemplified or necessarily inferred from Scripture.”
Source: Kapic, K. M., & Vander Lugt, W. (2013). In Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition (p. 101). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
In closing.
For a closer examination of a RPW, here’s a position paper for you.
https://www.theexpositor.tv/wp-content/uploads/A-Position-Paper-on-a-RPW.pdf
As I visit churches in the Bible Belt looking for a healthy and Biblical church to join, besides egalitarianism, I am consistently seeing this anomaly.
The Bible is rarely used in their Bible studies or Sunday schools. And is being replaced by corporate publications. For example. The use of workbooks and study guides published by Lifeway is very popular. Lifeway is a publication of the Southern Baptist Convention, which has gone woke (more here). One church was using study guides from the heretical TV series The Chosen.
When a church sets the Bible aside, replacing it with big corporation publications, it is no longer a Bible study, it is Big Eva.
So, what’s a solution to this problem?
Churches that are SBC should dissociate themselves from the convention.
Call these Sunday school and Bible study teachers to repentance. And if they don’t repent, replace them and/or shut those “bible studies” down.
A sign of a healthy church is their Sunday schools and Bible studies will be led by men that are gifted by the Holy Spirit to teach and preach the Word of God. Men that are Bereans who will rightfully divide the Word of Truth.
Fill our pulpits and Bible studies with men that are laborious in prayer and preparation. Men that are discerning wordsmiths and swordsmen. Men that read and teach straight from the infallible inerrant immutable Scriptures, not a corporate workbook.
Let the Bible be the main course of our food for the soul. And if you are a Baptist or Presbyterian, let your non-corporate creeds, confessions, and catechisms be your secondary source of studies.
Lastly, to make our aforementioned mission clear, the following is a summarization of our Christian duty.
Love ‘biblically’ – repent – be salt and light – be holy – be sanctified – to be against the world – fear God – pray without ceasing – keep His commandments – grow in His grace and knowledge – put on the whole armor of God (and use it) – walk circumspectly – believe in and trust Jesus – obey the Gospel – share the Gospel – preach the Gospel – contend for the faith, – disciple each other – live Godly in Christ Jesus – hate the things that God hates, and love the things that God loves – rejoice in sufferings – don’t flinch in the face of adversity – keep the faith, work-out your salvation, and endure to the end!
Today I visited a confessional church. The sermon by the interim pastor was a blessing, and I enjoyed our conversation afterward. I stayed for their Sunday school, only to be saddened that it was led & taught by a female (in direct viol of 1 Tim 2). I’m convinced that a good portion of the “Bible Belt” has not been merely taken over by #egalitarianism. But perhaps in His judgment, THE LORD HAS GIVEN THEM OVER to egalitarianism.
But to add insult to injury, the study guide they were going through was published by The Chosen TV series crowd.
What’s the solution to this problem? 1) Repent, not repeat. 2) the only book that should be used in Sunday schools is the Bible, our confessions, and/or catechisms. More about #TheChosen TV series here. https://www.theexpositor.tv/blog/a-preliminary-analysis-of-the-christian-tv-series-the-chosen/
Who wants to go to the circus? This #SBC “church” the Soul Quest Church offers fun, food trucks, pony rides, jump houses, entertainment, a petting zoo; and Jesus too. When the Lord Jesus critically called out and rebuked 5 of those 7 churches in Revelation 2&3. No doubt what used to be the “Bible Belt” belongs to His list of rebukes. It’s such a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God, and an affront to Christ. What the postmodern #BibleBelt needs is a good butt whooping with Jesus’ belt, His whip of cords. Repent before He removes His lampstand from your debauched carnal worldly organizations.
https://www.facebook.com/soulquestchurch/posts/pfbid022knBwQus4NDA81fseKw5TqBfzjE4Wy4yxNLWFg9w4dhqGFHj8VmFygufTUwGzxBel
The biggest threat to conservative values in Tennessee is not former Californians like me. It’s the lifelong Tennesseans who are lifelong Republicans that have become comfortable, complacent, and compromised. Like the man at one business that told me, “we should be paying more county taxes!” Or the elderly Republican employed at a Co-Op that said, “I’m against high-capacity magazines and guns that aren’t used solely for hunting!” Those loyal to the establishment Republicans are your problem.
As a limited government conservative, I support this essay. And because liberals, mainstream conservatives, the establishment, and the woke crowd hate it, I love it more. And because they “disqualify” true conservatives who oppose Lincoln or MLK, I love it even anymore. I’m also glad to see they called out Dinesh D’Souza. I warned the church about him when he spoke at a church in Chino Hills Calif.
https://www.abbevilleinstitute.org/abraham-lincoln-and-the-ghost-of-karl-marx/
#AbrahamLincoln #Socialism #KarlMarx #Marxism #MartinLutherKing #MLK
As God’s elect enjoys this Sabbath Day, keep in mind our Biblical command to appreciate, honor, and submit to our Elders, unless they are contra Scriptura (verse below).
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Since our move to Tennessee (15 mos. ago), we’ve visited a dozen churches, and we’ve been at our current church for four months ( a record). Out of all those other churches we visited, we have experienced including but not limited to; egalitarianism, pelagianism, synergism, and music written by the pro-homosexual Bethel Church & Hillsong, which is also infected with NAR heresies.
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None of their leadership was approachable when spoken to about the aforementioned. Though I disagree with their ecclesiology. I knew that I too would be IN SIN had I remained in those churches. Why? Because I would not be able to respect, nor obey their Elders. And so, I too needed repentance, by changing my mind to move to another church.
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Fast forwarding to where we are today. Thankfully, again, we’ve been at our current church for four months. Though we are not perfect, we are aware of our need to strive forward in repentance, discipleship, doctrine, and Lord-willing progressive sanctification.
Hebrews 13:17 says,
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“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
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Written by this knucklehead, saved by His sovereign grace.
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Happy Sabbath Day! Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria, Semper Reformanda!
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https://www.theexpositor.tv/blog/happy-sabbath-day-this-lords-day-is-not-about-us/
#1689confession #1689lbcf #confessionalism #OrthodoxCatechism #Sabbath #SabbathDay #LordsDay #Covenantal #CovenantTheology
Tennessee natives don’t have to worry about transplants from California like me. We need to call out the many left-to-center Republicans born here. I’ve never voted Democrat and never will, and am 3 clicks to the right of Ronald Reagan.
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I’m no “damn Yankee,” I fly the Confederate flag on our pole. I’m American by birth, Tennessean by choice, and Christian by God’s sovereign election.