What is the "Process"?

9/15/06 - 6th Day - Before Dinner. This is an Agrarian journal, and I try to keep it somewhat separate from the other things I do, but sometimes when I spend a couple of days doing ministry work inside, my frustration may boil over into the more peaceful Agrarian side of my work. I hope that that isn't the case too often. I am constantly being attacked, usually from without but sometimes from within, and sometimes I understand completely why. But sometimes it baffles me why people do the bizarre and senseless things they do. I do know that the world hates this way of life, and when someone is a vocal proponent of it (and especially the separatist and holiness aspects of Christian Agrarianism) then that person is going to get the brunt of the attacks. So be it.

So I am continuing my experimentation with Mesquite pods/beans. I started a bottle of Mesquite something. I don't know whether we will drink it as wine, a malted beverage, or if I will make it into some type of other alcoholic beverage. I am jokingly calling it Mesquitequila or Mesquila. I think I wrote that I made Mesquite syrup the other day. We haven't made pancakes to try it out yet, but the process went well.

So... what is this "Process" Driven Life? I've written about it quite a bit, but the "process" driven life (as opposed to the stupid and un-biblical "purpose" driven life) recognizes God's sovereignty over all of creation, and denies that man is capable of achieving any purpose outside of God's will (secret, decreed, or declared), and that all man is called to do is be obedient and not look to "ends" which are out of his control, or to anything other than the process of obedience every day. For example, we, as the people of God, are commanded to take dominion over the earth, and to till the ground, and to work and manage God's creation. This is a "process" over which we have control (only) over our obedience each minute and each day. We cannot bring about results, because results are in God's hands. If God chooses to prosper our way, He may do so. If God chooses to chastise us as children, and bring to naught our labors, then we only pray that He be glorified in it. The Bible says that we have no power at all to turn one hair white or black. We cannot control our next breath, and there is no way that we can bring about any "end" that is outside of the eternal purposes of God for His world and creation. Everything is done with this understanding... IF THE LORD WILLS. You will also often find me using the initials DV (usually in parenthesis like these). DV means Deo Volunte which means, "If the Lord wills", or "Lord willing".

For we who are Christian Agrarian Separatists, we pray that God keeps us mindful of HIS purposes, and that He keeps us process driven. May we be obedient day by day, not looking to ends outside of the glorification of God and the divine honor of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Shabbat Shalom,

Michael