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Writer's pictureButch Erskine

Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #249

Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #249. Welcome to Hope for Survival. It has been a week of lots of rain here in the Tennessee hills along with a lot of personal driving for different needs and causes. No snow here but snow is visible in the higher elevations of the Smokey Mountains.


Ms. Lucy and I attended a celebration of life for a Patriot brother in Western NC. Considering the loss here on earth, it was a joyous event and hearing the many stories about our deceased brother, it was uplifting. He was a man of action and few words. It brought a smile to my face to hear another Christian brother discuss how many plans and processes our deceased brother had completed in keeping those he cared for safe. Bless you, brother. You are singing my song now. It was nice spending time with about eight Hope for Survival sisters and brothers at this event.


This is a crazy week for me with so much to get done. Between travel, teaching multiple classes on new preparedness criteria regarding protecting yourself in the digital world, two dinners to attend, completing this newsletter, and more. I'm looking forward to giving the presentation in Huntsville, AL on Saturday morning to the NarpNet group on digital security and protection. The other presentation is on winter preparedness, the grid, and alternative ways to stay warm when the grid fails. We have so many different threats around us. The digital world is another monster alone and the scary part is we can't see the threats.


Over the past week I have encountered 15 to 20 HFS Patriots at different locations and I want to tell you how great it has been to see them. Even if it was just for a few minutes, it is always wonderful. Folks telling me how they enjoy reading this newsletter platform here on the website and watching the HFS YouTube videos. This is refreshing to hear. Thank you.


I hope you have a safe and great week and weekend. Keep preparing like it's your last day to go shopping for food. It just may be at any time.


Let us move along....


Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:


Facebook – Hope for Survival -Join us for daily posts on preparedness.

YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival


HFS Thursday Zoom - No Zoom Rally this week.


Check out HFS YouTube. - Three HFS videos for your viewing.





If you have not, please consider subscribing to the HFS YouTube channel by hitting like and then subscribe. Connect and give me a shout. Again, hit subscribe and share with family and friends.


Guest and Newcomers


If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional.


Hope for Survival books and HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents -: You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)


Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)


Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)


HFS Thumb Drive for Emergency Documents - We just restocked the HFS Thumb drive and have them available now. Follow this link and you will see the add at the top of the page. Blog | Survival (hopeforsurvival.com)


We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.


Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.


Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...


Thoughts for the week -


“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”Thomas Paine – The American Crisis


Next .....


Restraint - I have been really good the past few months at restraining myself and keeping much of my opinion to myself for many reasons. I will continue doing so the best I can, however, I had an experience this week that royally chapped my behind and my adult, fatherly instincts, and position morally, kicked in and wanted to take over. Why?


Ms. Lucy and I traveled to western North Carolina and on our way back to East TN we needed to divert off the highway to make a couple stops and then decided to grab a quick fast-food dinner. Taco Bell it would be. Sure, why not. Considering the choices we had before us, Taco Bell would be okay.


Ms. Lucy placed her order and continued on to the drink counter and on to a table. I was placing my order and paying for the food, then on to the drink counter and to the table until our order number was called. I commented to Ms. Lucy how clean the place appeared and nice relaxing music played over the Taco Bell stereo. I shared how mannerly the young lady was who took our order. Very polite and clean cut. No body paint or earrings punched all over her face. What can I say, she appeared normal from my perspective. But, again, what do I know.


Fifteen minutes later, no food. I walk to the counter and stand, hoping to get a response from the young lady who waited on us. She darted to my location to apologize for the delay in delivering our meal. I remained standing at the counter hoping our food would arrive soon. I noticed three additional females working in the back food processing area putting together drive through meals along with lobby meals.


Shortly after my wait started, I noticed a blaring thumping sound coming from the kitchen area and the young ladies lip syncing the words to the hip hop song playing loudly. It was noticeable from the main lobby area because of the pleasant music being played for guests. Wow, what a difference it was.


Now, I will say this is my opinion of the situation and I will put this as mild and respectful as possible. This is not a complaint against Taco Bell. It is much bigger. It is a symptom of the bigger problem we have culturally and morally. No, the correct answer is not "it's what they do today, or "it's just music." No, I'm sorry, they are wrong. It is not acceptable. What am I talking about?


While waiting on my order, I hear music with lyrics in rhythm of the thumping beat stating "take it, ho bitch" and "you answer to me, bitch" and "you are a slut so take your place." My blood pressure was escalating, and I wanted to jump the counter and go to the back and turn the music off. Yes, the music was tasteless, and it crossed so many cultural lines. But bigger than cultural lines were the demeaning to these young ladies to hear and accept lyrics telling them they are not equal and culturally less. I have heard this before numerous times in passing cars or when walking by a group of youth listening to music.


The bigger question is why are our youth in a position where they don't recognize the derogatory words and meaning in music today? Are parents aware of it? Are children hiding it from parents? Where did the moral line between acceptable and not acceptable fail in the home, schools, and society? We can go back in time to the years of Madonna, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and others, who started as teen idols and progressed to the culturally demonic music, lyrics, and videos, destroying our youth today. If you are a parent and allow this filth around your child, shame on you. Adults and guardians must be adults and guardians and step up and stop being a friend to your child and start parenting.


It is very easy to see how our youth are being destroyed through media, music, sports, and basic cultural alone. It is out of control and regaining control may be impossible at this point. It simply saddens me to see a society with its priorities and leadership so weak and willing to accept whatever is rolled out next.


Preparedness -


Here is a great discussion on home and homestead defense from three perspectives. You will hear a lot of the same terminology and methodology we have been teaching here at Hope for Survival. Always remember, no matter if you are building plans to defend a homestead, a suburban area, or apartment complex, you should always keep the five D's of security in mind and include in your design and build concept. Deter, detect, deny, delay, and defend.





Stay safe.


Preparedness News -


1.From Fabian Ommar - Mind 4 Survival - Managing Your Water Supply When the Taps Turn Off - Mind4Survival - Water. One of the most neglected resources once past carrying in a case and sticking it in the closet. Check, we have water. Drinking, cooking, bathing, toilet, plants, washing dishes...... how many cases of water did you say you are storing on the shelf?


2. From Tim Gamble - Dystopian Survival - Dystopian Survival : Urban Survival - Adaptability Is Key - This is such a painful step in the process from normal to preparedness life. The older we get the harder it will be to transition.


3. From Lisa Bedford - Survival Mom - Food Storage: Where do I begin? - The Survival Mom - One foot in front of the next. Build a plan. Don't buy to simply buy. Need vs want. Go forth and do great things. Doing nothing is as simple as conceding defeat. Make your choice.


4. From Nicholas Oetken - Ask a Prepper - How to Freeze-Proof Your Water Stockpile - Ask a Prepper - Good information.


5. From Heidi - Homestead Survival Site - 6 Off-Grid Toilet Options - Homestead Survival Site - The topic no one wants to discuss until..........someone needs a toilet and no one discussed a plan.


Other News -


1.From the Lancaster Patriot Staff - The Lancaster Patriot - State Employees Search Amos Miller Farm, Seize Property (thelancasterpatriot.com) - Have you ever watched the governments old videos on how bullying is wrong and ways to avoid being bullied? Americans want healthier and non-chemically laced food to eat and the government finds some loophole in the system to shut down production. The masses are bigger than the government system, however, when it is the government system attacking a single family, the family can't compete financially and will be ruined for noncompliance. The point here is not if the family business was or wasn't in compliance, it is the fact they are being bullied and destroyed by a system that is supposed to look out for the people. (Thanks Festus, for this submission)


2. From J.A. Frascino - American Thinker - ‘To make a snowflake’ - American Thinker - Ahhh, hmmmm, ohhhhh, this one could hurt a few. I try to be a pretty patient man but my ability to overlook stupidity and downright spoiled brats has run its course. My words are running out and tolerance is no longer. Grow the bleep up and get with the program. (Thanks Festus, for this submission....I think)


3. From Jonothan Turley - Ballot Cleansing: Democrats are Moving to Bar Republicans from Ballots Nationwide – JONATHAN TURLEY - Roughly three years ago during a HFS Zoom session I had a conversation with a fellow Patriot named PF on this topic and to watch the other party pick it up and use the 14th Amendment to cleanse Washington of Conservatives to the point we would never see another conservative majority in our lifetime. Guess what? (Thanks Festus, for this submission)


4. The Burning Platform - CORRUPTION, CHAOS, CONFLICT – FOURTH TURNING ERUPTS IN 2024 – The Burning Platform - Very good read. Though many will continue their refusal to admit what is going on, history says it all. Not to mention, according to Al Gore, everything we read on the internet is true. (Thanks Festus, for this submission)


5. From Jordan Schachtel - The Dossier - Who actually commands the American military? (dossier.today) - Good read and a great question. Who's on first?


Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.


  • We are thankful for His faithfulness and the good results for our Patriot brother near Memphis in his recent heart procedure and tests.

  • We are thankful for His healing power and overwatch of our Patriot brother in Western NC as our brother received a good blood report and completed his final chemo treatment. It has been a long year for this family but their faith never wavered. Amen


  • Please pray for our Patriot sister in Western N.C. who will go in for rotator cuff surgery on Jan 19, 2024.


  • Please pray for our Patriot brother in Kentucky who underwent a second surgery to replace a rod in his leg caused by a vehicle accident on his final night of work going into retirement.


  • Please keep our Patriot sister Western N.C. in your prayers while she awaits answers on her health issues. Internal bleeding has been ruled out at this point.


  • Please keep our Patriot brother in northern Alabama in your prayers for a quick recovery from recent tests he experienced and was set back a few days.

  • Please keep our Patriot sister in Western NC in your thoughts and prayers as she recently buried her Patriot husband. We pray for strength and protection as she now moves ahead in life without her best friend by her side physically.

Our HFS family has many prayers needs for health and moral. We love you all and continue praying for each of you.


May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.


As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community, and nation need us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on faith and hope. Remember we are a blessed nation, and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.


Blessings,


Bravo Echo Out,




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