Biography of Jonathan Selby

Jonathan was born at home in Maple Shade, New Jersey, October 28, 1946, to Elwood and Lillian Selby. He was the fourth son of five consecutive boys and the sixth child being a girl. (*David, Stephen , Philip/Wilmer Alfred, Jonathan, Daniel and Lois Selby/Acton). Jonathan's father, Elwood was the youngest of three sons, born to William Selby, (who died at a young age in the Merchant Marines) and Cynthia Dorman, who later remarried Charles Ludeka, Elwood's step and primary father. Elwood spent most of his working life as a "Production Planner" for the Frankford Arsenal, in Philadelphia Pa. and his wife, Lillian, was an only child of Alice and Charles Burkeitt of Philadelphia. Lillian was a graduate of Philadelphia college of the Bible.

Jonathan's younger years were relatively uneventful, and he was noted to be artistic and a "day dreamer". He graduated Abington high school in Pennsylvania in 1965, having participated (During Junior High) in a couple of school plays, the Bible Club, newspaper art staff, school radio programs, and usually worked serving newspapers after school. After high school, during the 60's Jonathan did some traveling about the states, doing art work and associating loosely with the "Hippie" movement, went to Philadelphia College of the Bible and was in the US Army for about six months,and after questioning the Vietnam war and creating somewhat of a disturbance accordingly, was discharged (under "honorable conditions"), as being "unable to adjust to" military service".

He has been married three times eloping with his first wife, Lisa Kevra, about 1968. Two sons were born to that marriage, Eric and Shawn. During this time he employed himself largely as a draftsman and also opened a coffee house in Jenkintown, Pa. called "Shawn's Cafe"?.This first marriage lasted less than three years and ended when she left him (for a number of reasons) after he was arrested for using a blanket as a coat in Wildwood, New Jersey. (see "Freedom in America" index-misc.articles)

After some more travels, he returned to the Philadelphia area, and got work as a family photographer. He then married Bernadette Albertinas about 1972, who bore him four children, Christina, Angelyn, Nathaniel and Joseph. During the next 12 or so years of this marriage he employed himself as a draftsman and photographer.

It was during this period, after he had somewhat kidnapped Bernadette to live in the mountains of Fulton County (which she soon quit and returned to Philadelphia), that he then decided to go to Israel- and ended up about getting crucified on a hill above the "Garden Tomb" outside of Jerusalem (for story see "The Sacred Hill" index-"misc.articles").Upon return home his first significant business venture was soon to take place:

Selby Enterprises Inc., in Montgomeryville, Pa. There he endeavored to develop and market some of his inventions, receiving a US patent for a disposable kitty litter box. Also during this period he had a run in with local government relative to a rather large tree house construction topped with an illuminated American flag, which tree house the Hatfield boro, Pa. government demolished. (For details see "News Clippings") After selling his small corporation this Selby family moved to Bucks County Pa., and the marriage ended about 1985, after marital difficulties, and the then Mrs.Selby, started a new relationship with the "Muffler Man" a manager of a nearby shop,(Title coined later by Jonathan's Amish friends, who would affectionately refer to them jointly (Bernadette and Joe Olfano) as Mr. and Mrs. Muffler).

Mr.Selby than moved to a small cabin in Pipersville, Pa. till he went into his next venture called "New Family ministries" after hosting a short lived radio program by the same name. The "New Family Ministries" was a vision Jonathan had for a large Christian human service project/community, on a million dollar property which he obtained a purchase contract for. However, this project met with disaster, after the local authorities claimed he was trying to sell property which he did not own, operating a church without a license etc.,- but principally managed to close it down by arresting him for "wiretapping", (which had consisted of his tape recording a meeting with certain public officials at his office for a matter of record only).

Soon after this, (and the end of the second marriage), he tried to give up on "Society" and relocated to Lancaster Pa.,seeking an alternative life amongst the Amish. After getting good grades attending Bible college this time, within only a couple years established a fulfilling life there, even as a teacher in a one room school house, and though making regular and significant child support payments, the authorities forced him to abandon this in order to make higher payments- which they claimed he was capable of doing.

After this demise, about 1992, Jonathan heard of a unique Christian Community in the Cookeville, Tennessee area and headed south. Though enjoying their fellowship, they would not fully receive him because of his previous marriages and because of a current dubious friendship with Maria Knepper of Fulton County Pa., (which was soon to be his third wife).

Jonathan and Maria soon purchased some mountain property above Spring City Tennessee, where they married and built a small home in a hollow.

Within the next few years Maria bore Jonathan four children, Jedidiah, Obadiah, Christiana and Abigail. After several years there, a land dispute regarding an adjoining property which Mr. Selby held a "Right of First Refusal", and which was wrongfully sold to some very adverse neighbors, and their house burning down, the Selby's returned discouraged to Pennsylvania.

There the Selby family secured a farm house which they began successfully restoring, had all the trappings of pets, animals and abundance of life, until after a minor flew fire the authorities condemned their house and forced them to vacate. They reestablished for a time in nearby Shady Grove, Pa. associating with Mennonites and other Anabaptist types. However, during this time, Maria got involved with some "liberated" charismatic type groups and began stretching her wings in different directions- including back in Tennessee- where she soon took off to.

Jonathan conceded to returning to TN, and after managing to extricate her (Maria) from somewhat of a cult, they endeavored to establish a home in the middle Tennessee area. There they became part of a *"plain type" homechurch, but not long after there was a major domestic crisis resulting in their divorce and custody battle for the children.

Jonathan lived in middle Tennessee from about August 1999 till August 2002 and being divorced from Maria he relocated to the Asheville NC area. .

Jonathan soon secured a job managing a small trailer park in that area where he continued by the grace of God, in spite of great discouragement. In July 2006 Jonathan started producing films for public access TV in Asheville NC. and he enjoyed this project and opportunity to share his beliefs via this venue.

In Autumn 2007, Jonathan was granted and blessed to relocate to a beautiful property along a river in a pristine area, where he prays to resume his dream of living close to God and nature...and, finally, after many years, he is also doing art work again (which the Lord seems to be blessing).

Jonathan has eight grand children so far, and still maintains hope that his children will all be restored to him. He also hopes to serve the Lord by sharing his convictions via his web site that others may be helped, and to be part of a simple evangelistic Christian community someday.

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". . .Go back to your "eternal work" Jonny- your teaching from the website will have an enduring ripple effect throughout the church of our Lord Jesus, and reap a great harvest in its season- I really believe that, brother."

If the above becomes true, in spite of my current despair, my life certainly will have been blessed and worthwhile after all, by the mercy of God, in the greatest possible way, (and one I am certainly undeserving of), even a life of value in the service of our Lord.

Just stay in touch with His Spirit- and everything else will fall into place (ParaPhs of: Mat 6:33)

* Any number of "Separatist" Anabaptist, Mennonite groups, known especially for pacifism, simple living and separation from worldliness. .___________________________________________________________________________

Write me (and/or support my vision) at: J.Selby, 86 Quarry Rd., Doylestown,Pa. 18901

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My first award- and what greater purpose could an award be for!Oh for a love for souls to have been the reality of my life- Then surely I will have reached the highest possible goal-

By far, the most critical "Bottom Line" of life is: That realistically and intelligently, we have no other choice than to fear God and keep His commandments, and to accept by faith the shed blood of Christ alone as atonement for our sins, for nothing else and no one else can ever compare to, or be more holy, perfect, and innocent, or demonstrate more power, justice, or more love, or be more God- than Him.

(Therefore, any other supposed alternative can only be willful foolishness and ignorance, wagering a life of definite finality against a definite eternity, and be rooted in nothing more than pride, rebellion and lusts originating from the father of lies).

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