Tragedy at Fort Hood and the Importance of Life

On Thursday, November 5, 2009, an army psychiatrist opened fire in Fort Hood killing 12 and wounding 31.
Please pray for the families of the people that were killed! Also, pray for the doctors that will be working on the wounded.
Talking about death makes me think about life and how precious it is. Life is so precious! I think death is one of the main things that can make us worry. It comforts me to know that my Heavenly Father knows how long I will live and I don't need to worry because his Son has told me not to. When someone in my family dies or a friend's family member dies it makes me think about my life! Am I treating every one with love and respect? When someone dies it make me want to be close to my family because I don't know how much longer they will be here on this earth or how much longer I will be here.
In Christ,
~Mac

My Favorite Hymn

HOW GREAT THOU ART

Verse 1

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

(Chorus)
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Verse 2
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

(Chorus )

Verse 3.
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

(Chorus)

To me this is the most beautiful hymn there is!! The lyrics and just the sound of the song itself is so overwhelmingly lovely! Of course I have more favorites but when I hear this one it seems like I could lift off and fly to heaven.

~Kat

Love

I've been thinking lately about what it means to love. Not love as in romance but love for one another. There are many ways we can "show" love but do we actually mean it in our hearts. When we say I love you do we say it to hopefully receive something in return or do we really mean it with all our heart? It's always easy to remember to say I love you when someone buys us something, but do we ever say it for no reason but to show that person we love them and truly appreciate them? I know this is something I need to work on. It seems I'm always too busy to stop.. slow down... and say ,"Mom thank you for all that you do for me." or "I really do love you ___.." We really desperately need to sincerely show one another we love them because wouldn't it be horrible to wake up one morning and find out that person has passed away!!!! I encourage you to join me in showing your family, friends, and the world that we love them!!

~Kat

Fun yet Tiring Day

This morning when I woke up (because of my alarm clock) I read my bible, ate breakfast, then it was off to my first tennis lesson! I had played tennis before with my siblings and daddy but I hadn't ever taken lessons. I was a little nervous at first but after awhile I adjusted! It was really fun!!!! We had a contest the team who could hit the ball over the net 10 times the quickest won and the looser had to run a lap around all three courts. The teams were backhand swing team and forward hand swing team. I was put on the backhand swing team. My team lost. :( So I got to run around the whole court, luckily I like running. Besides having to run around the whole court I can't wait for next week! After lunch we couldn't help ourselves and had to go to the park and play tennis. It's surprising what a couple of tips will do. I did much better than I had ever done!

After getting home I was informed that one of my brothers and I would be doing supper. We had the argument "What to cook!" Finally, after a couple of ideas, my little sister (the only sister I have) volunteered to cook grilled cheeses. I didn't really want to cook so after a little persuasion from my mother to make up my mind, I said "Okay." So all in all it has been a fun yet tiring day.

In Christ,

~Mac

Pecans and Mosquitoes

Hey everyone! Today we picked up pecans beneath the mosquito infested trees!! I bet I have a million bites! All the rain we've had has caused them to be numerous and ferocious. lol... We collected a couple buckets full and will have plenty of pecans for pecan pies and other delicious food on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I absolutely love spending time with my family! Our Thanksgiving is actually a family reunion so there are lots and lots of people who come!

Hasn't God blessed us with the most beautiful weather? It has been wonderful outside! Hopefully it will last until Thanksgiving! Well...the piano is calling me...I have my first recital in Dec....yes you heard right...my very first piano recital. I am just NOW learning to play! lol

~Kat

New Blog

Hey everyone! Kat made a new blog, Beautiful Elegant Designs! On it she will be posting how to dress modestly but fashionable at the same time. Go check it out! She just started it so you will have to bare with her. Not to mention that it is probably better that she is doing it and not me because I am not that fashionable and I would run out of ideas rather quickly! :D

In Christ,

~Mac

P.S. She will be posting on here too!! If she doesn't... :D

It is Possible!!!

Yippee!!!! I finished the 90 day Bible! I actually finished it a week and a day ago from today! I was so excited because that was my first time to read the entire Bible! What was even more exciting about it was I finished it on my birthday! I wanted to let everyone know that it is possible to do and I wasn't just posting about it because it sounded like a neat idea. I hope that you will consider doing reading it in 90 days if you haven't already. It was so amazing how everything started to fitting together. I learned so much!

In Christ,

~Mac

"I can do everything from Him who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13

Dollar for a Drink

Maybe you have heard of the organization a Dollar for a Drink; maybe not, but I wanted to a share with you what it is and who is doing it! Joshua Guthrie is a teenager who is fighting against low expectations. He put together the website Dollar for a Drink in order to raise enough money for wells in Sudan. Please take the time to watch this video he put together.

Please help him reach his goal! Help make a difference!
In Christ,
~Mac

100th Post!!

Wow! We can't believe we have posted 100 times! Time sure flies by when you're having fun! We hope that you have enjoyed reading our blog!!! Hopefully we have been able to answer questions that you have had and will continue to encourage you with any you may have in the future. If there is anything you would like us to discuss or post about feel free to leave us a comment!! We love them!!!! ALSO THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING OUR BLOG!!!! It has greatly encouraged us!!
In Christ,
~Mac and Kat

I'm a ....... robot??

Hey everyone! I have been thinking lately about our lesson in Sunday school last week. It was about Timothy and Peter as well as seeking the truth. Timothy and Peter were compared and when we read the scriptures we realized there was a great difference between the two. Timothy would ask questions whenever he didn't understand something. Peter on the other hand was very quick to act(like when he cut of the soldiers ear). Peter didn't seem to stop and think before replying and taking action. When questioned about being a follower of Jesus he quickly answered and readily denied his faith. Once again he was quick to act and later regreted it. When Timothy didn't understand he would question until he understood. We need to be more like Timothy. We need to quit taking everything we hear for truth. Unless it's reading the scripture. How often do we just believe everything we hear and never question.We seem to be robots (yes master... whatever you say...I hear and obey).Like when listening to the news, reading the newspaper, or even when we're just talking to someone. It seems this happens all the time. We need to stand up and say...hey..I'm not sure that's true...or that doesn't sound right..I need to check up on that.

I would like to recomend two OUTSTANDING BOOKS that I have found!! They have helped me understand more about how to stop, think, then reply. Here they are...

THE FALLACY DETECTIVE..



and...THE THINKING TOOLBOX!!


Both are exceedingly helpful and extremely easy to understand! They have really helped me learn to know when to question something they have problems with real life examples!! I encourage everyone to read these books!

~Kat

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged! As Mac said I haven't been feeling to well and school has kept me extremely busy. I'll post more in a bit!!!

~Kat

How should we act?

This past Sunday the man who gave the lesson at the church I attend talked about the coming of Christ and how we should act. We have often heard the statements "Treat others as you want to be treated" and "What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)." Well here are some other ones to think about.
Act as if Jesus were returning in an hour. Jesus himself says that only God knows when the Son will return. Matthew 25:13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." So I encourage you act as if Jesus were returning in any second because he very well may! I for one look forward to that day! Also act as if Jesus were sitting right next to you. Think about it--the Holy Spirit lives inside us. I know that if I will just wait for a minute before doing something or saying something rash I will often not do it. Last week Kat did a post on the taming of the tongue. Something that helps with keeping my tongue under control is acting as if the person across from me were Jesus! You will be surprised what will and what won't come out of your mouth! If you have a problem controlling your actions just ask Jesus! I encourage you to always be ready for his coming! Read Matthew 25, which is the parables about the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Talents, and 1 Thessalonians chapters 4-5.
In Christ,
~Mac

Sorry neither of us has posted lately! I am sure Kat would agree with me that both of us have been really busy! Hopefully we will be back in a routine soon! I am doing well but Kat had a fever as of last night. :( But alas this is the time of year when things blow in.
In Christ,
~Mac

Just Ask Him

Nicolae Gheorghita

After various trials, I was once asked to go to the secretary of the county, an evil man, a committed Communist. My wife said, "It will be a miracle of God if you come back safe." The "comrade" party official made me wait for an hour in the hallway for him, after which I was told he wanted to see me now. I prayed (again); "Lord please go in first. I am afraid to go without you."

The official was sitting behind his desk. "I could have sent you to prison for what you have done, but I wanted to see you first," he started. "You were in Cluj and you preached without permission." I realized immediately what he was referring to. I had indeed preached to the students of the university in Cluj. I had encouraged them to remain faithful in the week ahead. I had spoken about courage because they had been threatened with dismissal from the university if they continued to believe in God. I told the party official that it was my duty to preach the Word. He started to threaten me. Strange, the more he threatened me the more God’s peace flowed into my heart. I was sitting there, full of peace, rejoicing in the opportunity to be threatened for my faith in Christ.

Suddenly, the official realized that he could not frighten me. "Are you not afraid?" he asked. I just said, "No." Then he added, "Do you have anything else to say?" I said, "Yes" ... and I told him my testimony and that God loved him too. I saw him lowering himself behind the desk and he asked me to pray for his soul also. How great Thou art.

One of the things that struck me in this was his faith! Its true if you ask God will answer! Its amazing how God works! This past week I read Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and he door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
I would like you today just to take a second and ask God for help and peace in what ever you are doing. He is waiting.
I would also like you to please remember our persecuted brothers and sisters in you prayers. My sister read me a heart wrenching story out of the Voice of the Martyrs prayer calendar for 2010.
"Luz was pregnant with twins when she and her husband,Diego, felt led to start a church in a dangerous village in Colombia. Friends told them it was to dangerous. But they wanted to serve God, so they went. Just 15 days later, Diego went out to buy a microphone for church and never came back. His body was found two days later, cut into 30 pieces and stuffed in a plastic trash bag. Now Luz must support her young children all by herself. 'In these moments, it is only God who has given me strength, because truly it's been very hard,' Luz said. 'God gives me strength to go on.'"
Please pray for them! It isn't fake! If you would like to learn more visit Voice of the Martyrs website here
In Christ who saves,
~Mac
P.S. If you would like us to pray for you just let us know!

Controlling the Tongue.... How hard can it be?

Good morning all! Sorry it's been a while since I have posted anything!! I've been busy! The weather has been horrible!! SO MUCH RAIN!! Also Saturday brought a new puppy!! It's the whole families! We decided it was better to purchase one that didn't just arrive. We now where this one came from and that he has had his vaccinations. He is a German Shepherd and SO ADORABLE! We named him Conig which means king in German.

These past few days I have also been thinking a great deal about our sermon on Sunday. The scripture was from James chapter 3 which talks about controlling the tongue. It's amazing when reading the chapter to realize that man can control animals and train them to do outstanding stunts as well as control numerous other things, but the one thing he cannot control is his own tongue. It's such a small organ in the body but it is impossible to control 24/7. The only way it can be controlled is with the help of God. How often do we quickly snap at someone for annoying us? I know that with having little siblings I find myself doing that exact thing all the time. I have thought about this so much since Sunday and I just found myself snapping at my brother. It's really disheartening to think how much we yell at one another without even realizing it, but I know if we really try and ask the Lord to help us we will be able to control our tongues but only by His help! We need to always stop and think before answering.I am willing to try EXTREMELY hard this week and the rest of my life to ask for His help in controlling my tongue! Will you?

~Kat

Wow it is already Wednesday not to mention that it is already October! Where has the year gone? Yesterday was such a busy day! The awful part is that Tuesdays will always be busy! Phooey! Well I am almost done with reading the Bible in 90 days! I am so excited! I have posted before about reading the Bible in 90 days, if you want to read that post just click here. Well I must go eat lunch and then off to the Library!
In Christ,
~Mac

Hristo Kulichev

God teaches us to pray for our daily bread but He doesn’t say that we have to think only about our daily bread. The struggle for bread is called "struggle for life." People are willing to make all kinds of compromises in order to receive bread. When I was put in prison there was hardly any food. When they gave us the prisoner’s uniforms, one boy complained that his trousers were too tight. The supervisor said, "Don’t worry, very soon they will become loose."
I knew what would follow. Every day I prayed, "Lord, you fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes. Only a little crumb is enough for me Lord, please give it to me." I then realized that God can meet our needs in two ways.
1 He can give us what we need; or
2 He can set us free from what we consider a need.
God did not give me more bread. But He set me free from the feeling of hunger. I always felt satisfied. I never felt hungry and bread and salt turned out to be a delicious meal for me.
When we trust the word which proceeds from the mouth of God we will never suffer want.

Blessed be Your Name!

I love singing to my Creator for this world He has made and for giving me a chance to live eternally with Him in heaven through the death of is one and only Son! I wanted to share with you one of my favorite songs because it blesses God through the good and bad times.

Blessed be Your Name
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

One of the things that stuck to me in a sermon I heard was "If you are having a bad day such as running over a tree you had just planted then thank God for it because He will use the tough times to bring Himself glory!" I hope that this song will encourage your day as it has so often encouraged mine!
In Christ,
~Mac

COUNTY FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HORSE SHOW!!!!!!

ISN'T HE SOOO CUTE!!!!!!

Hey everyone!! Wednesday was the long awaited county fair horse show!! Since we have had soooo much rain the show had to be moved into an indoor arena instead of it being at the fairgrounds. This year there was an open show as well as the 4-H and FFA show. I entered in both. When you registered you had to state(if you won) in which show you would like to receive the belt buckle. I picked the open show. Hot Shot was soooo calm and did an awesome job! The Lord blessed me by allowing the day to go smooth(since entering in both show required memorizing two patterns for each event!!) and letting me win THE BELT BUCKLE!! but better than that he allowed me to win both shows!!! I was so excited!!! It's so beautiful!! The patterns were difficult this year but as I said with the Lord's help I was able to remain calm and memorize them with ease!! THANK YOU LORD!!!

~Kat

One Nation Under . . . Man?

by Ken Ham, President, AiG-U.S

What, a picture of Charles Darwin on a $10 U.S. bill—along with the words, “In Man we Trust”? Surely, that wouldn’t happen in the United States?
Well, it’s already happened to some extent in the United Kingdom. British society, including most of its churches, has enthusiastically embraced Darwin’s ideas and in essence is trusting in man rather than God. Since 2000, Darwin’s image has appeared on England’s £10 pound note!
Now, here in America, doesn’t the Pledge of Allegiance say “one nation under God”? Yes, but does that statement still largely hold true for this country? Let’s look.
America, as you know, was built on the foundation of God’s Word—the Bible. Verses like Psalm 40:4 (“Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust”) and Psalm 56:11 (“In God I have put my trust”) led to the phrase “In God We Trust” being placed on U.S. currency.
I also discovered a couple of years ago (when standing in the U.S. Capitol’s chamber of the House of Representatives) that a relief sculpture of Moses faces the Speaker of the House (and thus also faces the president when he gives his annual State of the Union address).
These are reminders of how important God’s law was in determining the foundational principles for this nation.
But America has changed its foundation.
The public schools changed foundation.
They have now gone full circle and all but thrown out the God of the Bible, the Bible itself, prayer, and creation. The Bible and the Christian God are no longer the foundation of the public education system; they have been replaced with the religion of naturalism (atheism). Students are now taught that all of reality (the universe, life, etc.) is explained by natural processes. So the foundation today? Man’s opinions, not God’s truth.
The court system changed foundation.
In many cases, the Ten Commandments have been banned from being displayed in courts and other public settings. Despite multiple depictions of the Ten Commandments in America’s Supreme Court building, more and more judges are now deciding cases based on contemporary cultural values.
The culture as a whole has changed foundation.
Nativity scenes, crosses, the Ten Commandments—anything that is connected to Christianity has by and large been eliminated from public places—whether by law or by pressure tactics. There is even a continuing battle by some to remove “Christ” from Christmas in both public and private settings. Again, the culture as a whole has changed foundation from trusting in God to trusting in man.
Much of the church has changed foundation.
Most church leaders (and most people in the church) have accepted the idea that the earth is millions of years old and the associated evolutionary ideas; they have reinterpreted God’s Word in Genesis. These churchgoers have made man the authority instead of God. Generations of people in the church have grown up believing they should trust man first. Also, about 90% of young people have attended public schools where they are taught to trust in man, not God.
No. America is no longer “one nation under God.” It is now “one nation under man.”
This change was clearly illustrated in the recent national elections, where it was obvious that most voters were looking to fallible, sinful man to solve their problems, instead of God and His Word. Oh, how we should be shouting from the rooftops to remind this nation that “the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Psalm 29:25).
Next month is the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, and this coming October is the 150th anniversary anniversary of the publication of his book that has changed the world (On the Origin of Species). There are numerous celebrations planned across America, and Darwin will be exalted as never before. Even hundreds of churches have signed up to praise Darwin (not God!) next month on what is called “Evolution Weekend.”
Many Americans are celebrating something else: a change from “under God” to “under man.” I believe that—spiritually speaking—where the United Kingdom is today, America will be tomorrow . . . if we allow this trend to continue.
But God has a message for us:
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8).
“Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2:22).
Have you begun to place too much trust in man and less trust in God? Now is the time to turn back to God, and to lead your loved ones to do the same! Invite them to join you at one of our national conferences next month.

Atheist Group Visits Creation Museum

We got this article in the mail from Answers in Genesis.

Written by Ken Ham
Today will be another busy Friday at the Creation Museum. We have a number of groups booked in, including around 285 atheists/humanists associated with the Secular Student Alliance group. As they are conducting a conference in the Columbus area, a number of them decided to make a visit to the Creation Museum about two hours away.

Most people (even most of the non-Christians) who come to the museum do so to learn, to be challenged, to search out information, to be equipped, and so on. However, it appears that most of this group has come to do what one of the websites associated with one of the group leaders stated:

The big field trip to Ken Ham’s amusement park . . . . Expect them to be smug in their ignorance and recite the same old tripe they always do . . . don’t get angry, just be amused.

After we leave their private property, it will be time to laugh and mock and vent, and we will: this trip will produce over 200 experienced people who know exactly what kind of lunacy the Creation “Museum” represents and we will express ourselves in opinion pieces, on blogs, at school board meetings, and in gatherings with our friends. That’s where we get our payoff not in rudeness during our visit that gets us evicted.

If you really want to vent about the abomination in Kentucky, register for the SSA conference . . . . I will be giving the keynote speech . . . and my topic will be atheist activism, and I’ll be including material I’ll be gathering that Friday at the Creation Museum . . . .

Well regardless of their attitude, they will hear the message of biblical authority and the gospel. We pray God will open their hearts to the truth—even though, like those in Romans 1, they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

Just to give you a tiny taste of what one of the leaders of this group is like (an associate professor at a university)—here is an excerpt from his blog he put up this week:

OOOOOOOFFFFEENNNNSSIIIIIIIVVVE! Against my advice, the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers ran an incredibly offensive ad on city buses in De Moines featuring . . . lesbians . . . [offensive words edited out]. No, wait, that wasn’t it. It was an ad announcing that god hated Christians and they were all going to burn in hell. No, I don’t think that was it. It was an ad offering free bacon to anyone willing to deny the Holy Spirit, and the Iowa vegans were outraged. Nah, don’t think so. Actually, the horrible, awful, evil ad they were running was this one:
That’s it? “Don’t believe in God? You aren’t alone”? That’s the ad that some people found offensive? So offensive that the ad was promptly yanked from city buses, and Governor Chet Culver announced that he was “disturbed, personally” by them? That’s insane. What’s the matter with those Iowans? One day they do something to make us proud, the next they do something so petty and stupid. Look, it’s a clear case. There was absolutely nothing offensive about those ads, nothing that would make the horses skittish or frighten the children. Somewhere down the line, a few intolerant ignoramuses freaked out and started phoning the bus company, and a coward or a zealot somewhere in the chain of command saw an excuse to shut down a harmless advertisement. It’s bigotry, plain and simple.

You see, regardless of the creation/evolution issue, these people oppose anyone who believes in God, regardless of whether they accept Genesis as literal history.

By the way, as of today, over 820,000 people will have visited the Creation Museum since opening May 2007.

(Colossians 1:27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The greatest treasure we have is also a great marvel and mystery and our hope of glory, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ living in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray for the 285 atheists.
Please pray for the Creation Museum as well as the 285 atheists.
In Christ through whom all things are made possible,
~Mac

Update on Car Wreck

Praise the Lord no one was injured! My aunts X-rays came out fine! They are all at home safe and sound now. Kat is definitely okay because she has gone to ride her horse!=D I praise the Lord that the only thing that didn't come out okay was their car!
In Christ,
~Mac

Car Wreck

Well I just got home and wasn't planning on posting until my mother got a call from my grandma. She called to tell us that Kat and her family were on their way to a music program when a car pulled out in front of them. No one is seriously injured but my aunt (Kat's mom) was taken to the hospital to get some X-rays done because her neck was hurting. Kat got hit in the eye by the air bag. Their car was completly totaled! The couple that pulled out in front of them is okay. Please pray that my aunt will be okay! One of Kat's brothers said that our grandma was going to be long gone before their car was fixed!
Please pray!
In Christ,
~Mac

Earth was Created for Life

Our solar system is filled with amazing planets, but none are perfect for life except the earth.

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It gets very hot and very cold. It has a very slow spin. The side facing the sun is heated to 800 (F) while the side away from the sun is cooled to –298 degrees (F).

Venus is hotter than Mercury, yet farther away from the sun. Venus has an atmosphere 90 times thicker than earth's. Heat is trapped in the clouds and heats the entire planet to 931 degrees (F).

Mars is similar to earth in many ways. A day on Mars is 24.7 hours. It is tilted 25 degrees, just two more degrees than earth. At its warmest, it can get to be a comfortable 67 degrees (F). It has two small moons. But Mars is smaller than earth. The gravity on Mars is only a third of the earth’s. Without enough gravity, Mars is unable to hold a larger atmosphere. What atmosphere it has is made of the gases we cannot breathe. Without much of an atmosphere, many meteoroids hit Mars. It also gets very cold at night.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It is ten times smaller than the sun and ten times larger than the earth. Jupiter spins faster than any other planet, with a day of 9 hours and 55.5 minutes. Its fast spin causes tremendous storms. The big red spot on Jupiter is a huge hurricane.

Saturn is the second-largest planet in our solar system and has the largest set of rings. It is almost twice as far away from the sun as Jupiter is. Saturn is a gas giant. As one descends into the atmosphere, the pressure, temperature, and gravity greatly increase. The core of the planet is boiling hot and radiates more heat out into space than it receives from the sun.

Uranus is tilted on its side with its axis pointed at the sun. If the earth's axis was pointed at the sun, one hemisphere would always be boiling hot and the other would be freezing cold. Uranus is four times as far from the sun as Jupiter and twice as far from the sun as Saturn.
Neptune is the farthest gas giant from the sun. It is almost four times larger than the earth. Its strong gravity traps harmful gases in its atmosphere.

The utter lifelessness of other planets in our solar system illustrates the fact that earth is unique and specially created for life.


article found at institute for creation research.

~Kat

Lentil Soup

The first time that I had lentil soup it was horrible! But when I had it again it was more than lentils in water with a little bit of salt!This is a recipe that my momma makes.

Lentil Soup with Tomatoes
servings 6-8
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped (2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 cup red or brown lentils (I think we use red lentils, but it doesn't matter)
28oz. can crushed plum tomatoes with juice
8 cups chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lemon or 1 preserved lemon, diced
1. Heat the oil in large saucepan and saute the onions and garlic gently until the onions are soft. Add the celery and carrots and continue to saute a few more minutes.
2. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth or water, 1/4 cup each parsley and cilantro, cumin , turmeric, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil then lower heat, and simmer, covered for 1 hour or until the lentils are tender. For a thicker soup, puree half the contents of the pot in a food processor equipped with a steel blade. Return the puree to the pot and stir well. Adjust the seasonings, and serve with the remaining parsley and cilantro sprinkled on top (we don't always put the parsley and cilantro on top).

I didn't know this until my grandma pointed it out that in Genesis 25:27-34 Jacob made lentil soup!
~ Mac

Logical Fallacies: Straw-Man Fallacy

by: Dr. Jason Lisle, AiG–U.S
It’s a fallacy that just shouldn’t happen—but it does all the time. The straw-man fallacy is when a person misrepresents his opponent’s position and then proceeds to refute that misrepresentation (i.e., the “straw man”) rather than what his opponent actually claims.1 Here’s an example:
“Creationists do not believe that animals change. But clearly, animals do change. So, creationists are mistaken.”
Since creationists do indeed believe that animals change (just not from one basic created kind to another), the argument is a straw-man fallacy. The argument does not refute what creationists actually claim.
Such a misrepresentation could be unintentional; it could be that a particular evolutionist simply misunderstands what a creationist is teaching. Or the fallacy could be quite deliberate. That, of course, is a dishonest approach, yet it is quite common in origins debates.
Even in cases where the misrepresentation is unintentional, there is still a degree of liability. After all, the arguer should have done sufficient research and studied what it is the opponent actually teaches. We would certainly be willing to overlook minor misunderstandings, particularly where a position is complex or nuanced (though the critic should still be corrected on the issue). However, there are a number of cases where the creationist position is so clear that misrepresentations by evolutionists are simply inexcusable. The following are a few examples.
If an evolutionist were to claim, “Creationists don’t believe in science,” this would be a straw-man fallacy.2 Creationists do believe in science. There are several full-time Ph.D. scientists on the Answers in Genesis staff. I’ve argued on this website, as in my book (The Ultimate Proof of Creation) that biblical creation is what makes science possible.
Someone may claim, “Creationists believe in the fixity of species.” However, this is certainly not the mainstream biblical creationist position. There may be a few individuals that hold to such a concept, but it is not the position advocated by most creationists. Thus, the generalization “creationists believe . . .” is false.
Likewise, the claim, “Creationists say there are no good mutations” is not representative of what biblical creationists teach. Generally, we say that mutations do not add brand-new, creative information to the genome and are thus in the “wrong direction” to make evolution happen. But we do believe that mutations can result in traits that increase survival value under certain conditions.
“Answers in Genesis is pushing to get creation to be taught in public schools alongside evolution.”
This is definitely false. Answers in Genesis as a ministry is not about political or legal change. Rather, we are about defending the Bible from the very first verse and teaching other Christians to do the same. Although this may eventually result in a changed political and legal situation, we do not (as a ministry) attempt to change laws or get involved in politics.
“The Bible teaches that the earth has literal pillars and corners and cannot be moved. It is clearly wrong.”
This is a misrepresentation of Scripture and therefore constitutes a straw-man fallacy. The Bible uses figures of speech (just as we do when we say, “Tim is a pillar of the community”) and poetic language at times. Referring to the cardinal directions as “corners”3 or the stability of the earth as not able to “be moved”4 is not an error. It is entirely inappropriate for a critic to take the poetic sections of the Bible as literal—or the literal historical sections as poetic. Many objections against Scripture turn out to be straw-man fallacies.
The claims that creationists believe in a flat earth, that we deny laws of nature, or that we take every verse of the Bible in a wooden literal sense are all baseless assertions. Nonetheless, claiming that creationists believe in such things makes the creation position easier to discredit—but it is not a rationally cogent way to debate. Granted, not all evolutionists do this; some do accurately represent their opponents. But ignorance of biblical creation among those who oppose it is a serious problem: one that Christian apologists must be prepared to face.
We must gently encourage our opponents to find out what it is that creationists actually teach. This is not a difficult task. Our positions on the most-asked questions are well-summarized in the New Answers Book series and to a great extent on this very website.
Creationists must also stay educated on both sides of the issue so that we do not commit the very same fallacy.5 Watch for misrepresentations of creation or other Christian teachings and be ready to point out that such straw-man arguments are fallacious; yet always do so with gentleness and respect.

What a busy day I had yesterday!I had the second part of my show clinic to attend. We had the first one two weeks ago which allowed for practice in between the clinics. My horse did awesome! The best he has ever done in the four years I've owned him!! It was so awesome!!! As I wrote earlier I bought a new bit which has greatly helped out!! The clinic was yesterday from 1:00 to 5:00. After I arrived home I turned Hot Shot out then after I fed, did some work around the barn, I plowed the arena. One of my horses has dry itchy skin which she rubs raw but I did some research and hopefully found a cure without calling the vet out! Her skin is looking better!
Tonight we have our new washer and dryer installed!!! Also more dogs were brought out to search for our missing neighbor! Nothing was found. Please keep praying everyone! Now it doesn't matter if she is dead or alive just as long as she is found! Of course we would MUCH RATHER HER BE ALIVE BUT IT'S BETTER TO KNOW EITHER WAY! PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!

~Kat

Another Story....

I WILL BE POSTING ANOTHER STORY SHORTLY!!!!

COAT OF MANY COLORS

Here is my latest story. It may sound familiar to some of you(especially heather).

Coat of Many Colors

Thinking back through the years, I allowed my mind to wander to a time when I was a young girl living in the great Smokey Mountains. We were poor like everyone around us, but one thing we had was love. I remember a time when winter arrived and I didn’t have a coat to wear. Mamma had a box of old rags that someone had given us so she decided to piece together a coat for me. Each rag was a different color but as long as it kept me warm that was all that mattered. Love flowed from her hands as she carefully sewed each piece together. As she sewed I would quietly sit by her while she told me of a story from the Bible. It also was about a coat of many colors worn by Joseph just like mine. When she finished I was thrilled to wear my new coat which was blessed with a kiss from mamma. My coat of many colors was made from only rags but oh how I wore it so proudly. Although we had no money back then, well….I was as rich as I could ever be while wearing my warm coat of many colors my precious mamma had made for me. With patches on my britches and holes in both of my shoes I hurried of to school to show everyone my brand new coat. Wouldn’t they be surprised. Upon arriving I was devasted to find the others laughing at my beautiful coat. Well I just couldn’t understand for I felt unbelievably rich. I decided to tell them of the love my momma had sewn in every stitch and the story she had gently told me. They didn’t understand as I tried to make them see that one is only poor only if they choose to be. I knew we had no money even though I was small but while wearing my brand new coat of many colors, I was as rich as I could be.
~Written by Kat .... This story outline is from Dolly Parton's song Coat of Many Colors....I took it and rewrote into a story.

~Kat

When was the last time...?

- You read your Bible?
- You talked to God?
- You praised God for all of His creation?
- You thanked God for the problems you have been having, even though you didn't feel like it? (God know what trials you personally need to face for the future.)
- You told your family you loved them?
- Your family all ate together at the same table for dinner?
- You played with your siblings instead of getting on the Internet?
- You thanked a sibling for something they had done (even if it was a really easy fast job for you)?
- You encouraged instead of bringing down?
Maybe you don't suffer with the ones above but what about these?
- You made your bed?
- You cleaned your room?
Take some time today to work on these. Don't be afraid to ask God for help- He is always there and is always waiting.
In Christ Jesus,
~Mac

Well unfortunately I had to get rid of my dog today. I thought it over and I don't have the money to spend for shots etc. on a puppy. It would be one thing if it was a full grown dog that only needed shots once a year but..... it being a puppy they require more care. So....goodbye Winchester.

~ Kat

Faith and Trust in the Lord's Will

It amazes me when the Lord will answer a question that I had been pondering for a couple of days! I think what amazes me is how He does it!
Here lately I have been thinking about faith and trust in the Lord's will. This morning when I got up and read our day by day devotional I thought I should share with you this man's testimonies.

Andrés Noriega
My wife and I were very confused when our third child was born. A baby without a hope of staying alive. Each day he lived was an agony.

We felt our world had been turned upside down. We were confused, upset and full of questions. The more so because I experienced a great revival in my church. People were saved, delivered from all kind of addictions, healed from various kinds of diseases. The people in my church were glorifying God. So did I ... until our child was born. "Why Lord? Why?" we cried.

The next eighteen days were like one long nightmare. We cried, we prayed, we fainted, we argued with God until we were left without strength. It was then that we realized that we were selfish, proud and stubborn. I thought I heard the voice of the mockers saying, "Doctor, heal yourself." So I said, "Lord, your will be done. If you decide to take my child it will not change my obedience to you." That very day a miracle happened ... the peace of God entered our hearts. We had won the battle.

PS: Late that night our child came back to life and has been healthy ever since. What a bonus.

What a secret. Put your hope in God and surrender to His love and sovereignty even when "the miracle" does not take place.

Like Andres, said the miracle you want to happen may not, but God performs miracles in many ways different ways! If we ask he will open our eyes like he did Andres. The Lord is so amazing and loving! It is so comforting to know that I don't have to worry about anything! If the Lord sends me somewhere, I don't need to worry about it because if the Lord wants it to succeed then it will.
Yesterday as I was thinking about this matter I thought "Mac, remember what the Bible says in Matthew,when devil is testing Jesus in the desert: Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple "If you are the Son of God, " he said ,"throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ' " Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ' Do not put the Lord your God to the test' " Matthew 4:5-7. I thought you know what sometimes there are situations that need to be thought through instead of testing God." I am still working on when is it testing God and when do we need to rely on God.
In Christ Jesus who saves,
~Mac

Hello all! Wow! The first day of fall was much cooler than the last day of summer!
Today I went with my grandpa to purchase a new bit for my horse. Other than that, school and riding it was pretty much a slow day. Our washing machine went out the other day so my parents have gone to purchase a new one. Our little puppies are so cute! There names are....Winchester, Remington, Granite, and Annie.

~Kat

Sorry for the inconvenience but Kat posted her rainbow pictures before I had finished the post with my vacation pictures! So down below this one and her rainbow pictures I have posted my vacation pictures.
~Mac

RAINBOW!!

Yesterday evening God placed this gorgeous rainbow outside our house!

Vacation!

Sorry it has taken awhile to get these pictures up! I hope you enjoy looking at them! I like looking at them but they don't always bring back the most pleasant smells.
Yellowstone National Park

The mud pots were really neat!


Old Faithful! The bottom picture has a rainbow in it! I couldn't believe it came up on the computer!
I can't remember this ones name but we (my family and the family we went with.) all liked it because there is a little bacteria mat that floated down into the geyser! We all laughed and said, while we watched, that we were probably the only people that would ever see that bacteria mat again!








This guy desided to get in the HOT tub!
This one and the three above it are at Mammoth Springs, Yellowstone.
This one is going to cover the road in a couple of years!
I love small little geysers like this!
This is the Opal Pool.

This picture and the one above it are of the Grand Prismatic pool, which is probably the most commonly seen.
Bryce Canyon


Bryce Canyon! WOW! I thought there wasn't another canyon that could be as lovely as the Grand Canyon! But it proved me wrong. Each canyon has its own unique difference and design.
I thought this guy was really cute!
Zion National Park


If you haven't noticed by now I really enjoy running water!
I love taking pictures of flowers. I think flowers show us God's creativeness that is shown in the variety of colors He uses!
Grand Canyon

I have now been to the Grand Canyon twice and it still takes me by surprise!
I really liked the Indian drawings!
I love going on vacation and seeing all of the Lord's handy work! This was one of the verses we read while we were on vacation:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1, that is so true it does though we may not always take the time to stop and look His mighty works are there!
In Christ Jesus,
~Mac
P.S. I took 400 pictures so if you want to see more I have plenty! =D These are probably the best though.

I LOVE taking pictures! Here are some I have taken then edited!!








~ Kat

Vacation and Pictures!

I don't know were to start!!! I guess I have to start somewhere. First I want to say that God blessed with the most awesome weather! You couldn't have asked for better! I suppose I should post some pictures!
The Badlands

Mount Rushmore.


The Big guy was telling us to leave his girl alone.
We had to let the bison cross the road before we could continue driving!

The sound of the geysers was amazing! but the stench... WOW!


These waterfalls were magnificent!

Now so far I have been the one taking the pictures but I am going to post a picture that my daddy took.

At night you can here the elk bugling! It sounds AWESOME! I wish I could have recorded it! I didn't get to see it because I was still getting dressed.

I will post more pictures later and things I did but I have to go. I keep remembering stuff! It is going to take a long time to say it all! I will try to get a picture from my daddy of the moose we saw! Don't worry I will post more pictures.

In Christ Jesus who by his grace we are saved,
~ Mac