A couple of weeks ago, I called a friend of our ministry, Don Holmes, to see if he would help spread the word regarding AOI’s family camps as well as our Creation Action Boot Camps. These are camps which we are offering this coming summer for teens and families with teens. I knew that Don helped in connecting a lot of churches and youth groups, both in Texas and in other states, with appropriate mission and camp opportunities. I also anticipated that those youth...
Read More“Wet Glue”
This is not an unknown revelation … things break. Some of these broken things can be repaired if we can only stick them back together. The first item many of us turn to for repairs is duct-tape or bailing-wire; however, if you try to put a vase, or fine china, back together using duct-tape, the results are far from satisfactory – and a wire repair on such items is preposterous. So our next option for restoration is some type of glue product. Two of the most versatile...
Read MoreTotal Surrender
I have been thinking quite a bit lately about the term “surrender.” In the weeks leading up to surgery, the word took on a whole new meaning. Suddenly, so many things were out of my control. It sometimes takes a real attitude adjustment, to release OUR control to others, even to God. I heard a sermon during this same time period, reminding me that I cannot question God’s path because it is different than my agenda; even when that path includes cancer. I MUST...
Read More“Keep on Keeping on”
There is one specific New Year’s resolution that I have had for many years. It can be summed up by the words of encouragement to Mary Jo and I from a person who was deeply impacted by the creation message. She wrote, “Keep on keeping on!” Since that note almost 25 years ago, that encouragement has been on our lips and now is also on the lips of other staff at AOI. The battle for the hearts and minds of our young people is huge and it is not going away any time soon....
Read MoreWho’s Fault is it? A response…
I received a comment on a recent blog (Who’s fault is it?), and so I wanted to respond on today’s blog. Comment: Do you think that it’s possible that God sometimes inflicts suffering to instruct us? Hear me out. The curse of the ground was to bring thorns into the work of man, to remind him that he’s the cause of his own suffering. And the animal sacrifices instituted by God in the beginning: they cost us something. It’s a little pain to show that we...
Read MoreWonderfully Made
Note: If you haven’t yet heard, we are excited to announce that we are pregnant and expecting our first child in June, 2014! We praise God for answering our prayers and giving us the blessing of children! There is something mysterious and wonderful about having a baby growing inside of you. He or she is about the size of a pea pod now, and it still seems incredibly surreal. Pregnancy still felt like something my imagination had conjured up, until we got to have an...
Read MoreGod of the Impossible
Recently at a small group Bible study we attend, we were studying the book of Jonah. Through the study the fact came up that some people say Jonah contains so many remarkable (some might say miraculous) elements, that it can’t be taken literally. This subject naturally connected the conversation to Genesis. We discussed the fact that many people have a hard time believing that such things as a man being swallowed – and rescued – by a great fish, or God creating the...
Read MoreWhat’s impossible?
What is impossible in your life…right now? Before reading on, answer that question. Just recently I had the opportunity to go back to the Christian high school that I taught at for the last two years to speak for their mid-week chapel service. With as much work as I have been doing preparing Creation presentations the last three months, I was actually very challenged and conflicted about what to share with them for that afternoon. One of the problems was that my...
Read MoreGod Most High
I sat down today to write about having a high view of God. “This should be easy,” I thought to myself. “After all, there is so much to say about how big, how awesome God is, it should be no big deal to write that down.” I was wrong. It is a daunting task indeed to mentally plumb the depths and scale the heights of the greatness of God. I invite you to take a little trip with me as I trace my thoughts on this subject. Let’s consider…. …The human body – full of...
Read MoreWhat Are You Looking At?
It’s incredibly easy to get off track from where we need to be. I am a task-oriented person, delighted when I am crossing things off my “to-do” list. But how do we know what really needs to get done? What if we doubt and question where we are, what we’re doing, and where we’re going? And what if that “to-do” list becomes the end-all? If the number of tasks crossed off becomes a gauge for the value of what we are doing? What is the ultimate goal? Where should our...
Read MoreDo Scientists Cheat?
Here is an interesting documentary from a popular secular source, NOVA. Remember to be skeptical and do your research to study and evaluate the claims that you hear, be a Berean. Do Scientists Cheat? By NOVA in 1988 Things to think about: -Science works on an assumption that scientists are being truthful and their data is true. -What percentage is acceptable in dealing with how many scientists cheat? -Is 1% acceptable? .1%? What is the possible true percentage?...
Read MoreThe History of the World in 2 Hours – Questions to Consider
Here is a very interesting documentary (The History of The World in Two Hours) about the naturalistic view of how life has become the way it is today. Even if this is not what you believe, it is interesting and educational to be able to see their perspective in a full overview. Keep thinking as you watch. They will often say things as a matter of fact, because they believe that these various opinions have been validated. So be skeptical and question and research the...
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Friends - Richard's Life was Changed!! - And this is why he is leading AOI's Colorado Family Camp! Join us July 30 - Aug 4 - conta.cc/3X4JroB pic.twitter.com/u8j1AP1Pmu
