National Missionary Convention Report - part 1

Creation Evangelism Tools

We left our house in McKinney around 11:00am. (Yes...it seems like us Kautts can never get out of here before 10:00am :) The trip to Tulsa took around 5 hours (we stopped 2-3 times). We arrived at the First Christian Church in Sapulpa (which is around 10-15 miles south-west of Tulsa) around 4:00pm. We unloaded the needed items (bedding, food, etc.) & cleaned-up, took showers, etc. When we finally headed out toward Tulsa, it was around 6:00pm. We got to the Convention Center around 6:30pm. We went around to the back, and unloaded our items. We had our booth set up by around 7:30pm.


Caleb & I setting up our booth



Talking with founder of Colegio Biblico, Harland Cary.

We had many interesting conversations with many different people. One of the most interesting (in my opinion) was the lengthy conversation we had with Harland Cary, founder of Colegio Biblico. He and his wife were married for 70 years, until she died on November 11, 2008. To me, just being married for that long is amazing!! He has 4 children, 15 grand-children & 30 great-grandchildren. He is a very profound man.


On our way to the Convention Center, we noticed that we had to cross a street: Mission St. It seemed to fit right in :)


Uncle Jimmy's booth (Internation Student Mission)

There was even a Haitian man who stopped by. He was looking for French material. He said that the native language in Haiti is Creole, but the national or "official" language is French. He got a French All God's Children board book.


One woman that stopped by has a son who is a missionary in China (he lives in Beijing), so she bought for him a All God's children board book in Chinese. She also got All God's Children in German & English. She said that they are a home school family, which is another interest fact. :)



Dad talking to three long time friends: (L to R): Jim Hardwick, Craig Vanderburgh & Larry Griffin


Several people we (at least Dad, Mom & Uncle Jimmy) knew (from places like Draper Park Christian Church where Dad used to preach, Dallas Christian College, etc.) stopped by, which included: Craig Vanderburgh, Larry Griffin (one of our cousins) & Jim Hardwick.. Dad & Uncle Jimmy had a good time talking to these men.


A few people even asked if Ken Ham was there, or if we were with Creation Truth Foundation, Answers in Genesis or Institute for Creation Research. Of course, we said that "no", but that we were just complimenting these ministries. They (CTF had a booth there as well) had items that we didn't have, we had items that they didn't have.



Dr. G. Thomas Sharp, with Creation Truth Foundation, speaking at one of his workshops at his booth.


One lady stopped by and commended us for carrying on the work of her late husband, who worked closely with Institute for Creation Research. Her husband was a speaker with Creation Science Association, he had had booths at the NMC for 15 or 20 years, until his death 3 years ago. She was sad to see how many people believe in (Macro) Evolution, and many without even knowing. She was glad to see people like us working to bring the culture back to the Truth about Genesis.



Dad talking to Georg & Martha Ort, with Literacy & Evangelism International, at our booth


In the course of the Convention we met another homeschooling family: the Ort family. As we (Caleb & Johanna) talked to Paul & Ana Marie (two of the three children, Peter is the youngest) we found out that our two families had a lot of similarities. For example, when Paul mentioned that he was in college, Caleb asked him what program he was using. Paul said that he was using College Plus! Joel is going to be using College Plus! starting January. Also, they know some of the same families that we know (or know of) (why are we surprised?! :). They know the Servens & the Wahlquists. Anyway, we thought that was a very interesting conversation (you'll hear more about the Orts later on in the report).

Each night we left the Convention Center after 10:30 (one night it was after 10:45), always got back to the church after 11:00, and got to bed after mid-night. Thankfully, though, we all were so worn out that we just laid down & snoozed right off.


Will continue the story later...

Thanksgiving Happenings

Thanksgiving 2008 has come and gone, but what a blessed day it was! Here are some of the highlights; pictures coming soon... I hope. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weather was perfect (praise the Lord), the food great and the fellowship wonderful!
Phoebe, Johanna, Dad, Joel, Caleb and I were in the kitchen from 8:30 until around 4:00 yesterday afternoon. The meal consisted of: Italian vegetable casserole, risotto rice, sweet potato surprise, German cabbage salad, turkey, pumpkin pies, garbanzo beans and rice dish, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing and later on ice-cream! It was quite a spread, and we were all stuffed pretty quickly.

One of the reasons we made so much food, is because we were helping some long time friends who are currently going through some real difficulties, needing a helping hand. They were able to enjoy their own Thanksgiving meal as a family.

After the afternoon meal, we cleaned up and then gathered around to watch Amazing Grace with Dad and Joel (who'd as yet, not seen it), which we all thoroughly enjoyed (we still have about 30-40 minutes left). We had invited our cousin Reece to drop by on his way back home to Roanoke, and he did! We had not seen him in several months, and it was great having a time of fellowship with him. He ate a late dinner with us and had dessert before heading out.

At the conclusion of our afternoon meal, we had a time where we shared what we've been blessed by and who / what we're thankful for. Of course, we could spend all day everyday to say 'thank you' and still not even get to the bottom of it all. It was like having a worship service, and I am grateful to Dad for directing us in that time of thanksgiving and praise.

We pray that your day was blessed to the max! This Sunday (the 30th) is our church's annual Blessing Count Sunday, I'm personally looking forward to participating and hearing all of the Providential ways He provides for our every need!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2008

Happy Thanksgiving family & friends!
Love,
David & Julia, Joel, Abby, Caleb, Phoebe, Johanna & Jaden Kautt

Things we're thankful for:

• For Christ and His saving grace in our lives
• The Bible, God's infallible Word, living and abiding, sharper than any two-edged sword
• Creation Apologetics, and ministries like Answers in Genesis who are proclaiming God's word from the Beginning
• Family, friends and the opportunity to minister to those who have need
• America, and the freedoms we still have to enjoy and rejoice in
• Church and the assembling of fellow Christians to study His Word, praise His name and become better equipped for His cause
• Technology which allows us to reach around the globe and touch people with the Good News
• The wonderful house we are enjoying and blessed to live in, our 3 wonderful vehicles and the way the Lord provides for our daily needs
• Mom and her being with us, after major health problems and the recovery process she's in
• God's beautiful creation and that we get to enjoy it each and every day

That is just the tip of the ice-berg! God has so richly blessed us beyond all that we could ask or even imagine! All praise is His!

National Missionary Convention

Be looking for a report (w/: pictures) about the National Missionary Convetion & trip. Abby & Joel are out running errands with Uncle Jimmy & Grandma, and they have the camera with all of the pictures of our trip. We took plenty of pictures, so it may take awhile to get all of them posted!

~ Phoebe

We're leaving today!

We are heading out in about 2 hours (Lord willing) and driving 5-6 hours to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Please be in prayer for us as we travel, that we'll have a safe trip, that our car will run properly, and that, ultimately, our trip will be glorifying to God & to the advancement of His Kingdom.

Thank you,
The Kautts

Pictures...finally!

Here, finally, are some pictures from lately, we took with Joel's new camera.

On Sunday we spent about an hour getting our family picture...our first in two years! So, here are some of them:

(L to R, back row): Caleb, Abby, Phoebe & Joel (L to R, on couch): Jaden, Dad, Mom & Johanna

And...the gang: Joel, Abby, Caleb, Phoebe, Johanna & Jaden

On Monday, Caleb & Joel bought themselves a new... welder!! So...yesterday he made (most of the way) a luggage rack that can be attached to the trailer hitch. He finished it this morning. It looks super, and more importantly, we think it will work!! So...here are some pictures from him welding last night: (note: I had a mask on when I was taking these pictures, just for anyone who was wondering!)

Caleb the welder

The finished product! We'll be putting our topper on here, makes for less drag & wind resistance.

God's magnificent Creation, the awesome wonders of the skies & clouds:

A few days ago I walked out into our backyard, and gazed into the sky and saw this! Wow! Amazing!

Here, finally, is a picture of the greenhouse we built a few weeks ago: (yes, our backyard needs some work! That day we were cleaning up the leaves that seem to be abundant)

Jaden loves to be read to. Right now we're reading to him the Farm Mystery Series, by Mr. & Mrs. Stephen B. Castleberry, and we're in book 4: "Who, Me?". He is really enjoying them!

Joel reading to Jaden "Who, Me?"

Well...we leave tomorrow morning for Tulsa, Oklahoma, to attend the National Missionary Convention. Our Uncle Jimmy (Dad's brother) is coming over from Germany (his flight gets in tonight), and we're sharing one booth, with him having one table, and us having one table. Be looking on CET's website for updates while we're at the Convention. Here is what our booth should look like: (come & visit our booth, # 1227, we'd love to see you!)

Our booth, complete with translated items & many other things

And...finally here are some pictures of the Biblical Apologetics Library at the church that dad is pastor at:

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Our Garden - In May

Our Garden, as it appeared in April or May

That was months ago. It doesn't look anything like that now! Hopefully we'll have some current pictures of it soon.

The Kautt Gardeners :)

When Does Tyranny become Tyranny?

Dear Readers,

While reading through Peter Marshall and David Manuel's book The Light and the Glory recently, I ran accross an interesting section which I found very helpful. I hope that each of you finds it to be equally interesting and reavealing to you too.“When Does Tyranny Become Tyranny?

· "By Scripture, it happens when a ruler breaks the commandment of 2 Samuel 23:3 (KJV): He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God..
· "By Puritan interpretation, constructed before the first Pilgrims and Puritans embarked for America, it is when a ruler knowingly and deliberately contravenes the will of God, thus making it impossible for his subjects to follow that divine will.
· "By the Magna Carta, which established English common law, it is when a ruler ceases to act under that law and denies his subjects their rights, as guaranteed by that law.
· "By pronouncement of James I: “A king ceases to be a king, and degenerates to a tyrant, as soon as he leaves off to rule according to his laws.”
· "By Parliamentary interpretation, it is when Englishmen have measures imposed upon them, such as taxation, without their consent or even representation.
· "By every one of these definitions, James II’s attitude toward the Colonies was tyrannical. As the Puritans saw it, he was the rebel…."

You’ll just have to read the book to find out the rest!
Caleb

J.C. Ryle - The Eye of God

J.C. Ryle - The Eye of God, Thoughts for Young Men

- Special Rules for Young People -

(3) For another thing, resolve never to forget the eye of God. The eye of God! Think of that. Everywhere, in every house, in every field, in every room, in every company, alone or in a crowd, the eye of God is always upon you. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." (Prov. 15:3), and they are eyes that read hearts as well as actions (Heb. 4:12, 13).
Endeavor, I beseech you, to realize this fact. Remember that you have to deal with an all-seeing God, - a God who never slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:4), - a God who understands your thoughts afar off (Ps. 139:2), and with whom the night shines as the day. You may leave your father's house, and go away, like the prodigal, into a far country, and think that there is nobody to watch your conduct; but the eye and ear of God are there before you. You may deceive your parents or employers, you may tell them falsehoods, and be one thing before their faces, and another behind their backs, but you cannot deveice God. He knows you through and through. He heard what you said as you spoke to people today. He knows what you are thinking of at this minute. He has set your most secret sins in the light of His countenance, and they will one day come out before the world to your shame, unless you take heed.

little is this really felt! How many things are done continually, which men would never do if they thought they were seen! How many matters are transacted in the chambers of imagination, which would never bear the light of day! Yes; men entertain thoughts in private, and say words in private, and do acts in private, which they would be ashamed and blush to have exposed before the world. The sound of a footstep coming has stopped many a deed of wickedness. A knock at the door has caused many an evil work to be hastily suspended, and hurriedly laid aside. But oh, what miserable driveling folly is all this!

There is an all-seeing Witness with us wherever we go. Lock the door, draw down the blinds, close the shutters, put out the light; it does not matter, it makes no difference; God is everywhere, you cannot shut Him out, or prevent His seeing. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Heb. 4:13). Well did young Joseph understand this when his master's wife tempted him. There was no one in the house to see them, no human eye to witness against him; but Joseph was one who lived as seeing Him that is invisible: "How can I do this great wickedness," he said, "and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9)

I ask you to read Psalm 139. I advise you to learn it by heart. Make it the test of all your dealings in this world's business: say to yourself often, "Do I remember that God sees me?"
Live as in the sight of God. This is what Abraham did, - he walked with Him. This is what Enoch did, - he walked with Him. This is what heaven itself will be, - the eternal presence of God. Do nothing you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, "Show it to Me." Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, "What are you doing?"

Check it out!

We invite you to check out our family ministry's new website.
Be sure to tell us what you think!
~ The Kautt Family

pray, Pray, PRAY!

pray, PRAY, PRAY. That's what we need to do right now. Pray that the Lord will have mercy on our Country (even though we don't deserve it), just as He had toward Ninevah, in Jonah's day.

Who will it be?? A question which has been nagging us for two years, and which will be answer very shortly.

The Servens have a good post on the elections.

Update

Abby is doing somewhat better now, but we're all (trying) to take it easy. We're all home from church (except Dad, of course), 'cause we don't want to pass any sickness to anyone or bring sickness back to Mom.
We're starting on lunch a bit earlier then normal, so we can eat when Dad gets back. We watched Dr. D. James Kennedy (on TV) for 'church'.

Please still keep us in your prayers!
Blessings,
Johanna

P.S. Right now, Caleb (16) and Phoebe (13) are practicing (for Christmas) on their guitar and mandolin (Caleb on Phoebe's mandolin and Phoebe on Joel's guitar).

Another riddle. Wait, did you say riddle?!...........

........Yes, I did say riddle. Here it is: What do grease monkeys eat? (this is an inside joke that we made up). Hannah C., You're terribly good at solving our riddles! :) Hopefully this one will stump you (just kidding). Answer as many comments you want! But, I really doubt you'll know the solution for this one (unless someone else thought this up)......as far as I know, we've NEVER told this joke to anyone, but the eight of us Kautts.

Enjoy this before someone else gobbles it up! ;)

~Johanna

Prayer Request ~

Please pray for our family right now. We have a stomach virus, or something of the sorts, going around right now. Jaden was vomiting on Monday early morning, I was vomiting on Thursday early morning and now Abby. She vomited several times this morning. Please pray that Mom does not get this (if the Lord wills), it would definitely not be a good thing. I don't think it is the flu, because we haven't had a fever, or been achy. I was up with Abby for 4 or 5 hours last night, and some of the other family members were also up for a while. Pray that no one else will get sick, if it is the Lord's will.

Thank you for your concern.
~Phoebe