Congratulations Joel!!

Recently our brother Joel received wonderful news concerning his college capstone project.  Joel's project (all 40 pages) was on the role of Christianity in Nazi Germany.   

 His professor had some very nice things to say about his paper: 

"This is a highly professional document that is worthy of publication. I look forward to seeing it as a documentary."

His professor mentioned that Joel's capstone is worthy of being published as a book, and she would like to see a portion of his paper printed in a history magazine!!! 

We are so grateful that the Lord graciously allowed Joel this opportunity to pursue his education, and how He guided Joel each step of the way along this path. 

1.  Topic Choice (Exceptional) Project is especially well-chosen, has significant need; provides strong questions to be answered; explains detailed delimitation; comprehensive definitions of terms; level of treatment. 2.  Topic Description Research Exceptional) Through literature review, describes topic extensively; reader grasps immediately the purpose of the project through documented research in the field; referenced material is well developed to provide validation for importance of the study or project. 3.  Research Methodology (Exceptional) Research plan is clearly and comprehensively described; steps are delineated to provide a replication of the research necessary to answer all sub questions. 4.  Organization of Study, Research, Conclusions (Exceptional) Artifacts of the writer`s study are well-chosen and effectively presented; study sub questions are clearly and comprehensively answered based on the writer`s research strategies; ideas clearly and logically arranged; results of study flow smoothly and are effectively linked; reader can clearly follow discussion and conclusions based on results. 5.  Writing Mechanics Research (Exceptional) Writing demonstrates a sophisticated clarity, conciseness, and correctness: has significant references and citations to reflect comprehensive research. 6.  Citation Format General (Exceptional) Uses reference and citation format accurately and consistently.

Grade: 100

Happy Birthday Texas

Today marks the 175th anniversary of Texas' declaration of Independence, thus it is Texas Independence Day!  It was on this day in March 1836, that Texas officially broke from Mexico, declaring itself an independent and separate nation.

The Texas Declaration of Independence

Happy Birthday Texas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures From the Past

Phoebe, yours-truly, Uncle Jimmy, Abby and Caleb (I think this photo was taken in 2005)

Back row: Joel, Mom, Caleb, Abby, Uncle Jimmy, Phoebe, Dad. Front row: Aunt Naomi, yours-truly and Jaden (photo taken the same day as the above photo)

Back row: cousin Jason, yours-truly, cousin Katie, Great grandma McKnight, cousin Macy. Front row: Joel, Phoebe, Jaden, Caleb and Abby (2006 I think)

Phoebe, Abby (holding cousin Janice) and Caleb (2006?)

Caleb, cousin Dennis, Abby, Mr. Amos and cousin Rachel playing Skip-Bo (2006)

Caleb and cousin Taylor playing "street hockey" (2006?)

Phoebe and Caleb in our backyard (2006 or 2007?)

Mom's parents: Gramps and Grams (cute, huh?! :P)

Phoebe, Abby, and I with some relatives from Japan (2008 or 2009)

Grandpa's birthday with all of his grand-children. This is the Grandpa that is in the hospital-- please pray for him! (taken 2005 or 2006)

Pictures from the Past

Jaden - August 2004

Some of us on a large rock at the "Garden of the gods" in Colorado (August 2004)

Caleb bowling - August 2004

Jaden and Joel, best buds (summer 2003, I think)

Jaden, asleep in highchair (2002?)

No, Mom didn't have another baby. This is from when Jaden was born (December 2002)

Abs - Fall 2009

Caleb and Phoebe

A.Y. and Phoebe - November 2009

Dear friends: Elisha and Elizabeth - June 2009

Friends - June 2009

Family portrait - summer 2009

Uncle Jim and Aunt Naomi -- we LOVE you and miss you! - summer 2009

A meal with friends (June or July 2009)

Mrs. B. and Mom (July 2009)

Abby working on her photo album

Jaden and Mr. Amos Mr. 'A'

Cousins: Phoebe and  Andre

Here I am bowling, at age 6 1/2. :) - August 2004

Verse of the Day - Revolutionary Comparisons

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law."

This verse should make us all shudder to some degree or the other. As we observe recent history (1700's to present), we have two very poignant, and yet contrasting, examples of this verse being played out in civilization. The first of these examples is the outworking of the first part of today's verse - "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint..." The French Revolution (1789-1799) is the perfect example of this passage.

In the years preceding the French Revolution, the French culture had rejected the authority of God's Written Word, and had "exchanged the Truth for the lie," the lie being than mankind can determine what truth is by themselves (See Romans 1:25 and surrounding verses). By doing such, they "worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen" (Romans 1:25). The French people had rejected our Creator God's special Revelation, and therefore, in the face of a tyrannical elite, the common person had no foundation upon which to build their reasons for overthrowing the tyrants, and thus, total chaos and devastation enveloped the whole struggle. And the end result of the French Revolution was? Tyranny. Why? After all the death, murder, and mayhem, why would the French people allow another tyrant to come and rule them? Simply, because they had rejected the Word of God, had cast off restraint, and therefore had no solid foundation upon which to build after the French Revolution was over.

Storming the Bastille

Now, contrast the French Revolution to the so-called American Revolution (1775-1789; aka "American War of Independence"). The Great Awakening of the 1740's -1760's had an enormous influence upon the parents and grandparents of the American founding fathers. Men like Jonathan Edwards, and George Whitefield were used by the Lord to stir up an amazing Biblical World- and Life-view revival during the 1740's - 1760's.

George Whitfield

America's Declaration of Independence (July 4th, 1776) reflects the influence of Christian revival in the years preceding the American Revolution:

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...."

And, contrary to the common misconception that Benjamin Franklin was a Deist, he was recorded as saying the following in a speech delivered on Thursday, June 28, 1787 in Philadelphia:

"Mr. President:

In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance.

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service."1 [Emphasis my own.]

I find it very strange for a Deist - one who is supposed to believe in an impersonal God, and God who is in no way involved with His creation, who does not answer prayer - to implore God to intervene in the United States' early history.

This is but one of many of the Founders that could be cited.

In conclusion, the outcomes of the two Revolutions were drastically different from each other. One founded upon man determining truth ended in chaos, murder, mayhem, and ultimately tyranny. The other based upon God deciding truth ended in peace, and ultimately the ability for each person to live out their God-given freedoms.

Thanks for reading,

Caleb

[1] http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/benfranklin.htm

Pictures From The Past

These are some photos of a Christmas sing-along that we went to in December 2008 and our dear friends the W's house.























At a fossil dig in Davis, Oklahoma:














Dad talks with new friends, the Wall family



Mr. Wall (holding Lazarus) and Dad talk while I do the fossil digging in the foreground


Jaden and Joel - paleontologists *cough*


On Chrinoid Hill

Picture From The Past

Today is Dad's Birthday. One more year till big # 50! ;-) We love you, Dad!


Dad and Mom - Valentines' Day 2010


"I'm nuts about you" - Dad's Valentine to Mom - 2010


Question and Answer time with Dr. John Morris



Dr. John Morris speaking at our 2nd creation conference



Most of the Kautt Krew with Dr. John Morris at our 2nd creation conference



Phoebe pretends to fall over - Fall 2009 (pardon the pun) ;P



The audience at our 1st creation conference (see the links below)



My really good friend Elisha W. - February 2009 (at our 1st creation conference) Here and here are more links.



Kautt family - July 2009


Kautt family - fall 2009


Our fridge - 2008 or 2009 (Note from the editor: Our fridge has a lot more photos on it now!! :O)



Jaden and Johanna - 2007 or 2008



Jaden and Abby - 2009



The Kautt girls - 2006



Celebrating Dad and Mom's 25th wedding anniversary - 2006



Joel and Caleb in San Antonio - 2006



Kautt Krew - 2005



Curious Jaden and Johanna watching insects (2005)



We children visit with newly found friends at the Horn Creek Camp (in Westcliffe, Colorado) - 2004



Jaden feeds Joel ;P - 2004



The Kautt kids - 2003



Phoebe and Johanna - 2002



Abby and her friend Camille W. of the Annie Moses Band - 2002