Knight Adventures

We took our family on a road trip to Bryson City, NC.  We have 4 kids, ages 9,5,4, and 2.  So when we plan trips we consider our youngest ones, what is safe? what is fun? We have rented cabins or houses in various locations before and that route always works best for longer stays. Fitting our family of 6 in a hotel room for more than one night becomes tiresome and stressful for everyone. And staying only one night over many locations results in many sleepless nights. So, we chose a cabin on a shallow creek within an hour's drive to multiple activities.  On previous family trips to the Smoky Mountains, we have visited Bryson City for shopping (when we had only 1 kid and I could go by myself or with my mom).  However, this time, the shopping would be limited.  Little Kids and crafts and antiques don't mix.  I don't need anymore stuff anyway. Turns out that this is a perfect place for families with little kids. Our first full day in the area we trave...

Sanctity of Life - Motives of the Heart Can we be guilty of murder of the heart? Life. Is precious. Human life is sacred.  Let's review by going back to the Bible, book of Exodus chapter 20, verse 13. “Do not commit murder.” This command is one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses and the Israelites/God's people. The one true God of the Bible gave these commandments to demonstrate the goodness and grace of God and the reality of sin on earth. We, humans, are sinful (against God) by nature since the betrayal of the first human Adam. These commandments are also called the Law. Please review part 1 and 2 of this series for a deeper look at this verse. I discussed in part 1 how this commandment applies to abortion, murder of the preborn. In Part 2, I discussed how this applies to the death penalty, self defense and war. Now, most people don’t think of themselves as murderers. Sometimes, even murderers don’t think of themselves that way. We are b...

The Sanctity of Human Life part 2 Can we be Pro Life and Pro War and Pro Death Penalty? We will go back to the Bible, book of Exodus chapter 20. The Ten Commandments, the moral law of the Bible, are good standards for Christians and all humanity.  T he spirit of the Ten Commandments should be displayed in the lives of God's people.  However, if you want to get in trouble in our American culture, all you have to do is put the Ten Commandments up at your workplace, or in your classroom, or at the courthouse.... And someone will eventually ask you take them down. Why? What is the big deal? The truth is, almost all of these commandments cause controversy in a culture that rejects God and absolute truth. The truth is the sixth commandment is about the only commandment everyone still seems to agree with. It is so contrary to the law of nature that every culture has some sort of law against it. Even in America, homicide is still a criminal act, for now. But b...

The Sanctity of Human Life part 1 - Abortion in America.  Why I am Pro Life - abundant life for both mother and child.  In America, abortion is legal. Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy.  From a Christian biblical perspective, Abortion is murder.  Why is abortion such a big deal to so many people?  What makes it a sin before God? Every human life is precious to God. The Bible says that God knew each of us before we took our first breath of air.  From the beginning, every human being is made in the likeness of God.  Genesis 1:26-27 says "Then God said Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life - the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky and all the livestock, wild animals and small animals.  So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them."  We are God's masterpieces. Life is precious because every human ...

Sometimes God brings us through the wilderness so that we can see the stars. Sometimes God allows us to endure hard times so that we can learn to depend on God alone. Because after we try to place our trust in people and things, we discover people aren't perfect, they are sinners in need of mercy and grace just like me. I had developed a pride bubble over my church family, how we were doing everything biblically and how we were close to each other, how we were willing to spread the gospel no matter what. Like we had some sort of monopoly on the biblical gospel.  Well, God popped that pride bubble recently. I realized my church is just like any other church, full of sinners. Sinners needing grace and mercy from a just and loving God. I noticed that I had separated myself from the rest of the body of christ. The body of Christ is the church, all denominations of Christian churches all over America and the world.  I have been judging my fellow Christians, based on what church ...

Have you even noticed how our 'culture' has taken over our faith as Christians? Because 'our culture or generation just does things differently' and 'the Bible doesn't actually mean that literally or it doesn't apply to us today' have become lies that we hear and have told ourselves and we have accepted it. God has opened my eyes to the downward spiral this world is in and given me a new love for my neighbor and a new voice as a witness. I have been digging into the Bible, which I now read with new eyes and a new understanding. My role as a mother and wife has taken on new meaning with new purpose. Not only have I been given the responsibility of raising children, but also and most importantly 'training' the child to know the truth and to love God. Best way is to lead by example, which is where I begin. Jay and I joined a local church led by courageous pastor who preaches from his heart and straight from the Bible. He constantly challen...

We've all heard about each person is unique and their personality is all their own.  Well, I am not a terribly funny energetic mommy.  I am way more of an introvert than anything.  So in order to be a good mommy and communicate and educate my children, I am working on sharing (in a calm clear voice) with my children and family.  The Bible says that Children are a blessing from God.  that means they are a 'reward' which I have been trying to understand more fully.  My kids teach me while I educate them.  They are moldable, pliable - which requires me to watch how I act, how I talk, and make sure that what i 'believe' is actually what shows on the outside.  My main thing today is boys....   I am a girl, not such a girlie girl but still a girl. So I have been asking many others, "is that a boy thing? or is it just my boy?"    Like Nathan, he does not listen to instructions, completely, he is too distracted, his little mind i...

Frio River from the highway looking south. From the north side of the highway. the Frio River.

Our trip to the west of San Antonio towards the 'hill country of Texas.' We left Friday not really knowing what to expect. We were armed with our phones as maps and few choices of rental cabins. Past Bandera, TX we had no more help from our cell phones. So we enjoyed the scenery and relied on our memory. We found a rental cabin off a small creek call Peace of Heaven. These are pics of the weekend. View to the side of our cabin. The small pond/dammed up creek near the cabin. Near the cabin. See all the limestone in the area. this was a dried up creek bed/drainage ditch near the cabin. A not so flattering pic of me on the 'couch' in the living area of the cabin. Saturday we headed for Garner State Park not far from the cabin (maybe 30 miles). It was worth it. The drive was great and the park was beautiful. on the drive. Cool house, right? Look at the colors in the trees. The hardwoods were in the late stages of colors and they really stood out against the...