Ella and Leaves

I know spring isn't normally the time of year you think of falling leaves, but we have some around here. Ella had so much fun playing in them!

Battling the Theory of Evolution

After a long absence of real posts, I hope I'm finally getting back into a good blogging routine. Things have been crazy, and I'll probably talk about those things at some point, but not now! :)

I'm constantly considering the world that Ella is growing up in. I often consider how things in the world will affect the type of individual she grows up to be. I want to do my best to bring her up in the Lord, and I must be aware of things that can positively as well as negatively affect my mission.

One such challenge facing Christian parents is the battle against the theory of evolution. There are many in the world today who teach that the earth and all those who dwell therein are simply here by chance . However, Genesis 1 clearly states that God created the heavens and the earth in six days. Also, consider Genesis 2:1: "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished." The theory of evolution just does not line up with the teaching of the Bible.


While Christian parents fully expect to battle this teaching within science classrooms, they would be naive to think that is the only place this battle is taking place. The teaching of evolution is embedded in the world all around us, in nearly every discipline, even in places where we might not expect it. I'm constantly amazed and saddened to see how this doctrine has crept in everywhere.


This topic recently came to my attention because of the new show on the Discovery channel, Life. Life documents the organisms of earth, ranging from plants to insects to marine organisms. The images of the show are incredible and absolutely beautiful to watch. Our God created an amazing planet! However, the commentary behind the images (narrated by Oprah Winfrey) is dripping with evolutionary teaching.  Sadly, most shows like this one are filled with references to evolution.

In case you don't know, I thoroughly enjoy science, and I am far from "anti-science" as it seems some scientists claim Christians to be. In fact, I am a scientist. My undergraduate degree is in Biochemistry, and I'm currently working on my masters degree in Biology. I have great respect for science, and the purpose behind this post was not to put science down. Rather, my point is simply the following: there are snares all around us in the world, trying to pull us away from Christ and the teaching of the Bible. Evolution is one of those snares, and we must be aware of its dangers so that we are not trapped by it, and can raise our children to stand strong against it!

There are many resources out there for Christians regarding this subject. I especially like Apologetics Press, as it is a wealth of information.

I Heart Faces: Dramatic Black and White

I'm excited to look through the entries this week at I Heart Faces. I LOVE black and white photos, but I'm still learning how to do black and white conversions. Here's my attempt at a dramatic black and white photo:

Bluebonnets

This month has been a bad month for blogging! But I will be back on track . . . hopefully tonight I'll have some time to actually write a post. But, for now, here are some shots I got of Ella in the bluebonnets yesterday. Bluebonnets are one of the many reasons I love Texas!

I Heart Faces: Angles

I thought I'd take a few shots of my daughter with one of her favorite treats: Cheerios. In this photo, she provided the angle by being her goofy self!

Be sure to check out all the great angles!

Wordless Wednesday: Blocks

To check out more Wordless Wednesdays, go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

MIA for Good Reason

I know I've been missing in action for the past week or so, but I had a good reason. This past week, my husband and I, along with 11 other members of our congregation, traveled to St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica for a mission trip.

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During our week, we conducted personal Bible studies, and also invited people to come to the gospel meeting that was held each night. Our group studied with more than 80 individuals, and some we studied with on multiple occasions. Three people obeyed the gospel, being baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, and many other passages). Our group grew so much spiritually as we were challenged to answer for our faith.

1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

Here are a few photos from the week:

And I thought this sign was interesting, especially since I'm constantly reading about car seat stuff.

I'll admit that I greatly missed Ella, and I'm sad for the time I had to miss away from her. But I know that the work we did this past week was incredibly important. I also know that Ella was in great hands with her grandparents and aunt, and we are so immeasurably blessed with the family we have in our lives.

If you are interested in learning more about what the Bible teaches, I'm always open to discussion! Feel free to comment or email me at beingwhatiwanttobe@gmail.com

Wordy Wednesday: News Junkie

Wednesdays are usually pretty hectic and crazy days in our house, so I often prefer to do "Wordless Wednesday" and simply post a few photos. However, since my blog has been terribly neglected this past week (I suppose that's what happens when I'm sick on top of my already busy life), I decided I'd actually write something today. I really don't think it will be too "wordy" but in contrast to most of my Wednesday posts, there are lots of words!

I'll admit that I'm a news junkie. I like to be informed. If I miss the news during the day, I feel like I'm really missing out on something because I truly want to be informed. There are many reasons I liked to be informed, but one of those reasons involves my job as a parent. Don't get me wrong, you can be a great parent without watching the news, but I personally like to be prepared for what is out there. I want to know what is going on in the world that I'm raising my daughter in. I want to know the good, and I want to know the bad. I want to be able to equip my daughter for world that's she's already a part of.

For instance, did you see the Fox News special about what is going on in the world of children's textbooks? It ran a while back, and while I was aware there were some issues, the special was very eye-opening.

What about impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich giving a speech on ethics in government? If you don't know, Blagojevich was impeached amidst allegations that he sold appointments, including that of the vacated senate seat by President Barack Obama, to the highest bidder.

Or, this article about a family who came to the US because homeschooling was illegal where they where from. I am thankful that in America we have the right to choose in what setting our children are educated, whether that be the home, a private institution, or the public school system.

There are so many issues we have to deal with in the world today as parents. Personally, I find that being aware of some of these issues helps prepare me for the things that not only I will face, but also that my daughter will have to face and overcome. Remember that we always have God's Word to lean upon:

2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is given by inspriation of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If you are interested in seeing some photos, since this post is completely void of them, hop on over to my Project 365 blog. I love the shots I got of Ella today!