If you haven't heard of
Answers In Genesis, it's an
amazing ministry devoted to proving creation and "
reclaiming the foundations of our faith which are found in the Bible, from the very first verse".
Two years ago we (my sister Sarah's family and our family) went to our first "AIG" conference in Branson Missouri...
Vision Forum was there along with
Voddie Baucham. It was a powerful week!
This year, many of the same families were back and it was so good to see
so many familiar faces and catch up with a few friends that Sarah and I had made 2 years ago...
I even got to meet a
"MOMYS" from my "QuiverFull" on-line group! I've now met 5 MOMYS in real life, and it's always a special treat!
Including catching up with old friends, seeing how our families have grown, hearing the Word procliamed so boldy and sitting under some amazing teaching...it was
a great conference! We were encouraged, spurred on, reminded, blessed and challanged.
I love how you can go to a conference like this one, on "Defending the Faith" and get so much more out of it than just your "normal every-day preaching". We left there
even more grounded in our beliefs of
homeschooling, freshly encouraged to trust God for our family size and burdened to pray even more for our nation and reach out to our lost neighbors!
Overall, with our family usually being the "odd men out" on homeschooling and desiring a big family, it was just SO good to
see and hear that we're NOT alone and to be taught from the Bible on those issues!
We took our kids to the conference (everyone did--it was a family conference after all) and although the first day was a little rough (after such a looong car-ride they were restless!), they got used to it and by the second day, they were doing great and were excellent the rest of the week!
Brahm and Liberty proud of their new name tags!
We packed backpacks for each of them filled with books, a Bible, coloring books, pens, paper, matchbox cars and fruit snacks! That kept them busy :)
Unloading the vans at the conference and getting ready to go in...
(See in the second pic how the sliding door to our van is open? Yep...it stayed that way the whole night-we didn't know until we came back out to our vans! Yikes! But praise the Lord nothing was stolen!)
During the sessions, it helped my children to observe the behavior of other kids their age. There were several Amish families there and those kids are so sweet! They sat so properly just listening the whole time with an occasional song or giggle escaping from pure joy. Their parents would sweetly pat their leg with a smile and I heard one Amish mother say, "There is a time for everything...we'll run outside after a bit".
The Langhofer crew
(We sat in the VERY back every time...we weren't brave enough to sit in the front with all the kiddos!)
Our crew waiting to hear Voddie speak...
The first night we heard both a "State Of The Church" and "State of the Nation" sermon by Ken Ham.
Other than that, we didn't try to make it to every session, every day...instead, we just went to hear Voddie!!!
He did his usual thing...talked about Biblical womanhood, manhood, the responsibilities of fathers in the home, the call to wives, legacy... And he also talked about why Christians should be having more babies, about adoption, about homeschooling, etc.
Then there was Tuesday! Tuesday was a day filled with sessions
just for women. Biblical womanhood, godly parenting, building a "one flesh" marriage...so my sister and I spent most of the day together! We had such wonderful, uplifting coversations and just enjoyed our quiet time together!
I love my sisters--they are my best friends and role models FOR SURE! (along with my momma of course!)
Sarah and I getting ready to leave for our first "women only" session
(She's 4 years older than me, but I'm about 4 inches taller!)
My niece (and my name-sake) Isabelle Grace came with Sarah and I for the night session.
Favorite quotes from the conference:
"Once you question Genesis-and the earth being created in 6 literal days-you open up doors for ALL the Holy Scriptures to be questioned. Genesis is our beginning...and it is literal."
"In Genesis 3:15 we read that as a result of 'the fall' there is now an enmity between woman and serpent, her offspring and his...he wants women to dread their body changing with pregnancy, he wants to scare them with the dreaded pain of childbirth...he doesn't want you to have any more babies.
Satan hates women...especially Christian women. He hates them because of the enmity and because they bring about children that will one day praise and serve the Lord Almighty."
(Talking of careers and laziness among American boys) "Instead of teaching young men to 'find something they love and do it', teach them to 'find something to do and love it'...it's not about us!"
"The ONLY hope for victory for our nation is NOT in legislation, clever bumper stickers, letters to congressmen, it is in our Promised Redeemer-Christ our Savior."
"Abortion isn't just about life, it's about feminism."
"Today men are defined by 1-the ball field, 2-the bill fold, 3-the bedroom, and that's what our little girls are taught to desire in a partner."
"Reading self-help books is like football players taking instruction from cheerleaders. You may feel pepped up, but for real, solid instruction, they need to listen the coach. For us as Christians, our coach has left us a playbook...the Holy Bible. It's all we need."
"Genesis 3:15-the two things that should bring us the most pleasure, were made to be the heaviest burdens of womanhood. But loathe these things, instead seek the pleasure in childbirth and having our husband as our head and you will be BLESSED."
"Parents say their kids walk away from the Lord in college, but 87% of children have their first doubts about God when they are in Middle School, so we see they lost them long before college--they just didn't know it because they were already away at school."
"Your children are watching you, how you dress, what you say, even mannerisms...so live up the holiness God called us to--they are His kids after all. Ask what He wants modeled for them?"
"When Adam and Eve sinned, they covered their private parts, but when God found them, he gave them a more sufficient covering made from animal skin. Sisters, covering your private parts isn't enough for the Lord...he wants you clothed in righteousness, holiness and therefore, in modesty."
First blog post: The Beginning of Our Vacation...Part 1
Second blog post: Life at the Cabin: 14 people Living Together For a Week (Part 2)
Next blog post: Out and About in the City ~A CRAZY, Busy, Fun day!
Then: A Breath-taking Smokey Mountain Hike
Then: The Creation Museum
And finally: The Saddest Day--Heading Home (and another hotel adventure!)
