More Than Holes In Rocks

Sunrise at Medicine Rocks State Park

This past month we were in Montana for a week. It was great to speak at a church out there and to get to spend some time exploring God's creation! 

 

One of the highlights of the trip was

 "Medicine Rocks State Park." 

The sandstone formations there are unusual, not just because the surrounding area is rather flat or low rolling hills in this part of the state, but also for the thousands of holes in the formations themselves. These unique, hole-filled formations have amazed people since they were first discovered. 

How were they formed? Is there meaning behind them? Why should we care about a bunch of hole-filled rocks?

How were they formed?

If you look at the sign at the entering of the park you will find an evolutionary theory of millions of years of wind wearing holes in what was once "a sea of sand dunes." However, if you look at the rocks and holes themselves, you will see evidence of a very different explanation. 

The holes are varied in size and length as well as the direction they travel into the rock. 

There are indentations that resemble tree trunks that have been uncovered by some of the erosion that has taken place. 

Many of the holes have remains of petrified trees in them.

Although wind and rain have played a part in sculpting and uncovering the formations, it does not explain why we find so many holes and specifically why we find petrified wood remains within so many of them. 

So what is the explanation? 

A massive worldwide Flood deposited tons of sandy sediment with thousands of trees randomly buried within it. When the water drained off the ridge, it took away a lot of the sediment but left portions of it still standing. This sediment hardened into sandstone around the trees trapped within. The tall rock formations were exposed to oxygen, to the wind. The logs that had the least contact with the minerals and sediment rotted, leaving holes through the rock. Wind tunneled through the holes and eroded more away. Some of these holes bend, some branch where trunks and limbs could have been. Over the years since the Flood, most of the trees within the mounds have completely decayed leaving thousands of holes of varying dimensions and shapes, but you can still see  the petrified wood and bark that remain in many of the holes. Erosion has helped to uncover and wear away at these formations, but the Flood made them. 

Is there meaning behind them? 

Looking at the "Medicine Rocks," it is easy to see how they were made...during the Flood. The meaning behind them is that God really did send a Flood to judge the world. He tells us about it in Genesis 6-7. The Bible is true. We find evidence of the Flood all over the world. 

Why should we care about a bunch of hole-filled rocks?

* When we realize that God kept His word in the past, we can be sure we can trust His word about the future. 

* Knowing that God judged sin in the past should make us mindful of His coming judgement.

God has preserved evidence on the earth to remind us of His great might and faithfulness. He has preserved His written Word as well. He uses both to prick us in our consciences that He also created.

* Let's take these truths to heart, repent from our sin, and let God change our lives and actions (Psalm 19). 

When we look at this world that God created, we should be seeing it from a Biblical point of view. Man's ideas are full of holes, but God's Word is sure and true!

Summer 2012 Report

This summer our Vacation Bible School theme was “Where Were You?” Detectives, teaching about logic, creation, and the absolutes of God's Word. Each day we looked for design fingerprints of God to remind us to “magnify the Lord!” for His creation. Walking down our mystery Bible Truth Trails about the Bible, God, Man, Jesus, and Christians helped us learn doctrine as well as give children the opportunity to respond to the Gospel.

The Fallacy Buster Detectives (skits), Creation Question of the Day, and Case Book Time exposed fallacies of man's thinking and evolution and encouraged children to see this world and life from God's point of view. It was great to see the children responding to the truth of God's Word and calling out “The Bible says No! Now go!”

when they caught the fallacy villains who tried to exchange the truth for a lie. 

Satan did his best to keep this summer of ministry from happening with sickness, distractions, a tropical storm, etc., but our omnipotent Creator overruled and showed Himself The Victor! Each week was an adventure and a blessing. We had amazing teams of “Inspectors” from each church and saw God provide and work in so many ways.

Although we taught the same curriculum all summer, each week was refreshed by

the excitement and prayers of the church

families and the new faces, personalities,

and needs of the children present.

We did 6 VBS's and 1 camp and loved every minute of it.

About 400 children, young people, and adults took part in VBS this summer.

We thank God for the good reports from parents, workers, and the children themselves on how the truth of God's Word was impacting them.

It was a joy to see 19 children and

 2 teens make professions of faith

 as they responded to the Gospel!

We thank our great Creator Savior for showing Himself strong this past week. 

He turned the course of the tropical storm that threatened to cancel camp and gave us beautiful weather to enjoy! Jesus worked in hearts and lives and called five campers to put their faith in Him for salvation. Part way through the week, it became necessary for our family to go in two directions. Stan and Jessica continued to teach at camp and Susan and Bryan traveled to another town for medical reasons. The Lord Jesus enabled Bryan to have surgery when it became apparent that his condition was worsening and could not wait until we returned home to his doctor. Bryan is resting and recovering well. Our family has been reunited and we are teaching VBS in Ozark, Alabama this week. We trust the Lord for the strength to serve and the outcome as He works in and through us, the children, and the church here. 

The "Where Were You?" Detectives VBS

summer has begun!

We thank God for what He has done and plans to do

 in hearts this year.

 Please be in prayer for us. 

June 3-6: Two weeks ago we had our first VBS of 2012 in Waseca, Minnesota. We praise God for the four children that trusted in Christ for salvation and for the many children who heard the Gospel. Pray for the church as it endeavors to disciple these new Christians and continues reaching out to the families in their area. 


June 10: We had been scheduled to do a service at our home church of Smyrna Baptist,in Pensacola, Florida but due to health issues and a possible surgery for Bryan, we had to postpone it and our trip down south. Thankfully, we were able to do some less invasive treatments and are now on the road south. Please pray for Bryan as he continues to deal with  this issue during this very busy VBS time. 


June 20-22: We are celebrating a 25th Church Anniversary with a church family in Ozark, Alabama, sharing songs and testimony, and training workers for VBS later this summer.  


June 25-29: We will be teaching our "Where Were You?" Detectives curriculum at a church camp outside of Panama City, Florida. Pray for the Lord to work in children's hearts, to have His protective hand over all, and to provide wisdom, health and strength for our family and other staff. 


July 1: Speaking at an evening service in Dothan, Alabama.


July 2-6: We will be back at the Ozark, Alabama church to teach VBS! 


July 8-13: Cantonment, Florida - VBS

July 16-20: Mobile, Alabama - VBS


July 29-August 3: Joplin, Missouri - Speaking and VBS


August 6-11: Kansas City, Missouri - Worker Training and VBS


August 20-24: Box Elder, South Dakota - VBS

Here is a glimpse of our new prayer card! 

It feels great to get this updated!

Coming soon! Are you prepared to answer God's question 

"Where Were You?" 

We don't question God. He examines us. 

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Life is full of questions; but understanding origins, the way of salvation, God's absolutes, and how to face this uncertain life on earth doesn't have to remain a mystery. We are inviting churches and children to join detectives Humble and Bumble to uncover fallacies and learn truth from God's Word and Creation at this year's "Where Were You?" Detectives VBS!