Sign of the times... Washington State Capital

"There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

This is a excerpt from a plaque hanging up in the Washington State Capital. The very fact that this made it the gate of the state capital is a sign of where our nation is at. In context this plaque is in protest of Christianity and the celebration of Christmas. It was put up on display for the holiday season along side a Christmas Tree and a Nativity scene. In a country where over 80% of it's citizens claim to be Christian. It reminds me of a passage from Jeremiah.

Jer 12:1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
Jer 12:2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

It's hard for us to understand what would stay the Lords hand from a nation that has turned and continues to turn further and further from its creator. Our people are quick to call on his name and claim his name but he is not in their hearts (reins).
Rev 22:20 .....Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

My chickens are looking tastey!

For those who've gone through my archives you'll know that my first post was about our family's endeavor to raise chickens. We got them in July of last year, well at least this round of chickens the first batch were cat food. They were lil' bitty things. Well we've fed them pretty much just on clovers and bugs, we let them run free during the day and pin them up at night. Since winter is hitting I'm not sure what I'm gonna feed them. I don't want to go to feed unless I have to. There is one thing I've got though. A secret weapon. Unlimited supply of Panera Bread. Oh yeah, organic all natural and free. The place I work gets the day olds from Panera, I get the three day olds from my work. My chickens love it.

Thanksgiving pictures.

We had a really big get together. Friends and family show up from all over. I think most of the kids in this pic are from one family. Great fellowship.

Chloe entertained the guests, sang hymns and talk about how she loves to cook.
Grandpa, worked hard to give us a wonderful Thanksgiving family get together.



Gage has been asking me for the past week to get him a tire swing. Wonder what he was thankful for today


Hunter is along for the ride.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. We did, and as always we had a feast worthy of a king.

What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving.

1. First, My salvation. How great his love towards me that he would sacrafice his only begotten son for my soul's sake.
   
2. My wife. I praise God for his abundant grace and mercy that he would give me a longsuffering help meet to put up with me. With out her my life wouldn't be complete.
   
3. My children. The fruit of the womb is his reward. How awesome a responsibility to care for the God of the universes' treasures.
   
4. My testimony. His strength pulled me out of the muck and the mire of this world. In my weakness his strength is made perfect.

Stroupe Family Pictures

We just got a new camera. Trying it out.



















A good family pic. Mommy's holding the camera.











There's my Bride














This girl couldn't take a bad picture if she tried.

What if that twinkling were to happen tonight?

As a born again believer I look forward to going home to be with my saviour, sometimes though it's hard to imagine. Here lately though the LORD has really kept this thought close to my heart.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Well sure I don't know the day or the hour but if I were a betting man I'd put my money on tonight. I don't know anything special, haven't read anything that tells me that it's tonight, it's just that it seems so immanent that it won't wait for day break. LORD GOD that I would have lived today as though that was the case.

I work along side of the epitome of the liberal progressive movement. I work at a drug and alcohol rehab center. Their philosophy is centered around humanism and relativism, we are even told not to judge their "addiction" as being bad because that is relative.... The only reason I still work there is because of the wonderful opportunities to witness. I've noticed something in even the most conservative of my coworkers, they are turning farther and farther from the things of God. Sure most of them are lost and already separated from our LORD but their hearts are hardening. They have "hope" in this world, and at this particular time when the world seems to be spiraling more and more out of control. So what if? What if that twinkling of the eye were to happen right now? What have I done today to point others to Christ, what has my life been a picture of today, and what questions will my life and what I leave behind answer.

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Chloe Elizabeth

This little girl is Lo-Lo. She is goofy, energetic, funny and fun, testing (not in a rebellious way but in a curious way), and joyful. She enjoys the thought of one day being a mommy, just like her mommy. She is a sponge, absorbs everything that overflows from her mommy and daddy's cup. When we get excited about something so does she, when we get worried about something so does she. All children absorb what their parents give them, even though we don't notice it sometimes, but this little girl has no governor for her absorber. That's not always bad and it's not always good. May the LORD use her open heart and enthusiastic spirit to the working of his glory!

Hunter Douglas:

Code Name: HD, Bear, and to those closest to him.... Snuggles.
Vital Stats:
Eyes: Sky Blue
Hair: Blonde, Curly
Height: 3' 6"
Weight: 35lbs
D.O.B.: 11.13.2005
Favorite Color:....Camo
Favorite Food:.... Yes
Blood Type: Mostly Sugar

Operation Spud Launcher!

Our mission: Assemble a class 3, Idaho model, Spud Launcher (model # 0001), to be used in the defense of our HQ from forces invading in from the east.












Phase 1: Acquire materials.

• 1 foot 3" pvc pipe
• 4 feet 1.5" pvc pipe
• 1 reducer. 3" to 1.5"
• 1 slip to female thread transition piece 3"
  
• 1 male thread plug to fit 3"
• pvc pipe cement
• 1 lantern flint
• 1 10# bag of Spuds
• rubbing alcohol or hairspray

Phase 2: Assembly

1. Cut 1' off of the 1.5" pipe, this will be your spud cutter.
2. Join 3" pvc with the 3' of the 1.5" pvc using the reducer.
3. Attach the transition piece to the end of the 3" pipe
4. drill a hole large enough to feed the lantern flint through without it going all the way through. Firmly fasten the flint into position.

Phase 3: Defend the home front
After securely fastening the pvc with pvc cement, and cutting some Spud grenades, remove the three inch plug from the butt of the Spud Launcher, add rubbing alcohol or hairspray, fasten plug back on tightly, aim away from all friendlies (this includes neighbors houses and pets) and activate flint. (Warning: Should only be done under the supervision of a Comanding Officer, Mom & Dad)

Dreary days of fall.

I personally don't like the fall, I always hear the optimists talk about the beautiful changing colors of the trees and migrating birds and talk about how it's just sooo beautiful.... I live in the middle of Illinois, miles and miles of wasteland cornfields, stubble from the crop that once painted the road sides brilliant green and gold. Now I got semi's driving by my house all day and all night, I got the grain elevators with their driers humming all night long, I got a three story grain pile sitting on the roadside, I've got damp piles of leaves, that I don't ever remember them changing colors, piled up in my front yard. By the time I get home from work it's dark out already, it just seems that I miss the day every day. I've always had this kind of disdain for the fall but there is one thing I do like about the fall... and that's the winter that follows. See I like the cold, I love the snow, I love being able to go out side at midnight and it still be bright out from the moon shimmering off the snow. I love shoveling snow, I love helping get peoples cars out of ditches, sometimes if the circumstances are right I even like getting stuck in ditches. I like the slick roads and having to drive carefully, I like scraping ice off my windows in the morning, I even like waking up in the middle of the night freezing because the fire died down. I have no idea why I can enjoy winter so much and loath the fall. Everything just seems to be dieing in the fall, corrupted and decaying. The winter brings snow, clean white snow, it covers the smelly decaying scarlet leaves, the mud ruts from the tractors, and the brown grass and wilted flowers.

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.