Encouraged in Branson

Ryan and I just got back Saturday from the Answers In Genesis "Defending Your Faith in a Secluar World" Family Conference.

The conference also included Vision Forum (Doug Phillips) and Voddie Baucham. It was amazing, to say the very, very least!

I have never been so enboldened, so encouraged and so excited about the Bible, about family and about motherhood.

Doug Phillips spoke on:
"A Family Vision of Victory"
"Jerusalem and Athens: The Battle for Christian Culture",
"The Devolution of Law: The Impact of Evolution on American Law and Public Policy"
"Taking every frame Captive: A Biblical Response to Hollywood"
"The Promise: The Power and Blessing of the Fifth Commandment"

Ken Ham spoke on:
"Genesis and the Secularization of America"
"Learning How to Think Biblically"
"How to Reach Today's World with the Gospel"

Voddie Baucham spoke on:
"Culture War"
"Why Believe the Bible"
"Biblical Manhood"
"Biblical Womanhood"
"The Person of Christ"

Along with hearing these inspiring, Biblical men preach, it was just so refreshing to be around families (BIG families) who are striving to live out Biblical principles in our fallen world.

I was blessed time and time again by conversations with other moms. When Samuel got too fussy, I would walk him around in the foyer of the church and have amazing conversations with women who are older and wiser...they were so full of joy and wisdom, yet so honest about how hard it is sometimes to walk according to the Bible and not the current traditions of the world.

The biggest thing I learned, which was kinda the theme of the week, is that the Bible speaks to all of life. It is not silent on anything. On issues in which it seems to be silent, there is always a Biblical principle that can be applied.

Along with this truth, is the truth that the Bible is our only measuring stick. When we fall into the world's agenda, doing what it "normal" and accepted (even among Christians), we need need to ask ourselves, "this is acceptable by what standard? "

I am so glad to be back home, but definetly missing the teaching and the times of fellowship with the families Ryan and I met.