A Thanksgiving Declaration...

From Doug Phillips' Blog:

A Thanksgiving Declaration from George Washington

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Happy Belated Reformation Day!

Rejoicing in the enduring faithfulness of our heavenly Father, whose holiness and mercy dwell in eternity.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Precious Time Together

Mama

The Author
"I was in the company of a talented Christian lady when a friend said to her, "Why have you never written a book?"
"I am writing two," was the quiet reply. "Have been engaged on one for ten years, the other five."
"You surprise me," cried the friend, "what profound works they must be!"
"It doth not appear yet what they shall be," was her reply, "but when He makes up His jewels, my great ambition is to find them there."
"Your children?" I asked.
"Yes, my two children. They are my life work."

~Christian Age

So has our own noble mother loved her husband and children, making our lives her life work and her home a haven. Having adorned herself diligently with good works, she is most beautiful to us and shines brightly in her Father's world.

Her most cherished works are so precious as to be secret, yet so great that they cannot but bear fruit that bears evidence before the world.

Mama, from our earliest memories, has persevered diligently in caring for us, nourishing our bodies, but in doing so has not failed to fill our minds with good things, and our souls with better, training us to love her Savior and ours with all our beings. In her home, she has perpetuated the calling of our father, tirelessly working beside him.

In doing these things, our mother has truly lived a life most worthy of her calling, fulfilling the highest mission given to women, and so adorning the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We rise up and call her blessed.

Mother's Day

A Celebration Brunch in honor of the wonderful women who are our mothers!

And the concert that followed...

Emily

Emily - Diligent and Industrious

Our Em is 22! How do we love her! Our beloved sister with her “indomitably” cheerful spirit, her love of Christ and finding out His ways and her gracious, eloquent words. Emily is closely treasured by us and thoroughly essential to our ventures. She is the written word of Six Arrows Farm, the warmth and effervescence of our family, and she brings color and beauty wherever her hands work. We are so blessed to have her.

Happy Birthday, Em!

We love you!

~Isaiah 55:9-12~

“ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there,
But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefields besides, is mere fight and disgrace if he flinches at that point." - Martin Luther

An Adventure

Well, it was really a picnic (in 34 degree weather) and a two mile trek over hill-country.  What better way is there for good friends and Minnesotans to spend a glorious spring day?

An irresistable challenge...

Down to the river...

Skipping rocks...

Sisters in Christ...

The home-stretch...

Weary and happy!

Aubrey

Aubrey - Noble, Bright

Our dear girl turned 20 not long ago! How precious she is to us...absolutely indispensable...the in-house greenhouse and horticulture expert, artist, and researcher. But more than that, Aubrey is a blessing because she works hard and does well with anything she puts her hand to. The motivation catalyst for big projects and the perceptive analyzer of ideas, far-seeing and tender is this godly young lady.

Happy Birthday!

We love you!

There is a generation...

In watching this I was reminded of Proverbs 30:11-14 -
Watch remaining parts (2, 3, and 4) HERE!!  Or as one video here.

There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. The leech has two daughters— Give and Give!

George Washington's Birthday is Today! - February 22, 1732

Go Here to "pull back the dark shrouds of secular revisionist history, and meet the humble believer, godly leader, and devoted son who became a fledgling country's source of strength and inspiration."

Haiti's Orphans Held Hostage: Special Field Report from Doug Phillips

Special Field Report: Haiti's Orphans Held Hostage from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

"At a time when orphan babies are dying, and the children of Haiti are in the single greatest need in the history of this nation, UNICEF has worked to shut down all international adoptions.

Now in this important field report from Port Au Prince, Doug Phillips examines the present battle to rescue Haiti's children in the context of UNICEF's anti-adoptin efforts vs. the work of the Christian community to encourage the Haitian government to cut through the red tape and open the door for legitimate, qualified American adoptions." - Doug Phillips

An Update from Mr. Phillips in Haiti

Rescue Haiti's Children: The Rescue of an Orphan from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

"This is one of the most heartwarming stories of our trip. This is the story of a little boy whose mother died while saving him. For two days he held the dead body of his mother under the rubble, and the pressure of her head against his arm ultimately gave rise to the need to amputate it. His father, mother, brothers and sisters all dead, he was brought to us for assistance by the community leaders of the devastated town. God be praised, today he is in the care of Christians at an orphanage where he will receive love and care, and perhaps he will be adopted by a Christian family." - Doug Phillips

From Mr. Doug Phillip's Blog...

In less than 24 hours, I will be boarding a plane on an important mission bound for Haiti. I am writing because I need your help.

Here is the story.

My mission to Haiti is four-fold: First, I will be establishing one of the only distinctively Christian reporting operations to tell stories of both the present crisis and the work of Christians on behalf of the sick and the widows and the orphans in the midst of Haiti’s present horror. Second, I will be working to facilitate the rescue and delivery of orphans to Christian families in America. Third, I will be identifying specific families that need direct support from the people of God in America. Fourth, my team will be providing specific relief to people in distress.

My starting team is seven individuals, including an experienced medical doctor, a logistics crew, and a film production team for news reportage. I should be joined by additional team members in Haiti including a driver, translator, and possibly more physicians in the days to come.

I believe that I can play a special role in getting important stories out to the people of God in a timely and meaningful way. I also believe that I can be effective in helping some of the most important Christian ministries to get the attention they need. I believe that we can be successful, by God’s grace, in meeting urgent medical needs of the sick and wounded in the wake of the recent disaster, documenting the needs of orphans in crisis, and helping to facilitate a plan to connect orphans with the very best families who can care for them.

Our camera team will document the story, and I will be posting regular video updates and written commentary on our outreach to Haiti as it unfolds. You can follow these updates on my blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. My staff will also be making them available through YouTube to the general public. WorldNetDaily has agreed to publish articles I write on Haiti as exclusive commentary on their website to help maximize the reach of our message. Our goal is to reach a broad audience with the details of our ministry in Haiti, and the outlet through WND will help in accomplishing this.

As I’m sure you know, the devastation in Haiti has been overwhelming. More people have died as a result of this earthquake than died in either the Nagasaki or Hiroshima bombings at the close of WWII. Already, the death toll from the earthquake ranks it among the top five most deadly natural disasters in the last century and the top twenty in recorded history. And the death count only continues to climb.

Our goal is to be ministers of Christ in the wake of this enormous disaster — to help rescue Haiti’s children — and we would solicit your prayers and support for this enterprise.

Here’s where things stand: Our transportation to Haiti has been secured. A private jet has been made available for our use to the country. We have transportation and an interpreter who will be guiding us through the disaster zones. We have a clear plan in place to make the most of our mission.

But we need help with the expenses including our technical needs, satellite broadcast feeds (which are expensive), equipment, supplies, and air transportation back through the Dominican Republic to America, in the likely circumstance that we are unable to get out through Port-au-Prince.

I have had to move quickly: I have made the decision to go even before all the funds have been provided; but I would sincerely ask for your consideration in supporting us on this important project. I would appreciate your support, be it prayer or financial assistance, for our mission. Donations to help our effort can be made online. Click here to donate.

Please stay tuned for our broadcasts and articles. May the Lord be pleased to use our humble efforts at this time of intense crisis.

Your friend in Christ, Doug Phillips

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning,"

...O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3

"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust:...

"...cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." Psalm 143:8

The boys each got a new snowboard this year...

Sam strapping up!

Garrison showing us how its done... ;)

Charlie preping for a short jump.

Ben pulling up at the bottom!

We are all surprised at how long the boys stay out in the cold.  Our temps have commonly been below zero for a few weeks and the wind-chills have dropped to 35 below in the last few days.  The sub-zero weather doesn't seam to bother the boys though.  They make their own warmth tramping up the hills and sailing down.  Two or three of them even built a rail on the hill in our feild.