Today is the 4th of July. Is your flag flying?

 July 4 is a very important day in the History of the United States of America.

Also known as Independence Day, it is observed with fireworks, cookouts, concerts, parades, and many many more festivities.

But, why is this day so important?

Years ago we didn’t have to ask that question. 

But in recent years many facts about this day and the surrounding days and years have become hazy, foggy, and even non-existent.

Bottom line answer as to why this day is important as described on Wikipedia is: 

“During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia."

"After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.”

So, The Declaration of Independence was signed, the Revolutionary war ensued, many lives and fortunes were lost, but ultimately the signers and patriots prevailed and the United States of America was established.

Have you ever read it? 

Today, as we celebrate the 4th of July, it would be good if we all took a few minutes and read what it was that they signed.  It explains why the United States of America ‘came to be’. 

HERE'S THE LINK

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Is the Bible Silent on Geological events?

You may have wondered about this.

Or perhaps some of your friends have mentioned this.

Dr. Andrew Snelling, pictured here, a Geologist, was asked this question 

and this is his reply.

I think you will find his answer very informative and instructive.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Turtles and their shells

A recent article in the Boston Globe asked "How did the turtle get its shell?"

The article, written from an evolutionary viewpoint, then purposed that the turtle and its shell are important in evolutionary development and might even be a 'missing link.

Well, not so fast.  

As if a turtle could be fast.  : )   Har de har har.

Another article explains how this won't hold water and why.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Beautiful and Unusual Roads

It is summer vacation time and many folks will be hitting the roads as they travel here and there.

Hopefully the roads will be calm and peaceful such as the one pictured here which is on the way to Mt. St. Helens Volcano.

In keeping with the vacation theme of traveling by road, the DIT today is a series of pictures of roads.

Some are beautiful.

Some are scary.

Some are unusual.

But all are interesting.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Sunday Hymn -- At Calvary

It is Sunday and time for some online musical worship.

The Hymn we will be hearing and / or singing today is titled

"At Calvary -- Years I spent in Vanity and Pride … "

A Church I attended years ago (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) was named Calvary.

So, it is no surprise that this Hymn was sung often and with much enthusiasm --

and became one of my favorites --

So much a favorite that I think we have posted this as a Sunday Hymn previously as a DIT.

But, I have been humming it a lot this week, so let's revisit this Hymn and sing along with this 3 minute 13 second video.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Plants do Math !

A recent article tells of research by UK Scientists who have discovered that --

Plants are able to do Math to calculate their food supplies!

Hmmmm.

Does this sound like something devised by their Creator?

Or could this happen by chance by evolution?

Read this short article and think about it.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Poodle Cats

Recently we posted a DIT about Fluffy Cows that looked like poodles.

A friend of DIT read the post and sent us information about --

are you ready for this?

Poodle Cats!

No Kidding.  

Apparently there is a new breed of cats with hair that looks like poodle hair.

To find out more about these unusual critters, HERE'S A LINK

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Creation Vacation

For those of you who live near San Diego, here is a mini vacation idea.

Have you heard of the Creation and Earth History Museum?

No?

Well it is located about 35 minutes from downtown San Diego, Calif in Santee, CA.

You might want to check it out.

For information about it, hours it is open, and more.  HERE'S THE LINK

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What is progressive creationism?

Today I was chatting with a friend who said she did not believe that God created in 6 days 

as is recorded in the book of Genesis.

She also said it really doesn't matter how long it took and that God might have done it via the big bang.

Of course, as you can imagine, a discussion between us then ensued.

The theory she is advocating is becoming very common these days.

It is known as "Progressive Creation".

So what exactly is Progressive Creation and why does it not coincide with the teaching of the Bible?

A very short and easy to understand article will explain.  HERE'S THE LINK

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Fluffy Cows

 What?????

A friend of DIT told us about these critters after reading about them in a local newspaper.

They are cows that are groomed to resemble -- are you ready for this? --

to resemble Poodles !!

No Kidding!!

But WHY would anyone do this? you ask.

Well, there is a reason, 

At least those who are doing this think they have the reason.

To find out what it is, HERE'S THE LINK

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Super Moon

Did you notice the moon this past weekend?

While the Amateur Radio (Ham) operators were out in full force day and night for their annual Field Day event, they and you probably looked at the moon and thought …. hmmmmm…. look at that --

Look at what?

Well, the moon on Sunday morning was a Super moon.

Super moon?   What is that?

A super moon is when the moon is closest to the earth (i.e. at perigee) so it looks larger.

It is not the rarest event in the world but it does not happen every month.

In fact the next super moon is not expected until August 2014.

So when a super moon occurs it is a fun thing to observe.

To read more about this and see some pictures of the super moon that the world experienced this past weekend, HERE'S THE LINK

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ARRL Field Day 2013

What is the ARRL?

And what is Field Day? 

Well, if you are a Ham (Amateur Radio Operator) you know and are eagerly gearing up for a fun weekend of operating your radio to make contacts with other hams all across America and around the World.

The ARRL is the American Radio Relay League and is the premier Amateur Radio Association in America.  To visit the ARRL Website, HERE'S THE LINK.

Field Day is observed annually in June and is the largest on the air event in Amateur Radio.

This year Field Day will begin on Saturday June 22 and end on Sunday June 23.

Hams will be operating round the clock on those days.  Yes, even all night.

If you are a Shortwave listener, you can hear the hams on 160 meters and up with the exception of 30, 17, and 12 meter bands.

So tune in your radios and listen to the hams.

Better still, drop in on one or more of the sites and watch the Hams making contacts. 

To Find the location of a Field Day site near you, check out the ARRL Field Day Site Locator Page.  HERE'S THE LINK

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Summer Begins

Ah, summer finally begins ! 

The time for vacations and fun is here at last.

Today, besides being the first day of summer, is also the longest day of the year.

Well, no, the day is not ‘longer’ because of more hours and minutes.  It is still a 24 hour day.

But, this is the day of the year with the longest time of daylight.  

After today, until the winter solstice in December, the time of daylight will get shorter and shorter and shorter and ...

Then at the Winter Solstice, the shortest daylight day of the year, the days begin to get longer again until we reach next year’s “first day of summer”.  

And on and on the cycle goes day after day, year after year.

Hmmm. Sounds like some kind of ‘design’ here.  

Anyway, today, June 21, is the Summer Solstice, the First day of summer, and the day of the year with most daylight, hence the longest day of the year.

Thought you would want to know.  And if you want to know more, then HERE'S A LINK

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Birds of Paradise

The Bird of Paradise, pictured here, was taken in 2009 by Doug Janson and posted on Wikipedia.

What a beautiful bird !!  

But, it is also rare.

A 5 minute 38 second video produced from an evolutionary viewpoint was filmed in New Guinea.

It shows these birds in exquisite detail in their native habitat.

But, even the camera men say they don't understand how these birds developed the features they have through evolution.

Well, perhaps it wasn't evolution after all.

Indeed, the friend who sent this link to us correctly described it as a "marvelous video showing The LORD's creative power."

As you watch this video, ask yourself, did this just happen by evolutionary chance?

Or did The Creator God design these beautiful birds and their features.

HERE'S THE LINK

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45 Uses for Lemons

Ah, the lemon.

Do you want lemon in your water? or Tea?  asks the Waitress.

And when we think of its uses in food we usually think of such things as Lemonade, lemon ice box pie and other tasty delights.

But did you know that there are a zillion other things Lemons can do?

Well, not a zillion.

But a friend of DIT sent us information about 45 more uses for Lemons.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Tomorrow

Often, perhaps all too often, 

people put things off 

thinking that they will do 'whatever' Tomorrow.

But is that a wise thing to do?

This very brief devotional has some thought provoking insights.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Do you post pictures online?

If so, then you definitely must watch this brief 3 minutes 56 seconds video (that starts after a commercial that you can skip.)

Why do you want to watch this?

Well, as you may or may not know, photos made with your 'Smart Phones' have GPS information embedded within them.  

This provides information that you probably do not want 'out there'.

This video shows how it works and, even more --

it provides instructions on how to keep this from happening.

So, without further ado,  HERE'S THE LINK

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