Friday, January 4, 2013

Responsible Spending??????



This is very informative. You will be amazed!

One Hundred Dollars











 $100 - Most counterfeited money denomination in the world. Keeps the world moving.


Ten Thousand Dollars










 $10,000 - Enough for a great vacation or to buy a used car. Approximately one year of work for the average human on earth.


One Million Dollars
















$1,000,000 - Not as big of a pile as you thought, huh? Still this is 92 years of work for the average human on earth.

One Hundred Million Dollars



















$100,000,000 - Plenty to go around for everyone. Fits nicely on an ISO / Military standard sized pallet.

One Billion Dollars
















$1,000,000,000 - You will need some help when robbing the bank. Now we are getting serious!

One Trillion Dollars













$1,000,000,000,000- When the U.S government speaks about a 1.7 trillion deficit - this is the volumes of cash the U.S. Government borrowed in 2010 to run itself.  Keep in mind it is double stacked pallets of $100 million dollars each, full of $100 dollar bills. 

You are going to need a lot of trucks to freight this around.

If you spent $1 million a day since Jesus was born, you would have not spent $1 trillion by now... but $700 billion - same amount the banks got during bailout.

One Trillion Dollars: 









Comparison of $1,000,000,000,000 dollars to a standard-sized American Football field and European Football field.

Say hello to the Boeing 747-400 transcontinental airliner that's hiding on the right. This was until recently the biggest passenger plane in the world.

15 Trillion Dollars















 $15,000,000,000,000 - US national debt (credit bill) has just topped the 15 trillion 2 months before Christmas 2011.

Statue of Liberty seems rather worried as United States national debt passes 20% of the entire world's combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product). In 2011 the National Debt will exceed 100% of GDP, and venture into the 100%+ debt-to-GDP ratio that the European PIIGS have (bankrupting nations).

$ 114.5 Trillion Dollars


































$114,500,000,000,000. - US unfunded liabilities

To the right you can see the pillar of cold hard $100 bills that dwarfs the WTC & Empire State Building – both at one point world's tallest buildings. If you look carefully you can see the Statue of Liberty.

The 114.5 Trillion dollar super-skyscraper is the amount of money the U.S. Government knows it does not have to fully fund the Medicare, Medicare Prescription Drug Program, Social Security, Military and civil servant pensions.  It is the money USA knows it will not have to pay all its bills.

If you live in USA this is also your personal credit card bill; you are responsible along with everyone else to pay
this back. The citizens of USA created the U.S. Government to serve them, this is what the U.S. Government  has done while serving The People.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

True Chivalry by Sophia Smithe

“Let the women and children be first”
Rose the courageous cry
From the throngs of men aboard the ship
Who were destined that day to die

Their hearts were saddened by the grim proposition
Yet they clung to their manhood and stood
Willing and ready to give their own lives
As a man of true chivalry should

Nary a word of dissent was heard
Upon the forlorn decks
As scores of men boldly met their deaths
And were buried at sea with the wreck

A century past, and the men of our day
Have all but forgotten the call
Of “Women and Children first, Gentlemen;
Let not one of them fall”

 The sacrifice of Titanic’s heroes
Must shine out to the end
“Greater love hath no man than this:
That he lay down his life for his friend”


Sophia's first experiment with graphic design while honoring the sacrifice of the heroes of the Titanic.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

"Tough Questions" by Sophia Smithe

 Life for young Christian ladies living in the 21st century can be challenging.  Many fiery arrows have been invented by the enemy that are designed to destroy their courage, conviction, and commitment.  These arrows often come in the form of difficult questions that are prone to cause confusion and doubt in the minds of young ladies who are seeking to pattern their lives after biblical principles.  While the questions may be perfectly legitimate and sincere, yet many girls are not prepared to answer them.
As I have traversed my teen years these questions have become more and more common in my own life, and I have had to be diligent and attentive in arming myself with appropriate answers.
We are all well familiar with the verse in 1 Peter 3 that extorts us to:
"...Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (emphasis mine)
Here are a few of my tough FAQ's, and the way I have learned to answer them:

Q:  "Are you going to college?  What!?!? Why not?" *in a tone of utter shock and disbelief*
A:  In my opinion there are two very good reasons:
1. Traveling hundreds of miles away from home to attend college would be removing myself from under my God given authority and protection.  My place as a single young lady is under my father's roof until such a time as the Lord would provide a husband for me.
2.  I do not see a formal college education as being necessary to an excellent education.  As a matter of fact, almost every subject a girl may possibly wish to study can be learned quite effectively from the realm of her own home.  I have learned far more through practical life experiences, interactions, projects, reading, writing, traveling, etc., than I ever would in a public school setting.   In fact, my seven year old sister knows more scientific facts than your average adult just from listening to the Jonathan Park (www.jonathanpark.com) audio dramas!
*Note: Presently I am doing some studies online at www.speedyprep.com (my brother introduced me to the site as he is using it in preparation for his CLEP tests), and I have found it helpful.  There are many other similar sites that are available these days.

 I love old books!

Q:  "Why do you always wear skirts?  Isn't that kinda old fashioned?"
A: Two reasons:

1.  I want to present myself in a modest way, and I feel that pants inherently highlight and draw attention to parts of the body that should not be accentuated.  Christian young ladies have a responsibility to care for their brothers in Christ and not dress in a way that might possibly cause them to stumble (yes, guys are responsible for their own thoughts and actions, but hey, it works both ways.  They have plenty of temptations in the world all around them...why would we want to make it any harder on them?).
I Corinthians chapter 8 warns us against the spirit of flaunting our 'liberty' at the expense of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  ("...Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak...when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.")

2. I  want to present myself in a distinctly feminine way. When you dress like a lady people will treat you like a lady.


 Smithe ladies in 2005...Smithe ladies in 2011





Q:  "Your already 18.  Why don't you have a boyfriend yet?"

 A:  Modern dating is a dangerous practice.  When a young man and a young woman get together and form a romantic "relationship" independent from their parents with no established intention of marriage, it opens the door to a wide array of problems, impropriety, and heartache.  I for one do not trust my own heart and know that I can easily make unwise decisions based on emotions.  It's just not worth taking any chances, especially in regards to such a crucial, life defining issue as a future spouse.  This is why I have chosen to entrust my heart to my father for safekeeping.  He will be intricately involved in the decision making process when the right young man comes along, one who will seek to honor the Lord above all else.  The joy will be all the sweeter for the wait!

Daddy's girls
Q:  "What do you want to be when you grow up?  A chef, an actress, a doctor.......................What?!?!  Only a wife and mother?"

A:  Is there a problem with that?  A wife and mother is the most fulfilling, productive role I can imagine, not to mention that it is a biblical command ("That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:4-5;  "So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander." 2 Timothy 5:14 ).  Being a stay-at-home daughter (and someday a wife) does not mean that I have to be stupid, uneducated, or give up my "potential."  In fact, the spectrum of possibilities available to me are endless.  Take my mother for example. She is a teacher, interior designer, building contractor, and filmmaker (among many other things), all done from the realm of her own home and under her husbands authority.  In addition, training up the next generation is one of the most important, history defining jobs in the world.  Our lives are so short, and in the end earthly accomplishments will not mater much, but in our children lies the hope of the future.  Training up souls that will live forever is a great responsibility and honor.
By the way, I have a question for you...why is it "socially acceptable" for a woman to be a public school teacher, nanny, or day care worker (which requires investing her entire day in the upbringing of other peoples children), yet it is somehow a curse when she chooses to devote herself to her own children?
 
 Our former home in Comfort, TX which my mother designed.

Q:  "So, you're home-schooled?  Do you find that you have a hard time relating to people in the real world?"

 A: No, because I live in the real world!  Actually, I think my parents have done an excellent job in training me to relate intelligently with people of all ages, and from all walks of life.  That is one of the nice things about home-education.  Because I am not shut up in a class room all day with peers my own age, I have many opportunities to interact with a wide array of people.

 Preparing to deliver an oration


Q:  "You come from a very large family (which is great and all), but don't you think you will wait for a few years after you get married to start having kids?  Just to give yourself a little 'break' you know."

A:  No way!  I love being a part of a large family, and I can't imagine life without a house full of children (it would be pretty dull, that's for sure).  The Bible says that children are to be welcomed and treasured, and should the Lord bless me with my own someday I will joyfully welcome as many as He chooses to send in His timing.  ("And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28;  "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."  Psalm 127:3-5)

 Who wouldn't want any of these (lots and lots and lots of them)?!  :-)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Life is but a vaopr...


This article by Doug Phillips on the death of Steve Jobs is a great reminder of what our priorities in life should be.  We can supposedly achieve great heights and "make our mark on the world", but in the end it is only those things which are done Soli Deo Gloria that will be of any worth.

Monday, August 29, 2011

J. Smithe Photography!!!


Our thirteen year old son Josiah recently launched his new blog:  www.jsmithephotography.blogspot.com

He is amazingly talented, and has a wonderful eye.  His photos capture the detail and beauty of God's awesome creation in a unique way!  Please take a moment to visit his blog and leave a comment on one of his posts...