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New MOEH Addition, part 2

Ryan Cox • November 22, 2024

Pteranodon longiceps

Scientific name: Pteranodon longiceps

Discovery: Mike Triebold, 1995

Location: Lane County, KS

Wingspan: 24 ft

Weight: 40-50 lbs

Skull: 8 ft

The Pteranodon in our traveling collection is a genus of pterosaurs (flying reptiles), whose created kind was made by the Lord on Day 5 of Creation. Often confused with Pterodactylus (usually called pterodactyls), certain Pteranodon species could grow to be amongst the largest flying reptiles. Fossils specimens have been found in Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

These creatures were not dinosaurs; dinosaurs walked upright on their legs due to the hole in their hips (fully perforated acetabulum). Pterosaurs do not have that hole, nor use their legs for their primary mode of transportation. Rather, they are beautifully engineered (by their Creator) for flight. At the “wrist” (carpal joint between the metacarpal and radius), there is a specially designed bone called the pteroid. Based on the evidence, it is believed a membrane-like forewing attached to this bone and the shoulder. This flap could have functioned like the slats on the front of airplane wings.

Additionally, the wings have an excellent aspect ratio of length to width (wingspan to chord) of 9:1. The albatross has a similar ratio of 8:1, providing for great soaring capabilities. Over half of the wing is actually a finger (fourth metacarpal, i.e. ring finger).

The
Pteranodon fossil in the CTF collection is based on a mostly complete specimen with an 11-foot wingspan. It was meticulously enlarged to match the largest specimen (based on a just few bones), which is believed to have had a 24-foot wingspan. This was done while maintaining the skeletal accuracy of the 11-foot specimen. We are very blessed to have this impressive specimen of aerial engineering to display for the glory of our awesome Creator.


By Matt Miles December 17, 2024
This year we have focused on how the Lord has SPOKEN TO US through Christ. Now we are in the midst of celebrating when the Son of God came to earth, and we must never forget that it had been SPOKEN TO US back in Isaiah’s day: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). “God with us” did not start with Christ’s birth; His desire to be with us started at Creation. Since the beginning, being with us has been His focus. We are His most prized possession in all of creation. His heart to spend all of eternity with us was broken in the Garden with sin, yet it brought no dismay because He has always had the plan. Through the course of history, we can see His plan being worked out even though sin continues. His redemptive plan has not changed or been derailed; it has only progressed, moving us closer and closer to eternity with Him, our Creator and Savior. Two thousand years ago, His desire to be with us compelled Him to put on flesh and be laid in a manger. Immanuel came and fulfilled the plan that has been from the beginning. We, therefore, feel compelled to bring Him glory, especially this time of year as we celebrate His wonderful gift of His Son. Let us not get caught up in all of the Christmas celebration without focusing on the reason for our celebrations. Our Savior was “gifted” to us for our salvation. Praise be to God! As we celebrate His gift to us, we are also celebrating His provision for another year of service to the Kingdom. What a year we at CTF have had, as you can see from our stats below. Your prayers and support continue this work in an impactful way year after year. Our desire is to never stop until we are celebrating face to face with Him in Glory. Till then, we continue to seek ways in which we can further increase our efforts for His Kingdom. At the end of each year, we ask for help with a project that kicks off our new year. This year is no exception - we are raising some extra funds to make our Lexington, OK facility more functional. With the Mobile MOEH expansion completed this year, we need to be able to keep our trucks and trailers better protected from the elements when not on the road, as well as allow more room for working on them in a climate-controlled environment. Our 2025 project is to open a new bay and expand the current one in our warehouse, installing a new garage door and replacing the old worn out one to free up useable space. Our year-end goal for this project is $20,000. So as you pray about supporting our ministry in this very tangible way, remember that the ministry tools this gift will protect and secure are used in a mighty way. We can’t count the times this year that the Mobile MOEH has opened a door or heart to hear the Gospel and save a life for eternity. So, thank you for all the support this year. We praise the Lord for you! Merry Christmas and many blessings to you and your families.
By Bob Dugas November 22, 2024
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