Help Joe Taylor had been down over the weekend due to a spammer abusing our contact form. Until we can find a fix, the contact form will unfortunately be unavailable.
Please continue to keep Joe in your prayers as this is far from over. The sale of the mastodon has been blocked through yet more court room dealings. The fossil magazine has been canceled for the time being due to a lack of funding.
To all of you who have prayed for us, sent letters of encouragement and your generous financial support, I thank you. I wish that I could say we are out of the woods on this, but the truth is we still have a long way to go. Some of you may have watched the auction of the mastodon skull on January 20th. Seeing it sell for a total of $191,000 was gratifying in that it proved that I wasn’t crazy for believing it was worth that much. Our part of that is $128,000. And it would have been really gratifying if we were merely waiting for the check to come. The truth is that the sale has yet to be approved by the Bankruptcy judge. That is supposed to happen February 7 — and even then we won’t receive payment for weeks. We still have to deal with the judgment of $136,000. But, thank God, the Sheriff’s auction, scheduled for this week, has been canceled.
Since January 16, we have worked night and day on the paper work to file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. We were able to get that done at the last hour of the day on Friday before the auction without a lawyer. Since Monday, the 21st, we have worked every hour of the day and many at night on learning the procedures that have to be done to file all the numerous forms with the bankruptcy court. Through friends of Mt. Blanco, we found a lawyer who could help us with many of the legal issues. Other knowledgeable friends have come on board to guide us through the difficult process of properly filing on time. Today, Friday afternoon, having done as much as we were able on our own without a lawyer here in this area, we felt we had no choice but to retain one here to help with the filing in a Lubbock, Texas court. Your contributions will be indispensable in that. We are trying to do as much as possible on our own, but appearing in court is something I cannot do on my own.
Henry Johnson has spent a month of nights and days researching for the legal documents and has nearly worn out his phone calling to find out what to do. Joel Peck has had the odious duty of combing through the maze of financial records to find the information we must have. Every hour we spend on this is another we are not making any money in the museum. None of it is enjoyable. I hate all of it, and we all would so much rather be doing what we are good at, art and paleontology. In the last seven weeks, I have only worked two days. The rest of the time has been spent trying to save the museum. I wish I could say that I am jumping for joy that the mastodon is sold, but, while we are truly grateful for the many good things that have happened in recent weeks, the truth is our situation is still precarious in many ways.
So, again, God bless all of you who have supported us through your prayers, giving and encouragement. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. If you are led to continue helping financially, thank you very much, if not, we still cherish your prayers and good will. Please also continue to pray with me for those who oppose us and their families.
In Christian bonds,
Joe Taylor
Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum
Last night the Lone Star Mastodon sold at auction for a bid of $160,000. Heritage Auctions charges a buyer’s premium of 19.5% bringing the total price for the buyer to $191,200.00 unless the buyer lives in Texas in which case s/he will also have to pay sales tax as well. Heritage Auctions also charges the seller around 20% so Joe will receive around $128,000 from this sale.
Joe is not out of the woods yet, and still needs your prayers and support. There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes and God works all things for the good of those that love Him.
Joe is throwing himself into his new magazine, Mt. Blanco Fossil News, at the moment and we will update you as soon as it goes to press! Contact Joe now for information about advertising in this exciting new creation magazine.
The Lone Star Mastodon sold at auction tonight for $160,000.00!
Thank you all for your prayers. The Lord is good and faithful to His children and hears the prayers of the righteous.
Please continue to remember Joe as there is more legal wrangling going on with the other party attempting to seize his museum. Please pray that the judge will judge righteously and that God will be glorified.
The Lone Star Mastodon Auction is only one week away.
Here are our top ten reasons to bid on the Lone Star Mastodon:
9. To meet Joe Taylor as he delivers it personally
8. Bidding starts at only $60,000
7. This is the first and only mastodon skull ever found in Texas
6. A tiny LED light placed inside the root canal leading to the skull - the result looks like a spectacular ice cave, and a similar tiny LED light was also installed in the brain cavity so one can look in and see “what’s on its mind”
5. This LED technique has never before been used in fossil restoration
4. Restoration of the mastodon took a year and a half and 1500 man hours
3. To help our dear Christian brother, Joe Taylor
2. The Lone Star is the largest four tusk mastodon EVER Found
1. To save this precious find from the hands of those who tramp around the countryside bringing along valuable fossils to dangerous places like dig sites.
Online Bidding is going on now at Heritage Auction Galleries. You can also meet Joe Taylor and bid in Grand Format in Dallas, Texas on January 20th, 2008.
I finally got the blog to appear properly on the site. Check back often for details and updates on Joe Taylor, as well as the Mastodon Auction!
A new way you can help spread the word to the world about Joe’s plight.
There is now a facebook group, helpjoetaylor.com
Please take a few minutes to join the group next time you log on to facebook and invite your contacts to join and to visit www.helpjoetaylor.com.
Don’t forget to mention the Lone Star Mastodon Auction!
We have a new page up devoted to the Lone Star Mastodon Auction which will take place January 20th in Dallas, Texas through Heritage Auction House.
This mastodon skull is HUGE! It is the largest four tusk mastodon ever found as certified by an independent appraiser. I really enjoyed reading on Mt. Blanco’s website about the incredible restoration and unveiling of this amazing fossil.
Online bidding is going on now! Please help spread the word about this auction, even if you don’t know anyone in the market for a truely one of a kind representaion of God’s amazing glory in creation, perhaps someone you know does.
The evolutionists are all in a buzz against against Joe selling the mastodon. Their words give away their hatered for our Lord. They desire for all in the creation field to disappear. I pray God will protect those who are contending for the truth of His Word. I pray for the evolutionists, that God may touch their hearts, that they may repent and believe on Christ who made them. May God use them even in their folly for His God will.
Romans 1:19-25
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.