Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Trinity Covenant Church


We're planting a church in Terra Bella. Just had our first service last Sunday. Jim Steed spoke. Next Sunday Lance plans to give the lesson. 

Reformation Day


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Halloween and the Bible by Dr. Peter Hammond

"Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

A Celebration of Evil
Halloween is a religious day, but it is not Christian. Tom Sanguinet, a former high priest in Wicca has said: "The modern holiday that we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches' new year. It is a time when the spirits (demons) are supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting planet earth... Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have, or will do, that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus."

Day of Death
Halloween has strong roots in paganism and witchcraft. It began as the Druid festival of Samhain. The Celts considered November 1st the day of death, because, in the Northern hemisphere, this was the beginning of winter, the leaves were falling, it was getting darker earlier, and temperatures were dropping. They believed that their sun god was losing strength and Samhain, the lord of death, was overpowering the sun god. The druids also taught that on 31 October, on the eve of the feast, Samhain assembled the spirits of all who had died during the previous year to return to their former home to visit the living.

Human and Animal Sacrifices
On Halloween, for thousands of years, druid priests have conducted diabolical worship ceremonies in which cats, horses, sheep, oxen, human beings and other offerings were rounded up, stuffed into wicca cages and burned to death. These human and animal sacrifices were apparently required to appease Samhain and keep the spirits from harming them.

95 Theses For Reformation In The 21st Century by Dr. Peter Hammond


Inspired by, and based upon, Dr. Martin Luther's historic 95 Theses published 31 October 1517, which launched the Protestant Reformation. We offer these 95 Theses for Reformation Today to stimulate prayerful reflection, study of God's Word, discussion in the Church and positive action for reformation today:

  1. Our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, commanded us to: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17). The whole life of a believer must be one of repentance.
  2. This cannot be interpreted as a token gesture of commitment, nor a technical salvation that is all theory and no experience.
  1. Biblical repentance involves conviction: a change of mind; contrition: a change of heart; and conversion: a change of life. It is not enough to confess our sin, we also need to reject sin, to loathe it and to forsake it. Repentance involves a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of habits and a change of behaviour.
  1. "Now, therefore, says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness…" Joel 2:12-13
  1. This was the message of the Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost:"Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
  2. This was the message of the early Church: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19
  1. The heart of the Gospel is a changed life in Christ.
  2. God is a Holy God and His righteous standards are seen in His Law. Man is sinful and we need to repent from our wickedness and trust in Christ.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Alisa & Anthony

The new family

Delicious

Groom's sister, Nichole examine rings as best man, Adam displays
Adam Escorting his Mother, Sally
Sisko
Marie
Phoebe
Nicole
Sister of Bride, Maid of honor, April
Little Darlings
Comforting the crying flower girl
Giving his daughter
Witnesses
The maids provided a step stool for the bride to kiss at the right hight.

Exit
"I've got two women!"
Darryl exclaimed as he walked out with his wife, Sally
and Mother-in-law, Gloria
Joyce & Peter
Pretty Ladies
Travis & Julie
Talk Time
Dinah
Phoebe, Timothy, Nichole
April & Adam
Civil war era dancing
"Lance," Luke said, "you dance like a Yankee."

The Bride's maids rejoice







Ready to catch the garter

It's coming!


Father of the Bride
Bride's grandmother, Gloria, with her brother, Adam
Groom's sister, Nichole w/ friend Gabriel

Cake made by Ashley


Richcrest Friends
Timothy & Sisco began a Courtship
Matthew

Jena & Luke




Flower Girl Dancing with the Bride