Happy Reformation Day

Until recently, I didn't know this existed. Here's part of what Wikipedia has to say:

Reformation Day is a religious holiday celebrated on October 31 in remembrance of the Reformation, particularly by Lutheran and some Reformed church communities....On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgences. This proposal is popularly known as the 95 Theses, which he nailed to the Castle Church doors. This was not an act of defiance or provocation as is sometimes thought. Since the Castle Church faced Wittenberg's main thoroughfare, the church door functioned as a public bulletin board and was therefore the logical place for posting important notices. Also, the theses were written in Latin, the language of the church, and not in the vernacular. Nonetheless, the event created a controversy between Luther and those allied with the Pope over a variety of doctrines and practices. When Luther and his supporters were excommunicated in 1520, the Lutheran tradition was born....The liturgical color of the day is red, which represents the Holy Spirit and the Martyrs of the Christian Church. Luther's hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God is traditionally sung on this day. Lutherans customarily stand during the hymn, in memory of its use in the religious wars of the Sixteenth Century....

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe

His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing

Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He

Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same

And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still

His kingdom is forever.

(Lyrics from Cyberhymnal.com)

Friday Night @ COSI

Here's the kids in their halloween costumes. We've decided not to go trick-or-treat-ing this year so we went to COSI Friday night so they could wear their costumes. First up is Nathan as a Ninja Turtle (don't ask which one although my husband could tell you). Caleb was an army guy, Elizabeth was Dora (cute little wig to go with the costume but it wouldn't fit), and John was a mechanic with Mater from the Cars movie on his costume. I will say that for anyone who regularly goes to COSI or is thinking about it, the Bob The Builder exhibit is pretty cool! That's our good friend, Fionna, dressed up like a princess in the shot at COSI in front of the Bob exhibit.

Why am I not in church?

Elizabeth has a bad cold so that's why. I didn't stay home to listen to the new CD (although that's quite a bonus) or to recover from our Sunday School bonfire last night. After all, we left the bonfire early. We had a good time, though. I'll post some more later of the kids in their costumes from going to COSI on Friday night.

Guess what I got?!?!

(You should be able to imagine the huge grin on my face right now....!)
Big THANK YOU to Paula & Candace who gave me the new Steven Curtis Chapman CD!!!! I'm rockin' away as we speak to "Children of God":

Who are the treasured and the prized?

Who is the apple of God's eye?

Who is?

WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE!

Who are the ones who bear His name?

Who are the children He has claimed as His?

WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE!

Awesome song, I'm telling you! My favorite is probably "Yours" -- very worshipful and so very, very true.

It's all yours, God.

Yours, God.

Everything is yours.

From the stars in the sky to the depths of the ocean floor.

And it's all yours, God.

Yours, God.

Everything is yours.

You're the Maker and Keeper, Father, and Ruler of everything.

It's all Yours....

The glory is yours, God.

All the honor is yours, God.

The power is yours, God.

The glory is yours, God.

You're the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And it's all yours, God.

I have cold chills....Then there's "Broken" (We're all broken and we all need a Savior") I love that first line "I'm just a well-dressed wreck". And, of course, there's "Cinderella" and SCC's song to his wife "One Heartbeat At A Time", the title track that's playing on radio right now "Miracle of the Moment", etc, etc. Anyway, I think you get the idea. Might end up my fav album but my all-time favorite SCC song (that will probably never change) is "Be Still And Know" off of his "Speechless" album that came out around 1999. I heard our former pastor, Tony, sing that song once as he was guest speaking. I'm a pretty hard sale on anyone other than SCC singing his songs (I can't stand it when someone else sings "I Will Be Here" at a wedding but that's just me) but Tony did a fabulous job on "Be Still And Know". I'll stop at that one lest I go on a why-I'm-hooked-on-SCC discussion that no one wants to hear about! You're probably rolling your eyes already and that's fine.... =)

Sympathy

To the Curry family. Dave has gone home to be with the Lord. Please pray for the Curry family and the church in WV that is now without it's pastor.

Fall has arrived (I think....)

Saturday was the official end of soccer season (how on earth did 11 weeks already go by?!?!) and the soccer awards. First stop, celebratory breakfast at Cracker Barrell (thanks Mamaw and Papaw for the treat!). Here's a few pictures of the boys' with their teams and the (deflated) soccer balls (their awards).

And, here's some pics of some pretty trees we found on our way home. Our camera does NOT do justice to these beautiful trees! I'm so bummed they didn't turn out better. We're thinking about getting an SLR camera after income tax time. We certainly use a camera a lot with school and stuff.

Pray for Dave

This email came to me this morning from one of our former pastors:

To one and all, Please pray for, and have remembered in your church, my brother Dave. Dave has been stricken with a rare auto-immune disease that has attacked his kidneys and lungs. Medications that were being used to treat his kidneys have further damaged his lungs. He is on vent and will remain so until God intervenes. He is pastor of First Baptist Church, Romney, WV. Please pray for his church and his wife Shirley. Thanks and I will update as God does His wonderful work.

Join us in praying for Dave and our former pastor/dear friend, Cliff.