Pumpkin

Happy Reformation Day!!

Sola Scriptura! Sola gratia! Solus Christus!! Sola fide!! Soli Deo Gloria!!

Today is Reformation Day!! 492 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther's posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31.

This act triggered the Reformation of the 16'th century. The Reformation is an incredibly important historical event, and one that is well worth celebrating!! The Reformation was the great 'rediscovery' of the true gospel, that salvation is by grace and grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ.


From http://www.stpaulskingsville.org/reformation.htm:

"For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had been plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption. Since most ordinary Christians were illiterate and had little knowledge of the Bible, they relied on their clergy for religious instruction and guidance. Tragically however, monks, priests, bishops, and even the popes in Rome taught unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works. Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions, but they were left wondering if they had done enough to appease God's righteous anger and escape His punishment. The truth of the gospel -- the good news that God is loving and merciful, that He offers each and every one of us forgiveness and salvation not because of what we do, but because of what Christ has already done for us -- was largely forgotten by both clergy and laity. The Holy Spirit used an Augustinian monk and university professor named Martin Luther to restore the gospel to its rightful place as the cornerstone doctrine of Christianity.

Martin Luther and his colleagues came to understand that if we sinners had to earn salvation by our own merits and good works, we would be lost and completely without hope. But through the working of the Holy Spirit, the reformers rediscovered the gospel -- the wonderful news that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again to redeem and justify us.

As Luther wrote in his explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed:

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. "

'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God', written by Martin Luther, is often called the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation"!!

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

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.

Listen to it here:

Daniel Craig Sings a Mighty Fortress Is Our God from Vision Forum on Vimeo.

By grace God's Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
That Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought Him from His heav'nly throne.

Answers in Genesis answers questions about Halloween!!

Answers in Genesis has released a fascinating article about the history of Halloween.

Halloween History for younger readers

(you also might want to check out the longer version)

Thank you Answers in Genesis!

Our Trip (Nathaniel's view)

Today, we went on a trip to a giant bridge. After Mommy parked the car, we started walking on a little dirt trail. On both sides of the trail were ugly, poky plants. I didn't like those at all.

Then, we had to walk along a narrow path in-between the road and a long drop. Even though the cars were racing by very fast and the bottom of the cliff was covered with nasty plants, I wasn't scared at all. (Silly old Hannah seemed scared out her mind, though.) While on the path, I saw a grandma and a grandpa walking too. They waved at me and said, "hi," so I smiled back. They looked very happy.

Finally, we reached the big bridge. I thought it would be scary, like an adventure; however, looking over both sides, all I saw were some ugly, dead plants like before. Where was the lake, Mommy? I felt very disappointed.

After we got across the bridge (I was the first one, by the way), I saw an old, upside-down boat. I kicked it with my shoe, but I couldn't topple it over.

Suddenly, a little boy on a bike went right to the bridge, a big cloud of dust behind him. Following him, another five or six big boys on bikes came right up to the bridge. More and more kids on bikes kept coming until they entirely blocked up the entrance to the bridge. I thought we would have to stay there forever! Soon, however, they started biking again and we could cross.

By that time I was furious. Hadn't Mommy said there was going to be a lake? There was no water that I could see. Hadn't Mommy said we were going to a green park? For as far as I could see, the only green was the moss growing on the ugly, dead trees. Feeling cheated, I grumpily made my way to the car and wiggled as Allison buckled me in.

I thought for sure we were going home, but Mommy had other plans. As soon as I was let out, I immediately saw a white tent. (I think Mommy called this a "pumpkin batch.") Inside, I saw scarecrows like Spud in Bob the Builder; a big, scary, black spider; and many, many pumpkins, and one of them was even bigger than me! Yellow sticks (I think Hannah called them "hay") were strewn all over the floor, making walking kind of bumpy. Outside the white tent, lots and lots of big, orange pumpkins were lined up, just waiting to be bought. Next to the pumpkins, there stood a cage full of big mommy goats and one little baby goat. I loved that little baby goat. I wanted to go back and get a pumpkin, but first Mommy wanted to go into the corn maze.

No matter where I looked, all I could see were tall, dark corn plants, some even taller than Daddy! We went one way, turned around a few corners, hit a dead end, and turned back again. But I never got scared once. I bravely led everyone out of the maze, feeling very proud of myself.

Now it was pumpkin time. I went straight for the biggest, tallest pumpkin I could see, but Mommy said it was too expensive. I tried another one; still no. I started getting angry again. Why couldn't we get the big ones? Finally, I compromised and allowed Mommy to get a small one. Unfortunately, even though I wanted to carry it, Mommy said I was too little and had Joshua do it instead. I'm not too little! I can do big kid stuff, Mommy!

A pumpkin under one arm and purse in the other, Mommy went to a lady in front of the cash-register. Instead of talking to Mommy, however, the lady turned towards me and asked, "So, did you go in the maze?"
"Uh-huh!"
"Did you get lost? Go in a dead end?"
"No!"
"That's good. Even I got lost in there."
I smiled, happy that I was even better than the lady.

After Mommy payed, we went back to the car and drove home.

Halloween Slug

the scary slugs
by Joshua.