Martin Luther movie

What a significant use God had for Martin Luther in the history of His Church; the true bride of Christ, all those who know Him as Lord and Saviour!  Church history is neat to study!  As today marks 500 years since the historic event of Martin Luther nailing his 95 thesis to the church doors in Wittenburg, I thought you might like to join our family in watching the 1953 version of the movie

Martin Luther

Happy Reformation Day!  

To God be the glory, great things HE hath done!!

Happy 500 Reformation Day!!

This was posted on:

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-is-reformation-day/

What Is Reformation Day?

FROM Stephen Nichols Oct 27, 2017 Category: Articles

A single event on a single day changed the world. It was October 31, 1517. Brother Martin, a monk and a scholar, had struggled for years with his church, the church in Rome. He had been greatly disturbed by an unprecedented indulgence sale. The story has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. Let’s meet the cast.

First, there is the young bishop—too young by church laws—Albert of Mainz. Not only was he bishop over two bishoprics, he desired an additional archbishopric over Mainz. This too was against church laws. So Albert appealed to the Pope in Rome, Leo X. From the De Medici family, Leo X greedily allowed his tastes to exceed his financial resources. Enter the artists and sculptors, Raphael and Michelangelo.

When Albert of Mainz appealed for a papal dispensation, Leo X was ready to deal. Albert, with the papal blessing, would sell indulgences for past, present, and future sins. All of this sickened the monk, Martin Luther. Can we buy our way into heaven? Luther had to speak out.

But why October 31? November 1 held a special place in the church calendar as All Soul’s Day. On November 1, 1517, a massive exhibit of newly acquired relics would be on display at Wittenberg, Luther’s home city. Pilgrims would come from all over, genuflect before the relics, and take hundreds, if not thousands, of years off time in purgatory. Luther’s soul grew even more vexed. None of this seemed right.

Martin Luther, a scholar, took quill in hand, dipped it in his inkwell and penned his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517. These were intended to spark a debate, to stir some soul-searching among his fellow brothers in the church. The 95 Theses sparked far more than a debate. The 95 Theses also revealed the church was far beyond rehabilitation. It needed a reformation. The church, and the world, would never be the same.

One of Luther’s 95 Theses simply declares, “The Church’s true treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ.” That alone is the meaning of Reformation Day. The church had lost sight of the gospel because it had long ago papered over the pages of God’s Word with layer upon layer of tradition. Tradition always brings about systems of works, of earning your way back to God. It was true of the Pharisees, and it was true of medieval Roman Catholicism. Didn’t Christ Himself say, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light?” Reformation Day celebrates the joyful beauty of the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is Reformation Day? It is the day the light of the gospel broke forth out of darkness. It was the day that began the Protestant Reformation. It was a day that led to Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and may other Reformers helping the church find its way back to God’s Word as the only authority for faith and life and leading the church back to the glorious doctrines of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It kindled the fires of missionary endeavors, it led to hymn writing and congregational singing, and it led to the centrality of the sermon and preaching for the people of God. It is the celebration of a theological, ecclesiastical, and cultural transformation.

So we celebrate Reformation Day. This day reminds us to be thankful for our past and to the Monk turned Reformer. What’s more, this day reminds us of our duty, our obligation, to keep the light of the gospel at the center of all we do.

Click here to listen to Stephen Nichols’ special daily editions of 5 Minutes in Church History throughout the month of October.

His Good and Perfect Gift ~ Johnny and Brittany's Engagement Story

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

~ Ephesians 3:20-21 ~

Ten months ago marked the visible beginning of one of the most amazing things that will ever happen in my life.  That was a courtship with Johnny Ingalls.  But the Lord was working out details quite a while before that.

I and my family have prayed for years, asking the Lord to send the godly man into our lives that He intends me to be a helpmeet to, and praying for that young man, even though I never knew his name.

We met Johnny when we started attending church full time at Collins Road Baptist Church in the fall of 2014, but it wasn't until 2015 that we started getting to know him.  We talked with him at church and he came to our home several times.  He expressed interest to Dad in possibly courting me.  After a good bit of talking with Dad, and some conversations between us at church, I felt fearful of possible differences between us and didn't have a peace about beginning a courtship with him.  That was in May of 2016.

After that we still talked with Johnny at church, and were beginning to get to know him pretty well, but it was free of any expectations of anything more transpiring.  During this time however, the Lord began to open my eyes to take more notice of this young man.  I began to see more of his exceptional character, his true love and sincerity towards the Lord, his humility, and his honorableness.  I came to see and appreciate very much that I could actually have an encouraging spiritual conversation with him, truly focused on the Lord.  It only took a few months before I began feeling very sorry that I hadn't wanted to court this young man.  He was amazing!  I had never seen another young man like him!  What had I done!?!

At that point I began praying.  And Mom and Dad were praying too.  They had been observing Johnny more as well during those months, and were thinking the same way I was about him.  So we committed it to the Lord, and asked Him to send Johnny back if he was the right one.  I was praying very specifically during that time.  I was praying that the Lord would send Johnny back only if he was the right man for me, and that He would only send the young man to court me who He intended me to marry.  It seemed like a bold prayer, almost too much to ask.  How would Johnny ever know that I had had a change of thought towards him?  I was determined not to indicate it in any way to him, so that he would only come back if the Lord placed those thoughts in his mind.  So, I was asking, requesting from my heavenly Father what felt to me nearly impossible.

Little did I know until later that Johnny had been thinking and praying about me as well.  The more he observed me the more he felt like I was the right girl for him.

On January first, 2017 Johnny asked to talk with Dad after church.  He wanted to know if there was any possibility at all of courting me.  Dad, Mom, and I talked on our way home from church about it.  We all knew that the answer was yes.  We had been praying for this.  We knew that this was from the Lord, and we all had a complete peace about it.  So, Dad called Johnny and said that we could begin a courtship.  He had that Monday off, so he came to our house and we began talking.  There were just a few things we knew we needed to talk about and make sure we were on the same page, that we really believed the same things about, and we were relieved after talking through them all that first day that we really were on the same page on all the important things.

We spent the next two weeks talking very seriously about what we believe and what is important to each of us.  After those two weeks Dad and Mom and Johnny and I sat down and decided that we had discussed everything that was necessary and important and that we were free to begin developing a friendship.

The months that followed of developing a true friendship went very well.  We found friendship and really connected because of our similar hearts spiritually and in many tastes and preferences.  Our friendship was moving along so well that on May 27th Johnny told me that he loved me, and I told him that I loved him too.

Our relationship continued to blossom over next couple of months, and then, on August 2nd, with Dad's permission, Johnny asked me to marry him.

Johnny came over for dinner that evening, and after the meal he and I and Breanna and Mark went to a beautiful little place about twenty minutes from our house.  Johnny and I walked up on the walk way overlooking the river.  He got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him.  I said yes, and he gave me the most beautiful ring I've ever seen that he picked out for me.  We smiled, I cried, we laughed, we talked.  We stood there, just amazed at all the Lord had done.

And we still stand amazed, at how our Lord and Father has and is working out all the details.  Details that we could have never known.  He had been preparing us for each other long ago.  He orchestrated every circumstance to bring us together.  And now, after all those years of waiting, He has brought about what He intended.  And it was well worth waiting for.

It's easy to lose perspective short term, but we are told in the Word: "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.  Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1,8).  Will we trust Him, even when we can't see the end of the road, or even what's around the next bend?  Or when we don't understand things that happen in our lives?  Will we trust that it is all part of His beautiful, perfect plan?

A verse that I have clung to for several years has been, "Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:16-17).  By the Lord's grace, I have sought to wait patiently and to trust Him to bring the right young man at the right time, knowing that when He did, it would be exactly what it was suppose to be.  And now I can see clearly that the Lord has brought my good and perfect gift into my life in Johnny.  He is not perfect, and neither am I, but I am so thankful that together we are able to seek to walk faithfully with the Lord, to obey Him and to love Him, and that we can be an encouragement to each other in walking through this life for His glory and honor, as we are both recipients of His grace and love.

"This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."

~ Psalm 118:23 ~

~Brittany

Joyful Pictures

Introducing Mr and Mrs. Mark Barry!

More pics and story coming soon!

Along with another exciting update!!

This is an amazing picture of God's grace and goodness that began 28 years ago, as He picked two young and selfish people up out of the miry clay and sat our feet upon the ROCK!  

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

What do I mean? Seth and I were not Christians when we married.  Our marriage would have never worked had God, in His mercy and grace, not drawn us to Him and saved us.  Saved us from what?  The world may promise life, freedom, joy and happiness, but it CAN NOT deliver!  Had it not been for the working a God's mercy and grace, through Jesus Christ, this family picture would look oh so different; mainly because there would be no family any more.  Praise be to God for His works are marvelous!