The Mystery of Christmas

Water Rockets

Harvest Party 2009

We had a good attendance this year with several visitors.

Lining up for the food.

But first we had some guest judges judge the chili and pies.

Several kinds of chili and plenty of sides for the meal.

Winners announced.

Carl and his venison chili won for the chili and Beth won with her peanut butter pie.

We had good weather and a good day outside.

All Things Were Made By Him

Joseph Coins

"A thorough examination revealed that the coins bore the year in which they were minted and their value, or effigies of the pharaohs [who ruled] at the time of their minting. Some of the coins are from the time when Joseph lived in Egypt, and bear his name and portrait," said the report.

The whole story is HERE

Interesting

The Burley's

A group of us (14) went to downtown Indy to witness while the GENCON convention was in town.

Richard is witnessing to a man from Turkey in the photo above.

His wife, Diane, witnessing.

Elaine talking to some men from Iraq.


The black light drew them in.


Megan and Emily witnessing to a young man.

The Burley's are with Open Air Campaigners and their desire is to go to New York to preach the Gospel to the lost.

We saw first hand their heart for the lost as we worked with them downtown.

We gladly voted to take them on as missionaries!

Tisha B'Av

Today is the day they destroyed the Jewish temple in 70 A.D..

But that is not all. This is the same day that it was destroyed by Babylon too.

Notice how God remembers dates.

From Wikipedia.

"Tisha B'Av (help·info) (Hebrew: תשעה באב‎ or ט׳ באב, "the Ninth of Av,") is an annual fast day in Judaism, named for the ninth day (Tisha) of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar. The fast commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, which occurred about 656 years apart, but on the same date.^[1] Accordingly, the day has been called the "saddest day in Jewish history".^[2]

Tisha B'Av falls in July or August in the Gregorian calendar. When the ninth of Av falls on Shabbat, the observance is deferred until Sunday the tenth (although that day is still referred to as Tish`ah be-Av). According to the Mishnah (Taanit 4:6), the day commemorates five events: the destruction of the Temples, the return of the twelve scouts sent by Moses to observe the land of Canaan, the razing of Jerusalem following the siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE, and the failure of Bar Kokhba's revolt against the Roman Empire.

The Tisha B'Av fast lasts about 25 hours, beginning at sunset on the eve of Tisha B'Av and ending at nightfall the next day. In addition to the prohibitions against eating or drinking, observant Jews also observe prohibitions against washing or bathing, applying creams or oils, wearing leather shoes, or having sexual relations. In addition, mourning customs similar to those applicable to the shiva period immediately following the death of a close relative are traditionally followed for at least part of the day, including sitting on low stools, refraining from work, and not greeting others.

The Book of Lamentations is traditionally read, followed by the kinnot, a series of liturgical lamentations. In Sephardic communities, it is also customary to read the Book of Job.

According to the Mishnah (Taanit 4:6), five specific events occurred on the ninth of Av that warrant fasting:

1. The twelve scouts sent by Moses to observe the land of Canaan returned from their mission. Two of the scouts, Joshua and Caleb, brought a positive report, but the others spoke disparagingly about the land which caused the Children of Israel to cry, panic and despair of ever entering the "Promised Land". For this, they were punished by God that their generation would not enter the land. Because of the Israelites' lack of faith, God decreed that for all generations this date would become one of crying and misfortune for their descendants, the Jewish people. (See Numbers Ch. 13–14)
2. The First Temple built by King Solomon and the Kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE and the Judeans were sent into the Babylonian exile.
3. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, scattering the people of Judea and commencing the Jewish exile from the Holy Land.
4. Bar Kokhba's revolt against Rome failed in 135 CE. Simon bar Kokhba was killed, and the city of Betar was destroyed.
5. Following the Roman siege of Jerusalem, the razing of Jerusalem occurred the next year. A Temple was built in its stead to an idol.

According to the Talmud in tractate Ta'anit, the destruction of the Second Temple began on the ninth and was finally consumed by the flames the next day on the Tenth of Av."