So what do we do with this tremendous power to reach people and connect?  I hope that we can do something positive with this amazing ability to connect.  I love to read positive stories about what people are doing at their church.  It is awesome to see when someone posts on Facebook a passage from the Bible that has really impacted their life in a meaningful way.  I see all the time people coming together and praying for someone that is in need on Facebook.

In Acts 1:8 we see reference to when Jesus was talking to the apostles and states that when the power of the Holy Spirit comes on them they will be his witness to the ends of the Earth.  If you follow Christ then you have the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witness.  In our time we literally have the ability to be a witness to the ends of the Earth with nothing more than a post on Facebook.  If you use Facebook think about what you post, what type of witness are you?

I Peter 3:15 encourages us who follow Christ to always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks to give the reason for the hope that we have.  The last part of this verse is very important.  Please do this with “gentleness and respect”.  Currently we are so blessed to be able to openly and honestly share what we believe.  Make the most of these days to be a witness for Christ, think about how your time on Facebook may offer hope to a friend or a friend of a friend.

Click below to read more about the Facebook research

Facebook Study

For a little over an hour (right before bedtime) my wife and I and my oldest daughter started to talk about what we were doing for Halloween this year.  The conversation started because my daughter had deeper questions about Halloween this year and what it is all about.

A Brief History of Halloween

From what I could find, the roots of Halloween date back about 2,000 years to an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.  These tribes celebrated their new year on November 1.  This time marked the end of summer and the harvest period and the beginning of winter.  With winter coming there were often a significant number of deaths.   Their tradition involved costumes and fires with a desire to celebrate the good and ward off the bad spirits.

When the Roman Empire conquered Celtic territories by 43 AD they began to mix their fall traditions during hundreds of years of occupation.  In 609 Pope Boniface IV began claiming traditionally pagan holidays for the church and established the Catholic feast of All Martyrs days.  Pope Gregory III (731-741) later expanded this to include all saints as well as all martyrs.

By the 9^th century the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands.  As traditions and practices were blended the holiday was established as The All Saints Day (All-Hallows or All-Hallowmas).  The night before became known as  All-Hallows Eve.

Today we celebrate Halloween as a commercialized holiday where Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday.  Not to mention that 25% of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween

What Happens Now?

So in the coming days there will be pumpkin carving, bonfires, apple bobbing, haunted attractions, hay rides and my personal favorite trick – or – treating.  The reality is that we live in a diverse culture with diverse celebrations.  Halloween has not been always pagan or always Christian, but it has been a regular part of our culture and many different cultures.  Are we going to define our traditions for our family or let someone else define them for us?

I don’t think removing ourselves from the conversation is the answer.  How are we going to be a light and share anything good if we alienate ourselves from the people we are supposed to love?  The reality is that you have freedom in Christ.  I like the Apostle Paul’s approach,  he became all things to all people so that he may save some. (1 Cor. 9:22)

Christians should not respond to Halloween like superstitious pagans. Pagans are superstitious; Christians are guided by the truth of God’s Word. Evil spirits are no more active and sinister on Halloween than they are on any other day of the year; in fact, any day is a good day for Satan to prowl about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). But “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God has forever “disarmed principalities and powers” through the cross Christ and “made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through [Christ]” (Colossians 2:15).

Take this opportunity to teach your child what you believe.  Study the matter for yourself and follow your convictions.  Let others do the same without condemnation from you.  You may be wondering what we are going to do this year as a family.  The truth is we have not decided yet.

I imagine we will express our personalities as we get dressed up in fun (not scary) costumes.  We will have fun together as a family using the creativity that God has blessed us with to carve pumpkins.  Some of us may go out trick – or –treating.  Maybe this year we will talk about that pumpkin being lit on our front porch to remind us that we are supposed to be a light in our community as the love of Christ grows in us.  We will celebrate the changing season and give thanks to God for His provision in our lives.  I am glad to be at a church that finds ways to express what is important to us as a believing community.  So on Saturday the 29^th we will be at church for the Fall Jubilee.

For some more information about the history of  Halloween you can click on the links below

Halloween on History.com

Halloween on Wikipedia

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”   Colossians 3:16

BETH MOORE ≈ LIVING PROOF Live Simulcast ≈ Saturday, September 10th ≈ 9:30 am - 4:15 pm ≈ at the Elgin Bible Church, 1550 E. Chicago St., Elgin ≈ Cost:  $15 in advance or $20 at door (Plus a Panera Box Lunch option for $10) ≈ Childcare NOT Available

ENTRUSTED WITH A CHILD’S HEART ≈ A Bible Study on parenting designed for moms of all ages, with kids of all ages ≈ Thursdays evenings at FBC Elgin from 6:30-8:30 pm ≈      Starting September 22 thru Spring 2012 ≈  Cost: $40 ≈ Childcare Available

SACRED RHYTHMS ≈ Arranging our lives for Spiritual Transformation ≈ By Ruth Haley Barton ≈ Exploring/Practicing 7 key Spiritual Disciplines ≈ A unique book ≈ Bible Study led by Carol Thompson ≈ Thursday evenings, 6:30-8:15 pm at FBC ≈ September 15 – December 1 ≈ Cost:  $15            Childcare Available

Enjoy a slow-paced Bible study ≈ WHEN GOD’S SPIRIT MOVES ≈ By Jim Cymbala ≈ Wednesday Mornings, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ≈ September 21 – November 16, 2011 ≈ March 7 – May 16, 2012 ≈ Led and Hosted by Joan Didier in her home ≈ 7N080 Ridge Line Rd, St. Charles ≈ Cost:  $10          Childcare NOT Available

453 Coventry Lane, Suite 103 #1
Cyrstal Lake, Illinois 60014

First Baptist Counseling Services has added an office in Crystal Lake!!  Due to the expanded need and connections to the far north we are excited to add a new counseling location in Crystal Lake.

Since the beginning of 2009 the Diaconate has had two teams working to address our current facility needs.  At our 2010 Leadership lunch, May 23rd the plans that have developed out of those groups were shared with our leadership teams.

Here are some links to what was presented. (click on the links for more info.)

Facility Strategic Plan document

Phase One Concept Images

Phase Two Concept Images

Sunday June 13th 2:00PM
We will be having an informational meeting about the building project.  Come and see what the Design Vision and the Nesler Development Teams have been working on.  There will be a short presentation of the recommended facility improvements and then a Question & Answer time.  Be sure to stop by the display in the east lobby by the church office.

Sunday June 27th Special Business Meeting (immediately after second service).
The purpose of this meeting will be for members to vote on the proposed recommendations for facility improvements.

Bill Duzet is the chair of the Highland Ave. vision team.  Team members include..  Bill Boscaljon, Vivian Bartt, Floyd Cork, Gary Green, Mary Pierce, Jason Poland, Dave Pohlmeier.

We have contracted with a church design firm Wildesign  Group Architects Inc. to evaluate our current facilities and develop realistic proposals for improvement.  Our first meeting with the architects and the vision team is set for this Monday 8/31.  This process will involve three parts.

1. Ministry and Facility Visioning.  During this step we will be taking a look at our current facility from a visitors perspective.  We will evaluate our existing facility and how it serves our current ministry.  Finally we will begin to set financial parameters as well as time lines to begin planning facility improvements. At the end of this phase our hope is to have clarity about purpose.

2. Facility Design Concepts – during this phase we will be meeting with various ministry groups involved at the church as we begin to discuss concepts about facility improvements.  We will start to look at preliminary concepts and probable costs associated with improvements.  We will begin to look at doing one big project or a project with multiple phases and address a time line for the project.   At the end of this phase we hope to have conviction about a plan.

3.  Facility Strategic Plan – During this phase we will communicate the scope of the project with the congregation at large.  We will finalize concept plans consistent with city guidelines and restrictions.  Our hope at the end of this phase is to clearly communicate to the congregation the strategic plan and look at the possibility of construction.

Thorough out this process if you have any questions or ideas share them with someone on vision team.  It is exciting to see what God is doing through our ministries and how we can continue to dream about the future possibilities.

Speed

1st Joshua Eadler,  2nd Riley Bloomberg,  3rd Brett Bloomberg

Design

1st Ashley Poland,  2nd Ashley Lawson,  3rd Joseph Farqhuar

Congratulations to all the competitors for a great race day!!!