We went to a wedding recently.  The wedding ceremony was at the St. Helena Cathedral in Helena, MT.  It is such a beautiful building.  Afterwards, we went to the reception.  Here are a few pictures of how serious we were.  Click one to see larger views.  No, the bubble eater is not me!

- John

• God created man in a prefect world
• The first man and women rebelled against God and brought sin into the world.  All have sinned and rebelled ever since.
• The penalty for sin is death – physical and spiritual – eternal separation from God
• God loves us so much, that He doesn’t want to be separated from us, though no sin can be in his presence
• God took it upon Himself to come to save us from what we are powerless to do.
• He was born a man – a sinless man.  He was killed for our sin, and suffered the consequence of our sin
• It didn’t end there,  He also overcame death and rose to new life, so those that believe in Him will also be raised to life after we die.

We will all be resurrected when He comes again.  Those who put there trust in Him will be raised to eternal life, those who continue to rebel against Him will be raised to eternal damnation.

He doesn’t desire that ANY should perish.  He loves us so much, He wants us all to choose Him and Life.

Click to see more from Easter 2010

What will you choose?

Please, don’t take my word for it, read it your self in the Bible, from the beginning to the end, and …. BELIEVE!

Click on the picture to see a slide show of us coloring eggs and having a good time.

The youth of our church did a small “human video”.  Click play and watch the video.

- John

Click for a photo slide show of the 2010 Missions Banquet

On March 20, Neighborhood Assembly had its annual Missions Banquet. Our guest speaker as Rick Allen, National Coordinator for the future Church Transformation Network.

Our missions emphasis this year is Missoula’s Teen Challenge.  Our church has partnered up with Teen Challenge to support their cause.

Click the photo to see a slide show from the Missions Banquet.

- John

Our church had the Montana Mens’ Encounter in late February. Reggie Dabbs was our main speaker.  Reggie has a powerful ministry to youth and the testimony of what God has done in his life is awesome!  He also plays a mean saxophone.  I took a short video, and here it is…

- John

All the controversy is around a commercial by Focus On The Family.  Some information from Focus is below.  The actual commercial won’t be available until it airs during the Super Bowl.  A handful of private individuals put up the money for the ad, and Focus’ general fund was not tapped.  God bless you Focus, and God bless America!

- John

Marriage | Parenting | Online Communities | Media Center | Family Store | Support Family Ministry Focus Action Update™ Feb. 5, 2010 This week: The whole country is talking about the sanctity of life, thanks to an upcoming Super Bowl ad featuring star quarterback Tim Tebow and his mom. Dear Friend, By now you’ve likely heard about what’s been called the most controversial ad to appear in the Super Bowl in many years–a Focus on the Family® spot featuring Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, sharing a message of “celebrate family, celebrate life.” For the past two weeks, major television networks, news outlets and even Saturday Night Live have jumped into the dialogue. We’ve been accused by a few organizations of being anti-woman, intolerant, divisive, and spewing hate. But what’s most amazing about these charges is that they’re based entirely on conjecture–none of our critics has yet seen the ad! (Beginning on Sunday, after the game, you can access the ad on FocusOnTheFamily.com.) In responding to these charges, Focus President Jim Daly has had the chance to share the true message of this ad in interview after national interview–and the sheer volume of coverage for our message of celebrating family and life has been worth far more than the cost of the ad itself. Besides that, the media, in covering the controversy, has conveyed many more details about the difficulties surrounding Tim’s birth than we’ve been able to put in one 30-second ad. From the beginning, our goal has been to stimulate a discussion about the beauty of life and a mother’s determination to bear that life. Wow, is that conversation ever happening. This week’s Focus Action Update™ online video discusses the Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad. We’ll tell you what inspired the ad–and how God miraculously provided the resources to produce and air it. Go here for our special report on the Super Bowl ad. A “win-win” already! The Super Bowl is the single biggest TV attraction of the year. What better way to reach what many estimate could be 100 million people with a life and family-affirming message? People seeking help with their marriages or children will see a message of hope during one of the biggest family gatherings of the year. Please join us in prayer this Sunday during the Super Bowl that those people who need help with their families will contact Focus via our toll-free phone number, (800) A-FAMILY (232-6459) or visit FocusOnTheFamily.com. I also hope you’ll forward this message on to your friends so that they’ll know to watch for the ad and know why we aired it. For faith and family, Tom Minnery Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy

On November 28, there was a party helping Missionary Mary Ballenger celebrate her 70th birthday.

Click the picture to see more from the party.

Carol was able to participate in the Christmas Choir at our church this past Christmas.  Alia was also able to be in part of it with the Missionettes from church.  They all did such an awesome job.  Now that our children are getting older, we have more time for this type of fun thing. Click a picture to see a larger view.

-John

FOXNews.com – What I’ve Seen In Haiti

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I spotted this one off in an area by itself.  When I saw this little bush, I though it had a very spiritual concept behind it.

Its job is to bear fruit.  Not to look pretty, or hang around other bushes that are bearing fruit, but to do what it was created to do… Bear Fruit!

In our walk with the Lord, do we bear fruit?  Is it our life purpose to bear fruit for the kingdom?  Or, do we like to look pretty, hang around those that also look pretty… even in church?!

¹⁵“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV)

What kind of fruit are we producing?  Do we live our lives like the false prophets, full of show, but inwardly dead? Or are we bearing good fruit for the kindom?  Are we the real thing? Or when it is all over, will be be thrown into the fire?

- John