Spring Fling '06 Photos

Watch a slideshow of Spring Fling pictures HERE - GOTCHA!

May 21st Service Now Available

"A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO THE DA VINCI CODE" AUDIO DOWNLOAD - 5/21/06 Morning Service now available.

Follow the MEDIA DOWNLOADS Link to the right for video and sermon notes.
If the May 21 directory does not appear, you may have to refresh the page.

New Intiatives in Iran; BEWARE!

The Canadian National Post reported Friday, May 19, 2006, "Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear coloured badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims.

'This is reminiscent of the Holocaust,' said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. 'Iran is moving closer and closer to the ideology of the Nazis.'

Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical 'standard Islamic garments.'

The law, which must still be approved by Iran's 'Supreme Guide' Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims."

The article reported Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would wear blue cloth. One reason given was so these groups could be easily identified by Muslims before shaking hands causing defilement.

This again is reminicent of the practice of Adolf Hitler who had the Jews wear a yellow Jewish star to identify them. History reveals the outcome of that decision when over six million Jews were killed during the Hollacaust. "The world should not ignore this," said Rabbi Hier. "The world ignored Hitler for many years -- he was dismissed as a demagogue, they said he'd never come to power -- and we were all wrong."

May 14th Services Now Available

"BORN TWICE" AUDIO DOWNLOAD - 5/14/06 Morning Service now available.

Follow the MEDIA DOWNLOADS Link to the right for video and sermon notes.

Bro. Owen's ISRAEL REPORT is also available in the MEDIA DOWNLOADS section.

Is Oprah a Spiritual Guru?

USA Today reported on May 11, 2006, "After two decades of searching for her authentic self — exploring New Age theories, giving away cars, trotting out fat, recommending good books and tackling countless issues from serious to frivolous — Oprah Winfrey has risen to a new level of guru.

She's no longer just a successful talk-show host worth $1.4 billion, according to Forbes' most recent estimate. Over the past year, Winfrey, 52, has emerged as a spiritual leader for the new millennium, a moral voice of authority for the nation. "

I followed a web link to vote yes or no as to whether Oprah was a spiritual leader for the new millennium. After casting a resounding NO, the results were posted of all votes cast as of May 16, 2006. 14,499 votes had been cast with 80% NO and 20% YES. It is refreshing to know that the majority of those voting do not view Oprah as a spiritual leader. Gratitude is offered for the majority of NO’s due to her use of the Harpo television studio pulpit to proclaim her New Age theories, materialistic way of life, and proclamation that there are many ways to God.

The BlackNews.com reports, "The O gospel doesn't require doctrinal commitment to ensure that life-changing Aha moment of which she often speaks. It uses stories to teach that you live your best life by being grateful, generous and honest with yourself and others. ‘Oprah's most important function may be to remind people of what they already know but sometimes forget,’ Nelson says, ‘helping people cultivate virtues such as generosity, gratitude, kindness, and patience.’"

May we all remember that the Scripture teaches we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). And there is only one way to God; through Jesus Christ and Him alone (John 14:6). Any other gospel is a false gospel.

"ISREAL REPORT" AUDIO DOWNLOAD - 5/14/06 Evening Service now available.

Follow the MEDIA DOWNLOADS Link for video of Bro. Owen's presentation or a flash slideshow of his pictures.

SERIOUS THREATS ISSUED AGAINST ISRAEL

AP reports May 11, 2006, "Iran’s president said Thursday he was ready to negotiate with the United States and its allies over his country's nuclear program but he also suggested that any threats against Tehran would make the dialogue more difficult."

However, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s anti-Israel rhetoric continued calling Israel "a tyrannical regime that one day will be destroyed." He publicly stated back in October that the nation of Israel should be "wiped off the map."

The AP report on Thursday further stated that Israel was "the only country Tehran was unwilling to speak with about the nuclear standoff. He called it a 'Trannical regime that one day will be destroyed,' and repeated allegations that European countries were driven by anti-Semitism when they decided after the Holocaust to establish a Jewish state in the midst of Muslim countries. They wanted the Jews out of their own backyard, he said, and paved the way for their ultimate destruction.

Israeli officials — who have described Iran's nuclear quest as the Jewish state's greatest threat — had no immediate comment on Ahmadinejad's latest remarks, said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Monday that Iran could be threatened with destruction if it continues to vow to destroy Israel."

The world needs to take notice of these threats against the Jewish state. It has the same tones as those given by Adolf Hitler. Hitler clearly outlined his planned extermination of the Jewish people some twenty years before the Holocaust in his political manifesto, "Mein Kampf." While many in the world sat idly by, Hitler imposed his "Final Solution to the Question of the Jewish People." Almost six million Jews were exterminated under his regime.

The cry of Israel today is "Never Again!" May the entire free world rise with them. Christians are encouraged to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!"

Dinner Theater 2006

We had a great turnout for our 2006 Dinner Theater. Thank you for supporting our youth department. Many adults, youth, youth parents, and children were involved with the show this year and it was a great sucess. I hope you can tell that we really had fun performing the play. You have done a wonderful job as a church in raising respectful and hard working children.

Thank you again for supporting the youth and children's ministries of Belden Baptist Church! May Jesus be glorified!

Brother Mike

NOTE: Dinner Theater DVDs will be available for $6.00. All funds will go to the Youth Department. Contact Bro. Mike and give him your name if you want one so audio/video will know how many to make.

Thanks

"MAKING LIFE THE MOST OR A MESS" AUDIO DOWNLOAD - 5/07/06 Morning Service now available.

Follow the MEDIA DOWNLOADS Link for video.

HAS HOLLYWOOD TAKEN NOTICE?

A recent article from Reuter's was headlined, Hollywood wonders "What would Jesus direct?". This subject was prompted due to conservative Christians criticizing Holloywood for "profiting from violent or sexually graphic films that corrupt the young." Hollywood may finally be listening. But we must be reminded that criticism alone does not draw the attention of the movie makers.

Jonathon Bock, head of a movie marketing company that specializes in religious audiences, recently reported to the Tribecca Film Festival, "On Sunday, 43 percent of America was in church. For studios to not recognize that's an audience is like them saying, 'We're not marketing movies to men.'"

Movie's such as Mel Gibson's 2004 movie "The Passion of the Christ," which surprised many in Hollywood by grossing more than $370 million in the United States, and "Chronicles of Narnia" may also be responsible for gaining movie maker's attention. After all, the bottom line in Hollywood is profit. It seems many in the industry are looking for Christian books that can be made into silver screen hits.

The future may offer movies with spiritual emphasis and moral content. Christians need to be encouraged to support movies containing such themes. The result may well be more movies of such content that can draw unbelievers to view. This can have dramatic cultural impact.

"CALLING ALL QUITTERS" AUDIO DOWNLOAD - 4/30/06 Morning Service now available

"PRIVATE FIRES GO PUBLIC" AUDIO DOWNLOAD - 4/30/06 Evening Service now available


Follow the MEDIA DOWNLOADS Link for video and other downloads