Halloween ? or Reformation Day ?

           

October 31 is usually known and celebrated as Halloween. 

But, there is another and more important reason why this day should be remembered.

Which (pun intended although the spelling is different) do you think of when you see this date on the calendar?  Halloween? or the Reformation?

Probably you think of Halloween -- 

but are you aware that it was on Oct 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church and began what is now known as the Protestant Reformation?

Likely your children, grandchildren, neighbors, or whomever are ‘celebrating’ the Halloween aspect of this date by either ‘trick or treating’ or having some kind of Church event which is semi-incorporating an observance of the witches halloween, either calling it a ‘fall festival’ or some other ‘innocent’ sounding name.

Indeed, many folks today decorate their yards and houses with goblins, ghosts,  pumpkins, etc. But, should they or you even celebrate Halloween at all?  

There are many excellent articles and resources that explain why observance of Halloween is NOT a good thing.  You can find some of them HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

So, rather than celebrating Halloween, how about thinking about the Reformation and the positive results that came from it.  

Your Church might even want to have a “Reformation Party” or event with videos, talks, whatever, telling about what happened and why.  

One of the reasons our Churches are in the mess they are in today is because folks do NOT know about the Reformation, what it accomplished, why it is important, and what will result if we abandon what it accomplished.

So, forget Halloween and begin to think instead about the Reformation when you see Oct 31 roll around on your calendar.

To read the 95 Theses in Martin Luther’s own words, HERE'S THE LINK

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Black Box Computer Generated Hudson River landed

           

This amazing video was sent to us by a friend.

What is it?

Well, you probably recall the event.

It happened on Jan 15, 2009.

That is when a commercial airliner that had just taken off from an airport in New York encountered a flock of birds which damaged both engines of the airplane.

The plane,  piloted by Captain Sullenberger, had to land in the Hudson River.

As you watch this video, the Plane will be referred to by Control Tower as Cactus.

Prepare to be amazed as you watch this computer generated video of the event. 

Everyone survived.

HERE'S THE LINK to Hudson River Landing

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New Church Instructions

           

          
A friend sent us this email recently.

It is supposed to be funny but if you think about it you might grow concerned.

Why?

Because it might just happen.

What is it? you ask

Well HERE'S THE LINK to New Church Instructions

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Philmont

       

             
There is a Boy Scout camp out west that is a verrrry special place.

Boy Scouts know about this place and either have been there or long to visit.

A family member of the DIT editor spent several summers at Philmont as a staff member.  He would especially appreciate seeing the video to which we are linking today.

So, whether you are a boy scout, 

or the parent or grandparent or relative or friend of a scout --

of if you are just someone who loves the beauty of nature

you are going to love this brief video

HERE'S THE LINK to Philmont: A love letter

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A new kind of Umbrella

               

A friend of DIT found this

So what is it?

Well, believe it or not -- it is an air umbrella.

Air umbrella???

Yes, it is a new invention that is still in the process of 'being invented' and good thing because one little problem has already turned up.

What is that? you ask.

Well, it seems that it (gasp) soaks bystanders.

Hmmmm more work needed but the inventors are probably working on it.

In the meantime

to read about it HERE'S THE LINK to Air Umbrella

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All to Jesus I surrender

       

 The hymn today is relatively new in contrast to those that date back to the 18th centuries and earlier.

But its message is still important.

Sing along with the choir.  The words will be on the screen.

HERE'S THE LINK to All to Jesus I surrender

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9 Technologies that will soon be inside you

   

You may have see this article already.

If not, this is an amazing 'must read'.

Do you think this will really happen?

And, if so, when?

To what are referring? you ask

Well a recent article was posted on Yahoo News that explains.

HERE'S THE LINK to 9 technologies that will soon be inside you

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Hamfest Chattanooga

     

What is a hamfest? you ask

Well, Hams (Amateur Radio Operators) know but the rest of you might not.

A Hamfest is a special event put on by various Amateur Radio Clubs throughout the year at their various locations.

In fact, there is usually one somewhere in the US every weekend.  

Some are big, some are small.

But alllllll are a lot of fun.

If you have never attended a hamfest and if you live anywhere close to Chattanooga TN, you can attend the one that the Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club is doing.

It will be tomorrow - Saturday Oct 25, 2014

So if you are anywhere near the Chattanooga area, this would be a wonderful weekend adventure to the "Scenic City of the South."

For details about its location, how to get there, what is happening and more

HERE'S THE LINK to Hamfest Chattanooga

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Happy Birthday World

       

Did you know that today, October 23, is the World's Birthday?  

And, no, the world is not celebrating a big bang ‘birth’ that supposedly occurred billions and billions of years ago.  

The earth is actually much much younger than that.

So, how old is the world really?

How about 6,000+ years?

That is what  Bishop James Ussher has calculated in his book, Annals of the World.

Who was Bishop Ussher and how and why did he calculate the age of the world?

Well, to discover the answer to those questions and more 

HERE'S THE LINK to Happy Birthday World

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Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles - A Gazillion Bubbles

       

A friend of DIT found this most amazing link.

What is it this time? you ask.

Well, the friend included this description in his email with the link:

"Below is a link to a unique display of incredible bubble creation. 

The inventor Fan Yang is a Canadian bubble artist. He was born in Vietnam in 1962. He has earned international acclaim as a result of his complex displays of bubble theater.  

In addition to performing he has developed his own bubble solution formulas and equipment to create bubbles. 

Fan Yang has broken bubble-related world records on numerous occasions. 

Yang has a show, the "Gazillion Bubble Show", in NYC  and has staged it elsewhere, including Las Vegas . His wife, Ana Yang, performs the show in his absence…enjoy!"

So, with that by way of introduction,

HERE'S THE LINK to Ana Yang Gazillion Bubble Show

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More about the Big Bang

       

We are repeatedly told that everything…. and they mean EVERYTHiNG began with a big bang 13.8 billion years ago.

That idea remains though the time when it happens keeps expanding (pun intended).  Seems like when many of us were in school it was only about 6 billion years … etc.

But, be that as it may

Did everything really begin in a big band? After all no one was there to see or record it.

Or is there evidence that suggests that the big bang did NOT happen?

Hmmm.

This brief article has some interesting scientific facts that will cause you to think.

HERE'S THE LINK to more about the  Big Bang

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Miniatur Wunderland

         

         
A friend of DIT found this video and sent it to us.

What is it?

Well, rather than ruin the surprise, check out the link.

But here is a hint:  If you like model trains you are going to love this!

HERE'S THE LINK to Miniatur Wunderland 

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Holy, Holy, Holy

           

Sung as you likely remember it in days gone by.

No drums. No distractions.  Just a choir and organ.

Well, there is one distraction -- an advertisement is at the start of the video but you can click it off in about 3 seconds.  

Other than that, you are going to love this wonderful Call to Worship.

HERE'S THE LINK to Holy Holy Holy

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Leaves Leaves Leaves

           

Well, it is Saturday and for many folks fall has arrived --

And with it the zillions of falling leaves.

You might, therefore, be planning to spend part or all of today working in your yard raking and removing leaves.

But, before you grab your rake, leaf blower, tarps, bags, and other paraphernalia you might want to read this article.

What article?  And Why? you ask

Well, check this out and you might find you don't have to rake after all.

HERE'S THE LINK to is it a mistake to rake leaves

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Lightning

           

          
Recently we experienced a fairly significant lightning storm.

Alas such events are rather common in the DIT area.

In other places lightning is not very common.

But whether you live in a lightning prone location or not, you will be interested in the link to which we will be going today.

It was found and sent to us by a friend of DIT who also lives in a lightning prone area.

By the way, you will notice in the picture above that lightning is hitting a tree -- so when you are told to NOT take refuge under a tree in a lightning storm, you can see why.

Wow.

And now, without further ado, 

HERE'S THE LINK to 5 things about Lightning we need to remember

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Crickets

       

 A new or semi-new phrase "crickets" is used frequently to indicate a silence or non answer when a question is asked.

For example, someone might say to a room full of people: "I need someone to help me with this task…"

And then there is silence. No one replies or volunteers.

C R I C K E T S

But did you know that real crickets do more than just chirp?

What do they do?

Welllllll, did you know that the chirps of a cricket can tell you what the temperature is !

Yes, indeed.

The calculations range from simple to rather complicated.

The simplest is:

"Count the chirps over a 13-second period 

and add 40

That'll give the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, give or take a bit."

For more details about the 'formula' ---

HERE'S THE LINK to Cricket Chirps tell the temperature

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The Google Self-Driving Cars

       

Have you been wondering -- or perhaps worrying about self driving cars.

Is this a good idea?

Will it work?

How far along is the concept?

A friend of DIT found this link that will answer many such questions.  

Alas it is not a short video.

But, it is soooooo interesting that you will want to watch it or most of it because it goes into many details of how they work and the groundwork that has to be laid to make this feasible.

So without further ado,

HERE'S THE LINK to the Google Self-Driving Car

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The X-47B UCAS

         

Wow. What is that? you ask.

Well it is a Drone.

And, hmmmm, in some views It 'kinda' looks like a flying saucer. 

But, in reality it is  a new stealth jet drone called the X-47B.  

Being a 'drone', it is completely unmanned. 

So when you see the flight deck crew signaling the plane, know that they are not signaling anyone in the drone.  Rather they signaling the on-board cameras, which are being viewed by staff on the deck and inside the command intelligence center onboard the ship as they control the drone.

This short 4 minute video is amazing and is another 'plane' thing sent to us by the DIT friend who finds these interesting airplane videos.

So, with that by way of introduction,

HERE'S THE LINK to the X-47B UCAS

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3 Ways Crooks attack on public Wi-Fi

     

 Last Monday, Oct 6, we were on the topic of smart phones and the amazing things they can do --

You may have noticed at that time a click through on the side bar to information about how crooks can attack on public wi-fi

Hopefully you saw it, clicked on it, and read it

but if you didn't, you should have.

Why?

Because it has some very important information that you do need to know.

So, if you didn't click through, here's your second chance.

It is a must read !!!

HERE'S THE LINK to 3 ways crooks attack on public Wi-Fi

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