Reformation | dual personalities

Tag: Reformation

October 28, 2021

“When we pass the golden summer, And, like autumn leaves, retire”*

by chuckofish

It is the tail end of blooming season here in flyover-land. We are in our second go-round with this chrysanthemum plant and the same goes for this begonia.

I swear I saw some Iris blooming by the parking lot across from the Baptist Church. Now that’s amazing. A week of warm temperatures and a good rainstorm and voila!

Today is the birthday of actor Dennis Franz, who won four Emmys playing Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue–that’s a record, by the way.

Anyway, I am a big fan and I will toast him tonight. I had a couple of classic Andy scenes lined up but I’m afraid I’d be canceled for including them on our blog. NYPD Blue was an honest show and truth is no longer admired or even tolerated much. But hopefully this scene won’t offend anyone…

Here’s a real tearjerker if you’re in the mood. (Nobody does the quarter nod like Andy.)

Of course, All Hallows’ Eve, is coming up on Sunday. Don’t forget that it is also the 504th anniversary of the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This was a momentous occasion as it started the ball rolling for the Reformation.

You can watch the Ligonier Ministries documentary about the life of Martin Luther for free through the end of the month (so hurry!) It is well worth your time.

Although in the sixteenth century the word of God had been taken captive by the Catholic Church, the meaning of sin had been lost, and the death of Christ had been diluted, the Reformation still happened. The Gospel was recovered, the Church was renewed, Christian life was invigorated, and Europe was changed in deep and profound ways. If the Church then, which had been all but lost despite its outward wealth and pomp, could be recovered, so can the Church today. And if Europe could be changed as drastically as it was, so might our world today. Then as now, however, the prerequisite is a Christian life that is biblically faithful and a Church that is doctrinally shaped, morally tough, intellectually vibrant, and buoyant with a faith that can lay hold of the promises of God in the face of circumstantial disconfirmation and see God’s great power at work.
–David F. Wells, Losing Our Virtue

Therefore we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

*David Warner, 1888

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October 30, 2017

Here I stand

by chuckofish

I spent most of Saturday getting ready for a dinner party that was part of a church “progressive dinner.” It is my policy when asked to host something like that to try to say yes, but I understood when the OM grumbled at 4:30 pm, “Why are we doing this?” Because we can, is usually my answer. I knew, as well, that we would be assigned all the “widows and orphans” in the church, and I laughed when this lady showed up first (and early):

But as it turned out, we had quite a lot of fun.

The next morning in church, the rector began his sermon with a question: Tuesday, October 31 is a big day-does anyone know why? And I don’t mean Holloween…

Crickets.

Anyone? he said. I was proud of my timid self for speaking up and saying, loud and clear, “500 years!”

He chuckled. Yes, And what happened 500 years ago?

“The REFORMATION!” I said.

(I’m sure he was thinking, of course, Katie would know that answer…and for once, he was probably glad I was there.)

He went on to preach his sermon on Martin Luther and the Reformation. I was very pleased. He even told us he was wearing his Here I Stand socks, which he had bought in Wittenberg, Germany. This made me jealous–I want Here I Stand socks! The best I can boast is a “Saved by Faith Alone” mug which I use at work. Not exactly a conversation starter.

Meanwhile, the wee babes are all set for their first Halloween. They tried out their costumes at the “Boo at the Zoo” event earlier in the week.

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How cute are Dorothy and the Scarecrow? Darn cute.

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What do you mean, we’re too little for candy?

We went over to their house Sunday night for chili. The little guy was up on his feet and on-the-go constantly until he tried to eat dinner and conked out.