dual personalities

Tag: Reformation Day

October 29, 2024

Trick or treat

by chuckofish

If you cannot tell, Baby Me in this picture is giving the raspberry to this holiday. But I will duly note that we have reached, indeed, the last week in October! Whenever I venture out into my neighborhood I am reminded that it is the spooky season by all my weird neighbors who insist on putting up lavish yard decorations featuring 30-foot skeletons and mock graveyards.

Well, I barely got out my vintage Halloween candles this year and never bought any pumpkins. I have no idea what the twins are doing for Halloween (Thursday!) So, c’est la vie. I much prefer to celebrate Reformation Day anyway.

So here are 5 things you should know about Martin Luther.

And here’s R.C. Sproul on how the Reformation spread.

In other news, the bud is coming over this afternoon while Lottie goes to her dance class. Hopefully I’ll get the scoop on Halloween costumes. Now that he is a big second grader it will no doubt behoove him to go as a soccer player and wear one of his Messi jerseys. I’m sure he is too cool to wear an actual costume. Last week when he came over we watched Cars (2006) from the Pixar glory days. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it. You may recall that it takes place in Monument Valley. Plus there are important lessons about teamwork and respecting your elders and friendship. And Paul Newman is super cool.

And this from our most trusted news source literally had me LOL-ing throughout: 10 More Images Of Trump That ‘Newsweek’ Is Warning Might Be A.I.-Generated. I mean thank goodness Newsweek has taken it upon itself to make sure the American people are protected from potential misinformation and for pointing out that this is not a real picture of Donald Trump:

Oh my goodness.

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October 31, 2023

“Hier stehe Ich, Ich kann nicht anders.”*

by chuckofish

Today is Reformation Day, which commemorates Martin Luther’s action in nailing the Ninety-Five Theses to the church door at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. Little did he know how the Lord would use him to ignite a movement that would change the world. This was, indeed, a very big deal–one of those “hinges” in history that we talk about.

Here’s Kevin DeYoung’s take on the glory of the Reformation and the importance of a clean conscience.

I interrupted my October scary-movie line-up to watch Luther (2003) starring Joseph Fiennes (and an excellent cast of British and German actors) as this is my new tradition. I highly recommend it. You can also watch Ligonier’s “Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer” on YouTube:

Here are 5 Things you Should Know about Martin Luther. And if you thought the RC veneration of relics was a thing of the past, you are quite wrong.

Well, I will drink a beer in honor of old Martin Luther tonight because that seems appropriate.

In other news, we turned on the heat because it turned frigid over the weekend.

I guess fall is (almost) over.

*Here I stand, I can do no other.” (Martin Luther)

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October 30, 2020

Double, double toil and trouble

by chuckofish

We have reached the end of the month. It is time for daylight savings again!

As you may know, October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I did my part by donating to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. I have the t-shirt to prove it.

Since 1981, the remarkable family of John Wayne (who died of cancer in 1979) has committed his name to cutting-edge cancer research and education. Indeed, it was at the JWCI that renowned researchers and advanced technologies developed the Sentinel Node Biopsy, now considered the worldwide standard of care for melanoma and breast cancer. The Sentinel Node Biopsy has revolutionized treatment options by offering a minimally invasive technique to determine the spread of tumor cells. This technique was used on me and I am grateful.

As usual on Halloween the OM and I will turn off the lights and watch a scary movie. This year it will be The Blob (1958) starring Steve McQueen.

Steve speaking truth to the Man

You will recall that the movie ends with a big question mark,

but my takeaway from this thriller is: never poke anything with a stick. I might add, go to the movies at your own peril.

Don’t forget that October 31 is also Reformation Day when we celebrate the nailing of Martin Luther’s famous ninety-five theses to the door in Wittenberg. Time to get out my special socks.

Anyway, it should be a relatively quiet weekend. Maybe we’ll make Monster Soup!

or slime!

Or maybe not. More likely, we’ll eat takeout and drink a margarita and toast ourselves for making it through another week!

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November 1, 2019

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”*

by chuckofish

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We had a very quiet Halloween, as we usually do, but it was even more so since it was freezing cold here in flyover country. Literally freezing! There were snow flurries in the morning!

Luckily this had no impact on daughter #2 arriving on time from Maryland. 🙌🙌🙌 She arrived and then the wee babes dropped by after school to show us their Halloween costumes.

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They got to wear their costumes at school.

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They were the cutest little Triceratops ever. (Daughter #3 made the costumes. She has mad skills.)

Lest we forget, yesterday was also Reformation Day, when we celebrate Martin Luther’s nailing of his ninety-five theses to the church door on October 31, 1517, which provoked a debate that culminated finally in the Protestant Reformation.Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 9.03.08 PM.png

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

And now I will concentrate on the simple joy of having all my children home for the weekend. Everyone will be over on Saturday night for a little party and what is better than that? (Okay, we wish DN were here, but we will toast absent friends.)

*Psalm 150:6

 

 

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November 4, 2015

Ich kann nicht anders

by chuckofish

In case you missed it, last Saturday (besides being Halloween) was Reformation Day. This is the day Protestants celebrate Martin Luther’s nailing of his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg in 1517.

Wittenberg_Schlosskirche_Thesentuer

This event is usually credited with opening the flood gates of the Protestant Reformation.

In reading about Reformation Day, I ran across the interesting fact that in 2008 Chile set a regional precedent, declaring October 31st a public holiday in honor of “the evangelical and Protestant churches”. What?! you say. Indeed, five centuries after the region’s forced conversion to Catholicism, Chile’s new holiday is a cultural milestone. In fact, in a once staunchly Catholic country, 15% of Chileans identify as “evangelicals” (a synonym in Latin America for Protestants). State schools now offer a choice of Catholic and evangelical religious teaching, and the armed forces have chaplains from both denominations. Furthermore, Chile is not alone. More than 15% of Brazilians and over 20% of Guatemalans are now evangelicals. (The Economist)

Well, well. I know what I will be toasting tonight.

I also may track down and watch Luther (2003) with Joseph Fiennes as Martin Luther. Here’s a snippet.

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