Ninety-five points to ponder.

When people think of October 31, they immediately think of Halloween. But for Protestant Christians, today is also Reformation Day. A day, 491-years ago, Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

Here are those 95 points:

DISPUTATION OF DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER ON THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF INDULGENCES

OCTOBER 31, 1517

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam
agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be
repentance.

2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance,
i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by
the priests.

3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no
inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers
mortifications of the flesh.

4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as
hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward
repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom
of heaven.

5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any
penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his
own authority or by that of the Canons.

6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that
it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God’s
remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases
reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in
such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely
unforgiven.

7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same
time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His
vicar, the priest.

8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and,
according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.

9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us,
because in his decrees he always makes exception of the
article of death and of necessity.

10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who,
in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for
purgatory.

11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of
purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown
while the bishops slept.

12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not
after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.

13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are
already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be
released from them.

14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the
imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity,
great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.

15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say
nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of
purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.

16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair,
almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.

17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror
should grow less and love increase.

18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that
they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of
increasing love.

19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all
of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness,
though we may be quite certain of it.

20. Therefore by “full remission of all penalties” the pope
means not actually “of all,” but only of those imposed by
himself.

21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who
say that by the pope’s indulgences a man is freed from every
penalty, and saved;

22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which,
according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this
life.

23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission
of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission
can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very
fewest.

24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the
people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding
promise of release from penalty.

25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over
purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate
has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.

26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in
purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not
possess), but by way of intercession.

27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles
into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].

28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the
money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result
of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God
alone.

29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be
bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and
Paschal.

30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much
less that he has attained full remission.

31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also
the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most
rare.

32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their
teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation
because they have letters of pardon.

33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the
pope’s pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man
is reconciled to Him;

34. For these “graces of pardon” concern only the penalties of
sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.

35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that
contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls
out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.

36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full
remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of
pardon.

37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in
all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is
granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.

38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the
blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in
no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the
declaration of divine remission.

39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest
theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people
the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.

40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal
pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at
least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].

41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest
the people may falsely think them preferable to other good
works of love.

42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend
the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of
mercy.

43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor
or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;

44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes
better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more
free from penalty.

45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in
need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons,
purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation
of God.

46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more
than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary
for their own families, and by no means to squander it on
pardons.

47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is
a matter of free will, and not of commandment.

48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting
pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for
him more than the money they bring.

49. Christians are to be taught that the pope’s pardons are
useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether
harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.

50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the
exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St.
Peter’s church should go to ashes, than that it should be
built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.

51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope’s
wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many
of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money,
even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.

52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain,
even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself,
were to stake his soul upon it.

53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the
Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order
that pardons may be preached in others.

54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon,
an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this
Word.

55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons,
which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell,
with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which
is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred
bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.

56. The “treasures of the Church,” out of which the pope.
grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among
the people of Christ.

57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident,
for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so
easily, but only gather them.

58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even
without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man,
and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.

59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were
the Church’s poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the
word in his own time.

60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given
by Christ’s merit, are that treasure;

61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of
reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.

62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of
the glory and the grace of God.

63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes
the first to be last.

64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is
naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.

65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which
they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.

66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they
now fish for the riches of men.

67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the “greatest
graces” are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote
gain.

68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared
with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.

69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of
apostolic pardons, with all reverence.

70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and
attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own
dreams instead of the commission of the pope.

71 . He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let
him be anathema and accursed!

72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the
pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!

73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art,
contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.

74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who
use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love
and truth.

75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could
absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and
violated the Mother of God — this is madness.

76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not
able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its
guilt is concerned.

77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could
not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter
and against the pope.

78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and
any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit,
the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written
in I. Corinthians xii.

79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms,
which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal
worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.

80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk
to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.

81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy
matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to
the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of
the laity.

82. To wit: — “Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the
sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are
there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake
of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former
reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial.”

83. Again: — “Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the
dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the
withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it
is wrong to pray for the redeemed?”

84. Again: — “What is this new piety of God and the pope,
that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy
to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and
do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul’s own
need, free it for pure love’s sake?”

85. Again: — “Why are the penitential canons long since in
actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now
satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were
still alive and in force?”

86. Again: — “Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day
greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one
church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the
money of poor believers?”

87. Again: — “What is it that the pope remits, and what
participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition,
have a right to full remission and participation?”

88. Again: — “What greater blessing could come to the Church
than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now
does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions
and participations?”

89. “Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls
rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons
granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?”

90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force
alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the
Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make
Christians unhappy.

91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the
spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily
resolved; nay, they would not exist.

92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people
of Christ, “Peace, peace,” and there is no peace!

93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of
Christ, “Cross, cross,” and there is no cross!

94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in
following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and
hell;

95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather
through many tribulations, than through the assurance of
peace.

IMPACT WORLD TOUR!!!

Back in 2006, I was offered a full-time position where I currently work. This job offer came 2-weeks prior to my planned departure back to Sweden. What a roller coaster time that was for me. I was torn. My friend in Sweden was relying on me to be a part of his team that was was going to have a huge impact for the country of Scotland. This ministry has had a huge impact on several other countries around the world that their name says it all. This ministry is the Impact World Tour.

If you watched the video, you know that it is geared towards youth. It is a high energy, lots of loud music and just plain fun. The Gospel is preached using the language of today's youth and as a result they have seen tremendous success for the Lord.

There are four teams that make up IWT.

Island Breeze. They are from the Pacific Islanders who showcase their cultures unique dance and story telling techniques that always fascinates crowds.

GX Jam consist of skateboarders, BMX bikes, roller bladders and hip hop dancers. Always full of high energy.

Death and Desire is a heavy metal, hard rock band who sing worship songs that will rock your world!

And then there is Team Extreme International. These are the heavy hitters, literally. These are the strongmen who flip cars, bend steel bars and break lots and lots of bricks.

The IWT is currently in Ohio and I wanted to let you know about this latest update I received from John, my friend who is the audio/video guy for the tour. I love the testimony at Long John Silver's.

Over 10,000 have now responded!!!!

After more than 2 years sharing a vision to see at least 10000 young people in the Miami Valley respond to the call to follow Christ... its incredible to now be able to say, we have not only reached that goal... WE HAVE NOW SURPASSED IT... as of last night we have now seen over 10000 people respond to the Gospel since this campaign began (we have seen around 8000 of those respond in the last 5 weeks!!!!).

Last night in Urbana... it was incredible as i arrived at the venue to see that there were over 500 people lined up outside the venue when the venue was already full!!! Team Xtreme had to do 2 shows (which i think may have happened before but not since i have been involved in IWT)... it was an incredible night!!

I heard a awesome testimony the other day from Kevin Stark (leader of TX). one of his big athletes (bubba) was at Long John Silvers (fish & chip shop for non americans)... & a guy came up to Bubba & asked... 'you are bubba right?' (Bubbas 400 pounds, so hes a hard guy to forget)... then this guy began to tell Bubba his story. this guy was in prison earlier this year when TX did some outreach in this region back in June. Bubba & the guys preached in the prison this guy was at, he responded to the gospel & gave his life to Christ. the guys prayed for him & encouraged him... he told Bubba at the restaurant, that since that day he has been following Christ & is now out of prison, back home with his family. ISNT THE Lord GREAT!!!

Last nights results....

total attendance - 1680 people
total response - 301
unchurched - 182

running totals...

total attendance - 57,300
total response - 10,269 (8069 since sept 17th)
response rate - 18%

please continue to pray for the finances to come in.. we still need about $100000 to come in to cover all the expenses... our God is so faithful!!

no events tonight... there are 4 this weekend so i will update you on those events... lets ask the Lord for another 2000 people to respond throughout the last week... i believe that there is so much more that the Lord wants to do!!
___________________________

Just so you know, they do not take these numbers and drop the people who have come forward to make a decision for Christ. What makes IWT different is that the tour works with local churches for between 5 and 7 years before the tour ever comes to the town. They must be ready to disciple these people. If there is not a big enough response from local churches, IWT will not come. They know the importance of discipleship.

So, please pray for the rest of the tour. Pray for all the people who take part in the tour, the tech, the teams, the local churches and those who make a decision for Christ. But, in this hard finanical situation, please pray that they receive the funds they need to pay for this tour.

You can find out more about the IWT by clicking their website below:

http://www.impactworldtour.com/

Thanks.

Please vote for my photo

I have entered one of my lightning photos in a contest. Please click the link to the right to vote for my photo. I would greatly appreciate it. And, if you could tell your friends, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Or click the picture on the left. When you are redirected, look for the photo. My screen name is "Littleknoll".

Where am I?

India

The following photos were taken in September 1999 in Pune, India while I was on an outreach.

This was at an orphanage just outside Pune, India. Orphanages in India are not only for the young, but widows with no family are often found there as well. This lady did not speak English, but she was leading us in worship in English. She stayed like this while she sang and only occasionally looked up at us.


This little girl was in the market. That mark on her nose is the first sign of Leprosy.


A bangle merchant and her son.


This little boy was at the second orphanage we visited during our time in Pune, India.


This was at a Hindu temple we were doing a prayer walk around. She came up to us and tried to start a conversation in her broken English.


The cows can go anywhere they want to in India. If a vehicle hits a cow and survives, he is in trouble with the law.


Daniella dressed in traditional dress.


This was at one of the churches we visited.

So much good stuff

I fired up my other computer and found some more treasures. Some are stills from South Africa to right here at the Phoenix Zoo and down in Tombstone. I also found a couple of videos that I found humorous.

Let's start with the video's first.

This first one is from a couple of years ago. It is simply stunning. I'm trying to recall, but I think it took them over 70 times before they finally got this right. I can't watch it without thinking of the pressure the steady cam operator must have felt. Could you imagine everything going just as planned and him/her tripping or missing the shot and that was the one time they actually had all the parts work together like they should? Yikes.




The second one is from a competition in South Africa. See if you can figure out the twist before it is revealed.




The following are some of the photos I found.

South Africa:


The lighthouse at Cape Agulhas, the southern most point of the continent of Africa.


The sign.


Me and Susanna at the very southern point of the continent of Africa.


Susanna looking out at the fishing boats at Arniston, South Africa.


An ostrich on the road to Arniston, South Africa.


I love these mountains. This is going up and over the Du Toitskloof Pass instead of going through the boring Huguenot tunnel.


A winery we stopped at. I found it interesting but still did not turn me on to drinking, or even trying the wine the produced.





Susanne greeting a "guard dog" at the winery in South Africa.


Boulder's Beach, South Africa.

The Phoenix Zoo:


One of my last days working at the Phoenix Zoo's Monkey Village.


Behind the scenes at the Wallaby exhibit. Staff would go between working at Monkey Village, Orangutan and the Wallaby exhibits.


In front of the orangutans.


Kirk, the head squirrel monkey at the Phoenix Zoo's Monkey Village. He has since been moved to another zoo.


The tan I got when I worked at Monkey Village at the Phoenix Zoo. It took about 6-months for it to go away.


Tombstone:


I just love the face the horse is making for the photo.

.

What is a "reckie"?

Or

What is a "site reckie"?

I'm posting this here because on my other blog, one of my entries on my other blog journaling my trip to Liberia I talk about doing a site reckie for the medical screening day. A lot of people have done a google search wanting to know exactly what a reckie is. So, I thought I would post an answer here for the google people.

The word "reckie" or "recce" is short for reconnaissance.

Reconnaissance (also scouting) is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Australian, Canadian, and British form is recce (pronounced /ˈrɛki/), its American usage form is recon (pronounced /ˈriːkɒn/). The associated, linguistic forms are the verb reconnoitre in British spelling, and reconnoiter in American spelling; informally, recce and recon are used as a verb.

When photographers, videographers and filmmakers use this term it means that they are going to take a look at a potential site for their shoot. They are scouting out the location to help them plan their shoot. This allows them to know what the lighting looks like at different times of the day, the noise levels, the sound quality of a room, what type of equipment will they need to bring with them, where are the electrical outlets, etc.

It is difficult to walk into a location not knowing anything about it, but a site reckie allows them to save time and money when they have talent (actors, models) and other staff there. They know all about the site before the day of the shoot.

I hope this helps the googler's understand what this word means.

Memories of a different kind

On Tuesday nights a the PM worship leaders, Sean and Kim, meet with a small group of people to brainstorm ideas for the evening services. This past Tuesday we found that we were in need of a wedding gown. No one had one to lend or knew where to get one.

In my head, I struggled with this for a few minutes. I had one. One that had never been, and will probably never be used. It was one that had been hanging in my parents closes for the past 15-years.

My mother and I along with a lifelong friend had gone out searching for my gown for a wedding that I would call off a couple of weeks later.

So, a gown that had never seen the light of day now hangs in my office, waiting for it to be revealed. I don't want to tell how right now, but if you are at the Sunday evening service you will see.

The dress brought back a lot of memories. Good ones and difficult ones. I'm happy I broke off the engagement. The Lord has directed my path and had me do things for Him that I would have never been able to do had I married this man.

A chat brings back memories

I have re-connected with friends all over the world via my computer and really enjoy being able to chat with them at the drop of a hat. I had one such chat today with a friend in Monrovia, Liberia.

Esther is a lovely woman I met this past February when I was in Liberia with Mercy Ships. She is from Ghana and is very strong woman. Don't get me started on her sense of humor. She is a crack up. I really miss her frankness and the way she is not afraid to talk about any subject.

After chatting with her, I wanted to look back on some of the photos I took while there. You have heard me talk about how difficult it was while I was there, but they are memories I will cherish a lifetime.

Here are a few of my favorites from that trip:




A long exposure of the harbor. I couldn't see the pillars when I took this photo.


After running over to the Land Rover and posing for me, this boy simply walked away.


This is Ali, the gal I asked you to pray for last week. She is shooting up an abandoned stairwell at the Hotel Ducor.


This is my friend Debra shooting down the very same stairwell.


The book of Lamentations in the Hotel Ducor.

I just really like the following images at the Hotel Ducor:






Looking down from the top floors.















You read more about this trip by clicking HERE and reading my other blog.

Comparrison photos

I was cleaning off my computer today when I found this photo. I had mentioned it in an earlier post when I was in Tanzania. If you recall, when I was out in Mairowa, my friends took me to the "Mairowa Communication Center" so they could use their cell phones.

Here is the Swedish version. John was hanging out of his office window trying to connect.



Here is a look back at the Mairowa version:

Some AZ election questions...

Do you know many propositions are on the ballot this election year?

How many of them effect you?

Do you know how you are going to vote for them?

I did some research because I'm really kinda lost with what each of the propositions are and what they mean. In my research I found this site that goes into detail about each of them.

If you are unsure, please check it out and be able to make informed decision.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Arizona_2008_Ballot_Measures

A TREMENDOUS Thank You!!!

Ali updated her blog and here is the update:

It's over.

I'm not sure how, and I'm not really sure I care. But as of yesterday evening, Lourens is in happy possesion of his license, and we have signed releases for the vehicles from the policemen in Totota.

If I ever hear the details of what happened yesterday, I'll be sure to share. For now, all that matters is that this seems to be behind us. And the ridiculous amount of money that we're needing to pay for this and that has already been totally covered from donations that have flooded in unasked.

As my mum says, God's bank is big.

Maybe now I can go back to sleeping at night.

Thank you so much for lifting this situation up in prayer.

If you were an actor...

...how far would you go to promote a cause you believed in???

Harrison Ford really, really, really believes in this.



OUCH!!!

This is so cool

First, let me say thank you for lifting up Ali and the situation in Liberia. She has not given an update, but I will keep you informed when she does. Please keep lifting this situation up in prayer. I know they very much appreciate it.

Now, I admit it, I am a techie at heart. I love to find new toys on the web and I found one that I could spend hours using.

If you are a photographer, like me, and have what seems like a million photo on some website like Flickr or Smugmug it can be quit frustrating when you are looking for one particular photo and you have to page through all those photos. Inevitably the one you are looking for is on the very last pages.

Well, that is where this cool little feature comes into play. It is called Cooliris.

I found it when I was looking at another photographer's blog. I saw this little button that read and clicked on it.

It took me to this website http://cooliris.com. And the fun started from there. You can watch a little presentation that will get you hooked just like I am. I have discovered so many more interesting photos by using this little tool. I would have never discovered them if I were clicking through each and ever photo individually.

Basically, if you have the new ITunes and you like being able to scroll through all your albums you're gonna love this.