As Dr. Luther was putting the finishing touches on his theses of concern for the Church, ninety-five of them to be exact, I wonder if he had any inkling what was about to happen to him, to Germany, and the world?
Would he be fearless and trudge forward with no worry about the outcome?
Yes and no.
Dr. Luther was fearless, but not worry free; in fact, my impression with his life is he was a borderline manic depressive.
After all, feeling often that he was alone in all the changes he was pushing, wouldn't you struggle with depression?
Having the Roman Church with 1,500 years of tradition staring down all your ideas, might cause you to have many worries, don't you think?
October 31, 1517, Dr. Luther made public his concerns and the world would never be the same again!
He did his best to put Jesus Christ at the center of the Church, and, in so doing, he allowed people to be a greater part of what the Church was supposed to be, because Jesus loved His children so much!
In the process of doing this, people were set free from certain controls the Church held for years over them all.
Even though the earth should change, Dr. Luther did not fear, and because of his faith, God reformed what He had begun 1,500 years before!
How fearless are you in the midst of all the changes in your life?
What worries you most with everything else swirling around our heads (and hearts) in this modern world?
Remember the psalmist's bold sense about life:
"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
Trust in God, for He loves you, and so do we!
Pastor Jim
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Update On Ashley
Ashley has had a very good week this week. She did not have any procedures or doctor's visits, and will not have any next week as well. This way she can rest up for her surgeries on November 8.
David, Lennon, and Taylor are all doing fine. Mary Alice and I are as well. Thank you once more for all your prayers. We miss you all very much!
Pastor Jim and Mary Alice
