Happy Reformation Day!!

For those of you who might not know, today is Reformation Day. Four hundred ninety years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenburg Church door, setting in motion the process that would be known as the Reformation.

Lyrics:
When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law,
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa,
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, and Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication.
Nail your theses to the door, let’s start a Reformation.
Papal bulls, indulgences and transubstantiation.

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter’s profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saint’ Bull’tin board:
“You cannot purchase merits, for we’re justified by grace!
Here’s 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face.” Oh… Chorus

They love my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror,
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
“Are these your books? Do you recant?” King Charles did demand.
“I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!” Oh… Chorus

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting ‘Georgre’ as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin’s model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh… Chorus

Let’s raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that ‘catholic’ is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh… Chorus

In the beginnning God made them male and female sermon series update - Books/Articles/Website resource list available online

Here is the list I was promising of good resources about maleness, femaleness, marriage, sexual abuse, homosexuality and also on recovering some of the sanity in your sexuality that God desires. I know there are more out there, but this is a start.

It is located at hopecc.com/sundays/books.html

Finally, Ford makes a car worth considering...

I'm not much of a Ford guy, but I may switch after viewing this new ad and how it helps rid the planet of unwanted felines!

On fear, and preaching about God's design of women

Yesterday was a banner day for me. I had much anxiety about preaching on the subject:

"Is there more to being a woman that being 'hot'?" (Powerpoint is available here.

It's not that I haven't thought about the issue - I have. Even before becoming a Christian I had a strong interest in trying to figure out what is going on in the mind and hearts of women, primarily because I was very interested in girls in High School, and desired to be married someday. Since becoming a follower of Jesus in 1983, I have studied, restudied, talked, and debated many times over the issue of how God designed men and women 100% equal in value, but VERY different in design. God's 'Different by Design' pattern of maleness and femaleness is not something to be feared, maligned or rejected - but celebrated. I have thought deeply about the issue, was totally prepared for the message (in fact, I had EASILY another HOUR of material that didn't make it into the sermon!).

No, my fear was primarily because I knew how hurt and exploited women have become in our culture through body image issues, the radical feminist movement which says 'men suck' and yet forces women to disgard their femininity and become masculine in many ways, and through their own struggles with understanding their God given, graceful role as women.

I had real fear...

And it didn't get easier to preach at the second service either. I had just as much fear. I knew that no matter what I said, there would be come dear, lovely daughter of Eve out there who so drastically has been hurt by men, that what I was intending to be a healing message would instead be seen as, once again, a male dominance speech.

However, in spite of my anxiety, I knew this was a message the men and women of Hope needed, and so taking a line from Cor's sermon last week, I stepped out in as much courage as this guy could muster, asked God for the strength to make it through and preached what I knew God had for us yesterday.

And an amazing thing happened... Women were blessed... God showed up remarkably and I have had more emails, calls and positive comments on that message during the last 24 hours than I have ever had about any sermon in 11 years of pastoring at Hope. God met us last Sunday, September 30th, in only ways that his Spirit can. I really do think that some major healing and truth was happening in that room and I praise God for it. He is SO good to us all, men and women:

"“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit."

~Joel 2:28-29 (ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION)

I began the message by sharing an AWESOME video off YouTube that has blown me away for about 2 weeks with God's absolute, pure, powerful love for women. If you have 5 minutes and 32 seconds, please watch it. It'll be the best spent time you have today! It can be found here as well.