October 31, 2006
Luther's 95 Theses: http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/95_theses.htmlReformation Day? What's that? Well, in a nutshell, Reformation Day is the celebration of Luther's discovery that justification is by faith alone. After trying and trying to pay the price for his sins and to please the Lord through his actions, as taught by the church at the time, Luther came across verses such as Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest any man should boast." He learned that his salvation depended on God's gift, not on his own works. This was good news and is good news for all of us! Although we do good works as thankfulness to the Lord for His salvation, nothing that we can do can make us right with God. Only Jesus, dying on the cross for our sins pays the price. Nothing else.
Luther's 95 Theses contained more than the above, and if you're interested in reading more, click on the link above.
Man's Gratitude
Heidelberg Catechism
Lord's Day 32
We have been delivered from our misery by God's grace alone through Christ and not because we have earned it: why then must we still do good?
To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by His blood
but we do good because
Christ by His spirit is also renewing us to be like Himself,
so that in all our living
we may show that we are thankful to God
for all He has done for us,
and so that He may be praised through us.
And we do good,
so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits,
and so that by our godly living
our neighbours may be won over to Christ.
Rom. 6:13; 12:1, 2; I Pet. 2:5-10.
Matt. 5:16; I Cor. 6:19, 20.
Matt. 7:17, 18; Gal. 5:22-24; II Pet. 1:10, 11.
Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; I Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2.
The five solas
Sola Gratia ("by grace alone")
Sola Fide ("by faith alone")
Sola Scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
Solus Christus ("Christ alone"; sometimes Solo Christo, "by Christ alone")
Soli Deo gloria ("Glory to God alone")
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
I'm excited! I just read that the newest Janette Oke DVD is coming soon! Some would call these 'chick-flicks' but I love them - they are unashamedly good, clean stories! I'm not a movie person at all, but I do enjoy watching anything that is worthwhile and I classify these as 'worthwhile'! Christian Book Distributors says it's due for release on December 19th. "Love’s Abiding Joy follows the heartwarming story of Missie and Willie as they start raising their family in the Wild West. After a treacherous journey west, Missie and her husband set up their homestead and begin raising a family. Now that the railroad connects the frontier states, Missie's parents make the trek to meet their adorable grandsons for the first time-- but tragedy soon mars the family's reunion. An unforgettable family drama directed by Michael Landon, Jr."
I thought I'd post about October being CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH. Most of you know that I have a 'probable' diagnosis of celiac disease and it has been life-changing for me. Mostly in good ways - I am so much healthier now than I have ever been, I no longer have the pain that I dealt with on a daily basis and many other health problems that I had for 30 or so years. But it certainly has changed my social life and our grocery shopping! Here's an article about two people who were also diagnosed:
Going gluten-free*
More people are learning that they have celiac disease, an illness tied directly to food. And not just any food: It's "the staff of life" -- or the flour it's made with -- that makes them sick.
Al Sicherman, Star Tribune
Last update: October 04, 2006 – 5:14 PM
The doctor had good news -- and bad -- when Barbara Wojcik's celiac disease was diagnosed four years ago. The good news: She'd be feeling better than she had in years. The bad news: She had to change her diet. Forever. No more bread, cake or cookies.
And no more pizza, pasta, pretzels, fried chicken, beer, bagels, gravy, crackers nor a whole lot of ordinary frozen dinners, convenience foods and breakfast cereals. At least not normal versions of those foods. No more of anything that contained even a little wheat, rye or barley.
This was going to be difficult. "Food is so important to a family -- traditions and customs, and emotional well-being. It's really all tied in. To have to change something so basic so radically was really quite stressful," said Wojcik, 52, of White Bear Township.
She learned what her ailment was after 18 years of suffering with what doctors had continued to tell her was, in effect, a touchy gut. Along the way, one advised her to eat a lot of fiber -- like whole-wheat bread.
Her case isn't unusual; celiac disease is often misdiagnosed.
TO READ MORE: http://www.startribune.com/438/story/720995.html
Gluten-Free Recipes: http://www.startribune.com/436/story/720997.html
More Celiac Information: http://www.celiac.ca/EnglishCCA/eceliac.html
Gluten-Free Diet Information: http://www.celiac.ca/EnglishCCA/egfdiet.html
Gluten-Free Blogs: http://www.celiacchicks.com/
http://www.gfzing.com/
http://www.dermatitisherpetiformis.org.uk/dhocblog/index.html
http://vegetarianceliac.blogspot.com/
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/09/housekeeping.html
THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYONE! Dangerous Grains should be read by all health professionals and their patients who are attempting to find answers to puzzling ailments that are unresponsive to treatments. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2003_July/ai_104259163
Now aren't you curious with that title!? Just a few little tidbits for you today...I'll start with ---
Did you know that October is CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH? Since three out of seven of my brother-in-laws are ministers - this one is close to my heart! I'm sure that all of you show your appreciation for your minister and his family all the time - but remember him especially this month! A note of encouragement, a kind word - these are the things that encourage all of us!
~~~
Remember Miriam? Well, she has a post on her recovery Blog that she wrote HERSELF! I cried when I read it. Thank you so much for all of your prayers for her and the other girls. The Lord has blessed them with amazing recoveries. We know that not very many people who are injured so significantly end up recovering like Miriam has and we praise the Lord for that! Read Miriam's post here. http://miriamfluit.blogspot.com/
~~~
And HAVE YOU SIGNED YOUR ORGAN DONOR CARD?
When our family needed to get new health cards earlier this year the receptionist asked me point blank if I'd like to donate my organs. I'd pondered it for a while but always held back at doing the actual signing. Why the hesitation? I don't know! So when I was put on the spot I jumped at the opportunity. Decision made. Done! I don't know about you but thinking about donating means thinking about death and sometimes that is difficult. However, when you think of all the families that can be helped because of one person's donations (upwards of 75 people can be helped with one person's donations!) -- it just doesn't make sense to not sign. THINK ABOUT IT!
Here's some stats:
~ Every three days in Ontario, one person dies waiting for an organ transplant.
~ Canada's organ donor rate hovers around 13 donors per million people and has stuck at this level for more than a decade.
~ According to the Canadian Organ Replacement Register, donations in Canada increased by 258 between 1995 and 2004, but 1,400 more people were on the list.
~ A 2001 Environics poll reported 96% of Canadians support donation, but fewer than 45% had signed donor cards.
Organs that can be donated:
According to Trillium Gift of Life, one donor can save the lives of up to seven people through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation.
Organs that can be donated after death include, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, kidneys or small bowel.
Examples of the tissue donation are ocular tissue (eyes), cardiovascular tissue (heart valves, pericardium), bone and connective tissue (ligaments and tendons) and skin.
Important reminder:
Once you've signed your card, let your family know about your decision. Make it clear to them. They have the final say. Even though you've said 'yes', they can say 'no' when/if the time comes. It's very important to make sure that your family knows your wishes. Make that final gift to another family in need.I've signed my card. Have you?
