Martin Luther on Mother's Day (sort of)

You say that the sins which we commit every day offend God, and therefore we are not saints. To this I reply: Mother love is stronger than the filth and scabbiness on a child, and so the love of God toward us is stronger than the dirt that clings to us. Accordingly, although we are sinners, we do not lose our filial relation on account of our filthiness, nor do we fall from grace on account of our sin.  -- Martin Luther

[The context is Luther's argument with those schismatics who believe salvation, once obtained, can be lost].

Via zwinglius redivivus

Remembering both those who fought for our lives here on earth, and those who fought so we could hear the message of eternal life

Did you notice that this year, Remembrance Day fell right on the 11 of the 11 of 2011? Much talk was made about it, since it is the first date that coincides with all the 11s. But regardless of that curious date, what’s most important is what we celebrate on Remembrance Day, which is that we remember the sacrifice done by others on our behalf. Men and women who went to fight or help in that fight in order for us to enjoy the free life that we have.

            Just in case you missed it, Martin Luther was borne on the 10^th of November. He was also one of those persons who were willing to put their lives on the line so other Christians would come to enjoy the fullness of life that is found in the grace of God. We cherished those who lost their lives fighting for our life here and now, but do we cherished similarly the lives of those who were willing to fight for our eternal lives?

            The only way we can fully honour those who gave their lives in wars is to continue to uphold the freedom their sacrifice gained for us. The only way we can honour those who endangered their lives so we could worship God freely, is to hang on the saviour they believed and served, Jesus.

Australia Day, for whom?

Today, here in Australia, we are celebrating "Australian Day".

This is the day when we honour those that have given to the community a lot, as well as those who have achieved, against all odds, great deeds.

However, it would seem that not all people are happy about it. Aboriginals are demanding to change Australia Day, January 26, to another date. This, they say, it's because they call today "Invasion Day", due to the fact that the first fleet arrived on that day.

Last year, the Prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, offered an apology for the treatment of aboriginees in the past. Previous prime ministers refused to this, since they thought, rightly, that that would open a floodgates of monetary demands from those who saw themselves as abused, looked down upon, etc. Leaders from the aboriginal peoples denied that, but now we see many demands of compensantion. I assumed that we, as fallen human being, would never be satisfied, even as in this case, an apology was given. It was said by many people, including some lectures of mine, that the apology last year would help for reconciliation between anglo Australia and aboriginal Australia. I am not part of either, by the way. This has not taken place, as we see the new demands from the Australian of the Year, Michael Dobson, an Aboriginal, to have Australia day moved to another date, even though the rest of the country is happy to keep it as it is.

I don't think reconociliation can ever take place, because we are fallen human beings. What we need to do, is to put the past in the past, and forge a good future for our nation together. Too much time has being wasted on the issue of reconciliation. That time would have been better spent preparing ourselves for the future, for such things not to happen again. The Apology last year failed, because we always think that we as human beings are good, but the Bible tells us otherwise, that we all have strayed, and no good is in us, cf. Romans 3:9-18.

Therefore, all reconciliation, that does not take God, and what He did through Jesus, to reconcile us to God, into account, is doomed to fail, cf. II Corinthians 5:11-6:2.

But going back to Australia. As you have seen in the videos I have posted, Australia is a beautiful place. I am happy the way my country is, and although I recognise that there were some before me here, I also embrace the democracy that Australia believes in. If the rest of us are happy with Australia Day, please respect the wishes of the majority, and enjoy living in this Southern Land.

Luis A. Jovel