All Does Not Yet Gleam

This life, therefore, is
not righteousness but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing,
not being but becoming,
not rest but exercise.

We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it;
the process is not yet finished but it is going on;
this is not the end but it is the road.
all does not yet gleam in glory but all is being purified.

-Martin Luther

HT: How Can I Change? CJ Mahaney & Robin Boisvert

Love and Marriage: Luther Style

I loved reading this article (click on the picture) by Justin Taylor! It's about Martin Luther's marriage. (Luther is the guy who wrote the 95 Thesis inspired the Protestant Reformation.) The article is definitely worth reading and gives such an interesting perspective on marriage. It's actually the kind of marriage that I would want. One of my favorite snippets from the article is this: "Martin and Katie viewed marriage as a school for growing in godliness. Both of them took God seriously; and both knew how to correct the other when one of them was ignoring God and taking life too seriously. One day Luther was depressed and despairing. So Katie decided to put on a black dress for the day. Luther asked, "Are you going to a funeral?" "No," she responded, "but since you act as though God is dead, I wanted to join you in the mourning!" Exactly what Luther needed to hear. "

Also, the author of the article runs a blog called Between Two Worlds: A Mix of Theology, Philosophy, Politics & Culture. Check it out! It has lots of great information on everything from politics to marriage from a Christian perspective.

Martin Luther on Long Sermons & Other Things

On Long Sermons...

Some plague the people with too long sermons; for the faculty of listening is a tender thing, and soon becomes weary and satiated. ~Luther

And Other Things...

Total Depravity: I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self. ~Luther

Worry: Pray, and let God worry. ~Luther

Marriage: There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. ~Luther

Misplaced Affections: Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God. ~Luther

The Law: The law discovers the disease. The gospel gives the remedy. ~Luther