on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences

Also known as "The 95 Thesis."

by Dr. Martin Luther, 1517

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. 45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.





Have a Happy Reformation Day!

The true sign…

That your child is going to be a good Lutheran Christian is when its heart begins beating in time for Reformation Day.

Baby is due to arrive in late June or early July.

So, if my posting schedule is lighter then normal, I'm sleeping for two now.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon…

The MN National Guard has started a pilot reintegration program called “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.” This has been an effort to ensure soldiers coming home from Iraq get the assistance entering society that they need.

We just had our 60 day meeting in Moorhead. They spent time talking about chemical abuse, compulsive behavior, and anger management. The 30 day involved obtaining information about veteran’s benefits, a job fair, and some family counseling classes. Throughout both events, personal counseling sessions were made available.

This has been a worthwhile, though at times boring, program. I want to leave my impressions on reintegrating soldiers. Most soldiers come home and end up leading productive lives. I’m not saying they never look back on the bad things that happened in war. I’m just saying they move on and lead productive lives. Then you have the occasional person like my dad’s friend.

My dad, a Vietnam Veteran had a friend who was also a Vietnam Veteran. I remember a few things about him. He listened to me play the violin and complemented me. Also, he would put snipers in the windows in his wife’s Christmas village. Although he was kind of scary looking, his heart was in the right place. Dad’s friend ended up drinking himself to death.

When you talk to a soldier about the reintegration events, you will hear creative excuses on how they got out of one, or how much the event sucks, or what an utter waste of time it was. But you listen to Chaplain Morris talk about the soldiers who are calling in after the event to get help for something, and realize that these soldiers are putting on the tough face at the event, but are going home and taking it to heart.

The soldier you will meet on the street isn’t crazy or deranged. The soldier in your neighborhood just experienced something outside what you and I call normal life. And they might need a little help digesting the experience. Those that need this extra help digesting the experience are not as far gone as my dad's friend was that is why we have programs like “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon,” that try to assure that no one goes off and destroys themselves.

I don’t listen to the media talk about soldiers any more because it seems everyone is waiting for a soldier to go off and engage in destructive behavior. It’s like they are cheering for someone’s demise, and that is immoral.

Animal Farm…

“The 7 Commandments are abridged for the last time, simply reading, "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others." George Orwell, Animal Farm.

I suggest young Democrats read it and take it to heart. Current Democratic leaders are not socialist, they believe in serfdom.

Ted Kennedy wants you to be responsible and use renewable energy, but won’t sacrifice his view for it. Al Gore feels the same, but doesn’t live like the “common man.” Same with John Edwards. There is nothing wrong with rich people living it up. I hope they do. But don’t let them fool you into thinking that they actually BELIEVE what they’re selling you enough to put into practice.

The game of “tag…”

Barb the Evil Genius says that I’m “it.”

Hmmmm…. Seven *true* things about me…

1. I gave Granny a Rod Stewart CD that she actually listened to!
2. I have two pairs of jammies with feet that fit me.
3. I was at the Mall of America on its opening night (along with the rest of my family, the neighborhood, and Bloomington).
4. I am finishing an afghan that Granny started before she died (and hopefully will have occasion to use said afghan in the next year).
5. The centerpiece stone on my engagement/wedding ring is a sapphire because I’m not a huge fan of diamonds.
6. I use Josh’s hoard of sports memorabilia, baseball cards, and comic books as an excuse to hoard yarn and lotion.
7. I make superior bread pudding, or so says Melitta, who studied in England for a year where she sampled bread pudding from many places.


OK… I tag:
HG
Pianomomsicle
Scotty
Kara
Theresa from Katie’s Beer
Laura
And, though I link to many blogs on the side, I can’t think of who else to tag.

Rules of the game, for those tagged:
Share seven interesting things about yourself and tag seven (or six?) others.

A bittersweet memory…

I try not to post things that aren’t my business to post. But reading Laura at The Laundry is Never Done today put a memory seed in my mind. Josh’s nephew was removed from his sister’s care almost four years ago.

Reading that made me think of things from the other side of the issue. Pray for them.

On leadership…

I had this really great post fisking Dr. Dobson about what he said on the Laura Ingraham show this morning. And it was not entirely undeserved. But it was to the point of being inappropriate.

I decided to leave well enough alone because I don’t want my hypocrisies to be exposed on the internet.

However, I will say this: Dr. Dobson is reflective of the problems of decision theology. First of all, a person has to “decide” to follow Jesus. Second, they have to do good works to keep God’s favor. And “good works” often mean “leadership.”

Here’s the problem with “good works” and “leadership.” Good works means you have to walk the talk. And leadership means people actually listen to what you have to say and generally follow your teachings.

Dr. Dobson has made a really big deal lately on who he will not vote for, had a conference on the 2008 election, or what was touted as a such, but when given the opportunity on a non-Focus on the Family venue, he will not give an alternative or endorse a second or third tier candidate. So, he has been all talk and no walk. In other words, he is failing to lead. See more eloquent words by Andrew Longman.

Go ahead and say, “Well, he is afraid of loosing his tax-exempt status.” I will grant you that. However, if that is indeed the case, he shouldn’t be getting into politics in the first place. But if Dr. Dobson is afraid of a little persecution or discomfort for being a Christian, he shouldn’t be comparing himself and his friends to martyrs of the faith.

A witch… may we burn her?

No, let’s hang her and bury her in the snow to see if she lives.

I like laughing at history. What good is it if we can’t make fun of our own little quirks and scandals, particularly those that happened hundreds of years ago and were scandalous by historic standards?

And as this is the month of Halloween, I would be amiss if I did not remind my family of the evils of witchcraft. Yes, Cotton Mather says one of our Ancestors died of a hideous witchcraft .

Happily, the accused lived almost long enough to see the next century. This is really a good reminder of the gospel message. We all deserve to die for our sins, but Christ took our place. Praise be to God for I cannot pay my own way.

A reminder for a friend...

By William Cowper...

There is a Fountain Filled With Blood


There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

The Sanctity of Human Life…

Transcends our relationship with Turkey .

For more information about the Armenian Genocide, visit:
King Banaian for his family’s story.
Armenian National Institute .

And just so we’re straight on this…

My dad’s side of the family has been in America since 1685ish. The family that left England did so because they committed treason . Looking at this, I feel rather gracious towards aliens, and wish them well, provided once they get to America, they abide by our laws and don’t go raping and murdering and drug dealing and doing treacherous activities. I’m not one for alien hand outs, and I’m also not one for amnesty or what have you as we do have more stringent immigration laws now then we did during our days as colonies.

I am not against aliens, and I am not against those who seek political refuge here. I am against those who flout our laws. And I am particularly against politicians who allow people to flout our laws.

The New New Colossus

With my sincere apologies to Emma Lazarus.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Vienna Convention. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your sullied justice system!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your criminals, your drug dealers,
Your huddled child molesters yearning to breathe free,
The wretched murderers of your teeming shore.
Send these, the drunk drivers, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This is not the America my parents taught me to love, my grandfather, his brother, my father, my husband, and my friends have fought for. I hate the President.

I don’t need to read theology…

Or do I...

For my 22nd Birthday, I asked for several books from my parents. I saw them at a Christian Bookstore I used to work at, and I was certain my mom, who worked for a different Christian Bookstore could hook me up with a better deal. The series was put out by Thomas Nelson and called, “Nelson’s Royal Classics.” These books included “Practice the Presence of God,” by Brother Lawrence, “Orthodoxy” and “Heresy” by G. K. Chesterton, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” by Jonathan Edwards, and other Christian literature.

By this time, I had a basic understanding that Liz-interpretation really wasn’t proper interpretation of Scripture, and I was looking for more. I was hanging out with some Pentecostals at the time and had mentioned that I was reading, “Heresy.” Now, you really have to picture this to get the full affect. Even though I am reasonably intelligent, and I *really* try not to do this, when I get *really* excited about something and I am talking to my peers, I start out by saying, “OK, so, like.” Those three words coming from an excited blonde do not exude intelligence. And, my friends said, “Well, I don’t need to read books of theological content,” and, “You need to be really careful there, Liz, that you don’t fall into false teaching.”

My foray into Christian literature was stopped by my ITP and the subsequent large quantities of prednisone I consumed. And it really didn’t pick up until a year later, after 9-11.

I’ve mentioned several times how hard it is to begin submission to the teachings in the Book of Concord. Something I realized, but could not verbalize, is I felt it odd and kind of hypocritical that Evangelicals condemned Catholics (this is before I knew about the existence of The Book of Concord, and I really didn’t know anything about Confessional Lutheranism at the time) for basing their theology on the Catechism and the teachings of the College of Cardinals but, in the same respect, read and held to the teachings of John Piper, Max Lucado, R. C. Sproul, and I shudder to think, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Robert Schuler, and Joyce Meyers, and others.

In the introduction to The Readers Edition of the Book of Concord (Purchase here ), the editors quote Dr. C. F. W. Walther: “’After working all day, I can’t sit down and study in the evening. If I read my morning and evening devotions, that’s enough.’ No, that is not enough! The Lord doesn’t want us to remain children who are blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine…”

The reason it is important to be grounded in a doctrinal confession is so we are not easily swayed by whatever trend comes around and so we don’t fall into false teaching. And, from those of us from a politically conservative evangelicalism, this keeps us away from self-righteousness, which I will address another time.

Trendy Free Speech…

Mrs. Scholar writes a monthly op-ed in the St. Cloud Times. She shows her maturity as a writer and journalist by researching the free speech policies of St. Cloud State University, and St. John’s University, and the College of St. Benedict .

The current issue is whether or not terrorists should be allowed free speech on campuses. I see it is the case that terrorists are allowed to speak their minds on campuses because they are trendy. A-mini-jihad isn’t a white supremacist, therefore it is acceptable for him to wish to kill all Jews. (It is never acceptable to wish to kill off a race.)

What irks me the most about the left, particularly female leftists, is they prefer to stand by those who would most take our freedoms away. Rosie O’Donnell loves terrorist governments, however, she would be murdered for her sexual preference. Those who support sexually explicit exhibits in public venues would be censored along with the Christians. Women who value the freedom to wear what they want would be covered.

I laud the restraint of the US Armed Forces for not taking him out while in country. Bush wouldn’t be granted such restraint in Iran.

Anyway, I find it interesting that Mrs. S recommends reading literature as a means of engaging in philosophy. I have a couple of recommendations, 1984 and It Can’t Happen Here .

Hats off to Mrs. S!

Difficult teaching…

Women, we have often become obnoxious about our “freedoms.” And so, I am linking to a couple of hours on Issues, Etc., which contain a difficult teaching. Reject your gut reaction and contemplate the teaching. Seriously contemplate it.

My friends and family all know that I don’t live by this teaching 100%. So, I am not holding myself up as an example of how to live this teaching, rather, I am offering it up for contemplation.

May 17, 2004 hour 1
May 17, 2004 hour 2

The real deal

Major Morris has been in the news around Minnesota the past year or so talking about reintegrating soldiers. Josh boarded for an open position as a Chaplain's Assistant to Maj. Morris a week or so ago. Maj. Morris lobbies the Pentagon and others and he has a lot of outside contacts. Yet, this weekend when we were at reintegration training, he went up and talked with Josh and recommended him to apply for a different job. That's pretty cool.

Lesson to learn from Major Morris... remember people below you in rank and help them out.

A house divided…

Seriously, what fun would it be if Josh and I cheered for the same teams all the time? Certainly, I have taught him the moral superiority of cheering for the Twins in the AL (however, if they do not sign Torii Hunter, all bets are off). But, neither of our respective football teams are any good this year. I bleed purple, and Josh is a Panthers fan.

Though we did agree that the Twins are the only proper AL Central team a member of our household could reasonably cheer for (except when Josh thinks the A’s are superior), Josh has this thing for the Cards. Good thing we’re members of the LCMS.

But since neither of our teams are in the post season, I am aligning myself with Mom and the Cubs and Josh is cheering for the Rockies.

We all agree on one thing, however: Anybody but the Yankees!

An interesting observation...

Most people I know who push the flu shot also believe in evolution. Most people I know who are anti-vaccine are young earth creationists. I think this is a bit backwards...

I, of course, get more sick from the flu shot then I do from the flu. Therefore, I am just adverse to getting sick. I'm not making a scientific statement by my lifestyle.