I was walking along Hernando Trail this past Sunday evening, thinking carefully about an appropriate title for a weekly column in The Voice.  My ever-expanding waistline was clear evidence that I had not been on the trail for some time, as were the many fallen trees that littered the trail since my last visit. Enormous uprooted trees were striking memorials to the violent storms that passed through HSV months ago.  Even now, the clean-up continues with the ongoing removal of pines that line the roadways.  Strangely enough, in time, the trees, the memories, and even the memorials will begin to deteriorate.

As I reflected upon these things, it occurred to me that we are all on a journey, of sorts.  We are all going somewhere down the often mysterious path, stretched-out before us. It is difficult to forecast the events of the future, and even more difficult at times to interpret the things of the past. Hence, the title I had hoped for struck me like a falling acorn from the hardwoods that bordered the leafy trail.  We are indeed - In the Journey – together. In many instances, the mingled events of the past impact each of us in similar fashion.  At times, it is important to remember the past. It is often said that those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. History related to our faith rightly fits into this category. It is critical that we maintain a healthy perspective in our understanding of God.

The Reformation, more commonly known as the Protestant Reformation, was an event of immense impact worldwide that affected each of us. Like many great movements in the history of the Church, or the world in general, it would be difficult to set an exact date and say when the Reformation actually began. But, if we were to have an annual memorial to the event, it would most likely fall on the 31st of the month of October. It was on that date in the year 1517, some 494 years ago that the young monk, Martin Luther, boldly stepped up to the door of the Castle Church in the town of Wittenberg, Germany and nailed to that door "Ninety-five Theses of Religion". These writings denounced the sale of "The Pope's Indulgence", a paper which gave direct forgiveness from the Pope for those who had sinned, or ever would sin. Through the purchase of these Indulgences, the faithful were told that they could free the souls of the loved ones now in the pains of "Purgatory", and assure forgiveness for them and themselves.

The events to follow were significant to those in that day, as they are to us in the 21^st century. Over the coming weeks, we will take a look at what is commonly recognized as the “Five solas”, or phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation, and summarize the Reformers’ basic theological beliefs and teachings.  I look forward to our time together …