Maggie's Farm

The papal bulls are 'turds rolling out of the pope's asshole'--Martin Luther.

And yet, a sensitive fellow as well--

"Luther saw no difficulty with using music in the public worship of the church. 'Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise', he wrote. 'I do not believe that all the arts should be removed or forbidden on account of the Gospel, as some fanatics suggest. On the contrary, I would gladly see all arts, especially music, in the service of Him Who has given and created them.' Himself a skilled musician, Luther urged others within the reforming movement to write hymns based upon the Psalms in order that the whole of Christendom might be enlightened and inspired. Luther's best-known hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 46, whcih opens with the words "God is our refuge and strengh, a very present help in trouble." Luther's work, set to a tune of his own composing, bacame a landmark in Christian hymnody: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

from 'Christianity's Dangerous Idea' Alister McGrath

"Luther quietly slipped away from Worms before any action could be taken against him. In a piece of superb melodrama, he was kidnapped by a group of bandits and held in captivity in Wartburg Castle from May 1521 to February 1522. The 'kidnapping' had been arranged by Frederick the Wise so that Luther could be protected without Frederick laying himself open to the charge of harboring a heretic. Luther used his time in the Wartburg well: he began his landmark translaion of the New Testiment into German, implementing his own demand that the word of God should be accessible to all. The famous legend that Luther scared off the devil at Wartburg by throwing an inkwell at him is probably based on his statement that he had "driven the devil away with ink"--a reference to his translation of the New Testiment. However, tourists who visited the Wartburg during the nineteenth century were regularily shown an inkstain on the wall and told that it marked the spot at which Satan was chased off. (What they were not told, of course, was that this stain was regularily touched up to preserve its fresh appearance!)"

from "Christianity's Dangerous Idea"

There is also doubt that Luther actually nailed the 95 theses to the church door, but rather simply circulated them among the other monks. Makes a good story though. Today we can post our ideas on the Internet.

"Since God has filled this Rhine river with fat carp, and these Rhinish hills with fat grapes, I will drink wine and eat fish." Martin Luther

Being the hefty stout fellow that he was, I'll betcha ol' Martin could really cut one after a hearty meal.

And there's the first I have read of the messenger making some real sense.

I never did hear of a fat camel.