Martin Luther Research Paper

Hello, my name is Martin Luther.  I was born Nov. 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany.  I was the monk, priest, and world-changer you may have read about who wrote the Ninety-Five Theses and rebelled against the Catholic church.  Even in my older age, I led revolutions.  After many years of pursuing the church, they began to hate me.  I was excommunicated from the church, but I didn’t care. I had a naive, yet persistent, attitude, and my life was fraught with determination and risk.

My father was a brilliant man who owned a copper mine in Mansfield.  He wanted me to go to law school and receive a Master’s degree in Law.  So I, at age 17, followed my father’s dreams and received a Bachelor’s degree after just one year.  I continued my study, and soon was given a Master’s degree.  I enrolled in a nearby law school.

When I was walking to school one day, a terrible thunderstorm began to rage about me.  I was fearful, yet I continued walking.  But when a claw of lightning struck very near me, I called, “St. Anne, help me!  I will become a monk!”  Knowing my father would not approve, yet staying true to my saintly promise, I dropped out of Law school, and enrolled in a monastery.

When my father heard that I had dropped out of a prestigious law school, he was enraged.    He stomped around the house yelling and pounding his fists on various objects.  He simply did not fully understand the difference between a promise and a saintly promise.

Law school and Monastery life were very different worlds.  I devoted my life to studying the Word and powerfully living what it said.  Sometimes, I would feel overwhelmed by my sins, and lock myself into my room, whipping and torturing myself.  For many days, I would fast, and stay in my small chamber studying the Bible for countless long hours at a time.

I began to think that God hated me.  I never felt that I had peace with my Creator.  The other monks tried to convince me that God loved me, but to no avail.  I believed that I would never become as pious as my fellow monks,  and never develop a firm relationship with God.

As I studied God’s word, words like penance and righteousness began to form a new definition.  My studies convinced me that the Catholic church had lost sight of a few truths.  I had seen indulgences(Scrolls that were sold stating that a loved one was saved from penance, a virtual hell) being sold around the church, and knew that you didn’t have to pay to be saved.  I began to form a scroll of 95 theses, with scriptures from the Bible in collaboration with my beliefs, against the church, and soon the scroll was published in every German town.

When I finished these theses, I hammered them onto the church door at Wittenberg.  Although this was the most recent “News center” in my time, posting any words AGAINST the church was blasphemy.  I felt that the church must not refuse to return to the truth.

The villagers read the scroll, and told the church officials.  The church officials studied every word with hatred in their corrupted eyes, and reported to the priest.  The priest went as far as to preach against the theses, and told the pope, Leo X.  

The pope was the ruler of the Roman Catholic church, and he knew exactly why he was selling indulgences.  He was using the money to build himself a new palace.  “Oh, the townsfolk won’t even know!” Leo X had snickered to himself a few weeks prior, “They’ll just step right up, and purchase an indulgence.  Or maybe TWO!  I’ll be rolling in cash!”  Leo was playing on the villagers’ hearts and emotions, knowing  that they would give in to compassion.

But I knew,  and Leo was scared of my influence.  He ordered his officials to give me the Papal Bull of Excommunication.  I wouldn’t be able to re-join the church until I repented from my deadly sin.  

When I read the Bull, I was infuriated.  I had just been pointing out the truth!  I was NOT going to repent from attempting to help the church.  So I boldly burned the Bull, smiling as the paper reduced to ashes.

When the Pope heard of this rebellious act, he was horrified.  “That scumbag!  He BURNED my Bull!  Have him put into exile!” Leo X shrieked.

So I was sent to Wartburg castle for a year.  The castle was dark and near empty, and I was forced to wear a knight’s garb and grow a beard.  But this long year gave me much time to finish my long-awaited German translation of the Bible.  I saw my time in imprisonment as an opportunity to serve my God, much like Jesus’ disciple, Paul.  I also wrote many books in my time at the Wartburg Castle.  

Finally, in the May of 1522, I left Wartburg to return to Wittenburg and continue teaching.  In 1525, I married Katharina von Bora, a woman who had been a former nun.  Over the years, we had six beautiful kids: Paul, Magdalena, Margarethe, Elisabeth, Hans, and Martin Jr.

  From 1533 to 1546, I was a theologian in Wittenburg, and during this time period, I suffered from arthritis, heart problems, and digestive disorders.   I died on Feb. 18, 1546, during a trip back to Eisleben, when I was only 62(So Young!)

My Legacy

I am best known as an influential theologian who changed Christianity when I started the 16th century Protestant Reformation.  I still live on in the LUTHERAN churches, and my name has been carried on the tongues of many for countless centuries.

Some may compare me to Jesus.  In my mind, Jesus is far superior to me.  Although both of us saw injustice in the way of the current government, Jesus calmly preached against their acts, and told them the way to the kingdom of heaven.  I fought against the government with my word sword and parchment armor.   But Jesus made a greater impression than I did, and He will always be the one and only God who shall live beyond all the suns of men.  I illuminated truth, and stubbornly fought for freedom from the injustice of the Catholic Church.

Presidential Speech

Have you ever imagined what a school would be like without homework?(I’m not sure I could do that... but I could try)  And I know we would all agree that it would be awesome!  What would lunch turn into if Chick-fil-a were served everyday? (I’m not sure I could do that either...... but I could try)

      Good afternoon, I’m Bella Dortch, and I am running for sixth grade class president. If you elect me I promise to co-operate with you like a Smartie and a wrapper.  I will be HONEST and tell you that I am not always perfect, but I assure you I’m not terrible!  While I may not have met all of you, this being my first year at Travis, I look forward to getting to know you and I have some proposals for all to hear.

      First: How often do you think about homework?  I probably think about that 3/4 of the day.   I have realized that, as middle school students, we are assigned much more homework than in elementary school.  Imagine if the teachers would create a regulated homework schedule?  Maybe they could assign certain days without homework?  Does that sound good to you?.(huh and pause)  This schedule would cover every subject, and would be an efficient improvement that would result in more free time for us.  And for the teachers, how about having a whole day without grading a single homework assignment?

      Second: Why so many strict rules on attire?  Even when we dress out for gym, we must wear a white shirt.  I mean, REALLY?!  Why can’t we just wear any type of t-shirt?  Students at Travis already are required to wear a uniform and belt; we deserve to dress slightly more freely than other schools, since we work that much harder.

       Third:  Recess is too short!( pause for agreement) Why couldn’t we have a little bit of a longer time to take in the Vitamin D and play on the expensive new equipment?  This would relieve all of our stress, and let us feel like the 11 and 12 year olds we truly are. And I personally wouldn’t mind seeing Tetherball poles come down about three feet!

       None of these promises listed above were thought up over night.  Nope, they are the product of intense planning and the polling of you, my fellow classmates.  I am sure more will be created as my presidential year goes on.  Remember, we’re all talented; why take Dum-Dums when we could munch on Smarties?  

Vote Bella Dortch, 6th grade class president!

Norman the Narwhal

Deep in the  clear, cold sea was a shell castle where Cap. Dolphin lived with his adopted son, Norman the Narwhal.  Narwhals are not usually found in the Mediterranean Sea; however, he got lost in the trade winds, that kicked up the briny foam and pushed the baby narwhal to the island Balearic.  He foundered on the island sands- a shore with gulls and few waves because the tide was out.  Whimpering, Norman knew that he was breathing his last.

A seagull landed on Norman, and asked why he was crying

“I-I am lost! My brothers and sisters have left me.  A huge wave came and took me from them,” he cried.

“I have never seen a sea creature like you- do you belong here?”

“No- and I just want to go home!” Norman whispered. 

  Now, this was before Norman had met Cap. Dolphin, who had taken care of him up until he was 7.  Now, he would go to school every day:

Norman’s teacher is the wise, well-known Athena the Starfish.  She tells her students tales of the fishy Seahorse Harry, Mo, Curly and Larry the evil Gangster sharks, and their mischievious cave- guard, Earl the Electric Eel.  The group lives together in an ancient, sunken boat.  The whole school thought these characters a fairy tale, and never believed their threatening stories.

Little did Norman or his classmates know that Harry watched them everyday from outside the schoolhouse.  Harry would intently stare at Norman as he swam home from school, and had heard rumors spread that his horn was pure magic.  Now, Harry was a very greedy seahorse, and longed to own this beautiful treasure.  One day, Harry sent Earl to telegraph his gangster sharks that he was longing to have Norman’s horn, and that he would appreciate it if they would steal it for him.

As soon as school lets out, Norman swims gleefully through the water, on his usual route home.  Meanwhile, Curly, Larry and Mo are hiding in wait to ambush him.  Right when Norman passes through the gates to his home, the trio spring at him with their needle-like teeth. Larry, foolishly thinking that Norman’s horn would pop off, grabbed the horn.  Mo, having never been in such an intense fight, was very confused, and accidentally bumped into Larry.  Curly attempted to hit Larry, but he mis-aimed, and slapped Norman.  The young Narwhal screeched, floated over, and sunk right into the Gangster’s Cave.

Instinctively, Earl shocked him, and deepened Norman’s pain.  The three sharks were panicking, and Mo kicked Norman with his slippery back fin.  Curly and Larry joined in, and Earl snickered to himself as they shoved him out of their realm and onto the ocean floor.  Nightfall came upon them rapidly, and Norman woke up at 11:49 precisely, although he did not know this.  He had floated away from his home, and he spotted it in the distance.  When he finally arrived at his home, his father noticed the condition that he was in, and became red with rage.

He demanded to know who had done this to him, and Norman replied that it had been Harry’s gangster sharks and Earl the eel. Cap. knew that he must contact Sherman at some point.  If he did not, Harry’s minions could attack another innocent victim.

    Sherman was the town’s tough sheriff.  When he was around, no criminal could escape him.  Sherman was a large pink-gray octopus, whose tentacles grasped guns in each tight coil.  He hard a harsh stare, and his voice seemed hostile and harsh.

 Captain tossed on his cap, and swam away as quickly as he could to avoid the sharks.  When he spotted Sherman’s office and community prison, he felt relief rise inside him.  As soon as he entered the coral office, Captain heard the booming voice of the sheriff call out, “Who is it?”

CD(Cap. Dolphin) told him that he was here to tell Sherman some disturbing news.  In his enthusiastic tone, Captain reveled the tale of the three sharks and Earl eel.  Sherman narrowed his eyes, and stood up to take care of these nasty creatures.

Back at the ship…

Harry had just arrived at his home when the sharks had finished their ambush.  When he saw that Norman had gotten away, he yelled at the sharks and Earl that they were terrible sidekicks, and he did not want to be around them ever again.  Harry swum out of his home with his crew following closely, begging for forgiveness.

Sherman and CD were swimming to Captain’s house when they spotted Harry and his gang.  Sherman dashed behind a coral reef, and CD followed closely.  Harry had just passed their reef when Sherman lunged at him with his many tentacles.  One each lashed out at Curly, Larry, Mo and Earl, but two headed for Harry.  Earl wiggled around sloppily, Larry screamed loudly, Mo closed his eyes in attempt to swim away, and Curly did not comprehend what was happening.  Harry was being held prisoner by the thickest tentacles, but even this hardly kept him with Sherman.

After Captain had opened the door for Sherman, he tossed the bunch into crude, basic cells.  Harry murmured something under his breath as CD passed, but it went unnoticed.    

“You might want to get back to your son now,” Sherman grumbled, “I’ll take care of these traitors.”

Captain Dolphin accepted this, and swam back to see his son.  Norman was not feeling bad now, and Athena had come to visit him.  She understood that he wouldn’t be at school tomorrow, and had given him the classwork ahead of time.

When Norman spotted his father, he wanted to know why he had been gone so long.  Captain explained to him how they had found and captured Harry and his gangsters, and what Sherman had done with them.  Norman now felt at peace with himself, knowing his horn would not be sought after again.

“If anybody wants a horn like mine, they should try growing one themselves!” Norman grinned.

Setting of A MURDER FOR HER MAJESTY

If I have a good sense of judgement, then A Murder for her Majesty is a great mystery.  Although the time setting is not given, you may assume this tale takes place in 1558 to 1603.  The clues that infer this are:

n The streets are COBBLESTONE

n Horses are still frequently used for transportation

n There are no ovens; hot bricks are used to keep warm

n Cathedrals are made out of bricks

n Candles are used for light often

Nowadays{In 2013} We use electricity to light our houses.  Ovens have been invented, we have no need to use warm bricks!  Our streets are paved with concrete, not bumpy, uncomfortable stones that require much maintenance.  Horses have become slightly outdated: how could we ride one on a highway- set out food and water troughs?  Now, we have discovered that brick buildings are less sturdy than our metal-based structures.  Our world has improved greatly.

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This tale takes place near York in England.  There are multiple reasons why I know this:

N Queen Elizabeth l is in rule{1558-1603}

N The Cathedral in York is mentioned multiple times

How to tell a Book’s setting 

Even if a book doesn’t mention WHEN or WHERE it takes place, do not fear!  These few tips come in EXTREMELY handy for that one school assignment:

N MAKE SURE YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK!  Flip through the pages and write down carefully each reference to a time or place.

N Even small details can lead to your discovery of the setting.  For example, you could use cobblestone streets.

N Carefully gather all the clues, compiling them together.  You should soon perceive a good idea of the setting.  Use research tools to double check your work.

Letter to the Author of LIFE OF PIE

Dear Yann Martel,

My life changed completely after reading your book, The Life of Pi.  Losing a loved one is painful and challenging to overcome, and it is overwhelming.  Sometimes, I have felt like I have fallen into a dark black hole or attempted to tame an adult Bengal tiger on a precarious boat, as Pi did.  Fear seems to have climbed on my vessel also, swallowing all of my hope.  Unexpected occasions are scattered throughout my life, seeming to last forever and ever.  But this book has given me hope. 

I loved The Life of Pi because I connected with Pi on some occasions.  On certain days after school, I arrive home knowing that I will do homework the rest of the evening or night.  These days appear dark and gloomy- much like Pi’s time spent on the emergency raft, taming his very worst fear.  I would like to believe that I could tame a wild tiger.  I want to say that I would, and am willing to do anything courageous, but I am afraid to say that this would be a lie.  I am not perfect and no human is.  

Your beautiful story of courage and faith changed me, and made me think-would I swim off the boat, or stand up to the orange and black carnivore?  If I swam off, I would probably be eaten alive by hideous sharks.  But if I stood my ground, a few things could happen.  I could disappear into the hungry jaws of the ravenous tiger, or simply nothing could happen, and I could adjust to life with a predator.

I now view the world in a unique way because of this powerful story.  Every moment of freedom I have, I savor it.  I am now more grateful to spend valuable time with my family.  I know that while I am having tough times, I am not going through the worst time ever.  Others have much greater problems than I do- young or old.  But I am sure of one thing- I don’t want to be stuck on a small boat with a dangerous tiger.

Character Sketch

She shuffles along the slippery cobblestones, watching the raindrops ‘splat’ on the paving.  Her old brown cloak, littered with gaping holes, sags under the weight of the cumbersome, falling rain.  Her legs are tired, and she feels as if she hasn’t eaten for a week.  As a fearsome lightning bolt races through the sky, she wipes aside a stray strand of dark, soggy, wet hair out of her face.  Her thin hood is pulled up over her head and her face lurks in the haunting shadows of a European night.  The girl’s shabby leather shoes, many times patched, hardly protect her from the vicious wind and voracious rain.  Her eyes appear to be clouded and blank, and her face shows no apparent expression.  She stops to rest on a doorstep behind a large manor, but a heartless woman-the master of the home-beats at the child with a tattered broom, and the mysterious girl scampers away fearfully.  The nine church bells ring out the hour with their crisp, clean tone, cutting through the silence of the night.  The girl knows that she must find a safe warm place to spend the night-or face the city rats, who have been known to gnaw off fingers and toes in a disturbing manner.  She wraps her cloak around her more tightly, and begins to run.  A baker, about to pitch the day-old bread, stops her, and gives a generous amount of bread to the child.  She twists her face into a crooked half smile, thanks the man, and continues on her way, halting only when she discovers a safe place to rest.  Her only option is an abandoned house and barn, so she creeps inside.  The house is dark and foul-smelling, but the girl doesn’t care. She walks to the barn and discovers an old cow in need of milking.  The girl relieves the cow, gathering some of the hay to make her bed.  Once back inside the house, she settles down on her makeshift bed to her supper-milk and bread.  The milk settles warmly in her stomach, and she cannot resist falling asleep.

Rising early the next morning, she gathers her cloak and tramples out of the house.  The sun shines happily down on the child, and her down turned mouth almost changes direction.  Maybe today she would find her destination, the chapel, with its stone spires rising high into the sky.  Yes, maybe Alice Tuckfield will arrive at York today.

Jesus Carries the Cross

A burden heavier than metal,

A surface harder than rock,

He carried the Cross through town.

Ridiculed and stoned,

Bruised and bleeding,

Jesus dragged the wood behind him.

Weak and physically tired,

Yet spiritually free and healthy,

He fell to the ground.

Cross carried by another,

He stumbled through the street,

To that dreaded hill.

Driven into earth,

Bumpy and uncomfortable,

The Cross loomed before Him.

Sharp and cold,

Black and evil,

The nails were hammered into his palms and feet.

Suffering and bedraggled,

He knew this torment was not his end,

For Jesus was tortured for us.

He loved our lives beyond all love,

And He sacrificed his human form to save us from our sin.

Haikus

Racing through the skies,

An untainted crystal drop,

Bringing new-found hope.

Crown of joy he wears,

Of light and new beginnings,

Rays of golden dreams.

Blankness creates them,

Nothing can ever escape,

The arms of the hole.

Cold and refreshing,

The smooth texture on your tongue,

Dripping down your chin.

Tiptoes round the house,

On thin, delicate small paws,

Bringing joy with her.

Fly on unseen wings,

Fluffy and white substances,

Blowing aimlessly.

With sole, but no heart,

They walk to many places,

But not without you.

Flowers wear no clothes,

But they are beautiful yet,

And clothes still wear them..

Photos are keepsakes,

Memories of passing times,

That have been spent in joy.

Falling slowly down,

Revealing a new season,

A time of new growth.

How to Change a Nation

There are many ways to change a nation’s beliefs: Strictly put in place new rules, calmly introduce another variation to their culture, or flat-out force a nation to accept strange, new cultures.  Isobel and Maria have been pushed to accept the last option: Change by Force.

In the book Out of Many Waters, sisters Isobel and Maria have been taken to a monastery, located in Brazil, during the Spanish Inquisition.  The two have been Jewish all their lives, and are confused by the new religion, Christianity, introduced to them abruptly.  Padre Francisco and Diego are cruel and cold-hearted to 12 year old Isobel and 16 year Maria.  They are disciplined severely if they sleep a few minutes overtime, and they both have no understanding of how loving and compassionate God truly is.

When Maria tells Isobel her escape plan, she is ecstatic... and horrified.  She would be sailing to Amsterdam on a different ship than Maria, her beloved sister!  But Isobel knows this is her only chance to escape from their old, cruel life, here at the city of Recife, and she manages to stay hidden on a Dutch boat sailing toward Amsterdam.

Isobel and Maria were merely two of many young children captured and forced to convert to a different religion.  These converts were known as conversos.  The two sisters never developed a full understanding of God, due to the infamous actions of the friars.  They believe that God is a terrible, cruel, war-like being.  At one point in the book, Isobel thinks, “What does God really know about me?”

God knows everything there is to know about his children, and his love is everlasting.  When He sees you sinning, He is not infuriated, but simply sad that you would do this.  He even loves those of all faiths.

Instead of demonstrating God’s love to the two girls, Padre Francisco and Diego have displayed the opposite: Hate.  The sisters now wanted nothing to Christian faith.  The two friars had been hypocrites: preaching one lesson, doing the opposite.  Isobel believed that all “Christians” were evil, treacherous folk who cared not a bit about children like Maria and Isobel.    

In the two girl’s minds, all Christians had been stereotyped as terrible men and women who did a nasty job of mocking God.

But Isobel hadn’t seen pious Christians since she was six, and Maria, ten.  Not all people of this religion were cold, but the sisters had been very young when they had last met a jovial, warm person.

Now, how do YOU believe a nation should change their citizen’s beliefs?  Should they be stern and cruel while enforcing their laws, or gentle, calm, and kind as they slowly introduce a new option?  Should the world still carry the infamous thoughts and actions it has pondered since the creation of human kind?  Or should we let God wipe our chalkboards clean?