First Pictures

Last week we got our first pictures of the newest Rueter. We will not find out if we are having a boy or a girl until the 27th, but until that time enjoy a great shot of our little bundle mouth wide open yawning.

Not your average Christmas Carol

I was just down the street from the church having a bit to eat at Jack in the Box. As I was enjoying (not greatly but I was hungry and cannot go home until the two youth groups are over tonight) by burger, I started to notice that the music being played was just awful. Now, I expect to hear the occasional cheesy hip-hop Christmas redux, but really they just came one right after another, to the point that I really could not get my burger and fries eaten fast enough.

Naturally this reminded me of a music video I found earlier this week while looking for odd items for use in Confirmation (don't ask). So, here is an old school heavy metal redux by Twisted Sister for your enjoyment.

Drug Commercials

This morning I was with my wife at the doctor and then at Quest Diagnostics for a couple of basic tests. While sitting in the waiting room, I was watching a bit of TV. Now by TV I don't mean Sport Center or The View, instead they have this channel of health information with the Indian version of John Smith (Sanjay Gupta just seems to be such a generic Indian name). As I was watching yet another commercial I was struck with the thought that I just don't recall watching commercials for medications as a kid. I commented to Andrea that I thought that the numbers of aging boomers must be why I get the pleasure of the latest Mirapex commercial.

Speaking of Mirapex, seriously do you listen to the lists of side effects for these medications? Do yourself a favor and take the time to really think through some of these. Routinely you will find nausea and dry mouth. Often you will hear about the potential for bleeding. Mirapex, a medication to relieve restless leg syndrome, lists that one possible side effect is an increase in the urge to gamble. What!!!! I get my leg to hold still, but I have to play blackjack in order to accomplish this? Here is a direct quote from their web-site that patients have experiences "reported problems with gambling, compulsive eating, and increased sex drive." So does the restlessness just get transfered to something or someone else other than your leg? I am just asking. Oh the fun of modern medicine.

The Return of Buddy Christ

For those of you who were fans of the Kevin Smith movie Dogma, you will love the new life of figures form Fishermen. My senior pastor must be starting to get my sense of humor because he wanted to make sure that I opening an advertisement for the Fishermen line of Jesus figures in front of him, just to see my reaction. I explained that my wife would be worried that I would want to buy some of these interesting takes on the "I am" statements of Christ.

So here they are "I am Freedom ", "I am Victory", "I am Peace", & "I am Spirit"

Simpsons The Donut

Remember last summer when the Simpons Movie came out? I sure do, I took the gang from my old youth group to see it while at the National Youth Gathering in Orlando (I put it in the budget). Well you might also remember that there was a promo for the movie with a tie in at 7-Eleven. Well both are back. I was relieved to find out that with the release of the Simpsons Movie on DVD was forth coming, as I found the donuts on sale at a 7-Eleven in Rancho Cucamonga today. For a moment I thought they were truly pulling a Homer special (a really old forbidden for health reasons donut). Thank you, come again!

More Rueters

I know that many of you have already heard, but Andrea and I are expecting our first child in May, the 15th to be exact. We could not be more excited and are glad for the excitement for us that many of our friends and families have shown as they learned of our news. Andrea is doing well, though she is really looking forward to the whole morning sickness thing to be over. According to the book I read last night our child is the size of a fist. That gives me some perspective but really it is still hard to get my head around even with the neat pictures in the book. People keep saying that I will make a good father. I know Andrea will be a good mother, but I am less sure about myself. Don't get me wrong, this kid will be well loved and cared for, but I just know I tend to be a softy and might really have to work on the whole authority of the dad kind of thing. I guess it is really time to grow up. Can't wait to meet the new little Rueter! Can't wait for you all to meet him/her!

Staying Connected

I thought I doing well a couple of months ago when I had a flurry of posts. Well so much for that. In the past few months things have gotten just a bit crazy. We finished up our time at Faith Lutheran at the conclusion of the National Youth Gathering in Orlando at the beginning of August and after a week off, I began my new ministry at Shepherd of the Hills. Things have progressed well so far, but I have been overly busy.

I am in my next to last semester of doctoral courses. Getting the time to get ready for comp exams has not been simple.

The wife and I took a weekend off at the end of October to visit a great family, the Plechas's now of Colorado Springs. It really was not until I was out there that I caught on to what we all lost when they moved. We had such a great time visiting the Plechas family that I now really remember them every day as I drive by their old home off the 15 heading out to Rancho Cucamonga. We went to Focus on the Family, watched the World Series, and stayed up way to late on Saturday watching R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet. Jon & and Shannon thanks for a great weekend and for being two fantastic friends! We will be out again to see you.

Off to Houston

Tomorrow I head out to the great state of Texas, to serve as an advisory delegate for the LCMS Synodical Convention. I plan to bring plenty of reading material as I expect to find large periods of time where I will no longer be able to listen to the proceedings of the Convention. So why go you ask? Well, I am just sick enough to be curious to see how my church body goes about its business at its highest level. I am fascinated enough and besides I get a free trip out of it. I'll let you know if anything truly interesting takes place.

Rancho Cucamonga

Yesterday I announced to my congregation that I would indeed be accepting the call to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rancho Cucamonga. As I thanked them I thank you for your prayers for my wife and I as we considered this change for our lives and ministry. I will be beginning in the I.E. in mid-August.

Beatallica

Prepare to loose you mind. What Dread Zepplin did to Elvis and Led Zepplin, Beatallica is doing for the Beatles and Metallica. You can get a review and hear samples at allmusic.com. I can just imagine the oddity that their stage show would have to be to live up to a name and concept like this.

Chestnut, baby!!! Joey Chestnut

If you missed the return of the belt to American hands for the first time in 9 years here it is courtesy of the wonder that is youtube.com.

Yosemite

Last week I lead a trip of college students to Yosemite for the Pacific Southwest District. Having never been to the park myself before, I relied upon the wisdom of others for accommodations and reflection leadership. Overall the group that went, though not as large as I had hoped, was a great bunch of young adults. For myself I had a blast just trying to take it all in. For those of you who have been their you know what I mean. Wading in at Mirror Lake and taking in the size of Half Dome. Looking out across the valley from Glacier Point. Biking the valley with a group of students and DCE's. These were some of the things that we took part in over the four days. We also had the privilege of being under the spiritual guidance of Bob McKinney. A career DCE, who will soon begin his next challenge as Director of Spiritual Life at Concordia, Ann Arbor. With a theme of Road Rules: Stories from the Road of Life, Bob lead the group in a number of road stops, including a couple that really touched the students who joined him on Half Dome. Though I am currently nursing a few dozen bug bits on my legs, I would have to say that the net result of the trip was good. There were challenges and my patience was pushed but I think that for the group that went they added another great story to their journey of life.

Decisions, Decisions

My wife and I are in the middle of a fairly large decision at the moment. Last Wednesday, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rancho Cucamonga voted to call me as their DCE for Family Ministry. I have been serving at Faith Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach as their DCE for the past 9 years. This will be no simple decision. There are clear pro's and con's on both sides. I know that it will all come down to the movement and guidance of the Holy Spirit, but in this in between time of unknowing and uncertainty I find my heart torn. If you could pray for us that we listen closely and openly to God, I would really appreciate it.

Boycott Hilton

No, I am not suggesting that you boycott the Hilton chain of hotels. On that I have not concerns. What I am talking about is boycotting media outlets that continue tell us about what Paris had for lunch yesterday. Cover actual news!!! So my suggestions is this. Sign on in the comment section that you are boycotting media when they cover Paris Hilton in any manner. Then send the link to the media outlet that you last hear Parisgate on as well as to your friends so that they to can let the media know we want something more substantive for our news than an hourly up-date on Miss Hilton's mental health. Perhaps they will get the picture if they know people are actually tuning them out when they go on this way. Either that or this is a cheap ploy to get you to share my blog with your friends. Either way its a win-win.

www.foxnews.com/
www.cbsnews.com/
abcnews.go.com/
www.nbc.com/
www.cnn.com/
www.msnbc.msn.com/

Ear Plugs for Women

On my way to class this morning I heard an interesting commercial that left me scratching my head. A discussion is held between a pair of women on the snoring that they have to cope with from their husbands. The solution offered by one of the women is that she had a special kind of ear plugs specially designed for women. Little pink ear plugs made just for the female ear. Once again I learned something new. I did not know that ear plugs had to be or even could be gender specific. I guess I should start looking for little blue ear plugs made especially for my male ears.

More Vinyl

As I slog through a presentation for class later this week, I again return to my record collection. Here is the play list for this evening.

Led Zepplin - II
ZZ Top - Fandango
Yes - Tormato
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Genesis - Wind and Wuthering

Ghost Rider Hip Hop Style

I am not sure that a description would do this clip justice. If you have not heard of "Ghost ride the whip," enjoy that madness that youtube, free time, and teenagers can create.

A Night of Vinyl

This weekend, I have been catching up on a series of Classic Albums and Classic in Concert that have been waiting for me on my TiVo. Having just watched items on Motorhead's Ace of Spades and Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast, in addition to "Genesis: A History" and "The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story," I quite naturally find myself in a vinyl listening mood. Thus for my listening pleasure this evening I have the following play list for my turntable:

Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
Jethro Tull - A Passion Play
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Past
Yes - Fragile
Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
Pink Floyd - Meddle

Excuse me miss, can I borrow your baby?

The British have done it again. Once more an idea that should have been killed off by the claimed sophistication of the people of the U.K. is been prepared to be brought to our shores. The concept of "Baby Borrowers" is that teenage couples are put on a reality show where they have to learn how to care for children as though they were parents. They go through a rapid succession of age ground from infant to toddler to preteen to young teenager to of all things a senior citizen. After success on BBC3, NBC is working on an American version.

"We really want the young people in the series and indeed everyone who watches to appreciate that parenting is one of the hardest and most important tasks you'll ever undertake," he said. "We also want people to think carefully about when they want to have children and with whom they want to have children."

The theory seems to be similar to that of pairing teens together in their High Schools and having them jointly care for an egg or sack of flour. This time however actual children are involved and ratings are to be had. Though it might well be argued that people would watch and that the teenagers would learn about parenting, I have to ask "What's in it for the children?" Of what benefit is this project to the development of the infants and toddlers involved. Granted they are with these teens under close supervision for only a few days, but even with limited risk, I cannot see the benefit to the children themselves and thus cannot find a way to justify such a project. Maybe I am too much on the cautious side, but this does not strike me as the kind of project that a university's ethics committee would allow for a social science study making the airing of it on TV far less comfortable.

And the Rest

As a white male I don't often get the feel like a minority. In general when people speak in generalizations I can find some general way in which those statements apply to me and my situation. This morning was an odd experiment in minorityship. Now I want to be clear that I am not offering a comparison that should in anyway be seen as putting my morning on par with a life as a racial minority. I am not suggesting that in any way that I have been held down. That said, it found myself in a position that is rare for me.

A few months ago I was asked to serve my church body as an advisory delegate for our Synodical Convention. As a DCE I am not able to serve as either a lay delegate nor pastoral delegate and thus have no current hope of serving in a voting capacity. This morning a meeting was held for delegates for our district of the synod. The majority, actually nearly the entirety of the discussion was for the benefit of the voting delegates. That is natural. Their voices will naturally shape the future of our church body in a way that those of use in an advisory role cannot hope to.

I knew the rules of the game going in. None of this should have surprised me. Actually the only surprising item that was presented was a list of the church workers in the synod. 24,000 total, 18,000 teachers, and 6,000 pastors. So, how many DCE's are there? For that matter what about DCO's, Music Ministers, and Family Ministers? I know that we are out there, but the math does not add up, and I hate to be picky but I don't consider myself a teacher as my parents are Lutheran teachers.

The entire meeting took place and now as I am home and reflecting on what I have to look forward to at the Convention, I still have the same question that I started with. What does an advisory delegate do? When I get an answer I will provide that here. My assumption is that there is indeed some purpose for us. I just don't know what that is quite yet.

Al Sharpton is right

Wait let me say that again so even I understand what just happened. I said, "Al Sharpton is right." I am as concerned as you are that I find myself on the same side of an issue as the Reverend. Reacting to Paris Hilton's release he stated that "Though I have nothing but empathy for Ms. Hilton whom I have met and appeared with on Saturday Night Live the night I hosted in 2003, this early release gives all of the appearances of economic and racial favoritism that is constantly cited by poor people and people of color. There are any number of cases of people who handle being incarcerated badly and even have health conditions that are not released."

I will agree with him on the economic side of this claim. He may be right on the racial side, but there I am less certain than he is, though he may be right. I believe that it may have been a simple concern that a law suit would be filed on be half of Ms. Hilton that caused the sheriff to release her to house arrest.

Paris claims to have learned a lot from her time in jail. What did she learn? "Make sure to hang on to enough of daddy's money to get out of jail in the future." That seems to me to be the only lesson our correctional system has managed to teach her and the rest of society. Now can we please get back to real news?

Classic Duets

No, I am not going to comment on anything by Tony Bennett. Instead I want to let you in on some more items that I found on youtube.com the other day. Below you will find two covers performed by Dream Theater and Queensryche. Having these great bands perform the work of Pink Floyd and The Who had to have been an awesome show to have seen live. Enjoy!

Hitched in Vegas

My dear wife has the knack for finding what I sometimes call train wreck TV. By this I mean, shows whose hook it watching people make fools of themselves. Last night she did it again. On the Style Network, there is a show called "Hitched in Vegas." Sit back and relax as you watch people make lasting commitments in the drive thru. Just like all good train wrecks, as much as you might like to look a way, you just can't as couple after couple send fear through your heart as you worry "How soon until they breed?". Interspersed throughout the show are interviews of people on the street in Vegas reacting to the idea of the wedding chapel industry. One of my favorite moments came when a lady working the counter at one of the chapels talks about how they make the experience of getting married there so much classier that people imagine, all the while referring to her job as one where she "sells" weddings. Yup, that sure is classy!

Boston Legal - Lutheran - Pascal

I put Lutheran in the the search on youtube.com and came up with a clip from Boston Legal in which Shatner's character is trying to get out of going with his girlfriend to temple. His excuse is that he is Lutheran. Now when pressed he cannot explain what it means to be Lutheran, then again I fear that when pressed too many Lutheran's could hardly must a sound response. What he does do, in a scene right after that is offer his own version of Pascal's Wager. I have never been convinced that Pascal had much in his wager that could encourage true faith and a relational connection with God, but it is interesting to see it surface in this format.