Christianity Spoof

It's funny what you find when trying to spend a gift card at Barnes and Noble. I had been searching for a particular pair of books, when a week or so ago I was finally able to find one of those books (And Baby Makes Three). Not able to locate the other book and having a bit more cash on the card I did what I do. I want to browsed the Christianity and Philosophy sections. It was there I found a great little book by Tom Breen (a.k.a. the Internet Theologian). I honestly had not heard of Tom nor his book, but it looked somewhat interesting so I got it. Well let me tell you it is far more hysterical than I could have imagined. Tom's approach to understanding Christianity in our modern/post-modern/pop culture reminds me of one Dave Barry or the History of Baseball that my buddy Rich wrote as his senior writing project back at the CCI, only without the llamas. It helps if you have are conversant with church history and pop culture as Tom's humor is reference oriented. There are moments where some might want to google or wiki some of his references, but it is well worth the read. I have not laughed out loud while reading book in some time, granted I am taking a Statistics class at this point, which might contribute to the lack of humor in my literary diet, but none the less, Tom's take off on pop cultures view of Christianity is quite funny and at times really finds its mark skewering both pop culture and the Church where we need it most.

Obscure Baseball Team Names

Yup, as bit more on baseball this morning. Fantasy baseball impacts the way we watch the sport in a number of ways. You start to follow players rather than teams. You find yourself rooting for a pitcher from one team and a batter from another. Perhaps a less known impact is how the search for just the right team name can alter your knowledge of baseball. For a number of years now I have been naming my teams after existing or formerly existing franchises. I have used the Yuma Scorpions, Las Vegas 51s, Syracuse Chiefs, among others. So I thought I would post a list of some of the odder names I have come across in my searches for just the right name for my teams. Those on the list in bold are ones that I have used.

1. Asheville Tourists
2. Atlanta Black Crackers
3. Edmonton Cracker Cats
4. Fresno Raisin Eaters
5. Great Lakes Loons
6. Greenville Drive
7. Hickory Crawdads
8. Indianapolis Clowns
9. Lehigh Valley IronPigs
10. Montgomery Biscuits
11. Nashville Sounds
12. Savannah Sand Gnats

Baseball Time Again

Thought I would find a few baseball videos to get us all in the mood for baseball season. I have been listening to Angels games the past few nights and my wife will be at the home opener tonight, but I thought I would offer these videos up to help get the rest of us ready to go. Enjoy!

Will It Blend?

Baseball Tennis

Jedi Baseball

Men & Women

Dennis Prager launched a new dedicated hour of programing yesterday. He has been running a weekly Happiness Hour and Ultimate Issues Hour. Yesterday he added the Male/Female Hour. Callers questions and Dennis's comments focus around understanding the difference between men and women that has so often been downplayed in the media and social sciences. To get an idea of where Mr. Prager will be going with this new hour take a listen to his first crack at it.

Male/Female Hour #1

Foolishness Averted

The Los Angeles City Council managed to avoid complete foolishness by rejecting a proposal for a ban on violence as a way to commemorate the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The proposed 40 hour ban on murder and violence was quickly identified as silliness. Why would a murderer respect a call for 40 hours of peace (which was the goal) if the general laws against murder fail to work as a deterrent? The concept created by Los Angeles author and political commentator Earl Ofari Hutchinson sought to gradually bring an end to violence. "If this works, then the next logical thing is: If a city like Los Angeles can go 40 hours without one homicide, then why not 40 days?" said Hutchinson. By some fortune the members of the City Council were not fooled into thinking that just asking would work where the law and law enforcement has failed. For the complete story check out LA Times.

McCain on Letterman

I found a clip of McCain on Letterman from the Late Show last night. Letterman starts with a series of "You look like.." jokes only to have McCain come out and return fire with his own series of similar jokes. But watch closely the funniest thing is not the jokes, but the brief bit where McCain puts his hands in his pockets and does the little rock back on your heels moment that Letterman does almost as a nervous tick through out his monologues.

Drive Thru Church

You never know just what you will find when you do a search on youtube. I put "church" in this afternoon and found a pair of videos that take a shot at our American "quick and easy" thoughts about church. They come from two very different churches and hit the same major theme from two different angles. Enjoy!

What's in a name?

This afternoon while eating lunch, I was reading through Exploring the History & Philosophy of Christian Education and enjoying a Reuben as Arby's. In a chapter on Christian Education in Colonial America a table lists a series of inventors and their inventions, some trivial and some of lasting importance. The first gentleman on the list grabbed my attention. Not because of who he was or what he invented, but with the British Prog-Rock band that named themselves after him. Jethro Tull invented the seed-planting drill in 1701. This Jethro Tull's invention improved agriculture by increasing the number of seeds that germinated when sown. The story of the band's name involves the suggestion of their agent, who was a history major. The band hit upon their first success under that name and thus stuck with it.

New Deadly Sins

It's been in the news that the Catholic Church has released a list of a new set of Seven Deadly Sins. 1500 years after the first list, we finally get the much anticipated Seven Deadly Sins II Collection.

The original deadly sins:
1. Pride
2. Envy
3. Gluttony
4. Lust
5. Anger
6. Greed
7. Sloth

The new deadly sins:
1. ``Bioethical' violations such as birth control
2. ``Morally dubious'' experiments such as stem cell research
3. Drug abuse
4. Polluting the environment
5. Contributing to widening divide between rich and poor
6. Excessive wealth
7. Creating poverty

Generally I would launch into a commentary here, but a few factors prevent that.

1. No time for that today.
2. No real information as to what exactly each of these is getting at, thus I am not entirely sure what to react to since there is much ambiguity left with the statements as listed.
3. I was satisfied with God's original Ten Commandments.

I did try to find information on the Vatican web-site, but they did not have an up-dates section and a search did not find much. I did however find a section entitled "Vatican Secret Archives." Now that's a well kept secret.

If anyone has sources for a more detailed explanation of the new deadly sins, please post them.

Today in History

Being the nerd that I am I get a daily e-mail about historical events that have taken place related to church history. At the top of today's list is the following:

1452 Johannes Gutenberg (ca. 1398-1468) began printing the Bible with his movable type printing process.

Thanks to his efforts, every home in America can now have a dusty copy of the Bible on their shelves. In honor of Gutenberg's work and those of the Reformers and others who have done so much to ensure that we have access to God's word, why don't we dust off that old book and give it a good read today. For that matter, why stop at today? For a Bible reading plan take a look at http://www.bibleplan.org/.

Lunch for the fast food employee

It is not often that I think about what a lunch break looks like for someone working at McDonald's. This afternoon, I had lunch at my local Farmer Boys, when I noticed that the staff was receiving a pizza delivery. Can't say that I have ever seen that before. I mean I have seen KFC employees in Carl's Jr. and things of the like, but to order food from another company to be delivered to your own is not something I would have thought of. What I am worried about is what that says about the food I was eating. Not sure it reflects on it at all, but I still can't help but wonder a little.

Bus Driver's Prayer

While looking round on the net, trying to kill time, after having finished a draft of a paper for comp exams and not being able to get back in the house off the patio due to the removal of the lower section of our walls (see previous post), I found something called The Bus Driver's Prayer. In typical British fashion the humor is very local and very dry. But you might find it an interesting parody of the Lord's Prayer.

Our Farnham,^[1] who art in Hendon

Harrow be Thy name.

Thy Kingston come; thy Wimbledon,

In Erith as it is in Hendon.

Give us this day our daily Brent ^[2]

And forgive us our Westminster^[3]

As we forgive those who Westminster against us.^[4]

And lead us not into Thames Ditton^[5]

But deliver us from Yeovil.^[6]

For Thine is the Kingston, the Purley and the Crawley,^[7]

For Esher and Esher.^[8]

Crouch End.

Our very own Poseidon Adventure

Last night, upon returning home from work, I had planned a relatively simple evening. I was considering what to have for dinner and thinking I would get a chance to take a spin on our exercise bike. Instead what I found was a living room under water. The hose coming from the toilet in the down stairs bathroom had failed and detached from the wall. This launched water all over the bathroom and then across the living room. Under the walls into the laundry room, then into the kitchen. The water then made its way under that walls of both of our neighbors and also began to spill out of both our doors and slider. What I came home to was a house, where the city had already shut off the water, thus allow the water to receed, through upon pulling up I could still see where the water had run out the door and down the alley toward the street. The neighbors were quickly around to tell me about the work done to shut off the water, and full of questions about what happened, even before I was able to get much of a handle on the situation. Having verified that the water was indeed off, I went to the garage to get our push broom, with a squeegee attachment. After a few minutes of pulling water out, I call Andrea to ask her for help. When she answered the phone I said "Hey, honey, can I ask you for a favor?" Sounds like a safe kind of thing to ask, little did she know that I would then ask her to call a plumber and explained the situation. She called the insurance company first, then contacted her mother for ideas on a plumber to call. When she arrived home, I had most of the water out. By the time the guys from Service Master came to finish the drying job, just about all that standing water was gone. All that was left was under the flooring. So up came the floor and off came two doors and all the floor boards. So, now we have the noise of the gentle hum of 9 blowers and 3 dehumidifiers to lull us to sleep at night. What a fun adventure. It will be interesting to see what the place looks like after things are dried out, the insurance adjuster comes, and we find out just what we will have to use to put the place back together.

Jolt - Yes it's still around

I think it was about a decade ago that I found a six pack of 16 Jolt bottles at a liquor store in Mission Viejo. Since that time I had been under the impression that you could not get Jolt anymore. No more of that odd cola taste and enough caffeine to make your heart stop. Well a couple days ago while following links from Manuka's Place, I discovered that not only is Jolt still on the market but that you can now get additional flavors of the stuff.

They have changed the look, now being sold in the trendy energy drink bullet can, and added flavors like Cherry Bomb, Blue Raspberry, and Wild Grape. You can even get Jolt wearables, just to make sure you are at the pinnacle of cool.

The additional fun part about the source by which I found the Jolt web-site was through a site for the World Adult Kickball Association. Nice! The combination of the two just has to be spectacular. Caffeine heads flailing legs in a desperate hope to relive grade school glory, I'm in. Oh, wait, I forgot I don't run. Can I sign up to be all time kicker? Do they have that? I know playground football had all time quarterbacks, so why not.

Oh, yes, let me not forget, Jolt also has gum. Cool now you can double up!

The War Solution

I am sure that you have all seen those great pithy bumper stickers that say "War Never Solves Anything." Well today on my way to the office I saw and even better one. In large print on the bottom it said "War Never Solves Anything." Above that in smaller lettering it read, "Except for ending slavery, fascism, nazism, and communism." Finally a bumper sticker with content.

Reflector Vest Guys

I want to get one of those nifty little reflector vests that the Cal-Trans and other city workers get to wear. I want one in order that I might test out a theory that I have been developing today after having nearly hit a guy in one and having previously seen another guys in one just about get hit. In both occasions the genius individuals in those nifty little reflector vests walked into on coming traffic with out so much as a care for their own safety or the safety of others who might swerve out of their own sense of concern for them. The first reflector vest guy, walked out from behind the parked construction vehicles that he and others were working from on Orangethorpe. He was crossed from the construction blocked lane into on-coming traffic, and back behind another truck parked on the side of the road. The entire group of us funneling through that single lane slowed as the person in front tried to not clip this city worker. I four cars back did the same to avoid the car in front of me.

The second occurrence took place as I turned left off of Beach Blvd. onto La Mirada Blvd. on my way to school. There were a pair of guys in the left turn lane loading cones onto the front of their truck. As I turned onto La Mirada Blvd. They finished and one went to enter his car on the passenger's side the other on the driver's side. I did not see if he even looked toward where I was coming. He seemed to just step out around the front of his truck, out in front of me and then start to reach for the door handle as I swerved slightly between his vested-self and the cars in the turn lane to my right.

So, now the question is, why do I want a reflector vest of my very own. Well, what I want to discover is if the brazen actions of these two guys come from sort of a super power given to them by the vest or whether people just naturally avoid them so much that they begin to believe that they can just walk anywhere and no one will get close to them. The vests seem to act like some sort of bumper repellent and I just want to understand how.

Refashioning the Trinity

What follows is not really news, but since I only managed to find out about this myself today, I thought I would pass it along, just in case I am not the only one to have missed this. You would think that such a central and fundamentally bedrock doctrine like the Trinity would not be up for debate. Well if that was what you thought, and I certainly did, the Presbyterian Church, USA set out to prove you & I wrong at their last General Assembly back in June of 2006. A paper was presented by The Theological Issues and Institutions Committee of the 217th General Assembly and approved that "affirms Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the church's anchor language for the Trinity, but lifts up other biblical images of the Trinity for study and use in worship."

The Trinity has been a doctrine in solid standing in the church for many centuries. Church fathers defended its inclusion along with other doctrines of the church such as the divinity of Christ arguing that God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the pages of the Bible. Early heresies such as modalism claimed that God merely appears in three forms but is not indeed three persons in one God. The early church father vigorously defended the Trinity as a doctrine of truth, based exclusively on the identification of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the pages of the Bible.

So, what then are these "biblical images" that the PCUSA saw fit to include in their understanding of the Trinity.

• Mother, Child, and Womb.
• Lover, Beloved, Love
• Creator, Savior, Sanctifier
• Rock, Redeemer, Friend
• King of Glory, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love

Is your head hurting yet? What are the issues with using these descriptors. Let's take them one at a time.

• Mother - God reveals Himself as Father, not Mother. Seeking to be inclusive should not try to correct God's self identification or expand upon it.
  
• Child - Sure Christ was at one time a child, but He did not remain as such, though for all eternity He remains the Son.
  
• Womb - This is a place and not a person.
  
• Lover - Are we then the Father's lovers? Kind of an incestuous implication.
  
• Beloved - Jesus was the Father's beloved, but my own name means Beloved.
  
• Love - True God is love, but why is the Holy Spirit given this as a name?
  
• Creator - The Apostles' Creed does call the Father "creator of heaven and earth," yet the early church fathers still saw fit to use Father as a name or title and creator as merely a descriptor.
  
• Savior - One ought not deny that Jesus is Savior. I just also believe that one also ought not shy away from using the name Jesus Christ. That is the name that is the stumbling block, not the concept of a savior in general.
  
• Sanctifier - Yes, this is part of what the Holy Spirit does, but again it is limited in its scope in helping one understand the Holy Spirit.
• Rock - With apologies to Dwayne Johnson that is an object not a name.
  
• Redeemer - Again I would not deny that Jesus is our Redeemer, but as with Savior why does this change help?
  
• Friend - Once again why is the Holy Spirit the one singled out at a friend to the exclusion of the others (remember that the core of the Athanasian Creed teaches not only the unity of the Trinity but also the ways in which each member is distinct from the others)
  
• King of Glory - Was the Son not also called King?
  
• Prince of Peace - Same as with Savior and Redeemer, this is a title that is biblical but limited in scope for use in worship as such.
  
• Spirit of Love - I am not sure what to do with this. A bit new-agey to me.
  

As you can see the last version (and the 3rd) of the Trinity that the PCUSA approved for worship is the least troubling, and I would say the most "biblical." Still I cannot find a good reason to make this kind of an inclusion. If as the approved paper they believe that "Our need and desire to worship confront us with the inadequacy of our language for God" then I simply would ask why include less adequate language than the original language that God used and commanded us to baptize in. That of course what a point that came up in discussion with my associate pastor, who talked about the discussions of whether to accept a baptism in the name of the Mother, Child, and Womb as valid in seminary last year. Those had to be fun discussions.

A little reminiscence

When you get old friends together for an afternoon the number of random things that come up in conversation can be rather diverse. One item that randomly came up when KDOC was mentioned at the Ducks game yesterday was Wally George. So enjoy a Wally George classic thanks to the kind folks at youtube.

NHL Virgin No More

Until this evening all my live hockey viewing was restricted to minor league games like the Austin Ice Bats and Long Beach Ice Dogs. So tonight when I attended my first NHL game I was not only glad to finally not have to watch a team names partially after the surface they skated upon, but also for the grand welcome I received to NHL hockey. Rich had a pair a great seats to a game at the Honda Center between the Ducks and Blackhawks. Like a few years ago when I attended a game at legendary Wrigley Field for a Cubs game, my inaugural NHL game could not have been better. The Ducks jumped out to a first period 3-1 lead. En route to this lead the new rough, classic hockey character to the post-Disney Ducks was shown in a first period fight. The second period was much less eventful, but the third period returned to the early form of the first with gusto. A series of penalties allowed the Blackhawks to crawl their way back into the game brining the score to 4-3. Within seconds of that third Blackhawk goal, Teemu Selanne responded with his third of the night. First game first hat trick. One more goal was on its way not a minute later brining the game to its final score of 6-3. In addition to the fast paced offensive display that last period was also marked with a return to the rough and tough swaggard of the first period and included a fight started by the Blackhawks goalie. Seriously there was not much one could have hoped for out of a first NHL game than this.

The National Geographic of the South

Tonight I find myself watching CMT. Yes, you read right, Country Music Television. Much as I tend to mock people who watch train wreck TV, I find that I just can't look away from "My Big Redneck Wedding." Never in my life have I seen so many camouflaged bridesmaid's dresses. Actually let me correct that, I never before dreamed that there ever would be such a thing.

Imagine if you will a wedding where every guest is decked out in hunting attire. Imagine part of the entertainment consisting of chasing down a greased hog by the bride, which of course could not take place until after mud bugging. Imagine a reception in a garage. Imagine centerpieces made out of Budweiser cans. Imaging dinner at the reception being hunted for at the bachelor party. And finally imaging more illegitimate children than teeth. Sadly I don't have to image, I have seen.


To get a taste of the fun check out this news report on a couple who took part in this television classic.

Emerging Adulthood

One of the things that I enjoy about working with a new church staff is the amount of conceptual interaction that takes place between the two pastors and myself. Sometimes the amount of articles that get passed around can get overwhelming, especially since they seem to have saved a years worth for me when I arrived.

This weekend, I was reading through the current issue of Books & Culture, a great magazine that reviews a variety of books from a Christian perspective. The article the grabbed my attention the most was on the concept of "Emerging Adulthood." Just like the concept of a distinct period between childhood and adulthood emerged in the transition from the 19th to the 20th Century, what we now call adolescence, there seems to be a similar development taking place with folks in their twenties, even into the early thirties for some. A number of transition markers that used to welcome people more clearly into adulthood proper have been moving back later into life. Longer time in college, increasing numbers of people continuing in grad school, later first marriages, and later first children, have all contributed to this stage, called by some, "Emerging Adulthood."

I copied the article, knowing that both pastors would enjoy the read. The three of us had lunch today, where I found out that this is a topic that the two of them had been talking about in somewhat different terms. My senior pastor also had an article to share that covered similar ground. We are working on a Family Life Cycle focus of ministry for the church and are hoping to incorporate the research on this age group into our work.

To that end, I post this here seeking not merely to share office discussions, but to entreat input from other who find themselves in, know people in, or have recently emerged from this "Emerging Adulthood." If you skim through the complete article and have a thought on how a church can approach ministry with a mind and heart for "Emerging Adults" I would love to know what you think.

Shy Baby

Last Thursday, Andrea and I were again in for an ultrasound, this time to get the low down on whether we are going to have a boy or girl. Despite having been told that no one cares about that bit of information the last time we were in the office, we returned with our hopes to know and our cares to know for ourselves intact. From the start our little one was all action. The ultrasound tech even asked Andrea what she had for breakfast that might have gotten our kid so wound up. Nothing but toast, we might be in for it with this little bundle of energy. So, after giving the tech a fit moving all over that place while she tried to get still shots of the heart, spin, and other body parts, attention was turned to identifying just what kind of kid we have bouncing round in there. Naturally, that is the time when shyness took over. No more movement and no clear shot could be found to determine if we had been looking at a boy or girl. So anyone hoping to get a jump on your gift shopping will have to wait to learn whether you need to buy blue or pink.

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.

Etymology of Caucasian

I have often remarked upon being referred to as a Caucasian, where exactly is Caucasia. Tonight, when recalling a pair of stories from my day, the term came up and this time rather than just query as to the location of Caucasia, I sought to get actual answers to this conundrum. So I pulled out a copy of 1828 edition of Webster's Dictionary (a wonderful gift from my church last Christmas), to look up Caucasian and here is what I found: "Pertaining to Mount Caucasus in Asia." Now I was really confused. Was I to understand that for all this time I was being called Asian? That could not be. So, I then pulled out the 1997 Random House Webster's College Dictionary to see what it contained that would help me to understand what was shaping up to be a rather humorous quest for knowledge. There I found the following:

1) of, designating, of characteristic of one of the traditional racial divisions of humankind, marked by fair to dark skin, straight to curly hair, and light to very dark eyes and orig. inhabiting Europe, parts of North Africa, W Asia, and India.

Let me get this straight. By this definition a Caucasian no longer has to be from Caucasia or Caucasus, but is only identifiable by having skin, hair, and eyes? This definition, really failed to define much of anything. "Fair to dark skin" does leave much out other than the people without skin.

Wanting to understand further I set about looking about the internet for more answers. There I discovered the in Europe "Caucasian" is still reserved for people actually from the Caucasus Mountains and not just the general term for white people as it is used in the U.S.

So when I am referred to as Caucasian, where are they saying I am from? A mountain range between the Black and Caspian seas along the border between Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. That's good to know, I thought I was just German.

Cop Shows

I am not a big fan of cop shows. I don't watch and of the Law and Order or CSI shows. I don't even watch Reno 911. Recently, however, I have gotten hooked on two cop shows. The first was something I heard about while on my vacation to the British Isles. Life on Mars is about Sam Tyler, a British copper who after being struck by a car finds himself back in 1973. The combination of dry British humor and kitschy throw back styling won me over immediately. The interplay between Sam and his modern police procedures and his boss, who communicates more with his fists than his head, moves the story along as Sam tries to figure out just why he finds himself in 1973.

The second of the shows is both geographically and conceptually worlds apart, yet with striking similarities. Jack Carter finds himself just as much out of place as Sam Tyler does, only Jack does not have to leave 2006 to do so. Instead he finds himself in Eureka a city created proposed by Albert Einstein and run by the government, where the best and brightest scientific minds ply their craft building the weapons of the future and creating more than a few odd crimes and mysteries for Jack, a U.S. Marshal turned sheriff, to solve. In a sort of Columbo-esque sort of way, Carter seems to bungle his way through his investigations, revealing moments of brilliance that impress some of the resident minds and antagonizes others.

Both show are enjoyable fun and worth checking out.

Rules for the Rally Monkey

At the risk of sounding like some sort of grumpy old dude, I feel compelled to offer a set of rules for your consideration for the Angels use of the Rally Monkey. While at the 4-3 Angels win over Boston last night, I was troubled by the seemingly random appearance of the monkey immediately following the 7th inning stretch. No warning, no build up, just a monkey. So with that in mind here are my rules for the use of the Rally Monkey.

1) The monkey is not allowed out of his cage until at least the 7th inning.
2) The monkey is not to appear before action has begun in the inning in which the appearance is to be made.
3) If a clever movie trailer parody is going to be used, do not, do not, do not let the monkey be seen prior to that trailer being shown.
4) Always punch the music from the beginning of the use of the Rally Monkey.
5) Do not show an older lady with a stuffed monkey after the showing of the trailer, that is what the hot younger chicks are for.

So far I just have 5 simple rules that will help us all enjoy the craziness that is the Rally Monkey.

Could House be a real doctor?

Take a look at this article found on Fark and see for yourself if in fact there might really be a Dr. House.
http://www.channel3000.com/health/9481779/detail.html

"The great thing is to be always reading but not to get bored - treat it not like work, more as a vice! Your book bill ought to be your biggest extravagance." - C.S. Lewis

Fun with Family

As if your own family growing up is not enough to make you start twitching, when you get married you have to learn to contend with a whole new set of people and norms that are just about as foreign to you as they can be. Take for example the unlikely traveling companions that I was with last week. I was returning from Phoenix after having spent a few days there after my father-in-law injured himself in a motorcycle accident (this is not the topic of this blog, but he is fine you can go to Maloof's Casino if you want more details on how he is doing. I was picked up at the airport by my father-in-laws first wife, Virginia. Along with me was her son's wife, Monika, and his current wife's daughter, Jill. Andrea comes from his second wife, thus having me round out the set of one person connected to the family from each of his marriages. And yet here we all are in one car, pitching in as a family should. Virginia gave me a huge hug when I was leaving to take Jill back home from Monika and Brian's place. Honestly as much divorce as can be found in the Maloof clan, they seem to be able to be fairly civil about it. Family is still family, no matter who is currently married to whom. Coming from a family with no divorce this has been an interesting learning curve. I might joke about needing a chart to keep track of who in who in Andrea’s family (actually that is not a joke it is a good idea), still in the end we are all each other's family and that really is all that ends up mattering.

DaVinci Code

I got this link from my pastor today. It is to a great article on the issues raised in the DaVinci Code. The article is specifically for pastors, but the value for the average thinking Christian should be evident. http://www.pastors.com/article.asp?ArtID=9278

Melting Pot Bowling Over

Teenagers took to the streets and freeways of Los Angeles to protest what they believe is unfair treatment of immigrants. On the surface their reaction might seem natural, but really let’s take a look at the facts. The mid-term election cycle is currently turning on what to do with the millions of illegal immigrants that have made their way into our country. The president is talking about a guest worker program, radio talk shows talk about how there are just too many people to realistically be able to handle any large scale deportations, and the American public is let struggling to put together a clear picture of what is really going on. Are people racist for wanting people to immigrate to this country legally? That seems to be the implication of the protestors’ complaints. But let’s consider the legislation that they are reacting against.

First I hear talk about the legislation proposing that being in the U.S. illegally be made a felony. So what is it now a misdemeanor? Is legal entry in to our country nothing more serious than a traffic ticket? That concerns me. Now, the Senate version of the legislation backs off on the point, but still feature tougher sanctions for employers who hire illegal immigrants and a "virtual wall" on the border. Personally I support more that just a virtual solution to the problem.

Yet still there are protests and teens out on the streets and attempting to disrupt traffic on the 405. Have we as a society collectively lost our minds? We are arguing about new legislation for a problem that already has laws to deal with it (inadequate for our current level of border insecurity, but laws none the less) that are not even being attempted to be enforced. Why should anyone worry about a new law? What are we actually going to enforce them? I mean seriously, we are arguing about whether it is fair to make criminals (the words of LA Mayor Villarigosa on Fox 11 tonight) out of people who have already broken the law to be here.

So, practically what can we, and more to the point what should we as a nation do? 1) Stop lying. If we want border enforcement and immigration laws, actually use them. 2) Assuming we do choose to remain a sovereign nation and choose for ourselves who does and does not enter this country, then yes offer a program by which the current illegal population will have a time frame in which to apply for citizenship. Have checks be done to make sure that they are productive members of society and not transplanted criminals, and then yes make them citizens. They only however. 3) Do not, do not, do not extend this privilege beyond those already here. This ought not be a way in for millions more. Finally, 4) close the border with Mexico. No "virtual wall." Put up a real one. The Mexican government will object,
but really why should that matter. They have been a minimal help dealing with the problem anyway.

You might at this point wonder where my heart is on this. Am I this mean or callous that I don't want to help my fellow man? No, I care. I have done much to demonstrate my care for people both locally and internationally. But understand that there is a difference between care and compassion and allowing the laws that protect our country from being disregarded and over run. Imagine a parent who was unwilling to enforce household rules for little Timmy. Do you think that mommy and daddy will get good behavior from Timmy? Right, they won't. Timmy will not do wrong all the time, but without a reason not to indulge in rule breaking his sinful self will just come shining through.

One final reason I will offer to help you understand my passions here is this. I do so to honor my aunt. She and her family are Mexican, but truly Mexican-American in all the best ways possible. They really are Americans first. They have not given up their Mexican identity, but rather thought the years that they have been a part of our nation, they have come to be truly melted into the fabric of our country as so many immigrants have been before. I believe that their legal immigration is insulted and dishonored by the disgraceful displays we see on the news around LA in the last two days. I support immigration, but I support the law first. That is a principle part of citizenship in this country or at least it really ought to be.

Too Long

Alright, so it is obvious that I have not been on vaation since December. Nice as that would have been, I have been in the country most of the time since then. I thought I had posted in January but that seems to have either not happened or not worked (I really cannot tell which). Anyway, I don't really know what to blog on and as you might be guessing have not for sometime. So until I have a topic to jump on take these almost topics that I passed on in the last few months while not having enough time to sit down and blog:

• Magical Mystery Tour: See the childhood sites and hear from the childhood friends now employed to give the tour.
• Its Wierd to be Home
• My Irish Diet: A pint, a sausage, and 15 miles of walking a day
  
• Out with the Old In with the Older: A commentary of the hiring of Art Shell as the new Raiders Head Coach.
• They are Cartoons People...Cartoons
• Love Monkey: Oooops
  

Let's see if the next few months produces a list like this along with actual commentary. One can only hope.

On the Road in Ireland

So far so good in Ireland. Dublin was great though we had some issues with reading maps and understanding the busses. The Guiness tour was good. Gallaugher (you know the watermelon smashing comedian) was at the Factory enjoying a pint when we were there. The hostile in Cork was insanely small, but the town had a good pub where we got to enjoy a local band play a short set. Today we went on the Blarney Castle tour and are now staying the night in Killarney. The hostile is much better and there is even a bar just a short walk away from the front door. Now what I mean by short is about six or seven steps. The only problem is we have been pushing so hard so far that sleep is more the order of business. One pint is all for me for tonight. Killarney is a good walking and shopping city. We have already started to plan where we will be in Dublin for New Years. That should be great, then on to England. If I find free inernet access I wil post again.

Inconsistencies of the Holidays

There has been an aweful lot of talk this year about what you can say and what you should say to wish one another well this December. Christmas songs are banned where Hanukkah songs are not. There was a report last week on Air America that the White House staff had been instructed to only greet phone calls with Merry Christmas. Target doesn't and Wal-Mart does. And this just touches the very least of the insanity. Insanity that I find on both sides. I really don't care if you want to wish me a Happy Hanukkah. Really if it means the same to you as Merry Christmas means to me, then I should take it as an honjoyous Kwanzaaor not an insult. Nor should you take my offering of Merry Christmas as an insult. I am not telling you that you have to be a Christian. If I wanted to to that, really I just would (though I tend to think I would use just a bit more tact than that). What I am offering to you is the richest blessing that I have to offer. Boy is that insulting! So take my Merry Christmas in the spirit that it is offered by me and by millions of others and I promise to take your Happy Hanukkah, joyous Kwanzaa, or any other greeting of the season in the spirit in which it was intended, even a Happy Holidays.

Odds and Ends Since Last I spoke

It has been far too long since my last post. I have been too deep in study and in work to have taken the time. I will have to do better. Anyway, here are some random items for with no real connection to each other. I just found them interesting.

A mask I wish I would have found sooner for Halloween.













Joey Styles calling RAW matches OH...............

Family Guy opening homage to Police Squad.

Ho Ho HO Beeeeeoootch!!!!

Something that I would have liked to have found during that whole birth control debate.

Jesse Jackson comes to T.O.'s defense. Now he is really screwed.

More to come sooner rather than later, I hope.

Word Verification

So as to avoid automatic spam comments I have changed the setting on the blog to require word verification. Hope this is not a bother, but I figure some guy telling us about his investment company or the new pill for your manhood might be more annoying.

A Firm Stand

What would you do if you were told that you could not pray at work? For myself, working for a church, that would be more than just odd. In the case of Marcus Borden, a 23 year veteran High School football coach, he chose to resign rather than to stop praying. On the basis of the seperation of church and state Coach Borden was told that he could neither lead nor take part in pregame prayers. From a legal stand point, part 1 is the unfortunate rule of the land. Our accepted practice is to avoid offense not by exusing those who don't wish to pray so that they don't have to, but rather to do away with the prayer entirely, there by, in many cases, infringing on the desires of the majority for the protection of the minority. In the latter case, not being able to even take part, to me may well have been the final straw. This Catholic could not stop from praying and chose to quit rather than compromise.

Farrakhan out does Kanye West

It takes a man like Louis Farrakhan to make a statement as outlandish as the claim that the government blew up the levees in New Orleans. He actually has succeeded in making Kanye West's insanity pail by comparison. Why do people listen to this nonsense? Do they actually believe that President Bush used Katrina as an excuse to wash way the poor blacks from New Orleans so that a new whiter New Orleans could be rebuilt? I fear that they actually do believe this. There exists such an ingrained distrust that what might appear to a white guy like myself as patently false, is easily accepted by others. Take for example this week's episode of House. Dr. Eric Foreman (has anyone else found that name funny?) played by Omar Epps attempts to prescribe an older black gentleman (played by Charles Robinson better known as Mac from Night Court) a medication that is known to treat the blood chemistry of African Americans better than other medication used to treat white guys like me. The gentleman objects and just about calls Dr. Foreman and Uncle Tom. The next day he returns to see if another doctor will give him the white pills. House wants to give him what he really needs, but has to resort to tricking him into taking what he thinks is the white pills which are in fact the very medication that Foreman prescribed the day before. When Foreman learns what House did, he takes of on a self-righteous tirade nearly accusing House of racism. This is how difficult it is to communicate when some much cultural history and baggage gets in the way. Farrakhan and those who listen to his rantings find it all too easy to believe that the levees where blown up by Bush.

The Revenge of the Return of Shamgar or Fat Guys on a Diet

O.K. so it has been a while. In July I menitoned that August would be nuts for me and it has. So here are a few assorted thoughts from one assorted nut:

1) Mexico: The mission trip was fantastic. Th guys got alot out of it. One of the youth commented about thinking he had see ghetto until he saw TJ.

2) School: Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons you can find me in class. I occassionally feel very green and very overwhelmed, but if this is to be a valuable experience I guess I need to be really challenged.

3) Katrina: I hate to say it but by now I am actually sick of it. Let me qualify that statement. My heart is still breaking for all the people dealing with it to this day and beyond. I know people on the front lines helping out in LA and TX. What I have had my fill of is nonsensical comments by intellectual gnats like Celine Dion and Kanye West trying to sound smart or compassionate and instead exposing the fact that they cannot carry a coherent thought in a bucket. I hope to be out there in the summer to help rebuild. I also hope to not hear anymore crazy comments and finger pointing.

4) Fat Guy: I am on a diet. With the help of my wife, I have lost 8 pounds this go around and am actually under 2 bills for the first time in years. I am just about 20 pound lighter than when we got married. Funny, I didn't think it was supposed to work that way. Andrea is a great cook and I think is finally getting me to eat with at least some intellegence.

I think that hits the highlights. If not I will be back to rant again.

The renaming game

Off and on this evening I have been trying to watch a documentary on VH1 called "Tracking the Monster." The documentary is intended to provide information on the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The statistics are staggering, but unfortunately that is not the only thing that has jumped out at me. Part of the documentary follows Ashley Judd as she learns and explores the reality of life in Madagascar. What caught my attention and just will not let go was Ashley's continuing use of the term "Commercial Sex Worker" for a prostitute. This to me is worse that calling a car "pre-owned." What drives me nuts is that this maybe a great show and critical information that the world needs to know. However why can't Ashley avoid such a silly use of political correctness. Why do we have to create such elaborate new terms to avoid the obvious truth of who or what someone of something is. I understand that they are trying to stress that these "sex workers" have few other options with which to care for their families, but this does not change what they are doing. Even in Holland, legalized prostitution is still prostitution. Have compassion. Demonstrate love. Offer help. Just don't distract from the truth by using language tricks. If the documentary is all about showing the true face of the monster that is AIDS then the entire face needs to be shown, not just the parts that VH1 wants to show.

No dig up stupid!

Just a little note as I struggle to keep my mind on my homework. No actually I am taking a snack break and figured that since I will not likely have a chance to note anything here in the next few weeks I might want to explain what all I am hip deep in. I had most of my Friday off and really none of Saturday and I will not be off again until Aug. 11. In the meantime, Vacation Bible School starts tomorrow moring and runs each morning this week. In the middle of that I have a Mexico Mission Trip to prepare for that starts on Saturday, yes, the day after VBS ends. I am also finishing up planning for a beach camping retreat for college students in the District. Then I have my homework that I am currently not doing. On the plus side, my congregation stepped out in faith today and restored staff salaries to their previous levels even though they are currently behind on the budget as it was reduced. This is daring, but faithful. They are not blindly trusting, but acting in faith that they as a church can, with the strength of Christ Jesus, support the ministry that they have as a congregation been placed in Huntington Beach to carry out. And now back to work.

See you in Canton Tim!

I shoot you in the name of Jesus!

I was taking a look around church web-sites for ideas for an up-cooming seminar our church is putting on for web-ministry and I ran across this oddity. Is there really a way that you can shoot someone in a distinctly Christian manner why playing paintball? Are church membership record checked when you enter the park? I was half joking last week with my father-in-law about creating a paintball park on his land outside of William, AZ, but now that I have seen this maybe I should take the idea just a bit more seriously. Check it out further at http://www.promisedland.com.

Stuck in the middle

While on a spiritual retreat this weekend (Danny a more detailed review of Cursillo will follow after Andrea is safely off to her weekend and way from internet access) is was again struck by the interesting place the DCE (Director of Christian education) profession has in the LCMS or the larger Christian community for that matter. Unlike many church bodies, the Baptists for example, the LCMS did not turn to a youth pastor concept in response the the youth ministry movement of the mid 20th Century. Rather than formulating a division of the pastoral ministry, the LCMS developed a division of the teaching ministry in creating the DCE. As a modified teacher, the DCE is more based in education ministry than the pastoral ministry of the Baptist youth pastor. Training events put on in the larger Christian community for youth ministry are always just a bit of a variance for the generalist DCE to recontextualize for their own ministry.

Now why I say that we as DCE's are stuck in the middle grows out of my reflection in trying to figure out my place in the scheme of things on this spiritual retreat, and the parallels to the LCMS church polity. The standard categories used to distinguish shepherd from the flock, are clergy and laity. I cannot say that I find myself very comfortable with either being applied to myself. I am a DCE not a pastor and as such, though IRS would put me in the clergy category, LCMS does not. On the other hand I am in ministry, not in the sense of Luther's priesthood of all believers, but in the professional, vocational, called sort of way. So there I sit, listening to both pastoral and lay talks on this weekend, wondering where do I fit, where does the DCE fit. The LCMS gives a vote to congregations in convention in two forms, one vote from the clergy per congregation and one vote from the laity per congregation, and once again there is the DCE (and other church workers) wondering about their place in the whole scheme of things.

I have heard and read arguments that would restrict all ministry to the pastoral office. That would go so far as to claim that there is not other proper Biblical office. I have heard and read arguments that place all church professions on an even footing, almost entirely removing any clergy/laity distinction. I find both views to be lacking and unsatisfying. And I remain in the middle wondering. No answers thus far, just questions.

Man Hands of Another Kind

Just as Jerry was once worried about man hands, at first glance you might think that Ben Affleck should be worried and then some. In an article about Ben and Jen part 2 getting married looking for the rock might get you more than you bargained for.

Kool-Aid Man Gets Pants

This is the Kool-Aid Man that I recall from childhood and one random appearance on Family Guy. However tonight I saw a commercial in which Kool-Aid Man makes an appearance in baggy shorts. Is this comporable to adding a fig leaf to David? Is this censorship? Does Kool-Aid Man suddenly have something to hide? What's next the Michelin Man in a suit?

Off to Flagstaff

Andrea and I will be out of town for the next few days. We leave Friday for a long weekend with her Dad and family in Flagstaff, AZ. We will get back late on Wednesday. I will just be in town for, what might not even amount to 24 hours and will be off again for the Men's Cursillo Weekend, a spiritual retreat. So, it will not be until a week from Monday that I will really be "in" in town.

Another Schaus

For those of you who know Nate and Liz Schaus you might like to know that they sent out a general announcement today that they are expecting their third child. They already have both a boy and and a girl. If you want to wish them congratulations and don't have their e-mail address just e-mail me and I will get you the contact information that I have.

My head hurts

I was listening to a commercial on the radio as I returned to work this afternoon from my final at Talbot. The spot was for MSN music downloads or something like that. I really was not paying too close of attention. They were offering 5 free downloads if you pay $0.99 for one. The deal seemed interesting so I started to pay attention more. I was sure there would be a catch. Sure the verbal small print first confirmed my suspicion then hurt my head. The limit is that this offer is good only one per customer. That makes sense. The limitation that made me hurt however was the phrase "while supplies last." Tell me if I am missing anything, but how could you run out of a download. What are you going to try to download B.Y.O.B. by System of a Down and have a pop-up tell you that they are all out but that if you like you can have Jessica Simpson's remake of the "These Boots are Made for Walking"?