IndyStar Story

At Sunday Service 2 is better than 1
Methodist and Lutheran congregations worship together for unity and cooperation
Clikc here for complete story

Here's why I hate it when the ELCA makes news. Suddenly, because it is known I'm a Lutheran I am doing the things that ELCA is supposedly doing, I get a little tired of explaining to people the differences between the ELCA and LCMS.

I think it was Saturday there was a big article in the Indystar all about the a Hindu temple that has been built and will dedicated sometime soon. Its location? On German Church Rd... I just started to chuckle about that.

Click here for the Kinkstah!

The Newest 'Nival is Up and Runnin

Go ahead, you know you want to read the inciteful Lutheran Carnival... The Terrible Swede is the host this week.

It is Finished....

It has taken me over a year and a half, but I have read the Bible from cover to cover. I started way back in July of 2004 and I just finished reading Revelation this evening. My father was doing a vacation fill-in for a pastor about 30 miles away from here for two Sundays and I went along for the ride and the experience. There were two services, so I would go to the first one and then sit in the car and listen to the radio, but I brought my Bible with me. I found myself getting bored so I started reading Genesis one Sunday and I just kept reading.

I didn't read a chapter a day or anything like that, but I tried to be consistant with my reading. I tried, and usually succeeded, in reading before bed or in the afternoon before work three or four times a week. Sometimes I'd end up reading just a page, or a few verses, sometimes I'd read whole sections and once or twice I found myself reading whole books (granted they were usually the smaller books at the end of each testament, but still...)

It has been quite a journey. A lot happens to a person in a year and half. I have grown in my faith and stronger in my convictions for Christ. I feel more comfortable when I proclaim Christ and this is a good thing. This blog has changed tone in the last year and a half, and I think that my Bible reading had something to do with that-- I needed some place that would let me "wrap my brain" around the things I was reading, this blog kind of, sort of was that place. Through the course of writing here I have found others of faith and I am edified in their writings and faith and am challenged to rework, relook, and re-evaluate my faith:true blessings from God, for sure.

The Bible is an amazing book, as funny as that might sound, but it really is. At times it is almost a bodice ripper at others it is a hard-boiled slasher book and at others it is a beautiful book of poetry. It has been interesting to see "Middendorf's Bow Tie" be fleshed out in my mind-- Middendorf's bow tie is the way Dr. Middendorf, a professor of mine viewed the Bible. He said it was like a bow tie, the Bible starts out wide in Genesis, narrows as it gets to the New Testement and then starts to widen again around Acts or so as the Word of God is spread to all nations.

There are things that I read that I don't understand (I'll have to talk about Revelation sometime). There were somethings I found scary and others I found gut wrenching, but through it all my faith grew. Daniel is an important book for me; in Daniel I can read prophecy and in my history books I can see the prophecy fulfilled. The Song of Solomon opened my eyes to something I'd never thought of before-- God's love is more than just Father to child love, it is the love of lovers... SoS was a love play, God trying to woo us.

James is still a very important book to me. That is often a good old metaphysical and spiritual two by four to the noggin.

I think that Paul was writing to me, I think he should of started all of his letters "Dear Karl" and continue on with "boy, do I have something to tell you!" I found myself getting lost a few times with Paul, though. Sometimes his ideas went too far, or too fast, and many times I just couldn't keep up intellectually.

I don't think I'll be building any temples any time soon, I don't think they make rulers with cubits any more.

I'm still trying to figure out how one guy can kill thousands upon thosands of people with a jaw bone of a donkey. Speaking of donkeys... if a donkey ever started talking to me, I do believe I'd run away, at least freak out.

Luke and Acts are amazing books. Talk about history! Wow!

I found myself getting lost in John's Gospel in the poetic language.

I found great comfort in the Epistles of Paul and the minor prophets of the OT were fascinating.

In short, I'm glad I did this. I need to do it again and again and again, over and over again.

The Kinkstah is on the tonight show wit Leno.



He's legit...

vote Kinky(if you can-- that is if you live in Texas)

When It Clicked

I read the book Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller. I read it after in the space of about three weeks I had about 12 different people say something about it. Working in a bookstore I notice that it sells rather well, but it was my friend Dana who is studying for some high-falootin math or science degree (with a minor in literature) at University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska that finally got me to read the book. I'm glad I did. I read it quickly, probably too quickly, matter of fact I know I read it too quickly (I'm going to go back and reread it with a highlighter in hand).

There were many things in the book that I really related to. One of the things that he kept talking about was,as I like to call it "quantifying God." You may not believe this, particularly if you read this blog with any regularity, but I tend to think too much. I have done that since I was a teenager. I can remember lying in bed at night as I tried to go to sleep and think about thinks such as "what's on the other side of space," or "how can God be?" and "what does eternity really mean?" I was, I suppose, a very rookie (neo-phyte-esque) wanna-be philosopher. I had an image in my head of a big billboard like sign at the end of the Universe that said "The end of space, beware, angels fear to tread."

I often wondered if I was "normal" in my thought processes as I tried to wrap my brain around the whole God-thing. It was around this time that my faith started to slip. I was, and I think I've written about this elsewhere, what I term a "stand up, sit down Christian." I knew when to stand up, I knew when to sit down, I knew when to sing and I knew when to say "amen." I was, in short, a "rote" Christian, who happened to know the liturgy frontwards and backwards. Basically I was saying the words, but there wasn't much behing them.

Fast forward a couple years and remove me from Maryland and plop me down in (the great state of) Texas. Suddenly I find myself in a very Lutheran environment. I got "drafted" by my RA Dana to interview to be a camp counselor at Camp Lone Star. That is where I started to get some of my doubts and questions answered. I didn't so much go out and ask these questions as just kind of hung back and waited for answers.

I know the exact moment that I finally got the "God-thing."

I was blessed to work at Camp Lone Star for four summers, 1996,1997, 1998, and 1999. For two or three of those summers I was employed as a lifeguard. One of the duties I had to perfom was to 'guard the lake. I never particularly liked 'guarding the lake because I never quite felt a hundred percent comfortable down there watching the kids swim and bob around. I found myself taking headcounts every five minutes, I was always more nervous about the lake, the pool wasn't so nerve racking, the pool was much smaller than the lake. I may not have liked 'guarding the lake, but I relished the downtime at the lake.

I am a bit of a loner by nature. I usually find my company much more enjoyable than the company of others. One day I was at the lake by myself and nothing was happening. I was waiting for a group or something. It wasn't one of those hot, sticky, "I-hate-Texas-weather" kind of days. It was beautiful and there was a slight breaze in the air. The sky was a perfect blue, not a cloud in the sky. It was, to be quite honest, a sublime day. I knew in my hear that that was going to be the most beautiful day I would experience, probably ever in my lifetime. I remember sitting on the dock just diggin on the scene, breathing deeply and kind of meditating. I remember saying outloud "this would be an absolutely perfect scene if there was a hawk floating over those trees..." I don't know if God heard me, or if it was just a coincidence, but shortly there after a hawk flew around the tree tops, its wings wide, it floated on the thermals, circling. I have pictures of it somewhere.

That was the day that God and I really got down on the same page, if you will. I really felt his presence-- I had a silent communion with Him and His creation.

As I read Blue Like Jazz, I could really relate to many of the things he had to say, but there seemed to be an underlying theme of "I have to do something to earn this..." and that caused me some consternation (well, that and the fact that book was a bit unevenly written, and could be quite choppy at times).

I'm sure I'll have more to say about this in later entries.

I think the next book I shall read is Mere Christianity.

Full Throttle Steelers... to win Superbowl XL!

Today was a good day.
Its time clip some Seattle Seahawk wings!
I'll be waving my Terrible Towel something fierce next Sunday.

!

Fear this man "THA WHEELS ONNA BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND... ROUND AND ROUND... ROUND AND ROUND..." He's hungry... its time...


And this guy... he's every where; (I think he's a cat..

WELS Woman

I had a strange experience tonight at work that I think fits well with this whole Lutheran-blog-sphere thing we got going on here. This lady walked up to the customer service desk this evening and said she was looking for some information about Lutherans and Luther. Well, my ears perked right up and asked her what kind of stuff she wanted, which, believe it or not was not the right thing to ask. She launched into a disjointed explanation of why she became a Lutheran (she was a Catholic for 50 sum years). She talked non-stop for almost 20 minutes (or more, I actually lost track of time)... I tried to interrupt her a few times to find out exactly what she wanted, but she just continued her diatribe.

It seems that her husband and she had converted from Catholicism to Lutheranism Wisconsin Synod (WELS) variety, I'm not sure how she got involved with the WELS congregation. She didn't seem too pleased with it, I think they were a bit conservative for her taste (hmmm, shocking! *chuckles*). Anyway it seems that they were disenchanted by the Catholic church for many, many years. She said "I didn't leave the Catholic church the left me decades ago." Sadly, though, her husband got sick and died right around the time of the Conversion (her words and emphasis). She actually started to break up at this point, she said that her husband was afraid that he would die a "sinner" because he had left the Catholic church, I told her that was untrue (I tried to say more, but I couldn't get a word in edgewise) she told me that she got her pastor (she kept saying a Pastor Schultz, or Scholts, or something like that) to go to the hospital and let make her husband understand he would be in God's grace.

She said that she had gone through the new member class, but that there wasn't enough information. She wanted more, and she complained that it seems that Lutheran churches don't have the books memebers need, "Catholic churches have bookstores in the back of the churches..." Once, I finally figured out that she wanted books on Lutheran Theology, I told her about the Reader's edition of the Book of Concord, she got real excited about that, but was a bit disappointed when I told her that it was out of stock until March. I can't order it through work, so I gave her Concordia Publishing House's web address. I also encouraged her to buy a copy of Self-Study Bible when she told me she only had a Catholic Bible.

This woman wore me out. I could tell, though that she was excited about the gospel message she was getting from the WELS church. She did say somethings that concerned me though, I can't confirm this, but she said that she WELS looked down on Girl Scouting and Boy Scouting. I was shocked! I told her that many LCMS congregations support troops for scouting. Then she started nattering on about other things, I couldn't keep up, besides I have to be careful about conversations I get into when I'm on the clock. I finally, got myself disengaged from this lady and sent her on her way with a small stack of reading recommendations.

The very NEXT customer, another woman, came up and asked me "Do you have any books about numerology?" I wanted to scream. I showed her the books she wanted and then went and took a break.

Blue Faith

Sunday morning, 9:41 to be exact. I've been reading and drinking my second cup of coffee. The book I've been reading in my my new chair and listening to a Charlie Parker cd. The cd choice seems appropriate for the book I am reading: Blue Like Jazz. I have had about three or four people in the last couple weeks tell how good the book is. The topper was earlier in the week when a girl I know who is going to school at the University of Nebraska told me how much she liked it. I had called her to chat and tell her I was sending her a book (Confederacy of Dunces) and then we started to talk about books. I broached the subject about Blue Like Jazz and asked her if she had read it, she said she had and was surprised when I admitted that I hadn't. I'd picked it up a couple times and read the first couple pages, but never really sat down and got into it. I bought it last night.

It is interesting to read because my own thoughts and feelings about faith can "dig" on what he is saying in the book. I don't think I have had what I can characterize as a "mountain top experience" in my Christian faith, but I have a couple of very strong "sublime" experiences where I truly felt the presence of God in the midst of everything.

I don't agree with everything Don Miller has written theologically, but I don't think that this that kind of book. It is not appologetics, it is a faith story. I'm not sure that faith stories have room for apologetics. Maybe they do. But I'm sold on that idea as yet. I think I've talked around my faith story and given some clues into it, but I'm not sure I have ever really written it down here, might have, but if I dd it was a long time ago. As I read this book I found myself thinking more abot my own faith life and story. Its not that exciting, but it is very personal. I've shared with people before (mainly teenagers who are not quite "there" and are searching for something).

Right now, though, I need to get ready for church. I need that faith fill-up.

Leather Chair

Two weeks ago I bought a leather chair. I have a small "bookroom" that doubles as an extra bedroom when we have company. My bookroom is one of my favorite places to be. When I have had a stressful day or just need to think something through I find myself going in there and perusing my books. I have had a variety of chairs in there and there is a bed that is against the wall that has a multitude of pillows on it so it has kind of turned into a defacto sofa, of sorts, but the chairs that I have tried in there and the "sofa" have never really done much for me. So, two weeks ago I decided to look into a good reading chair.

I have always jonesed for a leather chair. When I was looking at colleges I remember going into a professors office and seeing a nice big comfy leather sofa and I was instantly smitten by the idea of having an office with a leather chair in it (I don't remember exactly which school it was, but I think I might of been Con-You Bronxville). I didn't end up going to Bronxville (for a variety of reasons) but the idea of a leather chair stuck with me.

I finally found a chair (and ottoman) that fit my budget and purchased them from one of the local department stores. The chair and ottoman arrived yesterday and I sat in it pretty much all day reading. It is wonderful. My "bookroom" is offically complete (only took three years).

Clinton Redux (click on the pics)

Way back in June of '05 former President Bill Clinton came to the bookstore I work in and signed his book. It was a crazy day, I mean just nuts: he signed over 700 books in two hours (his secret is this: he is left handed so, he is able to sign a book and shake a hand at the same time) I'll be the first to admit that even though I didn't agree with many (if any) of his policies, it was still quite an amazing thing to be in the same room as a former president. I can still remember the feeling I had when I first saw him... it bordered on shock. There was the man that I saw on television and in the newspaper for eight years of my life. I shook his hand and then, like everyone else in the picture, listened intently as he talked about the books he liked after he got done signing his book-- I have a signed copy on my shelf.) He likes non-fiction and spy-like novels.

It was a hot day, I mean really hot. Much too hot to be wearing a suit and tie. I learned that the Secret Service doesn't mess around. I found myself going in and out of the store a couple times and everytime I came back in I had to get frisked. I wanted to tell them "Look, fellas, I didn't like the man, but I'm not going to off him." I figured using the words "off" and "President" in the same sentence would not be a good thing...

I totally understood how Bill Clinton won two terms after seeing him and listening to him and being in the same room with him won two terms, whether you like it or not he is charsmatic and without realizing it, you fall for him. Weird.

In case you're wondering, I am in the back row, third from the right, next to the black guy.

Just Your Friendly, Neighborhood, Full Throttlin Bookpusher...

Tonight, while I was working, I made a swing through the kid's department. I always enjoy going into the kids department (particularly when there aren't any kids in said department) and look at the books. I particularly like the picture books. I noticed this one tonight. I figgered ol Aardie hisself might like to take a gander at it. Its a cute book actually.

Speaking of being a bookseller, or as I like to call myself a "bookpeddler..." I get a kick out of people who come into the store and get all teary eyed and say "Oh, I would loooooooove to have your job. I would never get anything done and I wouldn't have a paycheck... it must be nice to read all day..." I feel like I have a V8 moment and I just want to laugh at them. and then I realize that I, too, felt that way many moons ago. Being a bookpusher really isn't that bad. I get tired of people walking in and saying "I'm looking for a book?" (It is always in the form of an uptalk "statement") and then they add my ultimate favorite phrase "but I don't remember the name of the arthor..." (its never an "author" its always "arthor") "... or the name of the book." Then the I get to say "Describe the cover?" Nine times out of ten they'll say "It was blue and it's brand new, it was just published." Six out of ten times the book is more than three years old and its invariably red. But you'd be surprised after some careful questioning and simple "jog the memory" questions I can usually figure out where they heard about it. More often than not they heard about the book either on a show on NPR, Oprah, or the Today show.

It does get tiring sometimes having to figure out exactly what the customer wants. I feel like giving them a kick in the ass and a quarter so they can buy a clue, but instead I walk them to the section, take the book of the shelf, hand the book to them, and in my sweetest voice possible ask them if they need anything else (in the back of my mind I hear a voice say "go ahead, punk, make my day") and then the transaction ends no fuss and no muss... until I get back to the customer service desk and someone says "I'm looking for a book? I don't know the arthor or the title, but it was just published... can you help me?" And away we go, round and round, the sick, psycho circus....


I read mainly non-fiction, with a stray fiction here and there thrown in for good measure. I stick with history and biography. Every once and a while, I'll dip into some theology, but I find that stuff to be fairly dry. I read poetry, too. I have a natural curiosity so I'll find myself skimming just about anything. Right now, I'm reading this book. I'm enjoying it. I'm about half way through. I'm reading it on my breaks. This one is on my list to read soon. I started it when it first came out, but my father told me he wanted to buy it for me for Christmas, so I stopped reading it so I could read it after I got it. I'm also reading this book. It started out really good, but its starting to drag... I'm going to force myself to finish it, though.

I like talking about books and telling people about books. We all have our crosses to bear... lol

Flying my Colors

I have officially had a blood transfusion. I will now bleed Crimson and Cream. I have officially become an Indiana Hoosier fan and bought my colors today. A couple t-shirts, a sweat shirt and a hat. Go Hoosiers.

Miss Sherrah Strikes Again

You absolutely must read this post. Its a couple weeks old, but I find myself reading it over and over again. It is just so funny and, well, there is a certain aspect of truth to it. When I first read the post I laughed, but I found myself thinking seriously about what she wrote. A great post by great lady. Go say to Miss Sherrah.

Lutheran Carnival is a Go-Go

Chaz, over at Drowning Myself Wherever I Can has posted Lutheran Carnival XV. Go check it out and thank the brotha for taking care of it this week.

Call it a Heads Up

My "sources" tell me that the next Oprah Book is Night, by Elie Wiesel. If you got it, throw it on Ebay, maybe you can make yourself some cash.

Full Throttle Faith

I have just finished reading Hebrews, it is because of that book that I decided I needed to read the whole Bible from beginning to end. More specifically it is because of Hebrews 11 that caused me to devote the last year and half to reading (at times plodding) through the Word of God. I counted the word "faith" used in Hebrews 11 at least 22 or 23 times. And as I read that chapter I understood it more, I knew who the people (patri and matri-arches) were. I had heard of them before, but I didn't know who they were and what they had done. As I read through the chapter my travels through the old testement were refreshed and I was able to "get it."

Faith is defined this way in Hebrews 11: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." It is defined this way in my American Heritage Dictionary: "A confident belief; trust." Here is what Wikipedia says about faith. And, because I want to be thorough, here is what Oxford English Dictionary says about faith. My definition is this: having confidence in something that is not provable,. I suppose I could prove why the sky is blue, or why the grass is green, but I can't necessarily prove that that there is a God, I believe there is, but I can't prove it.

Faith to me, though, is much like a pilot light or bunsen burner (hence the pictures); it burns brighter sometimes and not so bright other times. I often ask myself "Loof, how's your faith today?" And sometimes I have to answer: "not too bright." Other times, I can answer "burning bright and hot." Lately, it has been burning somewhere between the two. Its giving off heat and light, but not enough to read by or keep my feet warm, if you get my meaning. I'm not sure why. The Lord continues to bless me daily. My basic needs are met and I am surrounded by people who care and love me. My prayer life is strong, but the old Faith light has dimmed a bit. Today, though, it is different.

I never thought much about my Faith until about six years ago; I had been student teaching, but had a "breakdown." Basically I had had a nervous breakdown in the classroom and withdrew from student teaching halfway through (five weeks away from completion). I was exhausted and it just wasn't going well. I was student teaching in Houston and I had to go to Austin to officially withdraw. For some reason, I had it in my mind that I had to be on campus by 11 so I could go to the Chapel service. I just had to be there so I left early and got to Austin with about five minutes to spare. That day was going to be instrumental to my faith base. Rev. John Nunez was the preaching that day and I believe that it is because of him that I am still a Christian (let alone a Lutheran) to this day. I was, to be honest, at the bottom of my faith barrell... he gave a homily that day that literally found me and turned me around. He based his message on Psalm 23 verse 4: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." And through those words he spoke directly to me. I am sure that there were other people in the chapel that day, I'm sure of it, but I don't remember any one there, but me. If there was ever a day that I needed the Lord to grab me by the ear and guide me it was that day. Rev. Nunez helped me get back on a footing that was solid. Right around this time I read this:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you...”

and my pilot light/bunsen burner faith glowed brighter. Not only was my selfworth somewhat restored, but the knowledge (through faith) that God was with me and, as I like to say, "had my back" I was able to keep going. Those were dark days for yours truly. If ever I needed a liferaft to keep afloat in the great sea it was then. But the Lord blessed me and kept me, he lead me through the valley of shadows. I was made stronger. And therein was Rev. Nunez's message. I was a living example, a living, breathing object lesson.

His point was this: the key word to that whole sentence is "through." You will come out on the other side. It might seem rough while you are in the "valley," if you will, but you have to go down into a valley to appreciate the view from the mountain top. That valley of student teaching was a deep and scary one, but I did come through it and, I believe, stronger because of it.

This is Just Too Funny for Words

This is the best blonde joke of all time, period.

Thanks to Cyberstones

One of these days I am going to go to worship here and I am going to sign their guest book "The Disgruntled World Citizen." I get more traffic to my blog from their little spot in the blogosphere than any place else. And the fact that this little blog is under their heading of "blogs we like" is something of great pride. It keeps me on my toes.

So, thanks to cyberstones and Rev. Peterson for the support.

Yes, Indeed

Quiet Contemplation

There is something incredibly satisfying about lying in bed on a Sunday morning, listening to the sound of nothing. Its just me and the cat and the cat is sitting by the window looking out. I lie in bed with a pillow over my eyes listening to nothing, praying here and there, but mainly just reflecting about who it is I am and how I became that way. the cat meows softly to the window, a bird, or something must have caught his attention. i roll over, breath deep and sigh, pull the pillow away from my eyes to look at the time. I still have some, so I can continue to lay in bed and contemplate whatever it is I want to contemplate. The pillow goes over my eyes again, that sweet, soft darkness and a deep breath again. This is comfort and peace, I need this right now. This is cleansing to me right now. The world is out there and I am safe. The world is just as I am, but right now, these few minutes before I rouse myself I and The World don't mix, nor see eye to eye. This is almost meditation. Its not laziness, it is preperation a mental reboot and cleaning. I check the clock, again. Its time, now to face the world. I don't want to, I'd rather stay here, but I can't. My week's worth of Old Adam needs to be cleaned. I need spiritual renewal. That's just as important as physical renewal through sleep and relaxation.

Calvinball Anyone?

Over the past holiday season we had a contest at work. The contest was simply this: sell as many Discount Cards as possible.

Now, the trick was this: its tough to sell them from the floor, its not that hard to sell them (okay, yeah it is, but its easier) at the cash registers. So the "powers that be" came up with a solution. For every one we sold on the floor we got five points and every one that was sold at the cash register was one point. The first prize was a fifty dollar gift card.

At the beginning of the season we got the huge Calvin & Hobbes complete three book set w/slipcase and I immediately started jonesin on it. I wanted it, but I knew that at 150 clams I wouldn't be able to afford it, so I found myself working inordinately hard to win the above contest. Hey, fifty bucks is fifty bucks and I knew that the only way I could afford that set was with that gift card, so I became a selling machine. I actually kind of scared myself, I didn't know I was such a good "saleman," if you will. Long story short: I won. I have the little plastic gift card in my wallet and since tomorrow is payday Calvin and Hobbes will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

Hoo-ah! Hook 'em, Baby!

(Thanks to The Aardvark for the image-- I stole it fair and square).

That was a great Rose Bowl matter of fact it might have restored my faith in college football. Much to the consternation of some of my friends back in Texas (they are Texas A&M fans) I slowly became a Longhorn fan. I vasilated between the two schools, but I gave my alliegance to the 'horns. I really started following 'Horn football once I moved to Indiana.

I wore my burnt orange UT baseball cap last night loud and proud. USC, who?

Thank GOD! to Anger @ the News Media

It is 129 am. I just saw online and then confirmed via CNN that 12 our of 13 miners were found ALIVE in West Virginia. Prayers answered!

I wrote the above sentence last night just before bed. I was thrilled! Amazing! I went to bed with a heavy heart that one miner had died, but was exalted by the fact that 12 had lived, but then, I woke up this morning turned on the television to see some news and the news was a 180 degrees different than last night. 12 dead, one alive. My hear broke for those families that had been given false hope and "my nose flared" at the media.

In this world of instant gratification and in your face news reporting the littlest nugget of news suddenly becomes the truth. There is no time to check facts, just go with it.

I feel like throwing something.