Erik's Super Awesome Weblog

SERMON UPDATE!!!!

2011-09-01T10:46:00.003-05:00

Got behind again with posting sermons. So, here are a bunch, with a tidbit from each. There is no 5th Sunday after Pentecost Sermon as I was on Vacay for my sis' wedding.

Sermon Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Some times the works of Christ wear upon us, the anxieties of all that must be done overwhelm, and we weep for those who die. But, the lives we change shine greatly. The crosses we bear into weary places lift other crosses. Our giving of ourselves leads to others new lives. The giving of Christ's life leads to new life for all.

Sermon Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

When we declare Jesus as Messiah, as the one who frees us, it puts us to work. We are free, to serve. We are free, and mission begins. In communion we are fed, and we go out to nourish. We are freed from the chaos of sin, so that we can go out into the chaos of those hurting around us showing them the messiah that frees them.

Sermon Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

In this text we are that woman afraid and concerned about the welfare of her child and the world around us, afraid when people insult us and tell us we are not worthy, tell us that we are not the ones Christ is sent to. And in this text Christ gives us a crumb, all that is needed. But, Christ does not stop, for now we are that crowd, and Christ feeds us and even though only a crumb would suffice, Christ now gives us the hunger filling bread of life and the thirst quenching wine of compassion. Where Christ's mission was only to a few, with grace sufficient for all, now Christ's mission is to all nations, still with grace overflowing.

Sermon Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Jesus may send us into the waves of life, into the storms of chaos that surround us, but when he does so, Jesus sends us out together, in the boat of the church, united in Christ's Death and Resurrection. And when, not if, we think we know better, we get out of the boat, heading out on our own path, the storms overwhelm us, and we sink. Immediately, as we sink, Jesus reaches out to us. Jesus reaches into the storms of life, into the waves which pressure us, the winds that buffet us, and gives us calm and brings us back into the fold, back into the boat.

Sermon Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Christ's feast is a place where all are equal and all are welcome, where we will not be sent home because there is not enough. It is a place where we do not have to whole in order to feast, a place where we do not need to pay in order to eat. It is a place where Christ takes a few loaves of ordinary bread and through them does wonders. Christ does such great wonders with ordinary people like us, like those around us, like those in the rest of the ELCA, and all Christians throughout the world. Through being fed in simple abundance we have the strength to show that the love of Christ is enough for all the world.

Sermon Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Our expectations tell us that we have work to do, that we have to plant the correct seeds, that we have bread to make, and we fail at those things. Our expectations are dashed, destroyed, devoured. And to that God tells us, I love you, nothing can take that love away from you. God takes the little that we are capable of doing, things so small that we cannot even see them, places where we think we have failed and creates abundance from them. God takes our expectations and exceeds them beyond our very comprehension.

Sermon Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

In this parable what we learn of God is that God sows. God sows, and sows and sows and sows. God never stops sowing. And with wild abandon, God seems to not be concerned about where the seed lands, just that it is spread. God throws the seed of the word to every corner that we can hide ourselves. Sometimes it does not connect with us at that moment, at times when we may be on rocky soil, or on the path, but at the time when we need it the most, when we sit on good soil, it stays and grows within us, bringing forth life abundantly. Every time we read the word, every time we receive the bread and wine, every time we feel a curious twitch run through us, every moment of every moment. God sows into us grace. God sows into us love.

Whole Bunch of Sermons

2011-05-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

dang, I'm behind.

I just posted 4 sermons on Fidgeting so here's a little guide to them and a highlight.

Maundy Thursday

Jesus, gets up from the table during dinner, either about to give his body and blood, or has just given it, and takes a towel. He takes a basin of clean, clear water, and washes the disciples feet. He washes these travelers feet, these feet that are caked with dirt, beaten and broken, cuts, scars and bruises on them. These are no pretty manicured feet, but feet of pain, feet of discomfort. The water that started clear will come out dark, unable to even be seen through. Jesus does not just get into the nice parts of the disciples lives, but into the very muck they tread through.

Jesus in washing the disciples feet cleans their soles, in more ways than one.

Easter Sunday

When I was younger I would watch the PBS kids show Lamb Chop's Play Along, the closing song of it was “This is the song that never ends.” Which I'm sure my parents and many other parents were really glad they taught to small children who really would sing it never-ending, such as myself. I know I had it in my head for a solid 20 minutes while working on this.

But that song that never ends is our story. Our story never ends because Jesus' impact in his death and resurrection never ends.

We just have to see that never ending story. When Mary and Mary were looking for Jesus, they did not find him. When they ran excited to tell about Jesus, he found them. It is in the times when we are living in the story of Christ, filled with our baptismal calling, that Jesus will find us, and show us his presence in this world.

Second Sunday of Easter

Jesus has Thomas touches his wounds. That's amazing. It wraps the incarnation (Christmas), the crucifixion (Good Friday) and the resurrection (Easter) all into one. Jesus is still human, he is the fully God, fully Human who came to us at Christmas, and he is still the crucified one, he still has the wounds he received on the Cross, that was not negated, but overcome, and through those two things we know he is risen completely. In one move Jesus has declared to us all we need to know. He has taken the incarnation, the crucifixion, and the resurrection and wrapped them in, with and around each other. For their importance is always interlocked and intertwined.

Third Sunday of Easter

In our text the two on the road walk slowly, plodding, Mary at the tomb is fearful and grieving, the disciples are hiding in a room grieving and fear for their lives. All of these appearances are to people who are full of grief, they have followed this man they thought to be messiah everywhere. They cannot recognize Jesus, because they cannot see him. They are so full of grief that they cannot recognize Jesus who they love.

Merritt continues with her answer.

… is this passage telling us something about us? Is it showing us the nature of grief and how disorienting it can be? Kathryn Johnston, a pastor at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, explained her answer in a tweet to me this way, “When grief and the dark of the valley engulf you, you cannot even see Jesus in front of your face. He’s there. Just. keep. walking.”

When we need Jesus to reveal himself to us, he will show up, he will take our grief and enlighten our hearts.

Woman at the Well

2011-03-24T14:14:00.000-05:00

Who is it that we ignore and walk past?

Who is it that we know?

Who is it that we love?

Advent Reflection by Archbishop of Canterbury

2010-12-14T10:06:00.001-06:00

This is just fun!

2010-12-06T20:52:00.001-06:00

It Gets Better: Bishop Mark Hanson, ELCA

2010-10-28T19:06:00.001-05:00

A wonderful message expressing God's love for all of God's Children.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen

Barefoot in Jerusalem: Ana Sakni Hon...

2010-09-03T09:12:00.000-05:00

My friend Elly's first post on her new blog about her new life in Jerusalem working for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land.

Barefoot in Jerusalem: Ana Sakni Hon...: "These past weeks I have been waiting for the time to write a proper ‘first blog post’. I kept thinking the time would present itself. I ke..."

Poems

2010-02-10T22:59:00.001-06:00

I read these two poems at the Persistent Voice Poetry reading at Wartburg.

They speak a little to where I am at the moment.

Mother to Son

By Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

The Peace of Wild Things

BY WENDELL BERRY

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Recent Sermons at Fidgeting with the Word

2009-05-19T13:56:00.002-05:00

I just posted about a month and a half of sermons over at Fidgeting with the Word so I decided I would give a little link message here to ease reading.

Palm Sunday

Maundy Thursday

Easter Sunday

Fourth Sunday After Easter - Psalm 23

Fifth Sunday After Easter - Phillip and the Eunuch

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Congressmen Visit Gaza

2009-02-22T19:47:00.002-06:00

A Link from Congressman Brian Baird's congress website. Baird (D-Washington) and Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) just got back from visiting Gaza. Here is Baird's report.

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Gone Going (Gone)

2009-02-09T16:06:00.004-06:00

I don't know about you, but when I hear this song, I tend to pick up the last line of the chorus, "Gone people All awkward with their things Gone." I hear the song talking about the unnecessary spending that goes on today. About people who go out and buy "And cars and phones and diamond rings Bling, bling." This has been a trend that has died a little in the last year as more and more people became aware of their spending trends because of the economy.

I am a supporter of the Economic Policies of President Obama, and see that Government Spending in the right areas could help those who do not currently have the resources to spend their money get back into the economic loop.

One of the most often comparisons that people (read conservatives) have been making is that this stimulus package is a new New Deal and that in fact the New Deal was a failure that actually extended the recession of the 1929-33. But the recession was actually over in 1933, what they tend to be talking about is the unemployment rate returning to normal.

In an article found in the Guardian, a British Newspaper, Michael Tomasky talks about this issue, and how those who think this are wrong. Here are the last two lines of the article.

So the New Deal worked pretty doggone well. It didn't solve every problem. Yes, there are other legitimate criticisms to be made of Roosevelt. But the New Deal kept millions from starving and gave them jobs. And it generated economic activity – rural electrification, for example – that brought society tremendous benefit. And how might only tax cuts or doing nothing have done?
I can't believe we have to reargue these points. It's not that the Republicans don't know anything about economics. It's that they don't want to know anything about economics, and don't want to reckon with evidence. They have their ideology, chiseled into Pharaoh's obelisk, impervious to fact. How does one erase it?

Read the rest here.

Enjoy another version of the song rewritten with the Black Eyed Peas.

New Idea

2009-01-31T22:51:00.002-06:00

So, I have a new idea to maybe get me to blog more. I listen to music a lot, so I thought I would comment on what I am listening to and then go from there.

The idea started from my last post about the song, od yavo Shalom, Peace will come.

this one is short since it is late and I have not thought about it that much,

Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek

This is the album version on YouTube, I personally like it better than other versions, but it is being blocked from embedding into posts. So here is a live version.

Od yavo' Shalom

2009-01-28T10:18:00.002-06:00

This song was on a CD that was made during my time in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education, Chaplaincy Education). I have always enjoyed the song, and never knew the name of it. Today I decided to look up the meaning and the translation of the song.

I found that it was written as a peace song, and is now a anthem for peace between Israel and Palestine.

The combination of Hebrew Shalom (peace) and Arabic Salaam (peace) made me want to know the background of the song.

For more here is a Wikipedia Article on the Song.

Here is a good version of the song on Youtube.

#	English translation	Transliteration	Hebrew
1	Peace will come upon us	Od yavo' shalom aleinu	עוד יבוא שלום עלינו
2	Peace will come upon us	Od yavo' shalom aleinu	עוד יבוא שלום עלינו
3	Peace will come upon us	Od yavo' shalom aleinu	עוד יבוא שלום עלינו
4	and on everyone.	Ve'al kulam (x2)	ועל כולם

5	Salaam ('peace' in Arabic)	Salaam (Salaam)	סלאאם
6	On us and on all the world	Aleinu ve'al kol ha olam	עלינו ועל כל העולם
7	Salaam, Salaam	Salaam, Salaam (x2)	סלאאם ,סלאאם

Prayers

2009-01-20T14:53:00.003-06:00

Today we saw another peaceful transition of power in the United States. I feel that it is a great testament to the will of this nation, that despite our differences, and our often negative talk to each other, that we can move past that to understand that we must work together.

I heard two great prayers in the last two days. One today, from Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lawrey and one that was given, but not transmitted, yesterday by Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop in the Anglican Church.

Lawrey gave the benediction at the Inauguration.

Help us then now Lord to work for that day,
when nations will not lift up soil against nations.
When tanks will be beaten into tractors.
Where every man and every woman
shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree
and none should be afraid.
When justice will roll down like water,
And righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord in the memory of all the saints,
Who from their labors rest,
And in the joy of a new beginning.
We ask you to help us work for that day,
When black will not be asked to get back.
When brown can stick around,
When yellow will be mellow,
When the red man can get ahead man
And when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who will do justice
and love mercy say Amen!
Say Amen!
And Amen!”

Rev. Robinson's prayer was said during the national concert, but on by HBO, however the prayer was removed from the broadcast and rebroadcast of the concert. Here is the prayer:

O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…

Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.

Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.

And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.

Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

AMEN.

More info can be found here.

Christmas blurbs

2008-12-24T10:42:00.003-06:00

Hey all,

Christmas time blurbs,

Follow Santa at Norad.

My Friend Gloria's Internship church Gloria Dei created a free Music CD that is very good, a mix of devotional/worship music that can be listened to any time as well. It is called Hope for a Tree Cut Down. It can be found here.

I have two Christmas Eve Services that I am leading today, one at Faith Lutheran, and one at St. Luke. They are both candlelight services, I put together the Faith service myself, so hopefully it will go well.

My parents and sister are here for the week and then we will head up to my Grandparents for Christmas there. That will be fun, all the family except for two cousins will be there.

Laters, and Merry Christmas!

Erik

edit:fixed link to hope for a tree cut down

If we had some global warming

2008-12-18T23:10:00.002-06:00

Christmas Program Part 1

2008-12-15T14:46:00.002-06:00

Love Has Come: 2008 St. Luke Christmas Program

(Intern Erik, Joseph, and Mary come on Stage)

Intern Erik: This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man.

Joseph: I do not want to disgrace her, I will quietly break off the engagement.

(Joseph lays down to go to sleep)
(Head Angel comes on stage)
Narrator 3 (Pulpit): As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.' "

(Joseph wakes up)

Joseph: A message from God, I will do as the dream said.

(Joseph walks off stage)

Narrator 2 (Lectern): The Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, Greetings, favored woman, the Lord is with you! Don’t be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" And Mary gave praise to God.

Mary: Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For God made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.

Intern Erik: Welcome to the 2008 St. Luke Christmas Program, Love has Come. We have now begun the Christmas story, join us as we celebrate the rest with a bit of humor, laughter, and joy.

(all enter to center stage)
Song: Love Has Come #292 (Youth sing first verse, congregation join in last 2)
(All leave except Narrator at lectern, Caesar Augustus stage right, Joseph and Mary stage left)

Narrator 1 (Lectern): At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken when Quirinius (kwai-RIHN-e-us) was governor of Syria.

Augustus: I Decree!

(Augustus leaves, Mary and Joseph slowly walk to center stage as narrator speaks)

Narrator 1 (L): All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

Mary: Joseph, I feel that the baby is coming soon, we need to find a place to stay.

Joseph: Let us check that inn in Bethlehem. I figure that we will need suite with a king size bed.

(All come to center stage for song)
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem #279
(All leave except Innkeeper who meets Mary and Joseph at center stage)

Narrator 2 (Pulpit): She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

(Joseph and Innkeeper argue, Mary stands in the background holding stomach and does heavy breathing)

Joseph: Do you have a suite available?

Innkeeper: Nope

Mary: {heavy breathing} (Joseph and Innkeeper ignore Mary)

Joseph: Double-bed?

Innkeeper: Nope

Mary: {heavy breathing} (Joseph and Innkeeper ignore Mary)

Joseph: Single Bed?

Innkeeper: Nope,

Mary: JOSEPH!!!

Joseph: (astonished) What! (turning around quickly)

Mary: The baby is coming, it does not matter what room we get.

Joseph: Oh, yeah, sorry about that.

Innkeeper: I have a stall filled with animals that eat from a manger.

Joseph: We’ll take it!

Christmas Program Part 2

2008-12-15T14:46:00.001-06:00

(All come to center stage for song)
Song: What Child is This #296
(All exit, Innkeeper guides Mary and Joseph to stage left and then exits)
(Shepherds enter to center stage)

(Mary and Joseph will remain stage left for the rest of the performance)

Narrator 3 (L): That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.

Head Angel: Hello

Shepherds: (scared) AHHHHH!!!

Head Angel: Don’t be Afraid!

Shepherds: (calm) oh, ok

Head Angel: "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-- yes, the Messiah, the Lord-- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

Narrator 3 (L): Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-- the armies of heaven-- praising God and saying,

(all angels come on stage saying “glory” as they walk)

All Angels: (Once all are center stage they say) "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

(All come to center stage for song)
Song: Angels We Have Heard on High #289 (youth first verse, cong. join in rest)
(all exit except Shepherds)

Narrator 2 (P): When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other,

Shepherds: "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

(Shepherds go to stage left with Mary and Joseph, except shepherd 1 and 2)

Shepherd one: I can’t wait to see this baby!

Shepherd two: I can’t wait to tell Frank what he missed by calling, I mean papyrusing (puh – pie – russing) in sick.

(Shepherd 1 and 2 join rest of Shepherds)

Narrator 2 (P): They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

(All come to center stage for song)
Song: The First Noel #300 (first verse only, youth only)
(all exit)

Narrator 4 (L): All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

Mary: (to Joseph) I’m going to remember this.

Joseph: Yeah, a multitude of angels, shepherds coming to see the child, giving birth to the Son of God. I am pretty sure we will be talking about this for quite some time.

Narrator 4 (L): The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

(all gather at center stage for song)
Song: It Came upon the Midnight Clear #282 (Vs. 1,4)
(all exit)
(Little Lutherans enter to Center Stage)
Song: Away in a Manger
Song: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
(Little Lutherans exit)
(Herod center stage)

Christmas Program Part 3

2008-12-15T14:43:00.000-06:00

Narrator 4 (P): About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem looking for a star.

(the Wise men and Wise woman enter stage right)

Wise people: (as entering in a little song and dance number joining Herod at center stage) We’re the wise men, (and woman), we’re the wise men, (and woman), and we have gifts! (wise people do Jazz hands)

Wise man 1: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him."

Herod: "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

Wise man 2: Are you really going to worship him and not try to kill him.

Herod: (looks around nervously) yes, I really want to worship him.

Wise woman: I don’t believe you.

Herod: I want to worship, I have no ambitions to power and do not feel threatened at all.

Wise Woman: ummmm, ok

Narrator 4 (P): After this, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

Wise People: Joy!

(all enter to sing song)
Song: Joy to the World #267 (youth first verse, cong. join in rest)
(Wise people join Mary and Joseph stage left, Herod stage right)

Narrator 1 (L): They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Wise Man 1: I have Frankincense, which is a sweet smelling incense used in temples showing that he will be a priest.

Wise Man 2: I have Myrrh, which is a perfume used to anoint loved ones upon their death showing that he will be loved but will suffer death.

Wise Woman: I have Gold, (short pause) which is Gold, showing that he will be a king. I wanted to give a bike though; he is going to have to walk a lot.

Mary: Thank you ever so much.

(Wise People go to center stage)

Wise Man 1: So how should we go home, that Herod guy (points at Herod stage right, Herod waves back) really wanted to know where the child was, should we tell him?

Wise Man 2: Well I had a dream about this and an angel told me to go another way home.

Wise Woman: I had a dream where there were dinosaurs and I could fly and had all the chocolate that I could eat and there was this dog named Kitty Kat who could talk and he told me about this flower that would grant you wishes and I wished for a bicycle and it was pink with bows and streamers and a basket and it had a bell that sounded like a siren, whoo whooo, and then…

(Wise Woman tales off as Wise men stare at her)
Wise Woman: I’ll tell you about it on the road.

Wise Men together: Please don’t.

(Wise People exit stage left, Herod waves at them trying to get them to come back to him, see they will not, stomps off stage)

Narrator 1 (L): When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. This is the story of Christmas and like the Angels, Shepherds, and Wise people we worship and praise this day.

(all enter for song)
Song: Love Has Come #292 (ALL)

Intern Erik: Thank you for joining us in this celebration of Christmas, I hope that you all had a good time. I want to thank all the youth who helped with this performance and hope that they found that it is not only toys that are fun about Christmas, but also the Christmas story. I want to thank all the parents and grandparents, who helped the youth learn lines, songs, and supported them.

Let us pray, Lord God we thank you for sending your son Jesus to us. We thank you for your love and mercy. Remember us in the joy that is now and the joy of this coming season, be with those who have hard times during this part of the year. Give them your strength. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Song: Silent Night, Holy Night! #281 (ALL)

One of those moments

2008-11-05T13:23:00.004-06:00

Have you ever had one of those moments? The time where some big event happens and you know that you will always remember where and when you were when you heard the news.

They are usually huge events in history, though some can be deeply personal events as well. People talk about the place they were when Kennedy was shot, when they pulled out of Vietnam, Nixon's impeachment, the Challenger explosion, the list goes on. Kent State, D-Day, Oklahoma City Bombing, Columbine ...

I have two that quickly come to mind for me. While I know of events and knew when they happened there are very few picture moments of where I was. I am too young to remember where I was when the Challenger blew up, I remember hearing and talking about it. The first picture for me is in 1991 at the beginning of the first Gulf War. My family and I were out to eat at Snuffy's Malt Shop in Roseville, MN. I remember it most because they announced over the radio in the Restaurant that the use of force to remove Iraq from Kuwait had been authorized. I see that the date is Jan. 12 and now am wondering if we were out to eat for my Birthday, Jan. 11.

The second is 9/11, I remember this better. I was standing in the middle of my dorm room at Iowa State, in Knapp Tower, my small 14 inch tv was on my dresser and I had turned it on as I got ready for class. I believe that it was right after or before the second plane hit, both towers were still standing. I saw what was happening and called my parents to tell them to turn on the TV. They already had it on. I don't know why I went to classes that day. I think only one actaully tried to do anything, the others were cancelled or we just watched the TV in the room. I remember trying to get every paper that I could and reading them while in the cafeteria, I think the papers are still stored somewhere at home. It is sort of an Ironic twist that the tower that I was in, Knapp, while I watched the twin towers fall was itself part of a series of 4 towers in sets of two. And about 3 years ago they imploded Knapp and its sister tower Vance.

The point of this post is not to bring up old feelings of memories of bad times, it seems like the majority of these picture moments are of times of great sadness or shock. The point is that I added one last night.

Sitting in my chair, watching the Daily Show/Colbert Report election speacial, while flipping to CNN or MSNBC, occasionally Fox or C-span, at 10:00 as California, Oregon and Washington closed, Jon Stewert, barely containing his own excitement announced that Barack Obama would be the next president of the United States. This is one of those moments, and a great one at that. The first Black President of the United States. This is one of those times where I am proud to be an American, we have not solved the race issue, but this is one step along the way.

Daily Show/Colbert Report "The Moment"

McCain's Concession Speech

Obama's Acceptance Speech

Vote for Change! Yes, We Can!

2008-11-03T17:27:00.002-06:00

Yes We Can Video

We Are The One's - will.i.am

If you're out there -John Legend at DNC

hmmm, I wonder who I am voting for?

hint it rhymes with bobama.

Old Lady Thoughts

2008-10-21T15:55:00.002-05:00

Found this blog post and thought I would share.

Harold isn't a Muslim either.

and for some fun,

TV Ads for the ELCA

2008-10-13T13:55:00.002-05:00

I just finished watching the new TV ads made by the ELCA, I found them very interesting and thought provoking.

See the Ads here.

It is important to begin to use the avenue of television which has been so far dominated by mainly fundamentalist non-denominational groups that I feel are mainly concerned about personal growth and self satisfaction and tend to ignore helping those in need. Both of the ads speak to the two areas that are needed. Working with the needy of our nation and the needy of the world. Personal Growth is very important but the purpose of personal growth should be to then use that growth to help others, not just further help yourselves.

I would like to see further use of television within the ELCA. One random thought that I had once was would it be possible for the ELCA to work with other denominations to form a cable television channel. There are many non-denominational channels, and there is a Roman Catholic channel. I would find it interesting to create a channel across a broad range of main-stream Protestant denominations. Programming such as worship services from the different denominations, group discussions with theological leaders, and individual denominational programming.

In this increasing technological environment we need to begin to embrace and utilize this technology and this seems to be a good start.

VP Debate and Economy Stuff

2008-10-04T15:28:00.004-05:00

Random clips and stuff about the election and the economic downturn.

VP Debate:

From Crooks and Liars: The nights most powerful moment.

Couric and Palin Interview:

Saturday Night Live:

Economy:

SNL:

Daily Show:

The Office

2008-09-17T16:47:00.001-05:00

I love the TV show "The Office" Just got the 4th Season on DVD.

Here is a compelation of "That's what she said" jokes from the show, a huge running gag.

New Site and Sermons

2008-08-20T21:59:00.002-05:00

Hello all,

I have started a secondary blog to contain sermons and any other long documents that I post. This allows me to keep the length of posts down on the main blog while still adding sermons and stuff.

Here are the links to the first two sermons.

August 10th

August 17th

you can still stay with this site as I will add brief posts to update when the other blog is updated.

Faith Lutheran

2008-08-18T13:58:00.000-05:00

Pics of Faith Lutheran in Booneville, AR.

Faith Lutheran

St. Luke Lutheran

2008-08-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

Here is the album of St. Luke.

St. Luke

Arkansas!!

2008-08-18T09:44:00.002-05:00

Hey all,

I have now been in Arkansas about a two and a half weeks, whew. And I already have two sermons down (well three if you count giving one twice at both a Saturday and a Sunday service).

Here is a link to some pictures of my house.

New House

Hope all is well, pics of both churches will be up in the next couple posts.

Michael Phelps is Awesome

2008-08-13T15:23:00.003-05:00

In a quote from a satirical article talking about how the gold medals being given out at the Olympics may have high quantities of lead in them.

"I am very, very concerned about my extensive contact with gold medals," Mr. Phelps told reporters. "But what am I supposed to do? Stop being so awesome?"

Codex Sinaiticus

2008-07-26T21:11:00.002-05:00

Quick Post here.

They have started to put the Codex Sinaiticus online. This is one of the oldest copies of the Christian Bible in Greek including old and new. Most complete Greek versions of the New Testament used to translate into English are prepared from this codex.

http://www.codex-sinaiticus.net/en/

WYLS

2008-07-18T21:36:00.003-05:00

What is WYLS?
I have mentioned WYLS a couple times in my last couple of posts. It stands for Wartburg Youth Leadership School. I worked on the staff for the school this summer as a counselor. There were two sessions the first with 16 youth and the second with 9. Both were great, but with different dynamics and personality.
During the school there were many different activities, but the ones where we worked the most closely with them was planning service ministry projects that the students complete when they get back from the school. We work with them to put together a plan of action and also to help brainstorm different obstacles that may arise and how they can identify the gifts they have to solve these obstacles.

I worked with two guys in the first session, both wanting to work with organizations helping people overseas. The first we came up with the idea to have a car wash and a walk-a-thon to raise money to give to an organization called Freedom Water they build wells in Africa. The second was working to either get a group of people together to make food packages or to get enough people to have the organization come to him in his home town. The organization is called Feed my Starving Children and works by creating food bundles that volunteers put together and then sending them to places in Africa that need food.

The second session I worked with one girl. She is planning a music festival that will be held in the parking lot of her church, the money raised by the festival she hopes to be able to send to orphanages in Siberia. This could be a problem as the news program that she first saw about these organizations said that the government was not allowing money to get to the orphanages. We are hopeful that some method can be found however. The festival itself will be a fun project, I encouraged her to contact other local churches, she is also from the Twin Cities area and attends a church close to my home church, and also Luther Seminary to find musicians and to get more people to come to the fest. We are hopeful that it could turn into an annual event.

All in all, it was a great experience, I met a bunch of great youth and got to know the other staff a lot better.

Doctor Who

2008-07-09T16:47:00.002-05:00

K, over my break between WYLS Sessions (essentially the July 4th weekend) I was planning on reading, I however made the mistake of watching the last half of a Doctor Who episode on SciFi Channel and now am obsessed. Enjoy a YouTube video of good quotes and scenes from the show.

The GhostBusters line is the best.

Laters,
e

WYLS

2008-06-25T21:26:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile.

I just got done with my first session of being a counselor at WYLS, Wartburg Youth Leadership School and have a week and a half off until the second session begins, and then I start packing for internship.

I wanted to share a clip that one of my professors used during the school.

INTERNSHIP SITE!!!!!

2008-03-12T23:30:00.001-05:00

Hey all,

I will be interning in Fort Smith, ARKANSAS!!!

It should be a great time seeing a part of the country that I have not seen before.

Erik

dear flying hairy monkeys!!!!!

2008-02-17T23:42:00.002-06:00

k, well it's been 8 months since I wrote anything, ummm yeah I should work on that,

it's getting late now but now I may remember to do this thing tomorrow,

e

Self Care

2007-07-22T18:54:00.000-05:00

As I posted my last post about a funny video I realized that I have not written anything serious for quite a while.

I am completing Clinical Pastoral Education this summer. CPE is essentially Chaplaincy work, I am at a hospital in Seattle, WA, and am having a great, if really intense, emotional experience.

We have talked about Self Care a lot recently and it reminded me of a sermon that I did for a class this last semester. I expanded on it a little for the group. It was based on Revelation 21:1-6. The specific verses related to what I will talk about are listed below.

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

For my sermon the most important line of the whole pericope is "and the sea was no more." Throughout the book of Revelation all that is evil comes from the sea. The people are full of fear of the never ending onslaught of pain. I relate this to the television show, "The Deadliest Catch" which is about crab-fishing in the Bering Sea. For the boats to survive they need to go with the sea, they need to steer into the waves, if you try and fight they will eventually overcome and destroy you. I see this sea metaphorically in our own culture, we can easily get caught up in the "sea" of work and let it drive us where ever it goes. We become overwhelmed with fear, grief and our own inablility to find a solution. The image of water is one that is strong, it is full of mystery and fear, evil and destruction, but then suddenly the sea is no more, the fear, evil and destruction is no more, and God is with us.

In a January interim break independent study I looked at Christian-Islam relations, specifically since 9/11. One writer spoke to me very profoundly. Kabir Helminski is a Sufi Islam Shaikh, in one response he gave a phrase that I still use, "Breathe, and Remember God." In my sermon I used it as the boundary between the pain that we and the people of Revelation were going through and the grace of God. When we get to the point that we feel that we are overwhelmed and there is nothing that we can do, it is at this time that we need to stop, breathe, and remember God.

While not written expressly towards the subject of self-care I feel that it fits the topic very well.

My actual sermon notes are below.

--------

In the Discovery Channel program, “Deadliest Catch,” the people on each crab fishing boat are completely at the mercy of the sea. They do not have any power to control or force it. The method of survival is not to fight the ocean, but in fact to turn with it and allow it to control you. It is no surprise that their job is regarded as the most dangerous job in the world. In the optimum case, a boat should stay facing the direction that the wind and waves are coming and ride over, and with the waves. To try to travel without regard to their direction and power is to die.

Water is a force in our world. It has the power to kill and the power to heal. Without it, we will not survive more than a few days. It is the supreme force of nature, the cycle of water controls who, where, and how much rain falls in one place, it controls how much wind is in another.

Water transforms our planet; the flat plains of the Midwest were made that way through a combination of Ice Age glaciers, and the massive lake that resulted when they melted. The hills and valleys that surround the city of Dubuque were carved over thousands of years by the waters of the Mississippi and its tributaries.

Water destroys life through its power. In 2004, a Tsunami hit in Indian Ocean, specifically the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, where it killed over 200,000 people. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the U.S. More than 1,800 people lost their lives directly because of Katrina, and the storm caused over 80 billion dollars worth of damage.

In the argument over Global Warming, it is not the concern that the planet will get too warm and we will therefore burn up. It is the concern that it will melt the icecaps and flood much of the world’s inhabitable space.

Too much water is a cause for concern, but even not enough water can cause fear, death, and destruction. In the 1930’s in the central U.S. and Canada after decades of inappropriate farming techniques followed by severe drought, the dry dirt blew away leaving hundreds of thousands without any means of survival.

Water is a cause of concern in the bible as well, while water saved them from the Egyptians during the crossing of the Red Sea, it was a drought that caused them to migrate to Egypt in the first place. Earlier in Genesis, when God decides to destroy the world, God uses not fire, stone, or wind, but God uses water, water so great that it covered the whole face of the earth.

In the gospels, it is Peter’s doubt that causes him to plunge under the water. Most of the disciples were fishermen, but even these men, who had spent their entire lives on the sea were afraid when a great windstorm rose up and blew great waves upon the side of the boat.

Finally, in the Revelation to John, where our text comes from, water is indeed to be feared. The Dragon, who is called the Devil and Satan, made its stand on the seashore. While chasing after a woman it was not fire that the dragon spewed forth like the European Renaissance dragons, but this Dragon, the deceiver of the world, spews forth a torrent of water to sweep the woman away in a flood.

Revelation is not done at that point though. John saw “a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names.” This beast rising out of the sea returns us briefly to the Old Testament and the book of Job; it is from the sea that Leviathan, the twisting serpent rises.

It seems like the end. The onrushing waters are not stopping; the beasts and fears of the water are all around, we get to the same point as the people being written to by John, when we are so in fear of the water, in fear of being overwhelmed. It is then that we need to stop,

breathe,

and remember God.

God has power over that water of fear, of destruction, of death. While we do not, God does, and in Revelation when the new heaven and the new earth appear, we see that the sea is no more, the beast is no more, the fear of the water is no more. When the water is no more and God is with the people, God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.”

When Peter’s doubt causes him to fall into the water, it is Christ who saves Peter. Peter in his moment of terror and fear, does that which we should remember, he calls out to Christ. Jesus does not wait to see what might happen to Peter, he immediately reaches out and saves Peter.

While it was a drought that caused the Israelites to go to Egypt, and it was also water that saved them as they crossed the Red Sea. Those waters have the same power, but through the power of God, the water of the Red Sea was moved to protect God’s people.

Finally, there is more water that is promised to us, this is not the water of the sea, the water of fear, this is the water of life. This is the water that is given to the thirsty. We have already tasted of this water. This water of life is the very same water of our baptism. In Christ’s baptism, he heard a voice from heaven calling saying, you are my Son, with you I am well pleased. It is through our baptism that we also hear a call. A call that we are members in the Body of Christ, a call to tell others that they too are members of that body, and a call to care for those who are truly thirsty in this world. We are not called to control the waters of fear, death, and hate. We are called by Christ to turn towards God, and allow the Holy Spirit to control the waters for us, for it is only then that the waters of fear will vanish and we will be drenched in the wondrous waters of new life. This is not a method of survival, this is a method of eternal life.

Chacarron!!!!!

2007-07-22T18:47:00.000-05:00

K, this song is hilarious, I have no idea what it means, but it is just funny to listen to, makes you laugh and feel good.

It is also used to comedic effect on Family Guy.

Last, 6 Days until The Simpsons Movie!!!

Guy does 500 Impressions in 2 Min

2007-07-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

This is hilarious.

http://www.maniacworld.com/500-Impressions-in-2-minutes.html

Excellent Bruce Lee impression,

Enjoy,
Erik

Simpsons Movie!!!

2007-07-12T21:32:00.000-05:00

K, well it is close enough that I can make a blog about the movie. I actually am surprised that there are not a few already here.

It looks pretty funny from the trailers that I have seen, I hope that it can catch the magic of the first seasons. The Simpsons has gone downhill in the last few years, hopefully the movie will be able to restart the creativeness of the writers and producers.

I think part of it lies on writing episodes that are based around either a destination that they are going to or the celebrity that is the quest star. They had locations and quest stars in the first seasons but the episode was still based on the relationships within the family. The episode "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" had a destination of Washington, but the story revolved around the relationship of Bart and Lisa, and Lisa being letdown by the actions of congressmen. Vs. the episode recently "the Regina Monologues" The family randomly goes to england, meets a bunch of English Celebs and never actually gets around to why they came in first place until they are about to leave.

k, enough about that, the simpsons movie website has a fun feature. You can make your own avatar or cartoon version of yourself. Just click on the Create Avatar link. Here is me.

Very Good, Funny Advertisement

2007-07-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

This video advertisement is awesome!

I feel it links common things that occur and redefine them showing the power that is used to cause them could create a lot of energy.

There was a mini series on the Discovery Channel recently called "Planet Earth" that addressed many of the problems that we will face in the future. The one that I found the most interesting was on other sources of renewable energy. One example that I found interesting was a combination solar and wind plant.

I believe that it was in Australia that it was being planned, but instead of the normal solar energy method of converting the solar power via chemical reactions within the solar panels (similar to how plants create energy) this method simply uses the solar energy to heat the air under glass which is then directed towards a chimney tower that contains wind generators.

Also, my first video log,

k, enjoy,
e

Article on Breitbart.com about Obama's religious thinking

2007-06-23T20:24:00.001-05:00

Obama Says Some Have 'Hijacked' Faith

Very interesting, I am liking Obama more.

Still not sure if he has enough experience though. Also not sure if that is a bad or good thing though.

e

Vice President's Office Does Not Think It Is In The Executive Branch

2007-06-21T15:20:00.001-05:00

ummm, ok,

this is an interesting article, but I am pretty sure that the Vice President is part of the executive branch. Where would it fit if not?

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Cheney_tells_agency_that_Vice_Presidents_0621.html?idiot

k,

Erik

Modern Day Martin Luther - 95 Comment Cards on IHOP Door

2007-05-25T14:31:00.001-05:00

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/modern_day_martin_luther_nails_95

From the awesomeness that is the Onion.

Here I Stand! or more like Here I Barely Move!

E

(If the Here I stand Joke does not make sense watch more Jim Gaffigan)

Trip Out to Seattle

2007-05-14T23:39:00.000-05:00

Hey here is the final Itinerary for my trip out to Seattle.
The full is just the towns that I will be camping near, with the the secondary links for each Day.

Full Trip Itinerary

Day One: Thursday May 17th Twin Cities to Grand Forks, ND

Day Two: Friday May 18th Grand Forks, ND to Cooney State Park, MT near Billings

Day Three: Saturday May 19th Cooney State Park, MT to Mount Spokane State Park, WA near Spokane

Day Four: Sunday May 20th Mount Spokane State Park, WA to Seattle

Peace,
Erik

Book Review by Dave Barry

2007-05-07T00:36:00.001-05:00

Oooo, this is good.

Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Home and Office
New York Times: Dave Barry Book Review

It's even better because my dad sent it to me and also sent another unrelated email that was supposed to be to my mom, my sister, and me. but instead of my sister, Marie, it got sent to my cousin, Maren, who have similar email addresses.

Ah, The Ironing is Delicious!

E

Bart: Lisa's in trouble. Ha! The ironing is delicious.
Lisa: The word is "irony".
Bart: Huh?

YAY! Simpsons!

flight of the bumble bee on accordion

2007-05-05T18:34:00.001-05:00

guy playing flight of the bumble bee on accordion, oh yeah, its awesome.

and his fingers move fast enough to almost blur.

cool,

e

Fun Website

2007-04-28T13:24:00.001-05:00

The website for the Magazine Mental-Floss http://www.mentalfloss.com/

They have a vocab word of the day, and the sentences that they use the words in are pretty good.

Scamp

"graffiti desk art depicting middle fingers and rainbow swastikas." I would say that she is a bit more than a regular scamp.

E

SIMPSONS' RIDE!!!!!!!!

2007-04-24T23:49:00.000-05:00

Universal Studios

OK, They are going to make a ride at Universal Studios that is based on the Simpsons!

Sweet!

Really thats all I can think of to say at this moment.

E

Daylight Savings Time and its heat effect

2007-04-23T20:02:00.000-05:00

This should be good for a laugh. Someone needs to do some education in Arkansas about how daylight savings time works.

e

Songs To Wear Pants To!

2007-04-21T17:50:00.001-05:00

http://www.songstowearpantsto.com/index.php

This guy makes songs up from what people suggest.

# 296 on the front page (Fan Faves) is good, hence the fan fave.

Enjoy the randomness,

E

Daily Show and Colbert Report

2007-04-16T15:46:00.000-05:00

Pew Survey

Daily Show/Colbert Report Vs. Fox News

Well, it has been quite a while since I added anything to my blog, this story is too good to pass up.

A recent Pew Survey about the general political knowledge level of the US also included what the primary source of information was. The Daily Show/Colbert Report ranked as the top spot tying with those that read major newspapers.

sweet,

thats all for now, need to get back to Greek translation

Princes of England pull prank on Queen

2007-03-07T08:50:00.000-06:00

The queen asked for help with her phone and the two princes modified the message a little differently than she thought they would.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256960,00.html

enjoy!

Street Prophets

2007-01-23T16:37:00.000-06:00

Pretty interesting website,
http://www.streetprophets.com/

It is a nice blend of Politics and Faith, it has a pretty broad readership.

one interesting blog a was about the subject of interim pastors. I have not really thought about this at all, but the article was interesting. It helped put it into perspective that pastors doing that are there to do something, not just taking up space until the new "better" pastor gets there. Being an Interim pastor is a choice not something forced.

well, enjoy

Six Word Story

2007-01-22T22:27:00.000-06:00

ok, was looking around and found this article through Wired. I guess that Hemingway wrote a story with only six words.

"For Sale: Baby Shoes, never worn."

They have a list of other stories that they asked writers to compose.
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/sixwords.html

it's really interesting stuff, one of them is

In the beginning was the word.
- Gregory Maguire

Well enjoy

Quote

2007-01-09T13:00:00.000-06:00

The first duty of love is to listen.
Paul Tillich, O Magazine, February 2004
US (German-born) Protestant theologian (1886 - 1965)

R.I.P. Cutlass Ciera 1989 Station Wagon "Woodie"

2007-01-06T20:13:00.000-06:00

I regret to inform everyone that Woodie has passed from the Olson Family.

He had recently retired in Oct in his home town of the Twin Cities after a four year stay in Iowa. He retired after suffering from a Engine aneurysm of one spark plug. And left during the Christmas break to the Newgate school.

He passed with over 150,000 miles on him, and came into the Olson family with around 30,000.
He is survived by Vibe and Geo. He was predeceasded by "the Gray car."

1989-2006

Chili Cookoff Champion!!

2006-12-03T22:34:00.000-06:00

Hey,

We had the Wartburg Chili Cookoff tonight before Lessons and Carols.

My Chili won best traditional chili! It was pretty fun and exciting to win.

It was the same Chili I entered (ok not the exact same, just same recipe) into the Iowa State University Chili Cookoff last year and we did not win. There they were going for presentation as well as taste and we were not so great with the presentation. Whatever, this time I won!

k, Lesson and Carols was really fun as well, it works off of O come, O come Emmanuel. Starting with stanza 2 you go through each individually and have a lesson reading and a carol.

yep,

laters

Funny Quote

2006-11-12T11:15:00.000-06:00

Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae.
- Kurt Vonnegut

I just like this quote.

e

Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Taxi's

2006-10-11T23:32:00.001-05:00

A recent development started happening at the MSP airport in the last couple years, people would buy alcohol at the duty free stores and then bring it with them as they left the airport in clear plastic bags. Hailing a taxi, they would be turned away by the Muslim driver because in Islamic law it is illegal to transport alcohol. This left the passenger to wait for the next driver. Being that now 3/4 of the taxi drivers at MSP are Muslim, some passengers were left for a number of taxi's in a row.

The solution that the MSP transportation committee came up with was a two light feature that distinguished whether a driver was willing to transport alcohol. This, in the eyes of this opinion http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCommentary.asp?Page=/Commentary/archive/200610/COM20061011a.html , this would be a issue of Islam forcing itself on law. " Namely, the two-light plan intrudes the Shari'a, or Islamic law, with state sanction, into a mundane commercial transaction in Minnesota." (A side, I notice that he uses the term intrusion, yet never mentions separation of church and state.)

The author brings up the issue that if this goes through (it was later repealed) where will it stop. Will it be used to keep people off buses? Will it be extended to women showing skin and hair? He then goes on to say that the MSP commission went to a Islamic bod y, the Minnesota chapter of the Muslim American Society, for consultation. From there he starts to state that this society has plans to make the US into a Islamic state.

He uses this as his reasoning for not wanting the two light system. That he views it as a vehicle for Islamic thought and law to be brought into the realm of politics and law. That this is a "stepping stone" (my phrase) to other areas or a "domino effect". hmmm, why does that sound familiar? The term domino effect was used in response to the beginning of the spread of communism. That attitude started us on a path of seeing trouble and trying to "fix" it in countries and regions where we were not supposed to be.

The same attitude is now being compared with how we are seeing trouble in the "axis of terrer (to put it like bush pronounces the word)." We saw that issues started in the world then became internal issues, then spread to the world again. The soviet union is created and a cold war develops between us and them. This turns to internal fear of Communism the "Better dead than Red" phase. The US then started to try and counter communism from developing in countries, getting us into wars We have the situation starting again. And if authors and people with similar thinking become the norm, we could be heading down a road that is worse off than the one we are on now.

I agree with the author's main point that the new system is wrong. But our reasoning is completely different. His argument is that it would give Muslims an "in" to the law system. And that the worst thing that can happen in this world is for us to be understanding and respectful to others beliefs (my own sarcasm). My reasoning counter to his argument is that a separation of any means is the wrong route for this country to go. Counter to his "in", I see it as an "in" for another group. A group that would use this as the opposite, not to go along with one groups beliefs, but to separate that group out and distinguish it. Putting a light on the top of a car may seem like a good idea, but what happens if we have someone disturbed coming through and they now have all their "targets" lit up for them.

Soon we could be marking everything that has to do with every religion, people would have to wear their religious symbol on their shoulder so that everyone knows what things they can do and what they can't do. We would have crosses, crescents,

and even little gold six pointed Stars of David.

CHANGES!!!!!!!

2006-09-16T00:33:00.000-05:00

hey, just updated to the news version of blogger,

Had to change the format, I may spend some time later changing it around a bit.

let me know how you like it.

other news, Iowa State - Iowa Game is tomorrow ... oh today, man I need to get to bed. Go Cyclones!!!

Laters

Minjung theology

2006-09-07T16:06:00.000-05:00

well pretty interesting day today.

I have a prologue week class this week. It is called Theology in Context. It has been a interesting class, if a bit overwhelming, just because they have covered a subject a bit and then the next day covered something else. While they are connected to each other, it is just a bare minimum of information about the subject and a whole semester probably could be used for each.

The subject today was Theology, and also Lutheran Theology. In our second session of class today one professor Paul Chung talked about Lutheran Theology and Lutheran Theology in Context. The part that really interested me was the Theology in Context, Professor Chung talked about different contexts that Lutheran Theology has fit into. One area was in Japan dealing with the regards to the "Social reality of post-Hiroshima Japan." and the work of Kazoh Kitamori, a Japanese Lutheran Theologian. Kitamori used the term turasa to define the relationship between God and Jesus and also between God and the people that suffered and died because of the bomb. Turasa is a Japanese term that refers to the Father's pain over the death of the son, not just pain but extreme agony.

Chung then turned to Ahn Byung Mu, the father of Asian minjung theology. and it relationship with turasa. Minjung deals with Jesus's connection and solidarity with ochlos a Greek word meaning crowd, usually a poor crowd, (vs Loas meaning the people or regular normal individuals of society). It challenges turasa by asking "Who was there in Hiroshima?" Chung then talked about minjung meaning "the poor mass" and "Han" (outcry of victim) and how the relationship with God is based on God hearing the "Han" or the outcry of the victims.

The problem now arises that we did not delve into this any further, Chung stated that he talks about it more is his book Martin Luther and Buddhism. I look forward to learning more about this subject and how I can use it.

My first reaction was the thought that "Can it be modified to the change that has happened in the US with regards to 9/11?" It is a subject that would be interesting to ask Professor Chung during the class.

well, that should give you something to chew on for a while,

laters

Why 24 hour news stations are not news but entertainment.

2006-08-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is quick. I was just flipping through the channels and saw that the President was on. As usual I then switch between channels to see if there are better angles or coverage. Of the 4 big 24 hour news channels only two (CNN and Fox News also C-SPAN but it is not news) had the president on. This is a live speech by Bush about Katrina and New Orleans, the most damaging storm in US history on the one anniversary. the other two channels? (CNN Headline news and MSNBC) well they were reporting on the Jonbenet Ramsey case, which the guy they just talked about for a week is found to not have done it. well that certainly seems more important. A case that is 10 years old and still not solved. Go news!!!

laters,
Erik

2006-08-28T15:07:00.000-05:00

Ok I guess that I can only have 4 pics per update Well these are the last two, they are of the shelve that I made in the living room.

Pics from apartment

2006-08-28T14:03:00.000-05:00

These pics are from my apartment the first ones of when I was moving in the second are of two new shelves that I made yesterday.

Finally updating, greek and baseball

2006-08-27T11:30:00.000-05:00

Hey all, yep I have finally updated, been awhile.

Well, I am now in Dubuque, IA. I have been here since mid July. Started Greek at Wartburg on the 20th and have three days left now. Well two and a half, we have class on Monday and Tuesday and then get our test after class on Tues. We have to turn it in by wed at noon. Greek has been fun, but intense. The course is a full years worth in 4 weeks. we have three hours a day in the morning and a test every week. I did decent on the first test and really good on the last 4 which is what I expected. The first week I spent most of my time working on vocab and the alphabet and not much on sentences, once I had the new alphabet down I could look at sentences more and get more practice.

Well, I was watching the Twins last night, it was a really good game but the cable I have does not get Fox Sports North or another channel that carries the Twins broadcast team, so I had to deal with the White Sox team, and to be polite, THEY SUCK!!, they are not terribly bad at play by play and color commentary, besides focusing on the White Sox and having no stuff to say about the twins, but really makes them bad is the continuous catch phrases they use.

After every homerun by the Sox "YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD ... YES!!!"

After every strikeout or big out "HE GONE!!"

and when saying the scores between innings before going to break "bad guys 8 sox 7"

And the fact that his nickname is "Hawk" seriously get a better one.

well the game went well, it was annoying when the twins kept on letting them back into it.

ok, laters

2 things

2006-05-22T19:34:00.000-05:00

Well I have two bits of news from the world of Erik the Super Awesome.

They are good and bad,

The Good: I just got a note from Wartburg Seminary saying that I received the Campus Ministry Leadership Award Scholarship. This is awesome!!! I might be able to afford it now (ok, I could have anyways, but this certainly helps keep loans down) So I am pretty excited about that.

The Bad: I just heard that my good friend Alice's Grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer just this last week, she did not find out about it until Thursday because her mother did not want her to ruin her birthday which was on wed.

So definitely keep Alice and her Grandmother in your prayer's.

laters,

Leo Kottke

2006-05-02T23:40:00.000-05:00

As you know I took as my Lenten Discipline giving up TV, during this time I started to really listen to A Prairie Home Companion. I had listened to Leo Kottke before and really enjoyed him. When I found out that he was a frequent guest of the show, I started to look up the shows that he was on.

I found the song, Twice, on an episode from Jan 8th 2005. It is incredibly done and despite what it says on his first album cover, he actually has a very nice voice. His first album states that his voice sounds like geese farting.

umm yeah

Here is the link to the show, the segment with Twice is number 5.

http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2005/01/08/

If you listen to the whole show, the Croatian singers are very good and interesting as well.

Laters,

2006-04-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Hey all, today I bring you pictures from my visit to Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque , IA. I really enjoyed my day there and will attending there in the fall. Starting with Greek in July. As you can tell, it was an absolutly beautiful day there.

View from the back parking lot

Through a break for a view of the clocktower

Inscription on the wall
"Gottes Wort und Luthers Lehr' Vergehet nun und nimmermehr"
"God's word and Luther's teaching will never pass away."

Statue of Luther in middle courtyard

View from down hill near living area's

Gospel of Judas

2006-04-15T21:21:00.000-05:00

hey all,

Well some might already know but National Geographic revealed the other week the Gospel of Judas, a Coptic Gospel, about the relationship between Jesus and Judas regarding the betrayal, it is sort of interesting, but hard to know what to think about it. There are many such books, and most are held to not be important or at least suspect in terms of their content.

Here is a link about the release from National Geographic

The release and gospel itself has gotten enough press that the Onion did a piece about it in their " In your Opinion" section. http://www.theonion.com/content/node/47451
Laters,

New Book I'm starting

2006-04-10T00:38:00.000-05:00

Starting a new book tonight, Got it as an early Easter present from my parents
It is a signed copy of the book "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin It deals with Mortenson, who was a mountain climber, decision to start building schools all around the Himalaya region particularly the northern section of Pakistan.
Should be very interesting, he is the grandson of a member at my parents church and was there for a adult bible school session and signed some copies.

I will try to post updates to what I think about the book.

laters

Great blog entry by Andrew Sullivan

2006-04-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

Just read a great blog entry by Andrew Sullivan of "The Daily Dish".

He talks about coining a new term for people who use Christ's teachings as political tools. He is defending his use of these words in he entry here.

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/04/christianism_a_.html

look him up, very insightful,

laters

Lenten Disciplines

2006-04-03T22:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know if you follow an Lenten discipline, but I have always found it hard. We were talking about Lenten disciplines at Sunday supper yesterday, and I mentioned that I could never think of a good discipline, one that would have meaning and not just be like I'm giving up smoking. or going to mars ... etc. then I decided that I would try and give up TV. (except when others are watching with me, that way I don't have to exclude myself from hanging out) and it's incredibly hard. I am going through withdrawals I think. (ok not really) But it does make me look at how much TV I watch or at least have on. I tend to use it as background noise and side entertainment while doing something else. I find that I am reading more than I was before and that when ever I get to the point where I need to something else for a bit, I think, well normally I would watch TV, but I am not doing that now, that gets me to thinking, Why am I doing this again?

I think it is a good discipline, but I am thinking that many times people give something up for Lent as a Lenten challenge and not a Lenten Discipline, there is a difference to me at least. A challenge is a individual thing while a discipline is personal but not individual, you can learn from it and change how you live. If I just don't watch TV and instead spend all that time just playing video games or reading comic books, it becomes a challenge, can I make it one more day? but if I take some of that time and think about what it means to be giving something up it becomes a discipline, you can share what you are experiencing with others and they can share with you, more than just wow I didn't watch TV today, I rule!!!.

My pastor, Fritz, mentioned in one of his sermons the other week that our relationship with God and Jesus should be a personal one, but not individual and private, that God is indeed important to and with you, but not to the exclusion of others, that God is with all of us at the same time.

Well, there are some thoughts to ponder,

laters

Not sure what to think about this

2006-03-23T23:02:00.000-06:00

Link to CNN Article

Here is another link - this time from Aljazeera

This guy converts from Islam to Christianity and therefore must die.

He converted while in Germany, and works as a humanitarian aid worker.

I really don't know what to think about Islam this time.

They preach that the extreme reactionaries are a minority, then something like this occurs and I start to think that maybe that's not true.

There is a difference here between this and terrorism, but at some point they will have to realize that they are part of the larger world and they will have to accept our rules and morals as well as us having to accept theirs.

They can't get angry with people for having freedom of speech and say that it's religious persecution and then persecute religiously themselves.

laters,

Tsunami: Wave of Disaster

2006-03-19T19:42:00.000-06:00

Watching "Tsunami: Wave of Disaster" on the Discovery Channel right now, I have seen it a few times before, It is very well done, but this is just one of many documentaries made about this event, how many people are earning money off of this event. I know it is important to document this disaster so that people can learn from this and maybe help people there. But is the money received going just to the filmmakers and TV stations or is some going back to survivors or at least to rebuilding efforts.

It was spring break last week at Iowa State and some people from Lutheran Campus Ministry (still weird to say that instead of ULC ((Fritz thinks that LCM feels more inclusive))) had gone down to New Orleans to help. They mainly helped out with deconstruction, removing trash, refrigerators and such. I have been on such trips before, to the Appalachian area of the eastern US primarily to southern Ohio and the western tip of Virginia. It was a very rewarding experience, but some of the trouble we have had on such trips is the feeling that we are dong this for us, while it is for the people that we are helping. But we are also getting something out of is as well, we are gaining knowledge, emotions and experiences.

Laters,

Horrible Song lyrics

2006-03-14T09:24:00.000-06:00

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

ok, I will say this song does have a good beat and gets in your head, but if you listen to the lyrics they are some of the worst I have found. Not for what they say, just the unoriginality of them. I want to see what the person writing this was thinking ...

ok, first well have

my humps
my humps umm

my humps
my humps
my humps

my lovely lady lumps

(just repeat this about 80 times)

- writer name

k,

Erik

End of an Era

2006-03-09T23:27:00.000-06:00

Well, it's an end of an era.

Erik's Super Awesome Website is officially offline. Iowa State has removed it and it will no longer load. I don't know if I will be getting it up on another server at some point soon. But if so, info will be given here

later,
Erik

Kirby Puckett

2006-03-06T22:45:00.000-06:00

Kirby Puckett died today from complications from a stroke suffered yesterday.

ESPN Main Story

ESPN Jim Caple

CNN

SportsIllustrated

Minnesota Twins fans will miss him.

Thats all for now, I may say more later.

Kirby Puckett 1960 - 2006

Star of the Prophet Muhammad

2006-02-24T17:54:00.001-06:00

so, this is funny, if you had been following the Danish Cartoon story (see below) you can see that the muslim world is somewhat angry at Denmark. What do they do to get back at them? They take a page from the infinate revenge masters in the United States Congress. Some muslims have changed calling "Danishes" to "Star of the Prophet Muhammad". I think it will work, I mean it sure showed the French when we called them Freedom Fries.

yeah, go people,
Erik

Oklahoma

2006-02-23T15:09:00.000-06:00

well last night was fun, little more hectic than normal though.

Got back from work at 6:45, Finished making dinner at 7:10. I had just sat down to eat, when my friend Addie calls me to see if I wanted to go to Oklahoma the musical.
She had an extra ticket and did not want to waste it. I said that I would and asked when it was starting, "Yeah, It starts at 7:30" so well I ate in about 5 secs and ran out the door in order to get there on time. Parked at Church, and power walked over, got there at 7:29 and had just sat down, not even gotten my jacket completely off when the overture started.

that was fun, not much else to the story, it was good.

yep,
later

Story from new years

2006-02-19T23:30:00.000-06:00

well I just realised that i had forgotten to tell a story of something that happened on new years while in San Diego

Iowa State's football team was playing in a Bowl game that noon, so we decided that we would get food from a local grocery story and then eat in the room. I had seen what I thought was a microwave in the closet of the room and so we went and got frozen stuff to cook and eat.

We got back, settled down and I went to look at the microwave, I opened the door and thought that's weird, there is carpeting in here. then I looked at it closer and well it was a Safe. I mean when I see something that is white plastic outside with a number pad, numerical display and a door, to me that says microwave.

well, we thought our food was ruined, then I thought I only have mini burritos that are fully cooked (Lisa Wells ((from UNI who was on the trip with us)) had pizza rolls) so all we have to do is heat them up to an edible temp. So I sent a pot of water through the coffee maker and then took a shower cap, wrapped a roll in it and dunked it in the water. that worked so we could actually eat. (Later I just set the shower cap in the ground holder area of the maker (What is the called?) and ran two or three batches through the maker.

so I definitely will never forget that new years,

Later

2006-02-08T00:38:00.000-06:00

Follow up to my last post,

Found some interesting links from Andrew Sullivan's "The Daily Dish"

A good quote

The editorial staff for the NY press, a small weekly paper, quit

For more information see CNN and BBC News

For another blog following this story see Daryl Cagle's Cartoon Weblog

This story has gotten big enough that it is being covered by both "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report"

Later

Interesting news story

2006-02-07T21:26:00.000-06:00

Well, I’ve been following the Danish cartoon story involving the caricatures of the prophet Muhammad; it's been interesting seeing what the different reactions have been to the conflict.

Many different sources have had comment areas containing people from both sides of the story. Most Muslim contributors state that they feel it is oppressive to the Islamic faith, since it is blasphemous to make images of the prophet Muhammad as this could lead to idolatry.

This has a good meaning behind it, there is the issue of people of other religions and beliefs are they supposed to be accountable for other religions beliefs. There has to be a point where you draw a line between feeling insulted and realizing that they do not follow your faith and should not be persecuted for that.

The three major religions stemming from Israel, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all hold that you should not take the Lord’s name in vain, yet every day in movies, books, and in many other forms of media you see this done, whether the utterance of God or Jesus in anger or something more severe.

But you do not see Christians or Jews rising up in anger over this issue, why is this issue not addressed. That I don’t know, whether it is because of the areas and cultures of the people who follow those religions, or maybe the age of the religions. Both Judaism and Christianity are around or more than 2000 years old now, while Islam is only 1300 years old, while this seems old, consider that around between the year’s 1000 – 1800 is when such things as the Spanish inquisition and the Crusades occurred.

Back to the current issue, western sources have often stated that they feel that the Islamic community saying that they cannot print the images is a violation of freedom of speech. I feel this is correct as well. This gets us to the unusual situation that both sides are correct from their viewpoint; the question is what should be viewed as more important, freedom of speech or respect of religion.

2006-01-31T09:34:00.000-06:00

Had a good weekend, just some pics,
they are from Red Green Night and then hanging out with my friend Alice at the bars.

Sort of sad, she had to leave on sunday for home, then is leaving for Winder, Geogria for work. Don't know when I will see her next.

Theology on Tap

2006-01-23T23:03:00.000-06:00

We started a new book for Theology on Tap last week, (for those who don't know Theology on Tap, ToT, is held a Brewer's Bar and Lounge) called Jesus by Walt Wangerin.

It is looking very good right know, only have read the first section so far though. it was told from Mary's perspective, looking at the child life of Jesus. We have the birth story, Jesus being left in Jerusalem after the Passover.

The next section is from the view of one of the Disciples.

Christmas plans

2005-12-11T22:57:00.000-06:00

well my christmas plans are all set now,

Going Home on the 24th after work for family christmas, then to my grandparent's house for Fick family christmas, should be fun have not seen any of them recently.

Then to Omaha to fly to Alanta and then to San Diego (Best Transfer Ever!)
In San Diego I am attending the Lutheran Student Movement national Gathering This will be my 5th event.

Thats all for now,

I really mean to update this more

later

Really good movie

2005-11-17T23:13:00.000-06:00

Saw a really great movie tonight, Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams, (From IMDB about movie) at SUB films, student union board, with Clair.

It was really well done and consisted of various scenes, dreams, from the mind of the main character. The scenes do not relate to each other but contain the main character as the continuation feature of the movie. It starts with the young boy coming across a fox wedding, played with traditional Japanese costumed characters, he then has to go and find the foxes later to get forgiveness for seeing them during the procession. Hard to say what the meaning there could be, maybe that going to ask forgiveness is hard. Most likely it has to do with Japanese honor and ritual so that we as westerners miss the meaning behind it.

My favorite scenes were one called “Crows” and another called “The Tunnel.”

Crows is a look at Artists and the beauty of nature through the eyes of the director, as the main character, and Vincent Van Gogh. The main character starts looking at a painting by Van Gogh in a museum, he then entered into the paintings and walked through live scenes colored and set up like Van Gogh paintings. We come across Van Gogh painting scenes from his haystacks series, with the bright sun beating down on him Van Gogh says that people tend to look for the beauty in nature instead of letting the beauty come to us, that beauty can be found in any scene if you look for it. He then runs off saying that it is too beautiful and bright to stand there and talk, that the he needs to go paint.

The Tunnel is a good look at the life of a soldier after a war. We enter a tunnel and are confronted by a dog lit up with red light, after exiting the tunnel at the other end there are three more confrontations, first with a single dead soldier who does not believe he is really dead and that he had a dream that he had gone home, this scene is very powerful and reminds me of Jacob’s Ladder, another very good movie, after this we are introduced to an entire group of soldiers that do not realize they are dead. The main character ends up having to order them to about turn and march back into the tunnel. Then we are confronted by the dog again, I believe that the dog is a representation of the “Dogs of War,” not sure it this a Japanese image though.

Overall this is a very well made movie and wonderfully shot. See it if you can.

Trying this out

2005-10-09T21:04:00.000-05:00

Trying this out, you can now post with Word to your Blog. Very Handy

Well, I have been working at Sam’s about a Month now. It is ok, could be worse, but as me and another employee say could be better.

Had to go to work today, a Sunday, even though I have it scheduled as not available. They had a mandatory meeting I went to. Pretty boring, talked a lot about a new membership they are offering at the clubs called the “plus” program. Costs more and you get some more stuff, but hard to sell. They’ve been ramming it down our throats for a while to try and get us to sell it to people coming through the line, most people are in a hurry though and want to get out of there.

Oh well, I at least do not have to think about it after I am done in the evening.

K later,
Erik

Back in Ames

2005-08-29T20:31:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

Back in Ames now since last wed. still looking for a job, going to be taking a year off and working in Ames, then starting seminary next year.

Have a interview with Sam's Club on tues, hope that goes well.

Also, Congrats to Ben and Megan Vaughan on the birth of their son Tate on Sunday.

Later,
Erik

2005-05-13T21:17:00.000-05:00

Outside Hilton

2005-05-13T21:16:00.001-05:00

Graduation Ceremony

2005-05-13T21:16:00.000-05:00

Golf Again

2005-05-13T21:15:00.002-05:00

Golfing monday after Grad

2005-05-13T21:15:00.001-05:00

Heisman Graduation Pose

2005-05-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

again

2005-05-13T21:14:00.000-05:00

Oh you know what that means. I am Graduated.

2005-05-13T12:40:00.000-05:00

Meeting Harold from Red Green

2005-05-13T12:32:00.000-05:00

Java Joe's

2005-05-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hessen Haus

2005-05-13T12:28:00.000-05:00

Hessen Haus