Diary of a Lutheran who loves being Lutheran

My fake novel

2009-03-19T22:17:16Z

CREATE YOUR DEBUT FANTASY BOOK COVER

1 - Go to “Behind the Name”. Hit “Generate a Name!” or click http://www.behindthename.com/random/

The first name you get is your author name.

2 - Go to “Fantasy Novel Title Generator”
or click http://nine.frenchboys.net/novel.php

This is the title of your book.

3 - Go to Photobucket and click on “surreal art” or click http://photobucket.com/images/surreal%20art/

Add the two numbers of your age together (ex. 2 + 7 = 9). Go to that page of results. The fourth picture, no matter what it is, is your cover.

4 - Use photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to your site along with this text
Very fun Chaz. Thanks.

Seriously Funny

2008-11-11T20:43:28Z

The first part is ok, but the part about the phone call is what's funny.

Pricess Bride Rite of Holy Matrimony

2008-10-14T18:13:09Z

The Impressive Clergyman: Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam...
[cut to Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik]

The Impressive Clergyman: And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva...
[cut to the trio again]

The Impressive Clergyman: So tweasure your wuv.

Prince Humperdinck: Skip to the end.

The Impressive Clergyman: Have you the wing?
[cut to the trio once more]

The Impressive Clergyman: ...and do you,Pwincess Buwwercup...

Prince Humperdinck: Man and wife. Say man and wife.

The Impressive Clergyman: Man an' wife.

Princess Bride meme

2008-10-14T17:35:13Z

List a favorite quote from the princess bride.

I too have 2 favorites:

Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...

Vizzini: [Vizzini stops suddenly, and falls dead to the right]

-------------------------------

Fezzik: We face each other as God intended. Sportsmanlike. No tricks, no weapons, skill against skill alone.

Man in Black: You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?

Fezzik: [brandishing rock] I could kill you now.

Man in Black: I think the odds are slightly in your favor at hand fighting.

Fezzik: It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.

Who best describes your political view?

2008-09-30T17:29:50Z

ABC has a test at the below address to see who's campaign statements,
McCain's or Obama's, you agree with most. They don't tell you who made the
statements, of course, but a statement made by each candidate on the same
topic (economy, immigration, judiciary, etc.) will be side by side.

You just pick which statement you agree with and, after selecting all 13,
you'll find out which candidate's philosophy you support.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/MatchoMatic/fullpage?id=5542139

(I got 12/13 for McCain)

Jaroslav Vajda 1919-2008

2008-05-12T03:15:33Z

Jaroslav Vajda (born April 28, 1919 - Died May 9, 2008) is an LCMS Lutheran Pastor and hymnist. He has accumulated experience of being a parish pastor, a magazine editor, a book developer, a translator, a poet, and a hymn writer. Being a 1944 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, has given Vajda the theological foundation for writing his hymns. Translating Slovakian stories and poems into English has taught him the structure of poetry. Being a keen observer of life has made it possible for Vajda to make his hymns into word pictures. Vajda’s hymns have provided congregations vehicles of expression in proclaiming the Gospel and in giving thanks to God the Creator of all. Composers enjoy the opportunities to explore and support with their music the riches of his texts.

Vajda was born to a Lutheran pastor of Slovak descent. His father, Rev. John Vajda, was a minister in East Chicago, IN, at Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church. This is where Jaroslav had his beginning learning from his father and his mother, Maria. Jaroslav had two brothers, Ludovit and Edwaurd, both former ministers, now deceased.

Vajda received musical training in childhood and began translating classical Slovak poetry at age eighteen. Vajda did not write his first hymn until age 49. Since then he has written over 200 original and translated hymns that appear worldwide in more than 65 hymnals. He also published two collections of hymn texts, numerous books, translations, and articles. Vajda served on hymnal commissions for Hymnal Supplement (1969) and Lutheran Book of Worship (1978).

Vajda is a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, and is the recipient of numerous honorary doctorates recognizing hymnic contributions. After 18 years in a mostly bilingual ministry he became the editor of This Day Magazine and then became a book editor and developer at Concordia Publishing House. Jaroslav Vajda retired in 1986.

To add a few things to this on a personal note:

Pastor Vajda faithfully attended St. Lucas Lutheran Church in South St. Louis up until he was physically not able to attend.

I had the pleasure of knowing him as St Lucas has been my Church home every Sunday of my Seminary career (minus my Vicarage year).

I taught Bible study almost every year I was there and he rarely missed class. His demeanor is a quiet confidence with a dash of sarcasm that was nothing short of delightful. When I first met him was the first time I attended Bible study at St. Lucas. We began by doing a round robin of introductions. When he got to his turn he said "My name is Jerry Vajda, or as my wife likes to call me 'your holiness'." Yep, he had a wit.

As I began teaching class, it was he who always asked me the questions that stumped me. After class he would say "Don't worry about it... things like that are supposed to confound and confuse you. That's what keeps us focused on Christ instead of our great abilities."

The first time I really figured out who he was was when I asked him if he was related to the "Vajda" that wrote the devotional book my wife and I were reading. He said "Why yes, I do know him... HE'S ME. Except when I first wrote the book, I called it Follow the King (They re marketed it as 'Men and Women of the Word' ... great book).

My time at St. Lucas has been colored by this great man and I thank God for him.

Pastor Vajda passed away on the evening of May 9th. Though my heart is hurting in a way I haven't felt since the passing of my own father, I look forward when we will meet again in the resurrection and rejoice with all the company of heaven!

Soli Deo Gloria

FWIW

2008-04-13T03:06:11Z

On Friday, Dr. Gibbs announced that 141 of the 146 possible candidates have been certified to receive calls. I was among the 141! Woo hoo. (This is all PENDING ACADEMIC COMPLETION of course)

Yep... I'm old.

2008-02-18T19:55:11Z

http://www.snotr.com/video/208

What's going on?

2008-02-10T02:19:09Z

At times I think when people go to church and "do" their

Praying

Singing

Praising

communing
it is with the "hope" that they might CONJURE Jesus as if he were somewhere else that He might be brought to that place.
Perhaps that is part of the desire to have worship be a larger and larger production. Perhaps that is why these folks are always looking for something "more powerful" each time.
MORE POWERFUL Indeed this is not a new idea... because this is also the same way drug addicts think. The difference is, drug addicts are CORRECT in their assumption because what they do (meaning hard drugs) has a "leveling" effect over time and in order to get "high" and not just level, you need (as St. Scotty of Enterprise said) "MORE POWER". So, if it is the theology of crackheads vs the theology of "MORE POWER" worshipers, I would have to say that the crackheads are the orthodox and the worshipers are the heretics.

Of course, there is something to be said about the idea of conjuring God. If I remember, it is Biblical to have a bigger and bigger drama in worship for the EXPRESS purpose of bringing God to do the worshipers' bidding. It is found in 1 Kings 18:25-29.

Disclaimer: Your ACTUAL results may vary...
Consult a physician if you have any side effects to this. :)

A song about my LJ as of 23:59 CST tonight

2007-10-31T16:33:28Z

Goodbye, cruel world
I'm leaving you today
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Goodbye, all you people
There's nothing you can say
To make me change my mind
Goodbye

Pink Floyd "Goodbye, Cruel World"

Best Bond... EVER!

2007-06-22T20:24:31Z

Your results:
You are Sean Connery

Sean Connery		82%
Pierce Brosnan		50%
Timothy Dalton		49%
George Lazenby		39%
Daniel Craig		35%
Roger Moore		19%

The original actor to play James Bond in a movie is generally regarded as the best. Sean Connery has always been the epitome of sexiness, suaveness and sophistication.

Click here to take the James Bond Personality Test

Friday fiver Part Deux

2007-06-22T19:49:32Z

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
25 (so I am always told)

2. What would your seventeen-year-old self tell your present self?
Dude... lose 25 pounds!

3. Did you fulfill your promise, developing the talent you were born with?
I was born with a talent???

4. What call did you answer?
God's

5. What day would you like to relive, over and over?
Easter... I relive it every day. HE IS RISEN!

Friday fiver

2007-06-22T19:44:00Z

Yo ho ho, and a bottle of Friday 5! As ever, please copy these questions to your online journal. Answer the questions there. Leave us a comment below, linking to your answer so we can all compare! Don’t forget to link us from your journal!

What’s something you were into before it became popular?
Soundgarden.

What’s something you were reluctant to jump on the bandwagon with, but now are totally into?
Meth... just kidding. Not sure really. Sorry.

What’s a current trend or fad you just don’t get?
Meth

If you could turn any current fondness of yours into a popular trend, what would it be?
The study of the Book of Concord

What’s something that’s totally uncool that you love anyway?
Bocce Ball

Thanks for participating, and have a fashionable weekend!

To spank or not to spank

2007-06-21T04:37:42Z

Interesting... listen to the theme music and then ask yourself "What are they trying to say?"

Diff'rent Strokes - The Spanking

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Please Read

2007-05-25T20:32:14Z

Howard County Sheriff Jerry Marr got a disturbing
call one Saturday afternoon a few months ago.
His 6-year-old grandson Mikey had been hit by
a car while fishing in Greentown with his dad.
The father and son were near a bridge by the
Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control
of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a
rate of about 50 mph.

Sheriff Marr had seen the results of accidents
like this and feared the worst.

When he got to Saint Joseph Hospital, he
rushed through the emergency room to find
Mikey conscious and in fairly good spirits.
"Mikey, what happened?" Sheriff Marr asked.
Mikey replied, "Well, Papaw, I was fishin' with
Dad, and some lady runned me over, I flew
into a mud puddle, and broke my fishin' pole
and I didn't get to catch no fish!"

As it turned out, the impact propelled Mikey
about 500 feet, over a few trees and an
embankment and in the middle of a mud puddle.
His only injuries were to his right femur bone
which had broken in two places. Mikey had
surgery to place pins in his leg. Otherwise the
boy is fine
Since all the boy could talk about
was that his fishing pole was broken, the Sheriff
went out to Wal-Mart and bought him a new one
while he was in surgery so he could have it
when he came out. The next day the Sheriff
sat with Mikey to keep him company in the hospital.
Mikey was enjoying his new fishing pole and
talked about when he could go fishing again
as he cast into the trash can.

When they were alone, Mikey, just as
matter-of-factly, said, "Papaw, did you know
Jesus is real? Well," the Sheriff replied, a
little startled. "Yes, Jesus is real to all who
believe in him and love him in their hearts."
"No," said Mikey. "I mean Jesus is REALLY real."

"What do you mean?" asked the Sheriff.

"I know he's real 'cause I saw him." said Mikey,
still casting into the trash can.

"You did?" said the Sheriff.
"Yep," said Mikey. "When that lady runned me
over and broke my fishing pole, Jesus caught
me in his arms and laid me down in the mud puddle."

GIVES YOU GLORY BUMPS DOESN'T IT!
GOD WILL DO THE REST

I asked the Lord to bless you
As I prayed for you today
To guide you and protect you
As you go along your way

His love is always with you
His promises are true
And when we give Him all our cares
You know He will see us through

So when the road you're traveling on
Seems difficult at best
Just remember I'm here praying
And GOD WILL DO THE REST

--When I read things like this, I see that the people that send them have a desire to know Christ. When I read things like this, it breaks my heart that they aren't really getting Him. Food for thought. (More to come on this)

Friday fiver

2007-05-25T16:29:33Z

1. What is the tallest structure you have ever been in?
Federal building in Seattle(new one) it's about 50 stories, I think.

2. What was your favorite cereal as a kid?
Freakies

3. Which TV star did you have a "crush" on when you were a kid?
Easy... Daisy Duke.

4. Do you know your nationality (background) or are you a Heinz 57?
1/2 German, 1/4 Haida, 1/8 Irish, 1/8 Cherokee.

5. Are you in love?
Yes indeed I am.

Ha... I love this song

2007-05-25T04:48:51Z

Evangelist Jerry Falwell dies

2007-05-15T18:56:08Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. evangelist Jerry Falwell, a leader of the Christian right, died on Tuesday, his assistant said.

Falwell, 73, was found unconscious in his office and was taken to a nearby hospital in Virginia, CNN said. He had a history of congestive heart problems.

"That is true, it's over," the assistant, Duke Westover, told Reuters by telephone. He said an official statement would be issued soon.

With his gray hair and heavy jowls, Falwell was a familiar face on the televangelist circuit while his hard-line views on a range of social issues firmly placed him on the far right of the American political spectrum.

Falwell carried the banner for the religious right into the political arena to battle against abortion, homosexuality, feminism and other issues that conflicted with fundamentalist Christian beliefs.

Here's why I am pumping gas on May 15th

2007-05-04T17:42:52Z

Here's a little secret most lazy Americans don't want to hear...
Gas prices are high because....
1. We are lazy and don't walk/ride bikes and have become addicted to fossil fuel...

2. We drive large SUV's and / or poorly maintained cars which require much more fossil fuel...

3. We refuse to use our own resources

You want gas to be lower? STOP ACTING LIKE YOU DESERVE TO HAVE IT. Treat it like a privilege. Walk whenever you can. Carpool... maintain your car so it runs better and requires less fuel (that means YOU, you beat-up VW bug/bus driving hippies!)... stop driving vehicles that were designed for THE MILITARY and NOT for going to the grocery store (That means YOU, you gas-sucking SUV drivers!)

Stop trying to make the gas companies lower their prices so that you can continue to live OUTSIDE of your means. It's like telling your Meth dealer to lower his prices because you are sick of paying for what you are addicted to. He can charge you WHATEVER HE WANTS... It's called SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

Finally, let's keep OPEC out of the loop... shall we? Let's petition our OWN government to use our own resources... granted, this last one is the hardest because it requires us to make someone ELSE do something. The previous ones are all things YOU can do without anything but personal sacrifice. Can you do that?

Let's hope so.
CC

Need help...

2007-04-20T04:30:48Z

According to the ELCA WEBSITE , the ELCA Pastor that delivered a message at the memorial service for the Virginia Tech campus gave "A Christian Message". I have a question for Christians and non-Christians alike:

1. Was this a Christian message?
2. Why?
3. Who or what was the focus of this message?

Thanks!

Opening Day!

2007-04-02T16:29:01Z

The Seattle Mariners will kick off opening day with (hopefully) a victory over the Oakland Athletics. The game will be at Safeco field. G O ! M ' s !

My Hero...

2007-03-29T20:05:34Z

Therefore, faithful Christian, do not stand before the future as if it were a closed world about which you can know nothing, whether you will find good or evil in it. Know that whatever the path on which God will lead you - up the mountain or down the valley, through the flowers or over the thorns, on the rocky terrain or on level ground, through darkness or light, for the long time or a short time - that path leads through the kingdom of grace and it's end is salvation.
From a Sermon by CFW Walther

Wow... come Lord.... come soon

2007-03-01T06:27:11Z

Please file THIS under GET A LIFE!. Thank you.

Won't you help?

2007-02-20T08:45:03Z

Click here to be shocked by what is happening in apartments all across America!

Beware of the Americanization of Church... you have been warned!

2007-02-03T03:49:01Z

“Christianity in modern America is, in large part, innocuous. It tends to be easy, upbeat, convenient, and compatible. It does not require self-sacrifice, discipline, humility, a zeal for souls. There is little guilt and no punishment. The faith has been overwhelmed by the culture. Christianity becomes a cultural Christianity when the faith is dominated by a culture to the point that it loses much of its authenticity. What we now have might be labeled as a Consumer Christianity. Millions of Americans today feel free to buy as much of the Christian faith as seems desirable. The cost is low and customer satisfaction is guaranteed.” Thomas Reeves, The Empty Church