Outer Rim Territories

Survey says: DVR could improve your relationships

Survey says: DVR could improve your relationships | Crave, the gadget blog - CNET
The survey also reveals that owning a DVR can lead to a happier, less stressful life. Eighty-one percent of respondents said their DVR has made life better by allowing for more time to do things together with loved ones and fewer arguments over what to watch. In fact, having a DVR around seems to improve relationships, 79 percent of respondents claimed.

I always have joked that “TiVO saved our marriage.” Obviously this isn’t true. But many an argument arose over whether I or Anne put a new tape in the VCR before leaving for the weekend. No tape, no recording. Then along came the TiVO and all those problems were solved. Oh, that other one too “Did you remember to change the record time for the special episode or 2-hour premiere?!!?” 

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More on the VP candidate

I was asked this weekend why I was confused about Susan Palin. I share the same confusion with Rev. Stuckwisch and Father Hollywood (in the comments to Rev. S’s post).. I urge you to mull this one over and offer any opinions: 

thinking-out-loud: Am I Missing Something?
But I am having a hard time understanding the appropriateness of nominating a woman for such an office as Vice President of the United States (or governor of a state, for that matter). How does this fit the order of creation? How does it harmonize with the headship of a husband and father for his wife, family and household? I realize that civil government is not the church, and this isn’t a matter of the pastoral office, but I haven’t bought the recent rhetoric that the roles of men and women are distinguished solely by the prohibition of women’s ordination. It’s clear that women should not be ordained to the pastoral office, but it doesn’t follow that a woman should be free and clear to do anything and everything else that a man might otherwise do.

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Sarah Palin tidbits

Very interesting choice Mr. McCain…. I’m not sure about a woman VP or whether I can trust a Republican yet…

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Summer 2008 Newsletter

Late Summer 2008

The last time I wrote, vicarage was half over. As expected, the final six months of vicarage was jam-packed with events and tasks. Unfortunately I neglected writing this newsletter until now. I apologize for not keeping your more abreast of everything Gillespie.

First, the biggest news - Naomi Alice Gillespie was born on May 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 a.m. She was a healthy 10 pounds, 21.5″ long, and 14″ diameter head. Officially labor started at 1 a.m. but thankfully Anne let me sleep until 5 a.m. We kept in touch with the midwife and she made it just in time. Labor was relatively easy for Anne and Naomi.

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Commands and promises

Concordian Sisters of Perpetual Parturition: Commands and promises
Lots of people argue that “Be fruitful and multiply” doesn’t mean “keep that uterus occupied until it falls out on its own.” Wow, thanks for being so understanding. Ok, ok, positive commands can be hard to quantify.

Or, wait–do we really think that? Do we ever argue about whether the Great Commission is command or promise? Is a pastor faithful if he says upon being installed at a parish, “My congregation and I will go into all the world once we’ve had some time together to get to know each other”? Can he say, “My ministry has been fruitful; I’m going to focus on the disciples I have and not baptize and teach any more”?

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Lengthy Article on “!” by Pastor Wilken

SteadfastLutherans.org » Lengthy Article on “Ablaze!” in PDF by Pastor Wilken
You will be rethinking your use of punctuation after reading this critique of the Ablaze! movement. Who else but Pastor Wilken could combine Strunk and White’s Elements of Style, Apple computers, beer snobs and midwest geography all in a serious critique of the LCMS’s don’t-call-it-a-program Ablaze! program? You’ll also be left wondering who’se holding the exclamation point and where did he get those snazzy LCMS Inc. cuff links and lapel pin. Click here for the file and happy reading.

One of the reasons I enjoy Issues Etc. host Todd Wilken is his simple and clear explanations of the most complicated issues. If you think an exclamation point isn’t complex, you best read his article. Plus there is the cursory Mac reference, an added bonus.

Birth Rates Continue to Plunge: US Census Bureau

Birth Rates Continue to Plunge: US Census Bureau
The percentage of childless women who have reached the end of their child-bearing years in the United States has doubled from 10% to 20% in the last 30 years, reported the US Census Bureau on Monday.

The survey also found that, “Women 40 to 44 years old will end their childbearing years with an average of 1.9 children each, a number below replacement-level fertility.” This is markedly fewer children than in 1976, when 3.1 children was the national average.

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Walking Together - LCMS Church Governance Proposals

You may not be aware that this week the Synod is hosting a convention for consideration of changes to its governance and structure. Released from the convention is a document entitled “Walking Together.” I don’t have the time at the moment to comment on this new document from the Blue Ribbon Task Force. I urge you to read it for yourself, listening to the subtext. In the meantime, I am copying the entirely of Dan’s initial reaction over at Necessary Roughness for your consideration.

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Star-spangled outrage continues to build

Olympics | Star-spangled outrage continues to build | Seattle Times Newspaper Blog
Yes, they cut-off the National Anthem… BUT what is worse is that the
“arrangement” of our National Anthem is AWFUL. First, it is played by an
orchestra and should be performed instead by a BAND like the US Marine Band
in Washington DC.

Second, the arrangement is “tricked up” and is filled
with harmonic suspensions which smply don’t fit. It frankly creates a
very “feminine” kind of impression, almost “impressionistic” in the French
musical composer’s tradition. It sounds AWFUL! And, it is way too slow!

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I Do Not want My Grandfather’s Church Nor Captain Kirk

I have to admit to being a Trekkie. I grew up on a steady diet of the original series reruns and later the Next Generation. I was never enamored with Deep Space Nine or Voyager, although I religiously caught of Enterprise. In hindsight, my hang-up with both DS9 and Voyager were the captains. One was a wuss and the other was a woman trying to be a man. 

Rev. Preus compares the kind of leadership we desire in the church with those two famous captains, Kirk and Piccard. I hate to admit that my preference also falls with the scholarly frenchman as well. Piccard had an impecible knowledge of history, conflict, and ethics. Kirk was like the wild west captain (think: Wrath of Khan). 

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