Outer Rim Territories

Girl Scouts Distribute Planned Parenthood Sex Guide at UN Meeting » Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:08:10 +0000

I’ll spare you the gory details. Click the link if you really want to know what was in this document. I didn’t.

The World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides hosted a no-adults-welcome panel at the United Nations this week where Planned Parenthood was allowed to distribute a brochure entitled “Healthy, Happy and Hot.” The event was part of the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which concludes this week.

Im OK, Youre OK: Its cool to be an early iPad adopter

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:51:57 +0000

The early adopter tax, along with any associated tech risks, has not escaped the notice of most tech enthusiasts. In the end, its not much of a factor. We dont buy early because its a good deal. We dont buy early because its fiscally sound. We buy early because the technology is cool and we simply cannot or do not want to wait for our preciousssssss to finally come home with us.

TRON: LEGACY – Official Trailer

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:27:55 +0000

Totally geeky.

YouTube - TRON: LEGACY – Official Trailer.

Gendercide

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:34:13 +0000

IMAGINE you are one half of a young couple expecting your first child in a fast-growing, poor country. You are part of the new middle class; your income is rising; you want a small family. But traditional mores hold sway around you, most important in the preference for sons over daughters. Perhaps hard physical labour is still needed for the family to make its living. Perhaps only sons may inherit land. Perhaps a daughter is deemed to join another family on marriage and you want someone to care for you when you are old. Perhaps she needs a dowry.

Now imagine that you have had an ultrasound scan; it costs $12, but you can afford that. The scan says the unborn child is a girl. You yourself would prefer a boy; the rest of your family clamours for one. You would never dream of killing a baby daughter, as they do out in the villages. But an abortion seems different. What do you do?

For millions of couples, the answer is: abort the daughter, try for a son. In China and northern India more than 120 boys are being born for every 100 girls. Nature dictates that slightly more males are born than females to offset boys’ greater susceptibility to infant disease. But nothing on this scale.

For those who oppose abortion, this is mass murder. For those such as this newspaper, who think abortion should be “safe, legal and rare” to use Bill Clinton’s phrase, a lot depends on the circumstances, but the cumulative consequence for societies of such individual actions is catastrophic. China alone stands to have as many unmarried young men—“bare branches”, as they are known—as the entire population of young men in America. In any country rootless young males spell trouble; in Asian societies, where marriage and children are the recognised routes into society, single men are almost like outlaws. Crime rates, bride trafficking, sexual violence, even female suicide rates are all rising and will rise further as the lopsided generations reach their maturity see article.

It is no exaggeration to call this gendercide. Women are missing in their millions—aborted, killed, neglected to death. In 1990 an Indian economist, Amartya Sen, put the number at 100m; the toll is higher now. The crumb of comfort is that countries can mitigate the hurt, and that one, South Korea, has shown the worst can be avoided. Others need to learn from it if they are to stop the carnage.

via Economist.com.

Renascentes Musae: Beyond Rhetoric

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:09:50 +0000

First, these efforts suggest the importance of faculty taking their vocations seriously. On a micro-level, what if faculty, as they design courses, intentionally allow the texts, values, and outcomes of a liberal education to shape the development of their syllabi and daily course content? What if they mentor students and advise them to pursue a liberal education? What if they, in their personal reading and research, grow themselves as students of the liberal arts? On a macro-level, what if faculty committees (Development, Curriculum, Assessment, and Uffda, how the list goes on!) pursue a liberal arts agenda in their committee work and use those values as the standard against which they measure their work?

Second, a Lutheran institution, grounded in Holy Scripture and the church’s symobls, guided by the Church’s tradition, has an embarrassment of riches to share with students. If we want to help students in a serious endeavor to consider “how to live a meaningful life,” then we certainly have no reason not to orient them to the gifts Christ has given his people.

Even if a majority of faculty do not agree on these values or concerns, a concerted effort by those who love the liberal arts can make a tremendous difference in the lives of individual students and can carve out a corner in any institution in which those values survive, and by God’s grace, thrive.

Via Renascentes Musae: Beyond Rhetoric.

OK Go – This Too Shall Pass – RGM version

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:06:10 +0000

Wow.

YouTube - OK Go – This Too Shall Pass – RGM version.

xkcd: I Am

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:20 +0000

What happens in my mind everyday. Somehow I need to excise all the fantasy and sci-fi from my theological thinking. I say this as I am writing a paper on Justification (or lack thereof) in LOTR and Narnia. :)

Infantile Spasms and TSC: A Devastating Diagnosis

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:14:24 +0000

This is a helpful video for understanding Naomi’s condition. Some of the folks in the video have it far worse than us. The video talks about developmental difficulties. As we continue to work on controlling Naomi’s seizures we will be starting behavioral and speech therapy. Many of the children with TSC display various disabilities including autism. You can support the advocacy group here: TS Alliance. As always, your prayers are welcome.

Harrison on Wyneken

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:10:37 +0000

Good stock.

YouTube - Wyneken Clip 28 Feb 2010.mov.

Is music the universal language?

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:51:11 +0000

YouTube - World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale.

It Took a Village of Families

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:10:22 +0000

Dare we as a society–heavily urbanized, hyper-sexualized (even down into grade school), able to create offspring in test tubes–call marriage that which has never been marriage? Does the loss of a primarily agrarian culture in which men and women complement each other in the home economy and where children are welcomed—does this loss mean a new cultural norm, an “evolution” of sexual and familial arrangements? What of polygamy and polyamory for those who want them?

CSPP: And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:59:28 +0000

Our ancient mothers (and fathers, for that matter) did not prize the fruitful womb because of their time or culture. They did so because they were Christian.

Those longing for greater service/leadership/representation/whatever of women in the church never tire of arguing that the singular example of Deborah (or the virtually informationless examples of Huldah or Phoebe or Lydia) makes their case. These same proponents glibly discard Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth, and every other baby-loving woman in the Bible as mere products of their times whose lives, characterized by a high view of maternity, have no contemporary relevance and set no vocational precedent. Eisegesis at its finest, girls. Nice work.

Cantata BWV 22

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:12:36 +0000

What a perfect text for Quinquagesima:

Chorale from BWV 22:

Ertöt uns durch dein Güte, (Kill us through your kindness,)

Erweck uns durch dein Gnad; (awaken us through your grace;)

Den alten Menschen kränke, (make sick the old man,)

YouTube - CTS Special Presentation on Haiti – 02/03/10 – Part 1

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:49:05 +0000

YouTube - CTS Special Presentation on Haiti – 02/03/10 – Part 1.

When You Fast… » CyberBrethren-A Lutheran Blog

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:05:14 +0000

Did you know that our Lord Jesus Christ assumed that His disciples would fast, just as He assumed they would pray? Jesus commended fasting as a private act of humility and devotion to God (see Matthew 6:16-18). Note particularly that he says, “When you fast…” not “If you fast…” Take a look at Matthew 9:14-15. The first Christians fasted (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23). Why shouldn’t a twenty-first century Christian do likewise? Why?

Because we are, as a culture and society, gluttons. After all, we are a “consumer” society. We consume, consume and consume some more. We eat to the point that our bellies are too large, we weigh too much, and we inflict chronic illness on ourselves brought on by poor diet and exercise habits. I’m as guilty as anyone in this regard. We do not fast to earn brownie points with God, but that fact has become our excuse for not fasting, for not attending to self-disipline and self-mortification. We excuse our laziness and gluttony by appealing to our freedom in Christ as forgiven children. We let ourselves off the hook all the while comforting ourselves that we are free not to get caught up in “legalistic” requirements such as fasting. We look at the required fasts in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy and rightly criticize the imposition of such rules as contrary to the Gospel freedom we have, but then we again use this an excuse not to fast. We’ll show those legalists, as we continue stuffing our faces and filling our bellies with the food that perishes.

As we now approach the beginning of Lent, it is good to recall that Lent has been, historically, throughout the Church’s history, a time that involves fasting. The German name for Lent used historically in Luthernaism is Fastenzeit, “Fast time.” The spiritual discipline of fasting was always part of historic Lutheranism, but as in so many other areas of our church life, the desire to “fit in” with the rest of American Protestantism, led this practice to fall into disuse among us. Luther assumes that fasting will be part of Lutherans’ practice when they prepare to receive the Supper, for in the Catechism he writes, “Fasting is indeed fine outward bodily preparation…” What he goes on to say about the proper preparation being faith and trust in Christ was never intended to be an excuse not to fast. In The Lutheran Study Bible there is a great article on fasting and I thought you might find it useful as you consider how you will be observing Lent.

Philippe, The Postmodern Evangelist | The Sacred Sandwich

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:49:15 +0000

Hilarious. From the always funny Sacred Sandwich:

Once there was a man named Philippe. He was a spiritual guide in an emerging community. One day he decided to go on a journey. So, he did. As he was walking along the road, focusing on the journey and not the destination, he found himself alongside the chariot of an African official. The man in the chariot was reading from a parchment scroll. He was reading aloud, so Philippe was able to overhear what the man read.

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”

Philippe caught up to the chariot and said, “You read that text beautifully. It made me feel significant and connected to ancient traditions to hear you read it.”

“I just wish I could understand it,” the man replied.

“Understand it? You don’t need to understand it. Just to experience it. Read it again, more slowly this time. I want to hear the poetic forms and imagine myself in the context of the ancient tradition,” said Philippe.

“Who is he talking about?” the man persisted. “Is the prophet writing about himself or about someone else?”

“I think he is writing about all of us,” said Philippe. “I think we are all a part of the larger story.”

“But what story?” asked the official. “It seems to me that the writer is talking about something in particular, and I sense that it is important. I just wish I knew what it was. What exactly does this mean?”

“What do YOU think it means?” asked Philippe.

“I don’t know. That is why I am asking YOU.”

“Well, it is true that I am a Christ-follower, and my tradition does impose certain meanings on this text. But I would not want to force my truth claims on you. Your truth claims would be equally valid. As you see, we are both on a journey; and we both find ourselves on the same road. So, it follows that our destination is also the same. So, let’s just enjoy this time of community and not divide ourselves by discussing meanings and dogma,” said Philippe.

After awhile, they came to a pool of water by the side of the road. There was also a fork in the road at this point, and the official chose the road to the right. Philippe planned to take the road to the left, but first he sat down by the edge of the pool to journal his experiences of the day. He was delighted that he had had an unique opportunity to engage in a dialogue with a person of a culture so diverse from his own.

Meanwhile, the African official went on his way, still searching for the meaning of the text that could have brought him eternal life.

WORLD Magazine | Don’t miss the joy | Matt Anderson | Dec 05, 09

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:30:50 +0000

Everyone knows we live on an overpopulated planet. Too many people (carbon footprints) harm our environment, causing global climate change, a threat to us all. In addition, increasing population means more poverty and starvation. Responsible adults must limit their family size.

Less TV, More Family Dinners Fight Childhood Obesity

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:30:45 +0000

File this in the “DUH” category.

Lifestyle Changes: Which Is Best?

The researchers defined the three healthy routines as eating the evening meal as a family more than five times per week, getting at least 10.5 hours of sleep nightly, and watching less than two hours of TV on weekdays.

The End of Intelligent Design? | First Things

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:32:02 +0000

The ID movement has also rubbed a very raw wound in the relation between science and religion. For decades scientists have had to fend off the attempts by Young Earth creationists to promote their ideas as a valid alternative science. The scientific world’s exasperation with creationists is understandable. Imagine yourself a serious historian in a country where half the population believed in Afrocentric history, say, or a serious political scientist in a country where half the people believed that the world is run by the Bilderberg Group or the Rockefellers. It would get to you after a while, especially if there were constant attempts to insert these alternative theories into textbooks. So, when the ID movement came along and suggested that its ideas be taught in science classrooms, it touched a nerve. This is one reason that the New Atheists attracted such a huge audience.

Thesis on apologetics

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:24:05 +0000

Thesis: While the defense of the Christian faith may serve to remove common objections, it cannot create faith, properly the work of the Spirit through the Word.

Any objection to faith is overcome by the Spirit through his chosen instruments, Word and water.

Sir Patrick Stewart and the iPhone

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:50:15 +0000

YouTube - Sir Patrick Stewart #dig_nat.

New World Computing

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:04:29 +0000

In the New World, computers are task-centric. We are reading email, browsing the web, playing a game, but not all at once. Applications are sandboxed, then moats dug around the sandboxes, and then barbed wire placed around the moats. As a direct result, New World computers do not need virus scanners, their batteries last longer, and they rarely crash, but their users have lost a degree of freedom. New World computers have unprecedented ease of use, and benefit from decades of research into human-computer interaction. They are immediately understandable, fast, stable, and laser-focused on the 80% of the famous 80/20 rule.

Spare the Spanking, Spoil the Report Card? – WSJ.com

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:07:07 +0000

Prior to becoming the devout, busybody next-door neighbor on the animated hit “The Simpsons,” Ned Flanders was an out-of-control brat whose beatnik parents didn’t believe in discipline. To reform Ned, a child psychologist enrolled him in the University of Minnesota Spankalogical Protocol, which included eight months of continuous spanking. It cured his rambunctiousness and set him on the path to becoming the cartoon world’s most famously pious Christian.

Indeed, conservative Christian parenting is often unfairly presented as little more than “spare the rod, spoil the child,” advice distilled from the Bible’s book of Proverbs. Spanking—punishment delivered with an open hand, not a rod—used to be socially acceptable and frequently utilized by parents, even in public. But at some point in the past century, child-rearing books began discouraging spanking and encouraging such new proverbs as “let’s all take a ‘timeout’ so that our anger might melt away, leading to fruitful conversation, peace and harmony in the home.”

Some parents have taken the advice to such an extreme that they’re hesitant to impose any consequences at all on their children. These include the helicopter parents who monitor their children’s every move and the lawnmower parents who mow down any obstacle in their children’s path. They, in turn, have spawned a backlash movement of free-range parents who encourage their children to roam freely and slacker parents (see the books “Bad Mother” and “The Three-Martini Playdate”) who brag about who’s been the most neglectful. It’s a parenting free-for-all.

Those parents who still use physical discipline keep it on the down-low. That’s not just because spanking is no longer politically correct but because some lawmakers are attempting to ban even the most benign swat. Massachusetts and California successfully resisted attempts to ban spanking in 2007, but some 25 countries—from Austria to Venezuela—have banned any and all corporal punishment. Antispanking advocates say that physical discipline isn’t just immoral but also detrimental to a child’s long-term adjustment.

Yet a new study by Calvin College’s Marjorie Gunnoe found no evidence to support the claim. In fact, it found that those adolescents who were spanked as young children actually ended up having a sunnier outlook and were better students than those who were never spanked.

Compared with those who had never experienced physical discipline, those who endured parental swats between the ages of 2 and 6 were much more likely to report positive academic records and optimism about their future. Even those who received their last spanking between the ages of 7 and 11 reported that they volunteered more, compared with those who had never been spanked. In fact, the never-spanked group never scored the best on any of the 11 behavioral variables analyzed. According to Prof. Gunnoe, her research, which was based on surveys of 183 adolescent children, doesn’t provide answers to parents as to how they should discipline so much as undermine the rationale for banning spanking.

But it does speak to the importance of a balanced approach to physical discipline. The group that had the worst overall social adjustment was made up of children who were spanked into their teenage years.

So often spanking is utilized according to the Ned Flanders model—all or nothing. And religious adherents are on both ends of the punishment spectrum. One controversial discipline manual that purports to offer Christian parenting guidance, “To Train Up a Child,” suggests training children as the Amish train mules. According to the book, infants are to be lashed when they reach out for forbidden objects of desire. On the other hand, groups such as ParentingInJesusFootsteps.org argue against any physical discipline because it’s not mentioned in the Beatitudes, Golden Rule or parable of the Prodigal Son. The United Methodist Church passed two antispanking resolutions in 2004, arguing that Jesus wouldn’t approve.

While all these groups may appeal to the Bible, the Scriptures are actually much more nuanced about parental discipline.

Sure, the “spare the rod” instruction is Bible-based, though not a word-for-word quotation. And there are many more passages that likewise encourage correction, discipline and, if called for, physical punishment. Many of the Proverbs are focused on telling children to listen to their parents and telling parents to not give up on discipline, lest the children end up dead or imprisoned.

The passages aren’t ending up on greeting cards anytime soon, but they do have the ring of truth: “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child”; “For whom the Lord loves He corrects”; “Chasten your son while there is hope”; and “Withhold not correction from the child.”

While the rod passages get all the attention, that’s not all the Bible says about correction. In his letter to the Ephesians, for instance, St. Paul reminds kids to obey parents. But he adds, “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath.” In Colossians, fathers are told, “Provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” In First Thessalonians, the greatest affection is compared with the care a mother gives her own children, and Christians are routinely encouraged to be humble, gentle, forbearing and—most important of all—forgiving in all their relationships.

Clearly the Spankalogical Protocol would not pass biblical muster.

But with emerging research showing that spanked children compare favorably to those who were never spanked, it is time to stop pushing spanking bans. By the same token, those attempting to follow a biblical model of discipline should remember to balance out punishment with heavy doses of gentleness and forgiveness.

via Spare the Spanking, Spoil the Report Card? – WSJ.com.

Applying the Principle of Adiaphora with Confidence, by Klemet Preus

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:33:23 +0000

Article X of the Formula of Concord deals with indifferent matters or what has been called “adiaphora.” The application of Article X to the question of worship among Lutherans in America today may seem difficult. But once we sweep away some of the extraneous issues and get to the core of the Biblical and Confessional position on adiaphora, we can apply it today with confidence.

Here was the issue which confronted the Lutherans. They had been part of the Roman Church until recently. While establishing the ministry of the Gospel and Sacraments among themselves they had discarded certain Roman customs. The Roman church wanted the Lutherans to return to these customs in order for there to be peace among the two groups. Some Lutherans figured that they should go ahead and reintroduce the abandoned customs. They thought that they might as well not antagonize the Roman church any more than necessary and since some of these customs were neither commanded nor forbidden in the church then they were not doing wrong for actions intended to minimize the conflict.

Other Lutherans said that there should be principles which would guide the church as she decided which customs to reintroduce. These are the principles.

Obviously you can’t introduce ceremonies which are contrary to the bible even if these customs are claimed to be indifferent matters.

If certain customs or ceremonies are designed to give the impression that our religion does not greatly differ from that of the papists then we are not free to use those customs even if, under different circumstances, the ceremonies would be indifferent matters.

When customs or ceremonies are introduced as though through these ceremonies contrary religions are reconciled, then such ceremonies are not matters of indifference. (FC SD X 5)

via The Brothers of John the Steadfast » Applying the Principle of Adiaphora with Confidence, by Klemet Preus.

Weedon’s Blog: More Meditation on Worship Conference

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:50:06 +0000

Before the conference was ever held, Pr. Asburry noted that the question that is ultimately behind all the discussions will likely not be addressed: the question of authority. He was prescient. It is the “white elephant” in the room of American Lutheranism. Granted that many of the questions before us do indeed fall into the category of adiaphora (neither commanded nor forbidden); granted that not all adiaphora are created equal (Arand); WHO regulates adiaphora or church ceremony?

The Earthquake in Haiti: Again, the ‘Why’ Question

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:11:38 +0000

The following is the conclusion to an excellent online article from Prof. John Pless:

Unexplainable tragedies bring pain and chaos. God leaves the wound open, to use the words of Bayer. We cry out to God in lamentation in the face of events that defy our capacities for understanding. But the anguished lament ascends from the crucible of faith, not unbelief. It is a confession of trust in the God who works all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Living in repentance and faith, we are freed from the inward turn of speculation that seeks to investigate the hidden God. Instead, we trust in the kindness and mercy of God revealed in Christ Jesus.

Rev. Matthew Harrison on Haiti Earthquake

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:37:52 +0000

Support the relief effort: Haiti Earthquake Relief
LCMS World Relief and Human Care Disaster Response

YouTube - Rev. Matthew Harrison on Haiti Earthquake.

Earthquake in Haiti – The Big Picture – Boston.com

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:54:23 +0000

Support the relief effort: Haiti Earthquake Relief
LCMS World Relief and Human Care Disaster Response

Keep all those suffering in Haiti in your prayers. The seminary has a deaconess intern there who is confirmed to be safe. We also have a student from Haiti who has not been able to reach his father on the phone, but expect him to be safe as well.

Viktor ordained as deacon

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:35:02 +0000

From our the brothers in Novosibirsk:

Peace to you, dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At the day of St Stephan, deacon and first martyr, our Bishop Vsevolod Lytkin has ordained Viktor Shkurupi as a deacon for our parish inChelyabinsk.

Viktor has come to Novosibirsk to study at the Lutheran Theological Seminary from Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, in 2004. Upon completion of his academic studies at the Seminary in the spring of 2008 he went for a year of vicarage in the Holy Spirit Lutheran parish inChelyabinsk.  The year of practical work helped Viktor to become assured about his call to serve in the Church.  And that year also helped people in Chelyabinsk to get to know him.  His pastor, Vladislav Ivanov, though he knows Viktor very well as they both came from the same Lutheran congregation in Dnepropetrovsk, had a chance to see him working at a more responsible position.  He said: “I’m glad that Deacon Viktor will serve in our parish. He proved to be a good assistant in the service to God’s people. I am sure that his ministry will bring an abundant fruit.”

Pastor Pavel Khramov, Viktor’s fellow-seminarian said: “One of the most attractive Viktor’s qualities is his seriousness about following Christ. For him faith is never just knowing correct doctrines, but also living them out.  And in that sense it is very symbolic that his ordination took place at the Day of Saint Stephan, deacon and first martyr.”

Pastor Alexei Streltsov who has assisted Bishop Lytkin during the ordination noted: “As a rector of the seminary, I am always pleased and grateful to God when I see seminary graduates being drawn into the ministry of the Word. This is what the seminary stands for, this is where it finds its raison d’être – so that men may preach Christ crucified and bring the Gospel to the needy people. If this is what goes on, then we know that we are on the right track.”

We think that ordination of a new minister marks a good completion of the last year. We are thankful to God for His mercy and your faithful prayers and support.  We trust that this new year will bring to you a great joy in our Savior Jesus Christ.

Please pray for our new Lutheran clergyman and for our parishes in the Ural region of Russia.

Viktor was a classmate for our intensive in Siberia. He is a gentlemen, a scholar, and above a churchman. The church is blessed to welcome him as a deacon. (Pictured center below)

Cook to soothe the spirit

dizzysound@gmail.com (Christopher R. Gillespie) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:58:32 +0000

Cooking “is a very calming ritual. Its a different kind of stress relief than I get doing anything else,” said the creator/star during a break from taping the show. “Slicing, dicing and chopping — the rhythm of that is something I enjoy and find relaxing. But I also really, really, really like to knead dough. I like the physical action of getting my hands into it. … I find that physically rewarding.”Whether its biscuit making or “throwing something together” for dinner in 30 minutes, he finds “the labor of the kitchen, the doing of cooking and things in the kitchen to be amazingly stress reducing,” Brown said.

Read more on Cook to soothe the spirit…