Seriously, the Northeastern Iowa Synod is the Best Synod in the ELCA

Our bishop is too modest to say so, but he did keep saying that the future of this synod looks very bright and he's right.

I just got back from our Synod Assembly.  I've been to many assemblies in many synods and usually I leave thinking "well that's three days of my life I will  never get back" (except for the late night poker games in Wisconsin back in the late 80s but I digress) but I left today feeling good about the church, the ELCA and my synod.  

No fighting, no wrangling, no scolding, no politcking, just uplifting and encouraging stories about the mission.  



Some highlights

A touching and inspiring tribute by the Bishop for L. David Brown, the first Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod.  I thought our present bishop was the coolest bishop ever.  No. Bishop Brown was the coolest bishop ever.  In 1961 the Rev. Martin Luther King jr. was invited to speak at the ALC Youth Convention.  Then some of the bigwigs of the church though it best to uninvite him.  King uninvited himself, not wanting to be the cause of controversy.  It was Brown who talked him into coming.  He really was a remarkable man, you can read more information about him here: L. David Brown.  But it was really touching hearing our bishop speak of him because he always gets emotional about these things.

A keynote by one of our own, Pastor Steve Brackett who spoke of how his ministry at St. Paul in Postville led up to them being prepared to respond to the crisis when ICE raided the town.  I just think it was so cool to hear from one of our own, to remind us that WE are doing the work of God, here, in Podunk Iowa.

We also heard from the Rev. Twila Schock Director for Global Mission Support, ELCA, reminding us that yes, the ELCA is still doing Global Mission.

Our synod is one of the pilot synods to support the ELCA Malaria Campaign. We passed a resolution with a goal to raise $350,000 for the Malaria Campaign in three years.  We had people dressed up like farm animals holding a mosquito net to take pledges.  I mailed my pledge in last week.  I didn't know we were going to have an opportunity to throw it in a net held by people dressed up like farm animals.  I feel a little cheated.  Kind of like on 9/11/01 when everyone was giving blood--I couldn't because I had given blood the week before.  By the time the synod was over we had $60,000 in gifts and pledges.  

We passed a new synod structure, pretty much doing away with committees that meet because it says in the by laws they need to meet.  We are going to do business through networks and task forces.  Not sure how it's going to work, but I think it's pretty exciting that we are blazing the way.  And it passed with nary an argument.  Which I credit to the synod doing good work on educating folks about it beforehand and the fact that people pretty much trust the synod.  So different than the days in some synods (Ahem....WESTERN IOWA) where you couldn't even pass a budget without folks arguing and questioning nearly every line item. 


And because we did not spend time arguing, we had time at the end to have people come to the mike and tell the stories of mission going on in their congregations. 


There was nary a word about sex at this assembly.  Because the sad hard truth is that pretty much anyone that is unhappy about the sexuality statement or ministry recommendations has left the synod.  A lot of congregations and pastors have left.  We are a smaller synod with less money to work with.  But we are moving forward doing good stuff, instead of arguing about sex.  It's a good thing.

When Justice Becomes a Reality Show

If you are in the US and you have the TV on at all you will have heard of Casey Anthony a 25 year old who is accused of killing her three year old girl and then going to a party.  (That going to the party afterwards is what really seems to piss people off)

I've been wanting to ignore this because...

a) Nancy Grace has a lot to do with it and I can't stand that judgmental, manipulaitive, exploitive...um, woman

b) I refuse to get sucked into the national pasttime of  playing jury. and deciding the guilt or innocence in cases we really know nothing about but we think we do because Nancy Grace has told us what to think

c)  Between my soft spot for screwed up single mothers and penchant for taking the side of the underdog, I don't want to believe she's guilty but even her parents think she did it ...and that's a bad sign.

It's her defense that is so disturbing.  She's claiming that the baby drowned in the pool and she didn't tell anyone and went to parties because she is screwed up because both her father and brother sexually abused her.

If she wasn't hated before, that defense has really pissed off the peanut gallery.  How dare she accuse this wonderful family of such a horrible thing?  If she's lying about that, that's a terrible thing to do to your own family.  And it's a terrible thing to do to real victims because it makes it even harder for others to be believed.

But but but....this happens in so called "wonderful families".  And it screws up people.  It would explain her behavior.   And I keep hearing "It can't be true because why would she let her father and brother near her daughter if they did that to her?"  Why indeed.  But it happens.  Victims serve up their own children to their abusers.

Not that all sexual abuse victims party after their babies accidentally drown. And she could just be a truly awful person.

But it's also possible she's telling the truth.  I'm just saying.  We don't know what happened.  A jury is going to have to decide what is justice for this world.  In the end, God will decide ultimate justice.  But let's not make Nancy Grace anymore rich or famous over this perverted tragedy.

Oprah

 

Cam Cardow/The Ottawa Citizen politicalcartoons.com

I liked the Oprah Winfrey show.  Especially after she got away from delving into people's personal lives.  I'm sorry she invited that genre of encouraging people to spill their personal problems and allow an audience of strangers to make commentary and judgments.  I'm sorry she gave Dr. Phil that job.

But she really is the best interviewer, she asks interesting questions and  can get the person to open up better than anyone else.  I liked watching her and Gayle go on a road trip.  I even bought some books just because she liked them.

I had to turn off her second to the last show, even though I liked a lot of her special guests.  I felt like it had turned into worship of Oprah.  But on reflection I thought it's really no different than a retirement or ordination of anniversary party of a colleague, where your friends get up and say nice things about you.  It's just that we don't have as many friends or friends who are as dramatic.

The New York Times has an interesting critique of her spirituality.  The Church of Oprah Winfrey and a Theology of Suffering.  I think it's on the money.  Once when she got on the band wagon of that ridiculous book "The Secret" that claims if we just have enough positive energy only good things will come our way, I wrote a newsletter article debunking it.

But honestly, someone with good Lutheran theology is not going to have a TV show that reaches as many people as Oprah does.  That's the ELCA's job ;-).  But having a message about not being a victim, taking care of yourself, being honest, being true to yourself, doing good for others reach that many people...in this world?  I'll take it.  Well done, Oprah.

Rhubarb Chicken Curry

Yes I have a LOT of Rhubarb and if you don't have a lot you might want to save it for the desserts...but this was REALLY REALLY good. ( I think even Annabelle who hates Rhubarb would like it)  This is my own made-up recipe.

Four boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut up, seasoned to your taste and sauteed in a little olive oil.

2 Tbl olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper chopped

1 clove garlic chopped

1 cup rhubarb, chopped

1/2 cup craisins.

2 carrots, chopped

1 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup apricot jam

1/4 cup brown sugar (more or less)

1 -2 tbs curry powder

1/2 tsp cumin

a pinch of cayenne pepper if you like a little heat.

salt, pepper to taste

Saute onions and pepper in olive oil until onions are transparent.  Add garlic and rhubarb and cook on med-low for a few minutes.  Add wine, jam, sugar, spices and stir and cook another few minutes.  

Taste it before you add the sugar and add the sugar to your liking.  I prefer a sweeter taste but you make like the tarter flavor.  Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook until it turns into a sweet sticky mess.  Add the chicken and serve over rice.  You will see rice in the pan in my picture.  Usually, I have good luck cooking rice with the liquid in these kinds of dishes but I could not get that rice to cook so cooking the rice separately is probably a better bet.

I had a few stalks of asparagus that I picked from the yard and were not enough to serve on their own so I chopped those up and put it in there too but I don't think you could notice them.

I'm Still Here, so What?

Well we all had a good laugh.   And of course I got scolded for laughing.   I wonder if all the people who like to scold on Facebook and twitter dare scold people that much in person?

Well I won't scold.  But I do think what got lost in this joke were the victims of Harold Camping.  A lot of people gave up their jobs, their families, their bank accounts, their lives to follow him and preach his "gospel".  Why would they do that?  Because their jobs, their families, their bank accounts and their very lives gave them no purpose or meaning.  They had no hope and Harold Camping gave them a false hope.  He promised them all their problems would go away today.  And now they have even more problems and no hope at all.  And  it is going to be very difficult for them to listen to anyone who calls themselves a Christian.

So no, it's not really very funny.  It makes our jobs as proclaimers of hope to the hopeless that much more difficult but that much more crucial.    

And are we in the mainstream church all that different than Harold Camping?  Maybe we don't offer an exact date but are we offering some far off pie in the sky instead of real hope and purpose and meaning to people  who having difficulty seeing meaning in their lives today?

I'll never forget the question of a friend whose brother died around Easter.  "Christ is risen" she said, then asked "So what?"

We can't just say "Christ is risen"  We have to answer the question, "So what?"

Sojourners Can't Decide if it's a Good Idea to Welcome Gay Families to Church

I've always had trouble Sojourners.  I would subscribe to their magazine, enjoy a few articles and then get put off by their legalistic tone (yes, friends, Liberals can be legalistic, self-righteous jerks too).  I think they really do think we can save ourselves by being pacifists and giving up stuff for the poor.  That sort of thing always rubs this Lutheran the wrong way.

Well according to Rev Robert Chase in this article LGBT “Welcome” Ad Rejected by Sojourners, Nation's Premier Progressive Christian Org   Sojourners doesn't want to take sides on welcoming gay families to church. 

I find it really strange that an organization that can be so sure of itself and so self-rightous about some things (these are the same kind of people scolding people for being happy about Bin Laden's demise) can't make up their minds about God and homosexuality.  Gee I hope it's not a cynical move to keep evangelical folk who are socially conservative but socially progressive in the movement.  


But even if say, you can't make up your mind about Gay marriage...you can't take a side about WELCOMING gay families in the church?   


Well this is how I feel about that:

So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth -Revelation 3:15

Mother's Day Prayer - Repost

A lot of people found this prayer helpful last year - I offer it again to use as you wish.


Mother's Day Prayer

Okay, when I said you all were arrogant,....I didn't mean YOU

So I guess I ruffled a few feathers I said "But those people spouting 'Love your enemies' are just as arrogant and they need to show a little love and forgiveness for those sinners who relish a little revenge".  I guess a lot of people, some of whom I don't even know, thought I was talking about them. 

Like Kevin Blaug at Country Preacher whose FINE essay on "Why I will not celebrate the death of Bin-Laden" was posted on the ELCA blogsite "LivingLutheran"  at the same time mine was.  Just for the record, I agree with what he wrote and I don't think he's arrogant. (And I'm pretty sure I wrote my blog before he even wrote his)

(One little rant before I go-- so someone comments about MY blog on HIS blog.  To that person - You got something to say to me?  Grow a pair and say it to ME!)

Let me get a few things straight.  I WAS NOT out in the streets shouting "USA USA" when Osama died.  I don't do that.  Even at sports events.  But I don't think people who do are horrible people or even bad Christians.  Well actually I think we are ALL bad Christians.  That's kind of my point.  That's why I'm Lutheran.  That's why I really really appreciate grace. 

But I was probably unfair.  Maybe all those people tweeting "Love your enemies" were just fed up with all the celebrating they were seeing.  I don't  follow USA USA people on Twitter or have a lot of  friends like that on Facebook.  Precisely because I don't want to read that crap.    So all I was seeing was Love your enemies, blah blah blah.  And when someone spouted "I don't find the death of a human being funny" after I made a joke about Trump demanding the death certificate, I'd had enough.  COME ON!.  How aggravating to learn that liberals can be just as uptight and self-righteous as right wingers.

The fact is, we all choose the enemy we will/can love.  What's worse, we get proud about loving that enemy, blind to the enemy we cannot/will not love, and judge others who make a difference choice about who they can or cannot love.   I DO IT TOO!

The good news is that we are not saved by loving our enemies. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to love the bastards.  But maybe we all need to spend a little more time on the logs in own eyes before tweeting about someone else's specks.

ELCA Malaria Campaign

You can download this 5 minute video to show your congregation, council, women's meeting, whatever from the ELCA.  There's also a 2 minute version if you have an even shorter attention span than me.

On Celebrating the Death of Our Enemy

Don't worry, I'm not going to scold you if you are.  It's complicated.

The first thing that strikes me is how I found out about the death of Osama Bin Laden I logged onto Facebook and read it on everybody's status.  THEN I turned on the news.  This is what life is like today.

It was on Twitter that I was subjected to all tweets quoting "Love your enemy"  blah blah blah.  I was even scolded because I made joke about Trump wanting a death certificate. Sorry I thought it was funny - so did most of my Facebook friends.  Another thing I learned.  I have more uptight friends on Twitter than Facebook.

It's all very easy to quote Jesus about loving your enemy when you are not responsible for protecting an entire country against someone who would destroy the nation.  I know my history.  And Christians were pacifists UNTIL they were in charge.  Then it was more complicated.     It seems to me only Amish get to be real pacifists.  And even their freedom to not participate in this society is protected by people who are willing to kill our enemies.

I don't rejoice in the death of Bin Laden or anybody.  But I surely am not going to cry over it.  Nor am I not going to make jokes.   And it did make me feel good to see Americans pulling together and spontaneously gathering and celebrating, even if it was the death of a human being.  Yes some of it was about revenge, plain and simple.  But I think of it was relief and a sense that in some way, this brings 9/11 to some sort of close. 

Bin Laden was a symbol of our weakness, our vulnerability.  Of course we are kidding ourselves to think this is the end of terrorism.   And there will no doubt be reprisals.


And when the crowds dissipate it will be life and bickering as usual.  And we will have to confess that we are weak and vulnerable.  But those people spouting "Love your enemies" are just as arrogant and they need to show a little love and forgiveness for those sinners who relish a little revenge.  Because life is complicated. 

White Chocolate-Rhubarb Muffins

I figured out with my Cranberry White-Chocolate Bars that white chocolate goes very well with a tart fruit.  Well, it is the RHUBARB season.  And I needed to make a treat for my daughter's 21st Birthday.  

• 1 1/4 Cup White Sugar
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup rhubarb, chopped fine
• 1/2 package white chocolate chips
• 2 Tbl Rum
•  

Preheat oven 425.  Chop rhubarb - put aside in a bowl with rum and 1/4 cup sugar.

Cream 1 cup sugar with butter.  Add two eggs and beat for a couple of minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients (Drain rhubarb first). Do not overmix.  Spoon into lined muffin pan.  Makes a dozen.  Sprinkle the top with sugar.  I used pink sugar.  Bake 25 minutes.

Friday Five - The Royal Wedding

The RevGalBlogPals have wedding fever.  Or some do.  It's a Royal Wedding Friday Five:

1) Will you be watching? If so, is this your first royal wedding?

I did watch it.  Live.  I got up about 3:30.  I didn't even need the alarm.   It is not my first wedding.  I watched Charles and Di as well.  Live.  I was younger then and believed the whole fairy tale thing.  I'm older now and I buy the "this is different, they are smarter and really in love" this time.

2) The bride has chosen as her wedding cake a fruitcake. Where do you stand on this pastry?

Fruitcake is a much maligned and wonderful food.  I make a mean fruitcake.  I say good for them but chocolate would have been a better choice.

3) The dress code for royal weddings has not seen the same sad decline as that for most other weddings. If you could design your own royal wedding hat, what color would it be and what special decoration would it feature?

 

I don' t design hats but I would wear something outrageous.  I am a hat person.  I love that these supposed reserved Brits wear these crazy things on their heads.  And they pull it off.  My favorite is socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson's hat.  I want that hat.  I want the shoes.  I'm not so sure about the gloves.

I just don't know about this hat.  But I really really admire Princess Beatrice for wearing this hat with a straight face.

4)  Any chance the Archbishop of Canterbury is using a Sustainable Sermon (tip of the mitre to the Vicar of Hogsmeade)? What would you tell the couple were you offering the homily?

 

All kidding aside, it was a WONDERFUL sermon and I will likely steal lines from it for years to come.   Like this:

Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this: the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

You can find the text here.

5) Believe it or not, kathrynzj is getting up early mostly to see the wedding dress. By the time this post is up, the world will have seen it. Did you like it?

I thought it was all enchanting and the service was beautiful and the music wonderful.  I like congregational singing at a wedding.  We sang "Love Divine" at my wedding as well.   When I hear people huffing and puffing about the cost I remember when I visited India (I went around the world on a Semester at Sea (long story) and in my youthful arrogance said something about the cost of a beautiful church amidst all the poor and hungry.  And the gentleman showing me the church said "If you sold the church to feed the hungry, tomorrow we would be hungry and we would have nowhere beautiful to go." 

We need beauty and pomp and circumstances.  Even in difficult times.  Perhaps more so in such times. 

  

And hats.  We really need hats.

Holy Saturday First Communion Workshop

This is just about my favorite class to teach.

I started this practice about 20 years ago and only skipped the last five years because the church where I served didn't want their young people receiving the gift of Christ's Body and Blood until they were confirmed (gee could I have worded that in anymore loaded?)

Today I got to do it again after the five year break and in my dread of giving up four hours to spend with 5th graders I had forgotten how much I enjoy it and how quickly the time goes by.

It's a one day four hour preparation and then following ancient tradition, they come to the Lord's Table for the first time on Easter Sunday.

 I still use a lot of material from a really old source that I can't remember the name of the book -Augsburg Fortress, out of print from the late 80s or early 90s, back when they still thought 5th graders were smart enough to actually learn some theological concepts.  Although this year I added the new Fed & Forgiven and was happy with some of it but would never use it alone.  

I divide sessions up according the Small Catechism.  

I've made my own power points with the catechism, and material from that old book whose name I cannot remember and Brick Testament pictures of the Exodus and the Last Supper.

I make them learn the first part "What is Holy Communion?" (which I still have yet to learn the new version - maybe next year.)  To me, that is still the best, most concise defintion of Holy Communion

Holy communion is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given with bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself, for us to eat and drink.

I also expect them to tell me what three things make a sacrament and what are the three benefits of Holy Communion (Forgiveness of Sins, life and salvation - clap while you say it --it has a rhythm)  

We go marching outside reciting these things at the top of our voices and in Southern, German and Italian accents.

We also bake bread for Easter Sunday. 

This is the recipe I got from my first call church cookbook from Hope Lutheran Church in Madison, WI.  I like to use a rising bread to show how long yeast takes so they can understand why for the Exodus they did not have time to use leaven, but also so they understand that there is nothing particular holy about unleavened bread, bread with yeast is fine too.

Whole Wheat Communion Bread

21/2 C warm water

1 pkg active dry yeast

1/4 c. soft shortening

1 tbsp salt

1/4 cup light molasses, honey or brown sugar

2 C whole wheat

2 C white flour

In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add shortening molasses and half the flour to the yeast, 1 cup at a time.  Beat with a spoon vigorously. 

Add remaining flour and when you can no longer beat with a spoon, knead with hands. (make sure every kid gets a chance to try knead it !)

Cover with towel and place in warm spot and let rise about an hour, until double.  Then beat down, divide into six loaves. 

Shape into ovals and flatten.  Let rise again about 1/2 hour. 

Mark with a deep cross by dipping knife in flour before each cut.  Crossways cut needs to be cut almost to the bottom to help break evenly at Communion table.    Bake for about 20 minutes.

Be sure to make an extra loaf so kids can eat it.  I had to make more when I came home today.

We also decorate a wine goblet with craft leading and stained glass window paint and then the whole family receives the wine out of the chalice they make and then they have a keepsake.  

Add a half hour lunch and run around outside or play hide and seek in the church and the time goes by pretty fast.  

And fifth graders are so precious, they still care and are not too cool for this stuff yet.    It was great to be able to do this again.

I Learned How to Work a VCR Because of Erica Kane

And now she and All My Children will be GONE GONE GONE come September.   To be replaced by cheaper talk shows and "reality shows" 

It's the end of an era.  I've watched all my Children since it's near beginnings back when I was in junior high.  I got pregnant with my son at the same time she conceived Bianca.  (Of course Erica was only pregnant 3 months and Bianca was in high school when my son was only seven but that's Soap Opera time)

I was never ashamed to admit I loved my shows.  I think all the tears and suspense over the dark secrets, switched babies, dead come back to life, long lost grown children showing up, amnesia,  girl meets boy, boy loses girl, boy trades girl with his brother and father and guy down the street and tragic death scenes as a helpful emotional release for me throughout the years.

My daughter  likes to tell a story of her slapping her preschool teacher because I let her watch soaps and she thought that's how people dealt with each other.  I don't remember hearing about her slapping her teacher.  Too busy watching soaps I guess.

Erica's Daughter Bianca's Wedding to Reese

People like to make fun of soaps.  But Erica Kane was the first one on TV to get a legal abortion in the 70s.  AMC was the first to deal with homosexuality in the 80s and a few years ago they were the first to have a gay wedding.  They dealt with AIDs, teenage prostitution,  addiction, domestic abuse --all kinds of real life issues nighttime TV wouldn't touch.

It was over the top but there was some good stuff.  A lot better than stupid talk shows and "reality shows"  But as an old departed organists used to tell me "Well ya know, nothing lasts forever"

Lutherans, Hogs and Social Statements Part Deux

A couple of weeks ago I went to a Forum on "Genetics and Faith" led by my Bishop Steven Ullestad who is on the task force that put together the ELCA Social Statement on Genetics Faith and Responsibility.

So I've been meaning to write about this and then  Clint Schnekloth over at Lutheran Confessions has to go and beat me to it.  Good thing he did because I started writing a LONG comment on his page and thought "Hey - why not save all this for MY blog!"

So my first comment is to answer the what I think is dumb criticism from people who say the church has no business sticking it's nose in this and stick to religion.  Um.  

Well, the only problem with that is that there are Christian scientists and geneticists.  

Yes really!  Bishop Ullestad told of hearing from people of faith  who work in this field saying "Why does God let me see what I see and give me no one to talk about it?"  One woman was scolded by her pastor for being in the field of genetic work and then derided by her co-workers for being involved in church. 

Look at the people on this task force, it's not just about of pastors sticking their nose in something they know nothing about.  

There are brilliant scientists who are highly regarded in their field on this task force.  There are also farmers and people schooled in agriculture.  

This is not about ivory tower theologians telling people what to do, these are real people, grappling with real issues of science and faith, some of whom for the first time have had an opportunity to talk about this with other Christians.  

f you don't know that there are people out there facing these issues then you are up in a tower somewhere.

Pastor Schnekloth wonders why their embryonic stem cell research is not addressed.  Well, apparently that is old news.  They have found other ways of getting those cells without using embryos and so it's no longer an issue.  The question they are asking now is "At what point to you inject so much human genetic material into a pig (to harvest organs) that it is no longer a pig?"

Yes, friends, we have been so busy worrying about who loves what gender that we have ignored some REAL moral dilemmas growing up around us.  

The study comes out against cloning human beings.  But says something very interesting. 

 However, if individuals are cloned despite societal and ELCA rejection, this church will respect their God-given dignity and will welcome them to the baptismal font, like any other child of God

You know why they put that in there, don't you?  They believe it is going to happen.  Whether the church approves of it or not.   Wake up and smell the coffee people!

There is some very good stuff on creation and care of creation and what I think is a very provocative statement:

Today, the meaning of “common good” or “good of all” must include the community of all living creatures. The meaning also should extend beyond the present to include consideration for the future of the web of life. The sphere of moral consideration is no longer limited to human beings alone.

But lest PETA (an organization for which I, an animal lover have NO respect) get too excited - there is this

The pursuit of genetic knowledge and its applications will rightfully give priority to serving the needs of existing individuals and the human community, with particular attention to the needs of the most vulnerable. These efforts, however, must not compromise the integrity of future human generations and should consider the integrity of the rest of the biosphere—animals, plants, soils and the ecosystem as a whole, including the water and air on which it depends.

 
A measured, Lutheran middle of the road position. Humans first, but concern for the rest of creation.

I think it is an EXCELLENT EXCELLENT study and you should have your folk read it.  Because this stuff is going to affect all of us.

Ham Balls

There is some midwestern food I will never learn to like.  Like "beef burgers". (You really have to see my face to know how I feel about those)

But Ham balls are another story.  I love these.   I don't even know if you can get ham loaf outside of Iowa but if you can, you have to try some ham balls.  Here is my version.  I even tried to figure out measurements just for you.

• 1 lb ham loaf
• 1 cup bread crumbs or crushed crackers  (I actually did not have either one and used oats and it was fine)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 can drained crushed pineapple (save the juice for the sauce)
• 1/2 tsp Penzeys American Barbecue spice

Mix that all up and form balls.  Put them in a pan and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.

While they are in the oven make the sauce:

• 1 Tbl butter
• 1/ 4 Cup Ketchup
• 1/4 Cup Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 Cup Brown sugar
• 2 Tbl Honey mustard 
• 1 tbs Penzeys barbecue spice
• 1/2 tsp Ginger
• The rest of the crushed pineapple & juice

Melt the butter in the ketchup in a small saucepan.  Add the other ingredients and mix.  Bring to a boil.  Simmer for a few minutes.  When the 15 minutes are up, spoon  it on the ham balls and bake another 45 minutes.

What I'm wasting my Time on These days

Free TV Show from Ustream

This is a web came on an Eagles Nest in Decorah, IA, about 10 miles from me.  One has hatched already.  The nest is 6 feet across and weighs a ton and a half.  Check out the rabbit they caught for their first meal.  Very cool.

I'm gong to post something substantial pretty soon.

The Annunciation

Henry Ossawa Tanner,. The Annunciation, 1898. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

"She shut her eyes and trusted in God who could bring all things to pass, even though common sense were against it; and because she believed, God did to her as he said"

Martin Luther's Christmas Book
..

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”

I'm not actually a big fan of Ghandi because of some things I know about his personal life and how he treated his wife, but I keep reminding myself,  nobody's perfect!  I agree with the above quote of his.

Earlier this week someone threw a starved dog they probably thought was dead, down a garbage shoot in an apartment.  The maitenence buy noticed the bag was moving and thus began the story of Patrick the Miracle Dog.

I don't know the story of the person who starved and threw this dog away.  I don't get into the hatred and wish to torture people who hurt animals.  Some people are monsters.  Some people are ignorant.    Some people just don't think about the suffering of animals.  Maybe it was someone on drugs who couldn't feed it and was too into their own horror to notice  his suffering.  Maybe the person who threw him away found him and thought he was dead (although how a starving stray pitbull got to the 22nd floor of an apartment building on his own is hard to answer.)

It's not about the cruelty of people.  That's not a story.  That's the way we are.  The story is the half dead dog who is not dead yet.  And the compassion he has evoked all over the country.  That's a good thing.  That's where I see God.

There are a lot of Patrick's.  People are raising money for his medical bills.  I'm not going to share a link to that.  I'm going to encourage you all to pick an animal rescue group near your home and give it some money this Lent.  Not instead of what you give for people and to your church and to all the other stuff you support.  Along with it.  You can afford an extra $20 for the animals.   Because there are Patricks near your home and I promise you, even if there isn't a facebook page or You tube video for them, they are there and your gift will make their lives better. 

Sometimes the Show CAN't Go on

So it looks like on second thought, with the problems of the nuclear reactor and travel not recommended to Japan, the World Championships are being postponed or possibly canceled.  It would be quite a feat to try to pull such an event off somewhere else with so little notice.  I know in the enormity of such loss to Japan, a skating championship is a small thing.  And yet I'm sure they were looking forward to hosting it and hoping they could go on despite the difficulties and I'm sorry for the Japanese skating community.

And I still think Phil Hersch is an idiot and his column insensitive.  They hoped it could go on and then realized it couldn't.  They don't  his need paternalistic second guessing.

Speaking of  the show, my daughter and I saw Stars on Ice in St. Paul yesterday.  It was their 25th anniversary show.  We've seen 12 of them together.  It was a great show.  It was nice to see the large cast numbers that were missing last year back.  And nice to see some real fast, centered scratch spins.   You don't see those in competition anymore because people are too busy trying to wrack up points  by changing edges and getting into weird positions.

Let the Show Go On!

Mao Asada 2010 World Champion

For the last several years my opinion of Phil Hersh has gone further and further down everytime he pontificates about what figure skaters and Figure Skating in general should do.  Now he opines  that its  Too soon for figure skating worlds in ravaged Japan. 

The World Figure Skating Championships is set to begin in Japan next week.  He thinks they should be moved, postponed or even canceled.  CANCELED?  Really Phil?  You think  THAT is the sensitive thing to do for the Japanese skaters who have been looking forward to competing in their own country?  Yea he's worried about the "emotional impact" on the Japanese skaters.  HELLO?  How long has this guy been writing about sports to say such a STUPID thing about athletes?  Did he forget about Joannie Rochette's  stunning and courageous performance at the Olympics after her mother's death?  Does he not see how this would be an opportunity for the skaters to show how they can rise above adversity and use their skating to deal with the tragedy?

What does the Japanese Federation want?  Maybe we should listen to them.  They say they are prepared to go ahead with the Championships.  But Papa Hirsch wants to protect them and take it away with them.  

I say let's trust the Japanese and go on with Worlds.  And let's all cheer extra loud for the Japanese skaters

Friday Five - Cars

They say you are not supposed to blog about why you are not blogging.  Well I'm very busy.  I'm in an interim position that was really just supposed to be a life saver for me when I desperately needed a job having been run out of town when my congregation decided to leave the ELCA.   Turns out this is more like an intentional interim so I'm learning on the job about intentional interim ministry.   I also am going to look into intentional interim as a career.  I think I'm suited for it.  Ironically, I think there's actually more job security in interim work.  My last experience and my age and my debt has made job security an important thing to me.

So I told myself I would do the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five no matter what it was, just to get something on the blog.  So it's all about cars.

1. The earliest recollection you have of a family car

The only car I ever remember was a red station wagon.  My mom had that car forever.

2. The first car you drove when you could (legally) get behind the wheel yourself.

I learned to drive with that old red station wagon.  We lived in an apartment building with carport parking that was very tight.  Trying to learn to get that car out of their without scratching the door on the poles was quite tricky.  To this day I'm pretty good at getting a large vehicle in and out of a tight spot.




3. A memorable road trip

The above picture was taken as I left San Francisco to my first call in Wisconsin.  I had lived in San Francisco for several years and had not driven for a long time.  A friend from seminary drove out with me.  We stopped in Reno and told all the guys trying to pick us up while we were drinking and gambling that I was going out to be a pastor of my first church.


I've mentioned before the trip my husband and I took before we were married from Wisconsin up to Seattle, and down the coast to LA.  We had lots of fun family road trips.  To Colorado Springs, to Door County Wisconsin, up to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Upper Michigan.  It was always such a great feeling when we would pull out on the road....leaving all our worries behind.  

4. The car you drive now. Love it? Hate it?

I don't have emotional attachments to inanimate objects.  Except for my skates.  And sometimes I love them and sometimes I hate them.

5. An interesting story that involves you and a vehicle. (No, I do not have a dirty mind!) 

Oh.  How could I forget?  There was that rent-a-wreck van we rented to drive from Iowa to Louisiana on a mission trip.   The brakes went out and at first the rental company refused to pay to have them fixed.  Then they sent me to a cheaper place and they crashed it it while driving it because -- THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK!  Then we were stranded for a day in Houma for a day.  And then they fixed the breaks and we drove home.    That's the short version.  But the good news it was fodder for my daughter's entrance essay to college.

Bonus question - My idea of good car music?  Lectures from theThe Great Courses