What I've been thinking

I haven't been posting much recently because I've had a lot on my mind and not much time. The topics I want to post about all need, and deserve, a thoughtful treatment. Unfortunately, right now all I can squeeze out is a quick post.

I just finished A Dream Deferred: The Second Betrayal of Black Freedom in America by Shelby Steele. It needs to be the subject of a really good thorough post. I marked enough spots in the book to go back over that I'll almost be rereading the whole thing. That is a post to come.

An Issues, Etc. episode on tolerance (broadcast Friday April 17) that I listened to on Friday pinpointed a lot of the frustrations I've been feeling about the whole concept, and the seeming ease with which the left is able to redefine words. That's another post. Probably tomorrow.

The media keeps pushing the idea that the reason the Republican party is in trouble is because of a "move to the right." Huh? Is this the same Republican party that had an aisle-crossing moderate for a presidential nominee? The Republican Party is in trouble because it is in large part the Democrat Party Lite. The Republican Party is in trouble because for eight years we had a President who seemed incapable of articulating or defending his actions and positions and who helped to grow government and spend money like a drunken Democrat senator.

And I can't even start on the misrepresentation and vitriol that has surrounded the coverage of the tea parties and the attitude of the Democrats about them.

All of these things tie together. They all involve agendas and the power of words and being the one who defines them. They all speak to the tremendous influence of the press. They involve assumptions and political myths. Maybe over the next couple of days I'll manage some coherent posts and tie it all together.

Time flies

It does. When I'm working and listening to Issues, Etc., time flies.

I am trying to get my office cleaned out so that I can get my scrapbooking stuff moved up here and organized. So I have spent several hours going through old paperwork: sorting, trashing, putting in the shred pile. I've managed to clear out one huge Rubbermaid box worth of paper and several smaller things. Old tax records that need to stay around are now in the basement.

Normally this feels like drudgery, but Todd Wilken and his guests have been keeping me company. Thanks guys!

Strangely satisfying

I have tons to do. I have another half-bushel of apples to sauce. My house is about 1/3 clean, (Yes, the rooms commonly seen by visitors are relatively clean.) There's a pile of laundry. I have done absolutely nothing with my business in over three weeks.

But I spent an hour this morning ironing kitchen towels and cloth napkins.

I know. They go into a drawer, then they are used, then they go back to the dirty clothes. But they are more pleasant to use when they have been ironed. They fit in the drawer better. And maybe it's just a little tiny bit of order in what seems to be an increasingly insane world.

Besides, I got to listen to on-demand Issues, etc.

For you Issues Etc. fans

There is a very interesting open mike segment on the Issues, Etc. website dealing with the Q&A done by David Strand about the Issues issue.

Pirate Christian Radio, Issues, and podcasts

I am notoriously slow to figure out technical things. I blog on Blogger because it's easy. Istill have problems with the DVD player and DVR. I wanted an iPod for ages, but put off getting one because then I would have to figure out how to download music and load it.

I always listened to previous shows from the Issues, Etc. archive via audio stream from the website. This time, I figured that with all the work that went into getting Issues back on the air, the least I could do was figure out how to listen to it via iTunes or on my iPod.

It took me a few tries. I'm not sure if I could tell anyone how to do it. (In fact, I'm fairly certain I couldn't!) But I did it and it is sooo worth it. My next goal is to figure out the other shows available on PCR and start listening to those, too.

Now that I can have them on my iPod, I may have some more incentive to work out!

Issues again

Can I just say how wonderful it is to have Issues again? I almost got my office cleaned while I listened!

Good news!

This is good news for those of us suffering from "Issues" withdrawal.

If you weren't a fan before, you'll get your chance now.

This and that

It's been a while since I posted anything about Issues, Etc. So here's an update:

Folks are making a road trip to Saint Louis tomorrow to show their support for Issues, Etc. Looks like the people at the Purple Palace know they're coming.

The Issues programs dealing with Life issues are all collected here.

The petition now has over 7,000 signatures from all over the world, and--from some of the names on there--a good cross-section of the synod.

The discussion continues on the Wittenberg Trail, including in this blog post.

Pastor Cwirla applies lessons from the film Big Night to the LCMS. (Sounds like a movie for the Netflix queue.)

Today I finished my taxes. I spent two hours at my desk wishing that I could listen to Issues, Etc. while I worked. It got me ticked off all over again.

The Godfather revisited

If you don't yet subscribe to Gottesdienst, here's more enticement.

Oh my. When I read this last night, I laughed so hard that I was choking.

Wow! It's getting deep

Sorry, but my BS meter is going off.

These words of Jerry Kieschnik, President of the LC-MS, about Mollie Hemingway's piece in the Wall Street Journal are too much.

What is even more disturbing is the false and misleading picture she presents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as a deeply divided church regarding its mission and ministry.

False? Misleading??

Either Pres. K. is seriously delusional or he needs to go re-read his catechism, paying special attention to the eighth commandment.

For more on this go here, and here.

Issues in WSJ

There is a piece in today's Wall Street Journal about Issues, Etc. and the larger issues in the synod.

Updates on Issues

There have been some new developments today, one week after the cancellation of Issues, Etc.

First, a member of the Board for Communication Services of the LC-MS released an open letter to the Praesidium.

The wording of the explanation on the KFUO website for discontinuing Issues, Etc has changed slightly. It still doesn't provide any answers.

By the time I finish writing this, over 4,500 people will have signed the petition.

Pastor Asburry asks Why?

Pastor Petersen weighed in with some ideas about how to put the best construction on the cancellation.

And I spent all day at my desk doing taxes. In the past this activity would have been accompanied by Issues, Etc. from the archives. But the downloads are almost impossibly slow now.

More on Issues

My friend Cheryl has a great rundown of the situation with Issues, Etc. for any of you who aren't sure what's going on.

Pastor Esget has an idea for President Kieschnick.

Update: Pastor Gehlbach offers some possible insight into what's going on.

This and that

Bethany is home and thoroughly exhausted. She had a fantastic trip and will be blogging about it soon. She has either been in class or at work almost all of the time since she came home.

I have emailed and called regarding the Issues, Etc. situation, and I would encourage any of you to do the same.

I am going to be getting a free "early reviewer" copy of a book because of Library Thing. The funny part--and those who know me well will appreciate the humor in this--is that the book is from DK Publishing.

I'm excited about tomorrow. I have a call in the morning that promises some exciting news regarding my primary business and later I will be meeting with my first "paid" genealogy client. (I put paid in quotation marks because she bought my services at a silent action, so I'm not making anything. But she did pay a nice amount!)