Bring CA$H to Norfolk

Wartburg Seminary Press Conference

I'll be missing you 'til I see you again, Ben.

http://www.kwwl.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=4459076&at1=News&h1=RAW: Wartburg news conference regarding Ben Larson's death&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

From Bishop Dave deFreese: "We Do Mission"

From http://site.nebraskasynod.org...



Bishop Dave deFreese challenges his fellow Lutherans to “do mission” in 2010. He also says Lutherans should “look forward, not back,” and addresses the actions of some in response to Churchwide Assembly’s decisions regarding human sexuality and ordination.

Check out Bishop Dave's message via video at:

http://site.nebraskasynod.org/2010/01/top-stories/we-do-mission-video

Thanks President Obama!

It looks like President Obama and a bunch of other people took some time to send me some holiday greetings!

Check it out here.

The Hangover

(500) Days of Summer

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Snow White on DVD

Life on Mars: The Complete Series

Must Go Viral: 1 Question ELCA Board of Pensions Survey

Help! The following survey needs to go viral in a big way. It is a one question survey that is being conducted by Kathy Shea (and most likely others) from the ELCA Board of Pensions. The ONE question survey can be found at:

http://tinyurl.com/mqodx6

The one question is: In your opinion, what's the MAIN reason why only six in ten ELCA-primary health plan members are taking the Mayo Clinic Health Assessment — despite a $100 incentive?

The ELCA Board of Pensions is trying to figure out why this is, and they need your help, so please share your insights with them and click the Done button when you are....done, I guess.

And then send this link on to all of your friends, enemies, and frenemies.

Thank you!

DVD Specials over at Amazon.com

Amazon.com is running what I consider to be some pretty good DVD specials right now. While you think times may be tough, you know you want to own the latest season of Heroes and Lost. Order or pre-order now, and you'll be all set, especially when there is free super-saver shipping to be had on orders over $25.

From a friend named Juliet

2009 ELCA Churchwide Dancefest

(or watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjxCSIphoeo)

It's good to see some Churchwide communications and web people dancing it up! Rizzo in the hizz-ouse!

Sadly, this video reinforces just how "white" the ELCA is. :-)

Also, I appreciate a Lutheran pastor who can disco dance with one hand while a coffee mug is in the other hand. At least it better be a Lutheran pastor....if that guy's Methodist...oh wait, Methodists don't dance, do they? :-)

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Summary Available by week's end

Since I'm working on my pastor's article for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Madison, Nebraska's monthly newsletter today, and have a 5 p.m. deadline to get information to the editor, I thought I'd see if I could find some sort of one-page summary of all of the votes and decisions that happened at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly last week.

Since I couldn't find a summary like what I was looking for on elca.org, I thought I'd give the ELCA Churchwide Organization a phone call and see what I could find out.

In a brief phone conversation with ELCA News Director John Brooks, I was informed that the news staff hopes to have summaries available by the end of the week for sure, and if things go well, by the end of the day on Wednesday, August 26.

These summaries will be made available online only, and can be found at:

http://www.elca.org/assembly/summary

The Nebraska Synod Communications Staff produced a one-page review that was available early morning on Saturday, August 22, which doesn't touch on everything, but hits most of the highlights through Friday. This can be found online at:

http://fillspillthrill.org/2009/08/churchwide-assembly-2009-review/

and as a PDF at

http://fillspillthrill.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/churchwideassembly_review1.pdf

Watch/Listen while you can

In case you missed the audio of the radio show this morning, here it is. Listen/watch before I have to take it down (well, in case I'm asked to take it down).

PLEASE watch this & rate it 5 stars! Thank you!

I need a new car. Thanks for your help!

We Can Use Your Votes!

My friend Dani Mather can use your votes in the following contest. Please vote for these partners in crime.

ELCA.org is ok

In case you've heard differently...from Paul Edison-Swift...

Greetings communicator friends,

Last week (Thursday, June 25), a well-meaning ELCA member circulated an e-mail with the title "WARNING: ELCA National Website Infected by Malicious Code" The ELCA.org Web site was being blocked by his employer and he assumed the worst. When notified by the member, our IT department examined our servers and found them to be clean. They then worked with his employer to undo the blocking.

The moral of the story: let us know immediately if you get suspicious warnings or have problems with ELCA.org For minor problems use the www.elca.org/contactus page to send a note or submit a comment. For what looks like a serious problem please call the 800/638-3522 and a Resource Information Staff person will connect you to the right person.

On this topic, please DON'T send alarming e-mails to others or forward said e-mails. Apparently the note from last Thursday is still circulating. If you get a copy, don't forward it further, instead, reply with a copy of this note. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks, Paul Edison-Swift
ELCA Communication Services, 800/638-3522 x2946

Nebraska Synod Assembly Sense Survey Results

Bishop David deFreese has reported the results of the 2009 Nebraska Synod Sense of the Assembly Survey on Saturday, June 6, 2009.

Below are the questions that voting members were asked to consider. Before each response, which the voting members could have chosen, is the number of votes that each response received.

Sense of the Assembly Survey

Question 1: As to the question of same gender relationships, I believe that:

213 votes--the church should definitely not approve of same gender relationships.

89 votes--while I personally disapprove of same gender relationships, I could accept the church recognizing such relationships

39 votes--I don't have a sense of God's will on this.

130 votes--while I accept same gender relationships, I can see how the church would not approve of such relationships.

163 votes--the church should definitely approve of same gender relationships.


Question 2: As to the question of rostering persons in a same gender* relationship, I believe that:

259 votes--the church should definitely not roster persons involved in same gender relationships.

61 votes--while I personally disapprove of same gender relationships, I could accept the church's rostering persons involved in such relationships.

37 votes--I don't have a sense of God's will on this.

128 votes--while I accept same gender relationships, I can see how the church would not roster persons involved in such relationships.

150 votes--the church should definitely roster persons involved in same gender relationships.

*when used refers to "publicly accountable life-long, monogamous same gender relationships."

I need your votes NOW!

PLEASE help me out by voting for a photo contest for which I have submitted a picture.

I need you to vote every hour for the picture of my mom & dad on their bright yellow 2001 Honda Gold Wing Trike.



If this picture wins, the prize awarded is $50. Not a lot of money, but remember, our news media outlets tell us that times are tough, so help me out and vote early and often! Thank you!