The Burr in the Burbs

"I cling to my Lord Christ like a burr on cloth." – Katherine Luther

Archive for November, 2005

Macabre Website Tells Teen How to Commit Suicide

with 2 comments

Some days I just think we’d be better off with a benevolent dictator to govern us. Or as Plato advised, a philosopher king. Why do I utter such weirdness? Because it is so aggravating to read stories like this one. A poor, clearly troubled, young girl surfs the net and finds a web forum with [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 11th, 2005 at 4:46 am

Posted in Uncategorized

My New Thing

with 3 comments

I have decided that from this day forward I will only refer to pizza by the last two letters: za. Let it be spoken. Let it be done. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “My New Thing”, url: “http://www.burrintheburbs.com/2005/11/11/my-new-thing/” });

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 11th, 2005 at 4:28 am

Posted in Uncategorized

Fish Ice Cream, the New Rage

with 6 comments

And I thought fish tacos sounded bad. Now I’m reading about fish ice cream in Taiwan. Some of the popular flavors are: pineapple shrimp, wasabi cuttlefish, strawberry tuna and mango seaweed, all in stark colors from orange to green to black. Now, I enjoy eating ethnic foods and trying new things, but this just [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 10th, 2005 at 7:17 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Our New Parking Lot

with 2 comments

Well, we’re almost finished with what has been a long and involved process. But one more layer of asphalt and painting the lines and then we have a new, more level and much larger parking lot for our church. Thanks to God. And to the dedicated lay people who labored many hours [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 10th, 2005 at 4:55 am

Posted in Seminary

Luther on What To Do in Case of Avian Flu

with one comment

The World Health Organization – not that they know everything – is stating that an avian flu pandemic that could kill millions of people is inevitable. It’s a matter of when, not if. Of course, Martin Luther, writing 450 years ago, did not address the bird flu specifically. But he did write a pamphlet on whether [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 8th, 2005 at 6:16 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

U2, the Pope, George W. Bush, Tony Blair & Oprah

without comments

I do not intend this, in any way, as a political statement. I just thought it was cute. HT: The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “U2, the Pope, George W. Bush, Tony Blair & Oprah”, url: “http://www.burrintheburbs.com/2005/11/08/u2-the-pope-george-w-bush-tony-blair-oprah/” });

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 8th, 2005 at 3:20 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

California Judge Tells Parents to Butt Out of Their Children’s Sex Education

with 3 comments

In California, a school district decided to administer a 79 question survey to their elementary school children. Ten of the 79 questions related to sex. Some parents objected and took the school district to court. Now the federal court of appeals has ruled against the parents. The Judges believe that . . . well, let [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 8th, 2005 at 4:37 am

Posted in Uncategorized

New Lutheran Blog Carnival

without comments

The Lutheran Carnival X- All Saints Edition is now up and running. Go and check out some fine stuff. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “New Lutheran Blog Carnival”, url: “http://www.burrintheburbs.com/2005/11/07/new-lutheran-blog-carnival/” });

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 7th, 2005 at 6:37 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Praying Off Center

with 10 comments

Centering Prayer is a method of contemplative prayer that began in some Roman Catholic monasteries and is now becoming more widespread in ecumenical circles. Even some pastors in my own denomination (The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod) are now advocating it. Essentially, it is just a form of self-hypnosis. It utilizes breathing techniques, mantras and emptying [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 6th, 2005 at 8:32 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Some DVDs I’ve Been Enjoying

with 7 comments

This is not to be confused with the awful James Spader movie of the same name. This movie has some offensive language and situations. But it is the best film I have ever seen that deals with racism from all angles. It’s not what you might expect. I highly recommend it. A [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

November 5th, 2005 at 5:30 am

Posted in Uncategorized