The Burr in the Burgh

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

Archive for March, 2006

Vatican on the Crusades

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OK, so we’re not sorry? Actually, I think this is a positive development. It’s good to read some historical balance for a change. On the Crusades. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Vatican on the Crusades”, url: “http://www.burrintheburgh.com/2006/03/22/vatican-on-the-crusades/” });

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 22nd, 2006 at 4:51 am

Posted in Uncategorized

Jesus Cleans House

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Today is the Third Sunday in Lent and our Gospel reading was Jesus chasing the merchants and money changers out of the Temple in John 2. It’s really the only text from the Gospel that show Jesus becoming truly angry, even violently so. Other places show him to be annoyed or irritated or brash, but [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 20th, 2006 at 12:13 am

Posted in Seminary

Gay Marriage and Polygamy

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I don’t exactly agree with every sentiment expressed by Charles Krauthammer here, but I do appreciate his basic point. If gay marriage is deemed permissible, then our society has no basis to outlaw polygamy. A new HBO program, Big Love, is about a modern, suburban, renegade Mormon, polygamous family. I haven’t seen it. [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 18th, 2006 at 7:25 pm

Posted in Seminary

Beware the Ides of March

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I’m a day late, I know. I actually wanted to post something about March 15 and the assassination of Julius Caesar, but didn’t get around to it. Happily, fellow blogger and Lutheran cleric, the Rev. David Petersen, had a good post. Go here. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Beware the Ides of March”, url: “http://www.burrintheburgh.com/2006/03/16/beware-the-ides-of-march/” });

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 16th, 2006 at 9:50 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Jason McElwain, Human Being & Image of God

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Chuck Colson has a good Breakpoint post about the autistic high school kid in New York who amazed the nation with his superior feats of basketball prowess recently. Here’s a link. I agree with Colson that we are living in a moral vacuum that is undermining the intrinsic value of human life. That [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 15th, 2006 at 9:18 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Singer Isaac Hayes Quits South Park

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I’ve never watched the popular South Park cartoons but I am familiar with them. Well known singer and outspoken Scientologist, Isaac Hayes, supplies the voice for the chef character for the animated show. Now I’ve read that he is quitting the show because it spoofed his faith, Scientology. That’s fine. I don’t blame [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 14th, 2006 at 9:49 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Hassidic Reggae Rapper Matisyahu

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Matisyahu is a member of the Lubavitch hasidic Jewish sect in Brooklyn, New York. This is the group that, several years ago, proclaimed that their leading rabbi, Manachem Mendel Schneerson, could be the Messiah. He’s dead now. This young man is now making it big in the top 40 music scene with his unique [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 13th, 2006 at 7:00 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

God, the Butler

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A new survey conducted of teenagers in Australia shows that most view God as a “butler,” someone to be called on when a need arises. This sounds strikingly similar to the moralistic, therapeutic deism which Christian Smith describes in his book Soul Searching : The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers . [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 12th, 2006 at 3:17 am

Posted in Uncategorized

Quiz: Is It a Sin to Teach False Doctrine?

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Please use the comment feature to answer the question: Is is a sin to teach false doctrine? In this case, don’t send me private emails. I want to see what comments you will post. Keep it brief please. Thanks much. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Quiz: Is It a Sin to Teach False Doctrine?”, url: [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 10th, 2006 at 10:24 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

Lent: Jesus is the Reason for this Season Too

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Do you remember the unique way that Glassport Assembly of God church celebrated Easter in 2004? This Pittsburgh area congregation put on a community Easter pageant at a local stadium. Families from all around brought their young ‘uns to see Easter bunnies and brightly colored chicken eggs. Then in the midst of the [...]

Written by Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer

March 8th, 2006 at 9:35 pm

Posted in Uncategorized