Almost Over

As I write this post, the Closing Ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing is drawing to a close. These games have seen also sorts of World and Olympic Records broken. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies have been spectacular. Now we must wait four long years until the games in London, or at least two years until the Winter Games in Vancouver to see Olympic action once again.

The Olympic Games are one of the greatest things in the world these days. I am amazed that we are actually able to pull these things off. It is refreshing to see that mankind can come together for something.

Whether or not you thought that China was a good choice for these games and whether or not you felt they should be permitted to host the games, I have to say that I enjoyed watching the athletes give it there all and compete for Olympic Gold. I prefer to think that these games were less about China and more about the athletes. Sure - China will get some credit but I will spend more time remembering folks like Phelps, Johnson, Misty May and Carrie, and many many others.

To all the athletes who competed - well done! Congratulations to all the medalists. To Team USA - thanks for making us proud with all of your efforts. See you in London in 2012!!!!!

This is Change???????

This morning just after 3AM on the East Coast - the frantic text message was sent to supporters of Senator Barack Hussein Obama (D-IL) announcing his choice of running mates. It was a frantic text message, as apparently there was a leak of the name of the choice. The choice announced under cover of darkness via text message was really no great surprise to many. Many pundits had posited the likely choice and that is exactly the person that Senator Obama selected. Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) will serve as the running mate for Senator Obama.

I only have one real question here - where is the Change? Senator Obama has been promising change ever since he entered this race. Change has been his mantra. He has promised that things would not be business as usual. He has promised that he would be different because he is not a longtime Washington D.C. insider. He has promised that he is ready for the presidency and therefore can do many different things. Yes, he has promised change. So where is the change?

Senator Biden has spent a long time inside the Beltway. He brings to Obama a large amount of experience in foreign policy. In fact, he really emphasizes what Obama does not have - experience.

I believe this is good news for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and his bid for the White House. Biden does not bring anything too great to the Obama ticket. He has some experience but that emphasizes Obama's lack thereof. He has some stability but that is set over against Obama's promise of change. He is said to be a fighter but he came in 5th in the Iowa Caucuses (Hawkeye Cawkeye)! He was very critical of Senator Obama and of course said that he had no desire to be the Vice President but would rather stay in his current job. My thought is - GREAT!!!! Let's all vote for Senator McCain and then Mr. Biden doesn't have to be the VP!!!!!

??? Airline Pricing ???

I have long known that airline pricing does not necessarily make a whole lot of sense. When I was living in Minnesota, I remember a story that the local tv station - KARE 11 - ran on the topic of how many prices there were for one flight. As I recall there were about 200 seats on the flight in question. Nevertheless from the time the seats went on sale there were about 1,000 different prices a customer could have paid!!!

My current responsibilities include traveling throughout the country. This past week I have been planning travel and booking flights. One trip this fall takes me to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Flying to the Twin Cities seems to cost a lot of money especially since Southwest does not fly there. However, it would seem a person could fly from St. Louis to the Twin Cities for a reasonable rate. The best rate that I was able to find on several websites for a non-stop flight was $670 and I would have had to pay for my luggage too!

Now I could have flown through Atlanta on one airline or through Dallas on another. In both cases the cost was about half the cost of flying non-stop! I also could have flown to Green Bay, WI (another stop on my trip) through Minneapolis for less. Yes, I would have flown on the same flight to MSP from STL on my way to Green Bay as I would have booked for the non-stop to MSP. The same was true on the return trip! No I cannot explain this madness - perhaps you are able to do so!

Well - I couldn't make heads or tails of the situation but I thought it ridiculous to pay these rates or inconvenience myself to fly all over the country to get where I needed to go. I booked a flight on Southwest to Chicago's Midway Airport (by the way - Midway has cleaned up the place and it is actually not a half bad airport to fly through) and I am driving through WI to get to MN. I saved $500 and the car is cheaper too. No - the gas will not even come close to erasing my savings since most of the driving I will be doing - I would have done anyway! Oh - I don't have to pay to take a checked bag either!

Maybe there is a reason that Southwest is doing pretty well while the other major airlines are having some major issues!

+ The Rev. Dr. George Wollenburg+

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod lost a great churchman this week. The Rev. Dr. George Wollenburg, former president of the Montana District died Monday, August 18, 2008. He served his Lord faithfully and was a consistent voice for the Gospel throughout the Synod.

The LCMS has posted an obituary. I would encourage you to take a few moments and read it. After that, I would encourage you to give thanks to God both for the faith to which He called Dr. Wollenburg and for having blessed us in the LCMS with the gift of this great churchman.

"The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away: Blessed be the Name of the Lord."

Suicide ISN'T Painless!

The theme song of the old TV Show M.A.S.H. was called "Suicide Is Painless." Well, guess what folks - that is a lie!! I can't tell you what it is like for the person so overcome with the trials and tribulations of this life that they find no hope but to take their own life, but I am pretty sure it has to be anything but painless! I can say with great certainty, from my own pastoral experience, suicide is NOT painless for those who are left behind.

Today, I received a message from a friend. This person is a high school student who is simply trying to make sense of the world around her. Her world took a dramatic turn for the worse when a friend of hers ended her own life. My friend doesn't know how to make sense of all of this. She is searching for answers in the midst of her grief as no doubt are those who were closer to the deceased than my friend was.

I am glad that I was able to assure my friend of God's grace in baptism and point her to the cross and the empty tomb. I am thankful that I was able to share hope in Christ with her and help her with her grief. I wish, however, that I had not had to do so. I am sure it won't be the last time that such a situation arises - but my guess is that I will be sharing similar words with someone else - all too soon!

Ladies and Gentlemen - Suicide is NOT Painless! More importantly, there is hope and there is help. If you are finding yourself lost and don't know where to turn - turn to Christ! Turn to your pastor! Turn to a friend! Turn to a family member! Turn to someone! Don't give up - ask for help. People care about you and Christ cares about you. Please, I beg you, don't give up - you are worth much - Christ died and rose for you!

Proud to be American!

I have spent a great deal of time over the past several days watching the Olympic Games. I always enjoy watching the athletes from all over the world give it their all for Olympic Gold. There have been some wonderful moments for our US athletes and of course amazing feats completed by athletes from other places also. My favorite moment of these games, so far, came when Michael Phelps won his record setting Eighth Gold Medal in the men's 4X100 medley last night.

All I can say is that Michael is an amazing athlete and a class act. He makes me proud to be an American. I was so impressed after the medal ceremony last night as I watched Michael. The media from all over the world were trying to get pictures and comments from the greatest Olympic Athlete of all time. However, Michael had another mission in mind. There would be time for interviews and pictures later. There was something more important for Michael than media attention at that moment.

I was impressed as I watched Michael shake his head "no" to the press and then walk directly through all the cameras and up the bleachers to greet his mother and his sisters. He had flowers to give to them. He knew all the other stuff could wait - he had a mother to hug. I was extremely proud to be an American as I watched his race, his medal ceremony, and his attending to his mother.

Michael Phelps - truly an American Hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Michael!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck - Team USA

As I sit here in my easy chair watching the broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies of the 29th Olympiad - I am well aware that the games have already begun. Even these Opening Ceremonies were practically over when I arrived at work this morning. No matter - my purpose here is not to comment on the games starting time or when things are being broadcast by NBC here in the USA. Rather my purpose in this blog post is very simple - I wish to wish all of the athletes competing in these games good luck.

That being said - I wish to especially wish each and every member of TEAM USA - Good luck. Go out there and make the homeland proud!!!!! God Bless America!