How's Your LSB? Part III: The Conversation Continues

Kantor Magness is back in action over at Fine Tuning, and he picked up where the conversation left off on the Lutheran Service Book.  For those of you new to the discussion, Part I is here, Part II is here, and the latest edition, Part III, is here.  There is a lot of room for discussion, so head on over there and weigh in.

Just for Fun: What really happened to my old car...

Perhaps my favorite car ever was my late 80's Chevy Caprice with the vinyl-padded hard top.  The car had V8 power and could go 500 highway miles on a tank of gas (20 gallon tank at 25 miles per gallon).  It was stolen from a mall parking lot.  Not just any mall, this mall's parking lot was filled with late-model Mercedes', BMW's, Jaguars, etc., and the car thief thought mine was the best one on the lot!

Anyways, in an urban setting, it's not too unusual to see one of these gems all tricked out with 24" tires, a fancy paint job, and of course, the vinyl top has been replaced with velvet.  So, for what I considered to be an old persons car (I was in my 20's at the time), apparently I had some major street cred going ;)

Over at Autoblog, they found this Caprice at the SEMA convention, way in the back of the convention hall, all tricked out and ready to go!

Hmm...  I wonder if this one was mine?

Check out more photos of this beauty in the Autoblog Photo Gallery.

Have a favorite car or a good car story?  Share it in the comment section.

Photo credit: SEMA Image Library at semadigital.com.

Exploring Music: The Viola

This week on Exploring Music, the viola...

We’ll celebrate some of the exquisite music written for the violin’s darker cousin, including music by Hindemith and Walton

Of interest in tonight's broadcast,  Paganini's "Terzetto concertante for Viola, Cello and Guitar in D major, II."

It is an interesting combo, if you ask me.  A traditional trio would feature something like flute, viola, and cello with a keyboard (organ, harpsichord, or piano) in the background holding things together.  When the guitar picks up the third voice, the keyboard is not needed.  Perhaps this is more of a duet with guitar accompaniment?

Have an opinion?  Listen to the piece below and drop a comment.

You can listen to Exploring Music on wfmt.com weeknights at 7:00 pm Central. 

This website will tell you if the program is airing at this minute, and will give you some station information as well.

Rev. Mark Matzke: All Saints Day and the Spoiler Alert

Despite our ideas and doubts about sainthood, God looks at Jesus’ cross and empty tomb, then looks at us and because of what Jesus did, he names us saints.

Rev. Mark Matzke is a pastor in Painesville, OH.  You can read his entire message regarding sainthood here.

Father Hollywood: Sermon for All Saints

Father Hollywood is a Lutheran Pastor in the New Orleans area.  His sermon for All Saints Day is here.

His preaching is based on today's scripture readings.  Here is an excerpt:

You, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, you possess the kingdom, right now, even in your poverty of spirit and in your being persecuted for the faith. For these are true marks of the Church. No Christian escapes the sinking suspicion that his own spirit is poor, that he has nothing to offer God in himself but a beggar in rags. Likewise, no Christian escapes persecution for the faith from the hostile world, from the hateful devil, and from his own defiled flesh. And yet, the Lord in His mercy does not withhold the kingdom from you.

Those Martyrs Stand, A Priestly Band

Behold a host, arrayed in white,

Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright,

With palms they stand. Who is this band

Before the throne of light?

Lo, these are they of glorious fame

Who from the great affliction came

And in the flood of Jesus' blood

Are cleansed from guilt and blame.

Now gathered in the holy place,

Their voices they in worship raise,

Their anthems swell where God doth dwell,

Mid angels' songs of praise.

Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;

But now, how glorious they must appear!

Those martyrs stand a priestly band,

God's throne forever near.

So oft, in troubled days gone by,

In anguish they would weep and sigh,

At home above the God of Love

For aye their tears shall dry.

They now enjoy their Sabbath rest,

The paschal banquet of the blest;

The Lamb, their Lord, at festal board

Himself is Host and Guest.

Then hail, ye mighty legions, yea,

All hail! Now safe and blest for aye.

And praise the Lord, who with His Word

Sustained you on the way.

Ye did the joys of earth disdain,

Ye toiled and sowed in tears and pain.

Farewell, now bring your sheaves and sing

Salvation's glad refrain.

Swing high your palms, lift up your song,

Yea, make it myriad voices strong,

Eternally shall praise to Thee,

God, and the Lamb belong.

TLH 656, sung in Norwegian, setting by Edvard Grieg

All the Saints Adore Thee!

Improvisation on Holy, Holy, Holy 
at St. Laurens in Rotterdam, The Netherlands