mikevincent music

My high school friend Mike has a new website for his band/solo project - check it out, and buy his music:
MikeVincentMusic

Also, my big brother is getting married tomorrow. As a present, stop by his blog. He loves visitors.

Ugh: from Cnn.com - FDA wants sperm banks to bar donors who've had 'gay sex'

Ugh - just read this article on CNN.com - apparently the FDA wants sperm banks to bar donors who've had 'gay sex' in the past 5 years for "health concerns" like HIV. Of course, HIV/AIDs is on the rise among heterosexual men and women, but the FDA insists that this is a matter of public health, not discrimination. I don't think I'm buying it.

Less is More: 10 Ways to Consume Less Energy from Sojourners Magazine/May 2005

Check out this article from Sojourners Magazine on 10 easy ways to use less energy around your home.

Here's my favorite:

If every American unplugged their TVs when not in use (or put them on a timer or power strip that they can easily turn off) we would save 9 billion - yes, billion - kilowatt-hours of energy. Modern TVs constantly draw power to keep the tube primed to turn on instantly. Hook your TV to a timer that gives it power when you first would normally use it and cuts power at night. (For instance, we watch the news and occasionally late-night TV. Our timer turns on power to the TV from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., cutting power for nearly 18 hours of the day.)

As we talk about energy bills knocking around Congress, it is helpful to remember the power (pun intended?) that we have in our own hands.

United Methodist bishops meet with President Bush

Check out this UMNS article, reporting that members of the Council of Bishops have met with George W. Bush. As far as I know, this is the first, or at least one of the firs times that Bush has been willing to meet with an official UMC delegation, which is of course his own denomination. So, a good thing.

Excerpts from the article:

The bishops had two objectives in meeting with the president, Weaver said. First, they wanted the visit to be a pastoral call in the tradition of similar visits dating back to 1789, when the first American Methodist bishops, Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke, presented a Bible to President George Washington. The bishops wanted to let Bush know they were praying for him.

Second, they wanted to continue building on a relationship with the White House that would be productive with the “fruits of human justice, peace and hope,” Weaver said afterward.

"What do you do with Ascension Sunday?" - from the Center for Process Studies

If you're having problems with preaching on Ascension Sunday, as I am (was, maybe), check out this commentary, by Bruce Epperly, courtesy Center for Process Studies:
Commentary

**Updated on 5/17/07 to reflect a new link to the article.

Beth Stroud: The Wesley Blog Interview

Shane Raynor over at Wesley Blog has interviewed Beth Stroud - not the typical interviews with her you might have read - I definitely recommend checking it out: Wesley Blog: Beth Stroud: The Wesley Blog Interview
Thanks to both for doing this!

Blessing of the Bikes

Saturday, I was supposed to conduct a "Blessing of the Bikes" service, where Harley-Davidsons and their riders receive a blessing at the beginning of 'bike season.' I had some basic idea of what I was going to do, but obviously, there is no Book of Worship liturgy for such a blessing. It rained and rained Saturday, so the blessing was postponed for a couple of weeks. I've got more time to think about the service.
SO... Have you ever done or been to a bike blessing? What kind of liturgy was used? This is an all-outdoor service. No big sermon or anything. But I'd love to hear thoughts and suggestions if you have any!