List of 3 Great Road Trips with My Brother

Gettysburg Luther Bowl | November 2008

The annual "Luther Bowl," in which the various ELCA seminaries compete against one another in flag football, served as an excuse for a Gettysburg road trip.  The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg served as the host.  The campus is part of the history of the battle.

Scott and I had visited Gettysburg as children, but it was far more interesting as adults.  In addition to cheering on Trinity Lutheran Seminary, we did some sightseeing, including the Cyclorama.

We also took time to check out Eisenhower National Historic Site, the home and farm of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On the way to Gettysburg, we stopped at the Tiki Lounge in Pittsburgh. 

Chicken Run | Christmas 2004

After Christmas, Scott and I went to Georgia to visit our cousins.  As the trip progressed, it took on a "chicken" theme.

We ate at the Dwarf House (formerly the Dwarf Grill) in Hapeville, Ga., opened by Truett Cathy in 1946. The Dwarf Grill is the predecessor of the modern-day Chic-fil-a restaurant.

Then we stopped at a KFC in Marietta, Ga., which has a giant chicken atop the restaurant.

On the way back to Louisville, we stopped in Corbin, Ky., to eat at the Colonel Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum, completing our fastfood chicken "trifecta."

Mark Twain's Hannibal

List of 5 Hymns I've Heard Sung by the Composer

It struck me last night how cool it was to hear Amy Grant sing "Thy Word," a hymn that has been included in three of our ELCA Hymnals: This Far By Faith, Worship & Praise, and the Renewing Worship Songbook.  I can't say that about many of the other songs in our hymnals, many of which were written by people who died long before I was born.  Here are some songs I've (probably) heard sung by the composers:

Thy Word RWSB R165, TFF 132, W&P 144 Text: Michael W. Smith, stanzas, Music: Amy Grant, b. 1960 How Majestic Is Your Name LS 120, W&P 66 Text and Music: Michael W. Smith Great Is the Lord W&P 53 Text and Music: Deborah D. Smith and Michael W. Smith Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying ELW 752, LS 94, TFF 247, W&P 92, WOV 775 Text and Music: Ken Medema, b. 1943 By Grace We Have Been Saved All Creation Sings 1006 Text and Music: Jonathan Rundman