Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day was designated by the United States General Assembly in 2005; January 27th is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. I encourage you to learn more about the history of this commemoration here: International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In addition, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a fabulous…… Continue reading The Holocaust, Memory and Ethical Loneliness
Author: happylutheran
I am the president at Wartburg Theological Seminary, my beloved alma mater. I am an inveterate optimist, runner, vegetarian, and harp player. I love Mary Oliver and Gerard Manley Hopkins, and like them, I'm continually delighted by all the surprising and wonderful ways God shows up in the world.
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Calling
Today in the United States we are honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., commemorating his extraordinary life and way he changed US society for the better. We have by no means realized the “dream” for which King is so famous, nor have we realized the beautiful community he envisioned, but because of the lingering power of…… Continue reading Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Calling
Targeting Cultural Sites for Destruction
Remember the Buddhas of Bamiyan? These were two 6th century enormous statues of the Buddha that were carved into giant niches in Central Afghanistan, in the Bamiyan valley. They became national news when they were destroyed by dynamite by the Taliban in 2001, and while there continue to be talks about possible rebuilding, currently…… Continue reading Targeting Cultural Sites for Destruction
The Incarnation & The Cosmos
I got to preach the Christmas Day service at the Seminary; I love preaching on John 1, and I love that service–it is always full of such joy. Here’s the sermon, with some science thrown in as well–I hope you like it. Last night, in congregations and homes all around the world, the creche was…… Continue reading The Incarnation & The Cosmos
Waiting in the Darkness
For many of us, darkness is little more than a foil for the light; something to be feared, something to be endured, something to be avoided at all costs. And I get that. Bad news that seems manageable at 2 PM feels catastrophic at 2 AM. A health scare that seems under control at…… Continue reading Waiting in the Darkness
An Advent Reflection on Hope
Hope has many different meanings. For example, I can hope against hope the Broncos are going to make the playoffs this year—they’re not. I can entertain wild hopes that I will shave 15 minutes off my half-marathon time, without actually doing extra training—I won’t. Or, I can hope that in spite of the dreary rain…… Continue reading An Advent Reflection on Hope
Buddhism & Christianity on Sexual Violence
At the Society for Buddhist Christian Studies meeting last week at the American Academy of Religion Conference, we had two fabulous panels that I am still thinking about days later. In this post, I want to reflect on the first one, which was titled “Buddhist and Christian Resources for Addressing Sexual Violence.” We had six…… Continue reading Buddhism & Christianity on Sexual Violence
Becoming a Time Philanthropist
I’m not a big time-management kind of person. I don’t do a lot of reading about it, and it’s not something I stress about too much. The fact is, I’m at high J [Myers Briggs], and for all my flaws, mismanaging time is not one of them. However, I do follow a blog that is…… Continue reading Becoming a Time Philanthropist
If you know me at all, or if you read this blog, you know I am a runner. I’ve been running for decades, and while I was never fast–and I’m certainly not fast now–running has never been about speed or PRs for me. I just love it, and I always have. Running is my happy…… Continue reading
Reflections on Seminary Education
Today was Luther Colloquy at the Gettysburg campus of United Lutheran Seminary, and it was wonderful to see so many former and current students, as well as community members, come together to hear the lectures, and join in a festive worship service. The lectures were all very good and interesting, and in the service, the…… Continue reading Reflections on Seminary Education
Happy Lutheran 