What started with a trickle, with the revelations of Harvey Weinstein’s predatory behavior back in early October, has become a river, with the current allegations against Senate nominee Roy Moore, Senator Al Franken, and actor Kevin Spacey–among many others. Who knows what else will have come out, and against whom, by Christmas? It’s enough to…… Continue reading Note to Men with Power: Hands Off!
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.
Not not-talking about Gun Violence
I don’t want to talk about guns, and gun control–not again. I can’t bear to have this conversation one more time, because we have been here before, and we know after all the hand-wringing, all the prayers, all the regrets, nothing is going to change. Congress will refuse to pass any stricter gun-control laws, any…… Continue reading Not not-talking about Gun Violence
Good Enough, Just as You are
If you are Lutheran surely you are aware that we are [finally!] getting ready for Reformation Sunday. Again, as you surely know, this year it is an especially big deal, because the Lutheran Church [and others] around the world are commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation–anticipation has been building since last year at this…… Continue reading Good Enough, Just as You are
The “Wrong” Kind of Christian
Last week, one of my students brought to my attention a really interesting article from the Washington Post, titled “Colin Kaepernick vs. Tim Tebow: A tale of two Christians on their knees.” [Find it here: Tebow and Kaepernick]. It was written in light of the current practice of NFL players taking a knee during the…… Continue reading The “Wrong” Kind of Christian
Yom Kippur, Elie Wiesel & Martin Luther
Saturday, September 30th, 2017 Today is Yom Kippur, the final day of the Jewish High Holidays, which began last Wednesday with Rosh Hashanah. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in Judaism, the day when Jews are closest to God and to the heart of their own being. It is a day spent…… Continue reading Yom Kippur, Elie Wiesel & Martin Luther
Atelic Activity and the Sabbath
I have been thinking quite a bit about this article that I read recently in The New York Times: The Problem of Living in the Present It is very interesting, as it describes how we spend our time, and how we think about our activities. Specifically, it contrasts “telic” activities with “atelic” activities. “Telic” activities have a…… Continue reading Atelic Activity and the Sabbath
Making Family from Love
Today, September 5th, is my adoption day—it’s the day I was received into my family. I have always known I was adopted, and the story was always told to me with lots of love and detail: my mother remembers the dress she was wearing, that I spit up on her shoulder, and how it felt…… Continue reading Making Family from Love
In the Afterglow of the Eclipse
I was more excited than perhaps was justifiable about the eclipse yesterday, but apparently, I wasn’t alone. When I read this story today in The New York Times somehow it just made me so happy–and I felt vindicated. [Find it here: Unity and Enlightenment in Solar Show] Thousands and thousands of people all over…… Continue reading In the Afterglow of the Eclipse
We Need a Bigger Boat
A few days ago, I went searching on The New York Times website because I wanted to see what happened in the no-confidence vote that took place in South Africa against President Jacob Zuma. [He survived, by a National Assembly vote of 198 to 177]. In pulling up the “World” section, I stumbled across…… Continue reading We Need a Bigger Boat
Dan and Dave: More than a Moment
If you are old enough to remember the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, then you are old enough to remember Dan&Dave–said as all one word, as Reebok surely intended. Dan O’Brien and Dave Johnson were, at that time, the two greatest athletes in the world, if you measure such things by performance in the decathlon. This…… Continue reading Dan and Dave: More than a Moment
Happy Lutheran 