Today was a rich, full day, with lots to learn and lots to process. We started the day at the Apartheid Museum, and three hours wasn’t enough to see it all. There was a great exhibit about Nelson Mandela–his life and history, and his role in ending apartheid; and then the museum itself had lots…… Continue reading Lessons from Apartheid
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.
Maybe we are all African
I am here in South African on a 10 day study tour—it’s really the trip of a lifetime, and I am so excited to be here. After a ridiculously long trip—first a flight to Frankfurt, then an 8 hour layover, then an 11 hour flight to Johannesburg, we all made it safely. We did a…… Continue reading Maybe we are all African
Luther, Muslims and One God
As I write this, President Trump is in Saudi Arabia. The White House has promised that he will be delivering a speech to Muslim leaders that will promote peace. (Frankly, delivering such a speech seems beyond the skill set of this president, but time will tell.) In any case, Muslim-Christian relationships are on my mind…… Continue reading Luther, Muslims and One God
The Power of a Theological Imagination
One of the perks of my work is that occasionally I get invited to write a back-cover endorsement for a new book. I always love these opportunities: I get to read a manuscript of some interesting book before it comes out in print, and try to offer a pithy, inviting endorsement. It’s so much fun!…… Continue reading The Power of a Theological Imagination
Opposing the Death Penalty
With all that is going on in the world–Syria, North Korea, health care, border wall–you can be forgiven for not having read that Arkansas just executed its fourth prisoner in eight days. This “frantic execution schedule” (in the words of The Washington Post) was sparked by the impending expiration of one of the drugs used…… Continue reading Opposing the Death Penalty
Fighting a "Scarcity" mentality with the Resurrection
Thanks to my book group, I have a few new podcasts that I’ve started listening to and one of the ones I’m really liking is “Hidden Brain,” with Shankar Vedantam. I always enjoy his NPR segments on social behaviors and how we are wired; this is more of the same and equally interesting. …… Continue reading Fighting a "Scarcity" mentality with the Resurrection
Bonhoeffer, Palm Sunday and Our Walk to the Cross
This Sunday, we have a meaningful and poignant confluence of Christian commemorations: it is, of course, Palm Sunday, but it also is the feast day of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This means that we will be beginning Holy Week–starting our long walk to the cross–hand in hand with Bonhoeffer; with his words in our ears, and the…… Continue reading Bonhoeffer, Palm Sunday and Our Walk to the Cross
Love Locally, Learn Globally: Plant Earth II
Like many of you, I hope, I have been mesmerized every Saturday night these past few weeks, watching Planet Earth II. I loved the first one–we even bought the DVDs, and I used some of them in class for a few years–and this one has been just as good; in some ways, even better.…… Continue reading Love Locally, Learn Globally: Plant Earth II
With Gratitude to all the Women: A Rock, A River, A Tree
“A Rock, a river, a tree.” These are the words that open Maya Angelou’s Inaugural Poem from January 20th, 1993. A rock, a river, a tree. I’ll come back to you shortly. Today is March 8th, International Women’s Day, and I find myself wanting to give thanks. All my life, I have been surrounded by…… Continue reading With Gratitude to all the Women: A Rock, A River, A Tree
#Sorrynotsorry and Lent
Have you seen the “Sorry, Not Sorry” hashtag? You know, #sorrynotsorry. You’ve probably seen it, and maybe you’ve even used it once or twice. In its more benign and humorous form, it’s used to indicate an indulgence in a guilty pleasure when one actually doesn’t feel all that guilty. Like, “I ate an entire…… Continue reading #Sorrynotsorry and Lent
Happy Lutheran 