I was listening to NPR the other day, and I heard a story about immigrants—particularly Syrian immigrants in Toledo, Ohio. [You can find the story here: http://www.npr.org/2017/01/04/508220451/in-toledo-syrian-refugees-are-welcomed-amid-a-difficult-immigration-climate%5D What really struck me was the comment of one of the interviewees, Jon Johnstone, who was described as being “suspicious of people who continue to wear headscarves and…… Continue reading Moving Beyond Assimilation
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.
A Little Less Certainty in 2017
Have you ever heard of the Piltdown Man? One of my favorite podcasts is “Stuff You Missed in History Class” (suffice it to say that I missed a lot in history class–my husband is constantly shocked at my ignorance!). Last week, I listened to an episode on the Piltdown Man (find the episode here:…… Continue reading A Little Less Certainty in 2017
Thoughts for 2017: Believe; Act; Abide
So, thoughts on 2016? Not one of our best years, was it? First and foremost, whatever you think about the Trump election, the election cycle was divisive and ugly, and brought out the most contentious in many of us. And, we ended up with a president who has said truly despicable things about women, Muslims,…… Continue reading Thoughts for 2017: Believe; Act; Abide
Expectant Waiting, Adoption and a "death-bearing grave of a God"
Perhaps nothing best embodies Advent waiting like pregnancy. Obviously, Mary’s pregnancy is the event all Christians are waiting for these weeks–so there’s that–but even more broadly, physical pregnancy is the source of the metaphor of new life, and also points us to new hope and new beginnings. So, it is perhaps somewhat ironically that I…… Continue reading Expectant Waiting, Adoption and a "death-bearing grave of a God"
"Aren’t We Lucky?"
At the American Academy of Religion meeting last week, the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies sponsored a panel honoring the work of Jim Fredericks, pioneer in Buddhist-Christian dialogue and all-around wonderful human being. After several papers were presented, discussing various aspects of his long career, Dr. Fredericks stood up to offer a response. He took a…… Continue reading "Aren’t We Lucky?"
Don’t. Give. Up.
So, I’m up. I’m up and moving around after one of the worst nights of my adult life. I finally went to bed at midnight when the writing was on the wall (or, better said, the red was on the map), and then I woke up at 2 in the morning and checked my phone;…… Continue reading Don’t. Give. Up.
Nouwen’s Three Movements of the Spiritual Life
I just finished a classic text that I had never read before, Henri Nouwen’s Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life. I really loved it, and I’m going to be using it in an upcoming presentation. In the meantime, I just wanted to share the movements, and a couple really great quotes. If…… Continue reading Nouwen’s Three Movements of the Spiritual Life
Sin, Sex, and Violence
Well, if a title like that won’t get your attention, I don’t know what will! Actually, the title isn’t mine; it is from a book chapter by Marie M. Fortune, in a volume titled The Other Side of Sin, edited by Andrew Sung Park and Susan L. Nelson. I was re-reading this chapter in preparation…… Continue reading Sin, Sex, and Violence
The Seven Deadly Sins and Donald Trump
So, it’s an interesting experience, teaching a course on the seven deadly sins while watching the train wreck that is Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. It’s hard to avoid bringing him up in class (especially since in the Will Willimon book we are reading, Sinning like a Christian, he actually mentions Trump in his chapter on…… Continue reading The Seven Deadly Sins and Donald Trump
Religion, Relationships and Priest Delivery
Perhaps you missed this article in The New York Times, titled “Japan’s Newest Technology Innovation: Priest Delivery.” (Read it here: Priest Delivery) Basically, the story explained how you can now order the services of a Buddhist priest online, from Amazon.com–“Users click on one of several options and add it to a virtual shopping cart, the same…… Continue reading Religion, Relationships and Priest Delivery
Happy Lutheran 