Category: Bible

We Are All Jonah

Posted in Bible, Church, Jesus, Lent, Life and Living, Religion, Scripture, Sin, TheologyLeave a comment

I want to offer a brief reflection on a great sermon that my colleague Sam preached in chapel yesterday on Jonah 3:1-10. It was a perfect sermon for the Lenten season, as we reflect on our own relationship with God and with others, repenting of where we have sinned and fallen short. Here is the…… Continue reading We Are All Jonah

A Sermon on the Sheep & the Goats

Posted in Bible, Church, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Hope, Jesus, Life and Living, Politics, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Sin, Social Issues, TheologyLeave a comment

Photo by Anil Sharma on Pexels.com A sermon on Matthew 25:31-46; the sheep and the goats. One of the gifts of the lectionary is that, often, we who preach, teach and study Scripture are brought into uncomfortable proximity with texts that challenge our understanding of the gospel and Christian discipleship. It is a gift, but…… Continue reading A Sermon on the Sheep & the Goats

Christmas Day: Love has Come!

Posted in Bible, Christmas, Church, Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Life and Living, Love, Religion, TheologyLeave a comment

Photo by Daniel Reche on Pexels.com The Christmas Day service is my favorite service of the year, and I love that we host a Christmas service at Wartburg Seminary. I preached this year, and in my sermon I emphasized the gift of God’s radical and unconditional love and grace that comes to us in Jesus…… Continue reading Christmas Day: Love has Come!

Grief, Forgiveness, Generosity

Posted in Bible, Books, Church, Family, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Grief, Hope, Jesus, Life and Living, Love, Relationships, Scripture, TheologyLeave a comment

This is my final blog post related to Henry Nowen’s wonderful book, The Return of the Prodigal Son. If you have been reading my blog for the past month or so, you know that I have been spending time with Nowan’s book and its deep dive into Rembrandt’s painting–and the parable itself. I have really…… Continue reading Grief, Forgiveness, Generosity

To Whom Do I Belong?

Posted in Bible, Books, Church, Forgiveness, Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Life and Living, Love, Religion, Scripture, TheologyLeave a comment

This post continues my reflections on Henri Nowen’s book on Rembrandt’s painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son. In his chapter on the leaving of the younger son, Nowen has a section on seeking, and misplaced desire. He starts this section with a question: “To whom do I belong?” “To God or to the world?”…… Continue reading To Whom Do I Belong?

True Freedom

Posted in Bible, Ethics, Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Life and Living, Love, Luther, Scripture, Social JusticeLeave a comment

https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/15766256226 “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.” Even if you don’t like that song by Lee Greenwood, you probably know it— it is pretty ubiquitous at certain kinds of public events, and certainly at this time of year. I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom these past few…… Continue reading True Freedom

Henri Nowen & The Prodigal Son

Posted in Art, Bible, Bodies, Books, Creativity, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Holy Week, Hope, Imagination, Incarnation, Jesus, Life and Living, Mary, Scripture, Theology1 Comment

A book was recommended to me in May that I just now got around to reading: The Prodigal Son, by Henri Nowen. The book is a very thorough, very detailed examination of Rembrandt’s painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son” [pictured above, on the book’s cover]. Even so, at the same time, the book is…… Continue reading Henri Nowen & The Prodigal Son

Palm Sunday: Preparation to Celebration [Luke 19:29-34]

Posted in Bible, Easter, Grief, Holy Week, Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Lent, Religion, Scripture, TheologyLeave a comment

“When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you,…… Continue reading Palm Sunday: Preparation to Celebration [Luke 19:29-34]