I don’t often preach on Job, but I did last week; the text was extended sections of chapters 36 & 37, the last chapters before God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind. I appreciated the opportunity to wrestle with a challenging text, a challenging book, and be reminded that good news can come even…… Continue reading Good News in the Book of Job
Category: Bible
It’s not about trying harder
A reflection Matthew 14:22-23, Jesus’ encounter with his disciples on a stormy Galilean Sea. One way to read this text is as an exhortation to have more faith, to be more trusting. We would be better disciples if we just tried harder. But, I don’t read it that way. I think it is actually a…… Continue reading It’s not about trying harder
Weavers of Hope
The Pope’s Two Building Projects “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and fire them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone…… Continue reading Weavers of Hope
Being Held to Christ’s Bosom
Karoline Lewis, professor at Luther Seminary and a great lover of John’s Gospel, was the speaker at the Large Church pastors gathering a few weeks ago, and she shared something in her presentation that really struck me, and I wanted to share it, especially as another academic year has come to a close and this…… Continue reading Being Held to Christ’s Bosom
Faith and Truth
Three vignettes; three perspectives on religion, on faith. Easter Sunday, a retirement village in Gettysburg. The previous chaplain there was Lutheran, and the new chaplain most emphatically is not. His background is Church of God, so he has a much more Pentecostal/Evangelical flavor to his preaching. His sermon consisted of the story of a man who…… Continue reading Faith and Truth
Considering the Animals on Earth Day
Any day is a good day to lift up and celebrate God’s deep relationship with and providential care for the animal kingdom, which is valuable and precious to God in and of itself, not just through God’s relationship with humanity. At the same time, Earth Day is a particularly good day to do this, and…… Continue reading Considering the Animals on Earth Day
Faith and Doubt
“German 15th Century, Doubting Thomas, c. 1460, hand-colored woodcut, Overall: 6.8 x 5.5 cm (2 11/16 x 2 3/16 in.) overall (external frame dimensions): 39.4 x 31.8 cm (15 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.), Rosenwald Collection, 1951.10.2” Yesterday I preached in chapel on the “doubting Thomas” text: you remember the story. Thomas misses Jesus’ appearance…… Continue reading Faith and Doubt
We Are All Jonah
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
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!
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!
Happy Lutheran 