Walter Brueggemann is one of my favorite Old Testament scholars, primarily because I am not an Old Testament scholar! I find his writing very accessible, very interesting, and always thought-provoking and generative. I just finished a recent book of essays, Truth and Hope: Essays for a Perilous Age. As the title suggests, the chapters are…… Continue reading Prayer and Justice
Category: Bible
The Word becomes Flesh
A sermon for Christmas Day, 2024 The Word became flesh and lived among us. Let’s begin with the flesh. Your flesh, my flesh. The flesh of everyone you have ever known, or will know. The flesh of billions you will never know, across time and space. All flesh. The flesh of the whole creation. Flesh…… Continue reading The Word becomes Flesh
The Joy of Advent Waiting
No one has ever accused me of (or complimented me on) being patient. I know it is a widely-admired virtue—it’s just not one of mine. For me, the majority of time, now just feels better than later. Advent, however, is different. Advent, however, is special. During the season of Advent, I don’t mind waiting at…… Continue reading The Joy of Advent Waiting
A Miracle for the Camels
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples…… Continue reading A Miracle for the Camels
Happy St. Francis Day!
Today, Oct. 4th, is the Feast of St. Francis, the day on which many congregations have a Blessing of the Animals Service. It was a beautiful morning here at Wartburg Seminary, where we had our own service, and it was fantastic–dogs, cats, and even one very sweet bunny [MoMo!]. It was a joyous celebration of…… Continue reading Happy St. Francis Day!
Decoupling Illness and Demons
“When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Jesus answered, ‘You…… Continue reading Decoupling Illness and Demons
Letting Go
And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Matthew 4:19 The new academic year at Wartburg Theological Seminary is up and going, and I was privileged to preach at the opening worship service. Instead of preaching on following, I preached on leaving/letting go. I think the idea that…… Continue reading Letting Go
The Bread of Life
If you attend a congregation in a denomination that follows the daily lectionary [like most ELCA Lutheran congregations], you have been deep in John 6 for several weeks, hearing a great deal about bread–and Jesus’ relationship to bread, to life, and to his Father. Most pastors will tell you that this can be a hard…… Continue reading The Bread of Life
A Bad Idea…
“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” Paul (Romans 7:19) “I should probably, probably not.” Olivia Rodrigo I’m not a huge Olivia Rodrigo fan, but I definitely like some of her more upbeat songs for my running playlists. One of…… Continue reading A Bad Idea…
Whisper, “found.”
As I was skimming one of my favorite book of meditations and prayers yesterday, I found a lovely prayer by Rev. Emmy Kegler. It is called “For All the So-Called Lost,” and it is a reflection on Luke 15:8: “And what woman, if she had ten coins and lost one, wouldn’t light a lamp, and…… Continue reading Whisper, “found.”
Happy Lutheran 