I want to share a bit about a book I just finished: Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity, by Michele Norris, the creator of The Race Card Project. I first read about this book in The New York Times, and as soon as I read the story, I knew I…… Continue reading Learning from The Race Card Project
Category: Hope
A Fresh Take on a Traditional Confession
One of the things that I love about the Lutheran liturgical tradition is the way the language of the prayers, sung parts of the service, etc. become so familiar after years of recitation that I know them by heart. It is comforting to enter into a worship space and be carried through the service without…… Continue reading A Fresh Take on a Traditional Confession
Hopes & Challenges
Ketumbeini After a long drive yesterday afternoon, we made it to Ketumbeini. No one minded the time in the land cruiser because of the beautiful scenery—including ostrich, giraffes, dik dik, and gazelle. Our guest house is very nice: the food is good, the chai is wonderful, and the showers have (mostly) hot water. What more…… Continue reading Hopes & Challenges
The Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School
At the entrance to the school Today we spent the day at the Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) and it was an absolutely amazing experience to hear the story of the school, the story of the graduates, and to meet some of the girls. This is where Beth first taught 25 years ago, and…… Continue reading The Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School
You’re Not the Subject of the Verb
We interrupt our usual Tanzanian programming for a brief theological reflection. Turn the verbs. It’s Lutheran historian Tim Wingert‘s phrase, something I read in one of his books a long time ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. I love it, because it points so clearly and concisely to how we as Lutherans distinguish between law…… Continue reading You’re Not the Subject of the Verb
Worship & the Monduli Market
Inside Monduli Lutheran Church We had another great day today! We started our day with a worship at 8:30. There was lots of singing beforehand, as people drifted in, and the service lasted a little over 2 1/2 hours. But I can honestly say that it went by very quickly. Everyone wears their Sunday best…… Continue reading Worship & the Monduli Market
Life without Wonder is not worth Living
sadfgasd Zechariah “Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’” Luke 1:18 Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the great Jewish theologians of the 20th century, once said, “The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding…… Continue reading Life without Wonder is not worth Living
The Ethics of Doing Nothing
One of the best parts about attending the American Academy of Religion Conference is the chance to wander through the book displays. I picked up a couple new books, and read this one on the plane ride home. It was interesting, and I wanted to share a few thoughts from it. The thesis of the…… Continue reading The Ethics of Doing Nothing
Weaving the Country Together
Families are on the move–but not for the reasons you might think. People have always moved, of course, and there are many reasons we still do so today: we move to be closer to family, we move for jobs, we move for climate or health reasons, we move for preferences in activities and amenities. However,…… Continue reading Weaving the Country Together
One Body, One Spirit, One Hope
On Tuesday, I am heading to the 13th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, taking place in Krakow, Poland. I have never been to an LWF Assembly before, and I am really excited to experience the global Lutheran Church in this way. Before I go, I wanted to share a little information about the Lutheran…… Continue reading One Body, One Spirit, One Hope
Happy Lutheran 