Category: Relationships

A Christian Imagination

Posted in Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Life and Living, Love, Politics, Relationships, Social Issues, TheologyLeave a comment

This frigid windy winter morning, I got up early and met other colleagues from Wartburg Seminary down at the Grand River Center for Dubuque’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration. I was really looking forward to the keynote speaker, The Rev. Dr. Joy Jittaun Moore, whom I had met previously through her connection with…… Continue reading A Christian Imagination

Presence. Connections. Sharing Stories.

Posted in Church, Hope, Israel/Palestine, Life and Living, Love, Relationships, Religion, Social Issues, TravelLeave a comment

I had a really wonderful experience last weekend that managed to be both wonderfully uplifting and break my heart a little bit. I was privileged to be able to represent Wartburg Seminary at the consecration of the new bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy land, Bishop Imad Haddad (pictured above).…… Continue reading Presence. Connections. Sharing Stories.

Kristallnacht: Silence makes way for Violence

Posted in Bodies, Ethics, Germany, History, Holocaust, Life and Living, Politics, Relationships, Religion, Social Issues, Social Justice, World War IILeave a comment

Yesterday, Nov. 10th, was the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht [and if you don’t know much about it, I encourage you to read more here: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnacht%5D Kristallnacht is “the night of broken glass,” and it marked a shift into a very public phase of the state-sanctioned, deadly Anti-Semitism of the Nazi party. Kristallnacht included: The vandalism…… Continue reading Kristallnacht: Silence makes way for Violence

The Future of the Church

Posted in Books, Church, Life and Living, Relationships, Religion1 Comment

On the recommendation of a friend, I just finished Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents, and what they mean for America’s Future, by Jean M. Twenge. The book was really interesting [and extraordinarily well-researched–when you combine all the different surveys she consulted, the book contains data from roughly…… Continue reading The Future of the Church

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

Well done, Good and Faithful Servant

Posted in Life and Living, News, Politics, Relationships, ScriptureLeave a comment

I admit, I’m not a fan of politics. Especially in the last 10 years or so, I find the rhetoric inflammatory and toxic, with much less substance and many more personal attacks and caricatures. I know not all politicians individually are like this, but the political climate certainly doesn’t seem to bring out the best…… Continue reading Well done, Good and Faithful Servant

Why We Need the Church

Posted in Church, Life and Living, Relationships, Religion, Theology1 Comment

I just finished a really interesting article that was published in The Atlantic on April 3, 2024. [You might be able to read it here: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/america-religion-decline-non-affiliated/677951/%5D We are reading it for our upcoming board meeting, and it is really thought-provoking. The title is “The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust.” The author, Derek Thompson, is…… Continue reading Why We Need the Church