Category: Religion

Rekindle the Gift Within You

Posted in Bible, Church, Hope, Imagination, Life and Living, Religion, Social Issues, Social Justice, Theology1 Comment

I want to share the verses from Jeremiah that are guiding our work at Wartburg Seminary in our new strategic plan, “Rooted and Renewing.” Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,   whose trust is the Lord.They shall be like a tree planted by water,   sending out its roots by the stream.It shall not fear when heat comes,   and its leaves shall…… Continue reading Rekindle the Gift Within You

Commemorating Juneteenth

Posted in Africa, Bible, History, Hope, Imagination, Life and Living, Racism, Religion, Scripture, Social Issues, Social Justice2 Comments

Juneteenth celebrated the proclamation issued to enslaved African Americans by Union general Gordon Granger, in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, that they were free, and the Civil War had ended. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued nearly two and a half years earlier. From the website http://www.juneteenth.com:…… Continue reading Commemorating Juneteenth

Truth & Healing, and Indian Boarding Schools

Posted in Bodies, Ethics, Grief, History, Life and Living, Politics, Racism, Religion, Social Issues, Social Justice, Suffering, Violence2 Comments

Those in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America might be aware that the Church has just launched a new movement, the “Truth and Healing Movement,” which intends to support the work of the ELCA to explore the “true history and current realities of Indigenous people.” Find more about it here: https://elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Ethnic-Specific-and-Multicultural-Ministries/Indigenous-Ministries-and-Tribal-Relations/Truth-and-Healing-Movement Included in this movement…… Continue reading Truth & Healing, and Indian Boarding Schools

The 8 Pillars of Joy

Posted in Books, Buddhism, Forgiveness, History, Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Life and Living, Love, Politics, Relationships, Religion, Social Justice, South Africa1 Comment

I have written about The Book of Joy before, because I love it so much. Really, if you haven’t read it, I so strongly recommend it–for anyone, not just if you are religious. It is a book for people who love themselves, the world, and other people–and want to live more fully into a disposition…… Continue reading The 8 Pillars of Joy

God is Resurrecting the Church

Posted in Bible, Church, Creativity, Hope, Imagination, Jesus, Religion, Scripture1 Comment

I want to share a modified version of my opening devotion from the Wartburg Seminary board meeting, and the metaphor I have been thinking about for some time: “God is resurrecting the church.” I start this post with some verses from 1 Corinthians 15: 35 But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what…… Continue reading God is Resurrecting the Church

Why Diversity Matters, for Everyone

Posted in Ethics, Laws, Life and Living, Politics, Racism, Religion, Social JusticeLeave a comment

Bob Iuliano, the current president of Gettysburg College, a wonderful college where I used to serve as chaplain/associate dean of religious and spiritual life, wrote this fantastic piece for The Hill on race-conscious college admissions: you can read it here: https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/3673515-building-diverse-campuses-requires-race-conscious-admissions/ Iuliano is uniquely qualified to write on this topic, because he previously served as…… Continue reading Why Diversity Matters, for Everyone

Joseph Anton/Salman Rushdie

Posted in Books, History, Life and Living, Politics, Religion, Suffering, Violence1 Comment

As most people remember, on August 12th, Salman Rushdie was stabbed multiple times as he was preparing to give a lecture in Chautauqua, New York. According to CNN, “the author suffered three stab wounds to his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a laceration on…… Continue reading Joseph Anton/Salman Rushdie