Happy Lutheran

Back on February 24th, 2014, I wrote a post on the Arizona “religious freedom bill,” which was vetoed by the governor two days later.  Now, two years later, we find ourselves somehow in the same situation, except that both the North Carolina and Mississippi governors have signed similar bills into law.  Just to be clear,…… Continue reading True Christian Freedom vs. "Religious" Freedom

It’s Easter Monday, and I’m tired!  I’m not working in a congregation, so I shouldn’t complain, but in the last four days, I attended two Maundy Thursday services, two Good Friday services, one Easter Vigil and one Easter morning service.  They all were fabulous, and it was a wonderful weekend, but it all has left…… Continue reading Wise Words from Gloria Steinem

Something extraordinary is happening on Friday:  this year, the date of Good Friday is March 25th, which also is the traditional date of the annunciation and thus the date of Jesus’ conception.  [I like to think it occurred at the moment of Mary’s “yes” to God.]  I’m unduly excited about this, because I am a…… Continue reading March 25, 2016: The Annunciation and Good Friday

A couple weeks ago, my Monday night book group met to discuss “The Nightingale,” by Kristin Hannah. [It’s a great book, and I highly recommend it.]  Toward the end of the conversation, I raised a question about a significant plot point that concerns a key decision made by one of the main characters–and, here I…… Continue reading The Nightingale, "Sorites" and the Truth

I promised myself that I would not write another blog post on Donald Trump, mostly because he drives me crazy.  I think he is not only idiotic, but very dangerous, and I get discouraged about the state of this country when I see how many people are interested in him and voting for him. The…… Continue reading Trump Telling Lies [again]

Like all other academics I know, I have a shelf full of “to-read” theology books—some of which have been there an embarrassingly long time.  I get to them when I can—in between other pressing books that relate directly to current courses I am teaching, or current writing projects.  It’s an aspirational shelf to which I…… Continue reading Asking the Beasts

  As I sit down to write this blog post, the news is just breaking about Barbie’s new curves—have you seen the story?  If you missed it, Mattel has designed a new Barbie—well, several new Barbies, actually:  three new body types [petite, tall, and curvy] with 30 hair colors, 22 eye colors and seven skin tones. …… Continue reading Divine Thoughts on Barbie: Blue Hair and Curves

Today is the beginning of a new semester, which means I am once again thinking of that brilliant essay by Simone Weil [pictured above], “Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God.”  [I know I have blogged about this before, but I can’t resist talking about it…… Continue reading Studies with a View to the Love of God

This is a plug for a great exhibit currently at the National Geographic Musuem in Washington DC–“PhotoArk,” a collection of photographs by Joel Sartore.  He is trying to document all the world’s threatened species–5,000 so far & counting.  He visits zoos & rescue centers to take pictures of the animals against a stark black or…… Continue reading Lessons from the PhotoArk

When I got home for lunch after chapel today, a lovely Christmas card was waiting for me, with a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke:  “And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”It seemed particularly appropriate, given what had just happened a few hours earlier.  At the end of…… Continue reading Doing a New Thing!