So Western Christians are well into Lent at this point: if you compare it to a half-marathon [which probably isn’t the best comparison, but I’m a runner, what can I say?] soon the pace will pick up, and the finish line of Easter will come into view. Once we cross the line, most of us…… Continue reading Thinking about Orthodox Judaism during Lent
Tradition: Precious Gift or Ball-and-Chain?
Well, the Catholic Church is officially pope-less, and conversation about the future direction of the church and the possibilities a new pope presents has reached a fever pitch. Of all the things I have read about the current state of affairs in Vatican City, this article is my favorite: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/opinion/a-vatican-spring.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0 It’s written by brilliant theologian…… Continue reading Tradition: Precious Gift or Ball-and-Chain?
Living Life Theologically
If, to a hammer, all the world’s a nail, to a theologian, every event, every relationship, every encounter are fodder for theological reflection. Theologians know that one’s understanding of God, God’s own self-revelation, and God’s abiding presence within creation cannot be compartmentalized; instead, we find God everywhere God seeks us, in all the different venues…… Continue reading Living Life Theologically
Loving "the strange, the uncommon, the odd"
I am lucky to have a good friend who reads the Sunday New York Times cover to cover–she always alerts me to the good stories I otherwise would have missed. This week, it was this story:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/fashion/a-writers-tortoise-leads-the-way-to-happiness-modern-love.html?pagewanted=allthe story of a woman and her beloved pet tortoise. Yes, you read that correctly: beloved pet tortoise.Now, anyone who…… Continue reading Loving "the strange, the uncommon, the odd"
"Adam and Dog"
I don’t go to movies all that often, so I never have any hope of seeing all of the Oscar nominated movies before the Academy Awards. However, I always try to make it to the showing of the nominated “Short films”–particularly the animated short films, which are always my favorite.After seeing them this year, I…… Continue reading "Adam and Dog"
Reflections on Death–and a Poem
I have been thinking about death this January. Winter is the season for it, I suppose–the still barrenness of the ice and the shroud of the snow; but there also have been some significant deaths this past month in the larger communities of which John and I are a part, and there are those who are dying,…… Continue reading Reflections on Death–and a Poem
The Kumbh Mela
What is the largest religious festival in the world? Any guesses? Lent in Jerusalem? The Hajj, maybe? For most of us, unfamiliar with Hinduism, the Kumbh mela would not make our short list, but, in fact, this gathering in India is far and away the largest religious gathering in the world: it began yesterday, and…… Continue reading The Kumbh Mela
Rape and Murder in India
One of the great things about traveling is that it forever links you to places and people far away from your everyday context. So, I am finding that in the aftermath of my sabbatical travels, I continue to pay much more attention to news coming out of India, Turkey and Japan–and of course, who could miss…… Continue reading Rape and Murder in India
Thinking about the "shadow side" of Christmas, and the Holy Innocents
As I was reading this good editorial in the New York Times today– http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/opinion/dowd-why-god.html?hp&_r=0–it got me thinking about the “shadow side” of Christmas. Usually, we don’t talk about it very much–although frankly, this year, with the shootings in Newtown it was more on our minds than usual. But the shadow side of Christmas encompasses much more…… Continue reading Thinking about the "shadow side" of Christmas, and the Holy Innocents
Clenching God’s Lapels
One of the benefits of teaching at a seminary is that you get to hear lots of good preaching–something I never take for granted. Yesterday in chapel, the preacher was our worship professor, Mark Oldenburg, who is one of the very best preachers I have ever heard, and one of the .01% of pastors who…… Continue reading Clenching God’s Lapels
Happy Lutheran 