Happy Lutheran

What a day it has been today: long, rich, interesting, and invigorating–lots of walking outside in beautiful weather. We checked out of our hotel this morning and headed to Kursi [I should have mentioned earlier that all of these sites are national parks]. Again, according to Christian tradition, Kursi is the site of the “miracle…… Continue reading Day Six–Holy Places, Sinless Muskrats

Forgive me, dear brothers and sisters, for I have sinned. Today, here, surrounded by my rich Jewish-Christian heritage, indeed enmeshed in this very “holy land” [as we are incessantly reminded], I must confess that the very best part of my whole day happened first thing this morning, when I got the news that my Bronocos…… Continue reading Day Five–Mosaics & Tebow [not necessarily in that order…]

So, today was another full day [aren’t they all?!], and on the Jesus-authenticity meter, we were at about a 9 or so today–as good as it gets, I think. [I’m still working out if and how that matters….] We spent the whole day right around Capernaum. Incidentally, one of the sources Christians today use to…… Continue reading Day Four–As Authentic as it Gets

So, I started the day with a really fabulous run along the Sea of Galilee at sunrise: I saw people camping, fishing, and even a couple of Jewish men praying. It reminded me how much I value running when I travel–it allows me to see things I wouldn’t normally see [like a bevy of quail…… Continue reading Day Three–The Sea and the Mountains

Sadly, no pictures yet–I’ll continue to work on that, but I make no promises. So, today was a great day! After sleeping a solid 10 hours, a beautiful run in Netanya, a wonderful breakfast buffet [to all you vegetarians out there, Israel is a GREAT place to come and eat! There was even a buffet…… Continue reading Day Two–Elijah and Haifa

Well, we made it to Israel safely, and even though I am exhausted [up now 24 hours + and counting], it was a wonderful day today. We had absolutely perfect weather–blue sky, breezy, warm enough to walk around without a coat, and we are right on the Mediterranean coast: our hotel is in Netanya, and…… Continue reading Traveling–in general and in particular

So, on the eve of leaving for my first sabbatical trip, my trip to Israel, I have a confession:  I am NOT eagerly anticipating seeing the places where Jesus walked/talked/prayed/preached, etc.  Oh, I’m looking forward to the experience of being there, of course—what I mean is that I am not eagerly anticipating that my spirituality…… Continue reading He Stood Right Here!!! [Or was it over here…?]

I don’t know whether it is fitting or not, but on this Christmas Eve, I find myself reading “The Sabbath,” by Abraham Joshua Heschel. It is an old book (first published in 1951), but it is new to me, and I am loving it. This is his opening premise: “In technical civilization, we expend time…… Continue reading The Gift of Time

If you had to pick one [and only one!] verse that would sum up the heart of the gospel message, there are lots of good contenders, I think:  Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord [Rom 8:38, paraphrase]; For God so loved…… Continue reading The Darkness does not overcome the Light

Soteriology–the doctrine of salvation–is my favorite topic in Christian theology. In many ways, it’s the center around which all other doctrines revolve, given that it gets at the heart of the gospel message of what Jesus has done for us; and I love the fact that the church endorses a wide variety of images and…… Continue reading Standing the Fire