It’s not every week one gets to observe the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation dancing with the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA to the music of a live mariachi band. Such was my good fortune Tuesday evening. The event was our annual Theological Conference, held this year in Austin, Texas. The venue was the restaurant next door to the conference center. The occasion was the annual “thank you” dinner hosted by the Lutheran […]
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Separation of Church and State
Let every person subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1) As we inaugurate the 45th President of the United States, I’ve been thinking about our concept of separation of church and state. Sometimes I hear this interpreted to mean we are to be free FROM religion, which to my thinking was not the original intent. Sometimes we interpret […]
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Let there be peace
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. -Psalm 85:10 The spring of 1970 was a tense time on Ohio college campuses. I was two years post-graduation from Bowling Green State University that spring and working in the news service office there. From our 8th floor offices we could see the action below on the open quad of the campus. “Oh my God, is he carrying a gun!?” one of my colleagues […]
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Libraries – No Town Should Be Without One
Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. (Proverbs 4:13) Because my mother was a librarian, I spent many happy childhood hours roaming about in libraries waiting on her to get off work. I have always felt at home in libraries. I cherish the help I get from librarians. I glean ideas for magazine articles from browsing the periodical room. I find great books to read. The audio […]
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Happy Birthday, Chris
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.” (Psalm 37:3) I frequently tell my friend, Chris Metzger, that I want to be just like her when I grow up. Many of us here in Houston have spent a considerable portion of September celebrating her 100th birthday with her. It started when we sang happy birthday to her at water aerobics at the YMCA. Our leader said […]
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