Let there be Light

Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:6)  Two quick stories occur to me in light of recent national and international events. Both have actually happened. An elderly member of our congregation was scheduled for knee replacement surgery in a couple of months and was limping along as best should could until then. Meanwhile she needed to […]

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Dance to the Music

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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My New Year’s Non-Resolutions

It’s a new year and the time when many make pledges to themselves to improve their lives in some way. I’ve made many resolutions over the years. And failed to keep them nearly 100% of the time. So this year, I didn’t bother. I did make a list of things I’d like to have achieved by the end of the year. Some are personal involving improving or strengthening relationships with a few folks in my […]

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Birth Announcement

And she brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7) I’m having more trouble than usual this year getting into the Christmas spirit.  The reasons for this are many. I grew up in the North. 80-degree weather and Christmas just don’t go together in my psyche even though I’ve now spent a third of […]

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