On Translation of the Gospel

Like most Lutheran clergy, a large part of my first semester of seminary was spent learning biblical Greek. Two weeks before the semester started, my classmates and I reported for Summer Greek, spending eight hours a day every day for two weeks learning conjugations and declensions. The coursework in Greek continued through the rest of … Continue reading →

Online Book Study, “Breathing Under Water, Spirituality and the Twelve Steps.”

For some of you who have this blog in your reader feed, you are invited to participate in an online book conversation. Find the link here. http://lebluthbooks.wordpress.com/ Continue reading →

If only…

This morning as I am writing this, I’m sitting in a car service department being exposed to the noise of one of our many network morning shows. I stopped paying attention to morning shows and really most commercial television a few years ago. I just couldn’t take all of the noise. So when I find … Continue reading →

Depression, Suicide and Wisdom in the Digital Age

I’m really not sure what to do with all of the social media commentary around Robin Williams’ death. The frenzy was as fast and furious as it was predictable; I saw the first social media post using Mr. Williams’ death make points about mental illness and suicide within two hours of seeing the news that … Continue reading →

No Strings Attached

I really try not to engage in theological deconstructionism on this blog. That is, I try not to do things like “Ten Things the Church Needs to Stop Doing” or picking apart the theological positions or ministerial practices of others. For one thing, I just don’t find that kind of thing very interesting. For another … Continue reading →

Giving Up Sarcasm

Last Wednesday, there was a conversation in our house that went something like this: Me: Man, this giving up sarcasm for Lent thing is going to be harder than I thought. Gretchen: What?! You’re not doing that! Me: Well, I’m going to try. Gretchen: How are you going to talk? Like I said, it may … Continue reading →

Dusty, Broken, Precious

I never quite know who it’s going to be, but I always know it’s going to happen. Every year on Ash Wednesday, I mark the sign of the cross on people’s foreheads with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” And every year, one of those people sticks in … Continue reading →

Be Perfect

Matthew 5:38-48   38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your … Continue reading →

Copping Out vs. Doubling Down

There is an old story about a young man who would every day open his Bible looking for direct, personal communication from God. He would close his eyes, let the Bible fall open at random, put his finger down on the page, and then read whatever was at the tip of his finger as a … Continue reading →

George, Irma and Jesus

Something pretty remarkable happened during worship yesterday in one of the congregations I’m blessed to serve. The congregation gathered for worship, sang hymns, and heard scripture read. After reading the Gospel lesson from the Sermon on the Mount, I stood up to preach. Very shortly after the beginning of the sermon, though, we all realized … Continue reading →