Blog - Scripture

“Der Pfarrer und die Gläubigen sollten sich nicht einbilden, dass sie eine religiöse Gesellschaft sind, die sich um bestimmte Themen herum dreht, sondern sie leben in der Welt. Wir brauchen doch – nach meiner alten Formulierung – die Bibel und die Zeitung.”

Sometimes, let’s just admit it, English isn’t quite as deft as one might like.

Here’s a word I hadn’t known before yesterday: Cleromancy.

A Reflection on James 2:1-17, 2nd Reading in the Revised Common Lectionary for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, Sept. 9, 2018.

The last few weeks have been on the whirlwindy side: A long van trip up to and back down from Alberta, Canada for several presentations there, and all of two days here at home before we schlepped on another long van trip down to and back up from Houston, Texas, where I presented to a gathering there too.

“Those in whom the Spirit comes to live are God’s new Temple. They are, individually and corporately, places where heaven and earth meet.”

So, despite Hallmark and Russell Stover and Dove Chocolate and rose growers gerrymandering this holiday, the truth is, Valentine’s Day isn’t originally about romantic love….though we aren’t exactly sure what it is about.

So, Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Friday as our next president.

In the late ’60s and ’70s, my father was a Professor of New Testament in the Religion Department at Concordia College.

“…our thoughts and prayers are not enough.  It’s not enough.”

A few months back, which was several years later than it should have been, I stumbled on poetry by Billy Collins.

On this occasion of the 70th Holocaust Remembrance Day, the following is a reworking of some thoughts I’ve offered in presentations over the last several months.

This year’s Advent launches us into the “Year of Mark,” the period when the primary gospel readings come from, well, Mark, obviously.

Persistently needy, glommy people, people who must satiate their need for affirmation by demanding to be in the limelight, are children of God.

So, poverty is in the news here in South Dakota.

Daughter Else asks magnificent questions.

Wally Taylor teaches New Testament at (the truly outstanding) Trinity Lutheran Seminary, in the fair city of Columbus, Ohio.

Dear all,

“We pray for the Holy Spirit to come, and then, when she does, we want her to go home!”

Within days, our eyes and ears and minds and hearts have drawn in far too much smoke and fire and blood and weeping.