Once I stayed overnight in Omaha, Nebraska, because my flight got in late, and I don’t trust myself to drive the three-hour trip home when I am tired. I decided to take my morning walk over the nearby Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge that connects Omaha with Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is a graceful structure that spans the muddy Missouri River as it meanders past the … Continue reading Baptismal River on Trinity Sunday
My favorite subject in high school was French. I lived in rural northern Iowa, where small schools dotted the landscape in the same way small farms did. Every school was required to offer a foreign language, regardless of how few students were actually interested in the subject. So I was one of a handful of students who counted ourselves lucky to learn such a beautiful … Continue reading Notre Dame on Pentecost
RUDYARD KIPLING Photo by Roger-Viollet / Rex Features ( 443052f ) When I wrote my credo as part of my preparation for pastoral ministry, I gave it the title, “The Power and Passion of God.” I took my theme from Psalm 62:11-12a, “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.” I … Continue reading Passion, and Passion
Jesus’ disciples met with him one last time before he was taken up into heaven. Even though Jesus had explained the distinct characteristics of the reign of God to them over and over, they persisted in asking him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Do you ever make up imaginary rejoinders for Jesus? This one might … Continue reading Once (and) For All
Here we go again. “God’s Not Dead 2” is soon to hit theaters. As a minister, some people expect me to eagerly expect its release, and to encourage people to see it. I might tell people to see it, but not for reasons you might think. I urge Christians to see it so that you will look at it from a different perspective than your … Continue reading If “God’s Not Dead,” Then Why are Christians Anxious?
Lent. The word creates both anticipation and dread in me every time we flip the calendar to a new year. I anticipate it because the congregation I serve participates in its ritual gatherings—Ash Wednesday, midweek Lenten worship, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday—with intention and faith. I choose the themes carefully and enjoy this season with them. We observe the passion of our Lord together and … Continue reading Running on Empty
I have read about “thin places,” where people go to sense God’s presence, places where it does seem God feels more palpable. Places in nature or in old structures where people have felt a deep connection with God somehow. One of those places for me is the railing in the sanctuary. (These are rural, practical folks. Clergy might call it a “table” for the Eucharist, … Continue reading Thin Places, Child Faces
What is it like to be an Iowan in January 2016? It is to be bombarded with messages of aspiring presidential candidates. Terrorism and migration are hot topics this year, but they are only two examples of the complex issues facing our nation and our world. Those seeking the presidency claim to have answers, but we all know that any U.S. president has limited power … Continue reading No Dead Ends
Quick quiz: Who is called “a man after God’s own heart” in the Bible? Paul said it in a sermon in Antioch, on his first missionary journey. (Acts 13:22) He was talking about David. Is there any more beloved figure in the Old Testament than David? Yet David had feet of clay just like everyone else. As so often happens, his strength ended up being … Continue reading The Cure
It was a day filled with meetings, more than usual. Lucky me, I had time to squeeze in visits with couple of my elderly friends. I planned to visit Andrew* in the nursing home first, then go through the connecting door to the assisted living building where his mother lives. Andrew is almost 80 years old and has Alzheimer’s disease. His mother Margaret is 100 years young and … Continue reading Madonna and Child
