Rogationtide

Rogationtide


Rogationtide

Earth Day last month made me wonder why we don’t have a similar day within the church. We wouldn’t have to call it “Earth Sunday” or anything. We could call it “Creation Sunday” or have a “Season of Creation.” Currently, the first half of our church year rightly focuses on the life of Jesus


This is Too Cool!


This is Too Cool!

Maybe it’s a guy thing. Maybe its a childhood memory thing. Maybe its a Robinson Crusoe thing (or was it the Disney version, namely, the Swiss Family Robinson movie). I don’t know

World War I, the Supreme Court, and a cross in the Mojave desert: what does this mean?

World War I, the Supreme Court, and a cross in the Mojave desert: what does this mean?


World War I, the Supreme Court, and a cross in the Mojave desert: what does this mean?

So, I’ll pick up a hot potato: In what seems like it is becoming a typical 5-to-4 decision last week , the Supreme Court decided in Salazar v. Buono that the World War I memorial—or more precisely, the cross that is part of the memorial—that stands in the Mojave National Preserve is not unconstitutional and does not advance a particular religion…

How one seminary celebrated Earth Day

How one seminary celebrated Earth Day


How one seminary celebrated Earth Day

Getting ready to plant 75 trees at Concordia Seminary. Credit: Diane Meyer/Respublica “Christ is risen! Christ will come again! Let’s go plant some trees!” Which is exactly what we did at Concordia Seminary today. 75 of them. Our chapel preacher, Chuck Arand , summoned us to the stewardship of creation with the words above

Earth Day—40 Years

Earth Day—40 Years


Earth Day—40 Years

I was finishing eighth grade and getting ready for confirmation when the first earth day was celebrated in 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin helped organize the first Earth Day as an awareness raising event. Over the years, Earth Day has provided an opportunity both to take stock of human impact on earth and to call people to action that they might take better care of it

A Groaning Creation…

A Groaning Creation…


A Groaning Creation…

On Easter, we Christians celebrated the bursting forth of the new creation in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The restoration of creation has begun with him and with us. Consider the story. God had first created the earth and its creatures


The Medart is dead


The Medart is dead

John's Town Hall, RIP My good friend and colleague Chris Born and I walked a few blocks from Concordia Seminary today to have lunch at one of our regular haunts, John’s Town Hall , on Skinker in the Dorchester. The place was empty. Closed

Seeing God in the movies

Seeing God in the movies


Seeing God in the movies

“The Dude abides.” It’s a topic that, in one way or another, we’ve talked about numerous times in this blog, like here , here , here , or here . Or you could just see them all in the movies category. It’s also the name of a seminar I will be team-teaching on the four Tuesday nights of April. The course carries this premise: “Even if God isn’t mentioned, nearly every film contains an implied theology.” And we’ll look at plenty of examples to prove that thesis: “Citizen Kane,” Ingmar Bergman, “Star Wars,” Woody Allen, Spike Lee, “Toy Story,” the Coen brothers…you name it

World Water Day

World Water Day


World Water Day

March 22 provides an opportunity consider one of the most basic needs of life that we can easily take for granted. Water is one of those support webs that connects, supports, sustains, and enriches all life on earth. Put a bird bath in your yard and watch them come! We face two water issues


Dante’s Inferno and the simulacrum of hell


Dante’s Inferno and the simulacrum of hell

I haven’t owned a video gaming system since my parents got my brother and me the original Nintendo. But I’ve seen the commercials for “Dante’s Inferno” a number of times now, and I confess I’m captivated. Not that I intend to buy it. The real Dante’s Inferno is one of the great works of world literature, and still defines much of our visual mythology of hell. (This despite the fact that, for Dante, hell was freezing cold rather than burning hot.)..


Latina ethics scholar to speak at Concordia Seminary


Latina ethics scholar to speak at Concordia Seminary

María Teresa Dávila Noted ethics scholar Dr. María Teresa Dávila will speak at Concordia Seminary tomorrow night, Thursday, March 18, at 7:00PM. A professor at Andover Newton Theological School, she will be giving the fifth Annual Lecture in Hispanic/Latino Theology and Missions of Concordia’s Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS). The theme for Dr. Dávila’s lecture is “ Unión, Reunión y Comunión : Latino/a Religious Diversity and the Wager of Ecumenical Communion.”..

Welcomed Guests

Welcomed Guests


Welcomed Guests

Quite a few visitors stopped by to dine in our yard this winter. Most came after a fresh blanket of snow had fallen or when the temperature dropped into the teens.  White-throated sparrows from the boreal forests of Canada joined our local residents of Cardinals, Chickadees, Tit-mice, Carolina Wrens, Hairies, and Downies. Our surprise guest of honor was a tiny Ruby-crested kinglet. His constant flitting made it initially difficult for me to identify him

New religion and politics center started at Wash U

New religion and politics center started at Wash U


New religion and politics center started at Wash U

John Danforth delivering the homily at Ronald Reagan's funeral in 2004 (Screen capture: C-SPAN) The New York Times broke the story on the formation of this new center yesterday, named for one of our state’s most distinguished senators, John C. Danforth, who is also an ordained Episcopal priest. Washington University announced the center in a press release and news conference today