The American Mind: About the Cover
The artist He Qi explains the art that appears on the cover of The American Mind Meets the Mind of Christ, and its connection to the events of 9/11
It’s Hot in Kansas!
I like the wide open spaces of the great plains, with the wavy hills and the big sky with its incredible cloudscapes. Perhaps it is because I don’t feel claustrophobic. Perhaps it is the size of place puts everything in perspective. This past Spring I traveled through Nebraska to see the SandHill Crane migration. Last summer it was Iowa (I was leading a workshop in West DesMoines). This summer it is Kansas (for a workshop in Colby)
“Ragman” now available on DVD
A little over a year ago, I wrote here about the premiere of the short film “Ragman.” Now, with over 25 international film festivals on its cart, two awards and a finalist for a third, “Ragman” is finally available on DVD . The film, directed by local artist Dale Ward (I was the production designer), is a direct adaptation of the well-known parable by renowned writer Walter Wangerin . Simply, it is a subtle story of grace and transformation
NYG—New Orleans II
While at the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, a gentleman from Southern Illinois approached me after my presentation and asked, “why hasn’t the church taken the lead on issues regarding our responsibility for creation?” It is not the first time that someone has asked me that question. Their questions implied that the church should be at the forefront of advocating for the responsible care of creation. The instincts of these questioners are sound
No more Protestants? Elena Kagan and faith on the Supreme Court
So the story has been kind of buried with all the other news making the headlines, but it’s still worth talking about. With the retirement of John Paul Stevens and the impending confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, the Court faces the prospect of not having a Protestant justice for the first time in its history
NYG-New Orleans
This week I attended my first ever National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. I was impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of those who played key roles in organizing the event as well as the high energy levels of the youth and and their leaders who came
Richer, deeper, and more satisfying
“What would it look like to move from ‘more, bigger, faster’ to ‘richer, deeper and more satisfying?’” No, that quote is not from a church leader of any stripe; it’s from a Harvard Business Review blog by Tony Schwartz, president and CEO of The Energy Project. His basic idea is that business is currently focused ..
The American Mind: Table of Contents
The table of contents of essays in the book, The American Mind Meets the Mind of Christ
Do We See Ourselves as Creatures?
A few friends have recently brought to my attention that many Christians are perhaps not accustomed seeing themselves or thinking of themselves as creatures. That’s somewhat curious. Do most people use the word “creature” to speak exclusively about nonhuman creatures? By contrast, do we refer to ourselves primarily, if not exclusively, as human beings in order to separate and distinguish ourselves from all other forms of life on earth?
The American Mind: Read the Preface by Robert Kolb
An exclusive online reprint of Robert Kolb’s preface to The American Mind Meets the Mind of Christ, a collection of Concordia Seminary faculty essays on American culture
God Made Room for Them—Can We?
Norman Wirzba develops the theme of extending hospitality to all of God’s creatures in his book, The Paradise of God . He notes that hospitality in the Old Testament involved in part the inviting of sojourners into the home, in brief, making room for them. God carved out spaces (land, air, water) for all of his creatures
The Day the Music Died
Today is the last day that KFUO-FM will broadcast classical music from the campus of Concordia Seminary
Bishops Unveil Mass Revisions
A special post by Andy Bartelt. Roman Catholics soon will be seeing some changes in the Mass. This prompts reflection on the state of worship in Lutheran circles
The Bible as literature: Bob Dylan and the near-sacrifice of Isaac
Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son” Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on” God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?” God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but The next time you see me comin’ you better run” Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?” God says, “Out on Highway 61” The word of the Lord according to Bob Dylan, in the opening lines from the title track of his landmark album Highway 61 Revisited . It is a sly and menacing retelling of the famous episode of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son Isaac from Genesis 22 . And Dylan sets it along the famous highway of the blues that stretches along the Mississippi River from New Orleans up almost to Canada. It is the highway where legend has it Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil to play the…
On Becoming a Craniac, Part I
Ok. I know that this is somewhat typical of me
Clinging to the Old, Rugged Cross?
Did Jesus really die on a cross?