I’m at a meeting of the Board of Lutheran World Relief. So I don’t have a lot of time to write, but I do have a plenty of time to be in awe; in fact, I find myself in awe almost all the time while I’m here. In awe of the faithfulness and effectiveness of this talented, dedicated, and diverse staff that has committed itself to Micah’s injunction to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8); In awe of the reach of the organization as it makes a difference in the lives of people, literally, all over the world. In awe of the impact and responsiveness of LWR to emergency...
Matthew 28:9-10
posted by DJL
Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’ There is a sense in which Matthew is, if not “fixing,” at...
Happiness: Goal or By-Product?
posted by DJL
Just a quick thought for the day. Or really a question: Do you think happiness is a worthy goal? Or is it rather a by-product of other things? Ever since Thomas Jefferson, at least, we have been taught to think happiness is something we should pursue. But, I wonder, what is happiness, exactly? When do we know we’ve found it? How do we go about it? Noting that we are notoriously bad at predicting what will make us happy, it occurs to me that perhaps that’s because happiness isn’t, finally, something you can pursue and catch and possess. Rather, perhaps happiness is the by-product of worthy activities. Perhaps happiness is...
Matthew 28:8
posted by DJL
So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Notice, please, that it’s “fear and great joy.” Not just “great joy,” which is more likely what we would have expected. That is, when we think about the women coming to the tomb on that first Easter...
The Next Stage of the Adventure
posted by DJL
My heart going boom boom boom…. Yesterday official word began to circulate that the search committee at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia has decided to recommend me to their Board as their candidate for the position of president at that fine school. It is my alma mater, and I have always felt a debt of gratitude to the seminary and my teachers there for the excellent education I received. I’m very excited about both the challenges and opportunities that will come with that position, and honored and humbled by the trust of the committee. As the plans now stand, I’ll be on the Philadelphia campus the 13th...