I love the audacity of John Donne’s poem – taking on death itself, unmasking it for what it is, challenging it in light of the resurrection. He gains his courage, I think, from the Apostle Paul, who invites Donne – and all of us – to see death along with all the other realities of this...
Luke 24:12
posted by DJL
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Sometimes I think that faith, at heart, is simply the capacity to wonder. There are, I think, two ways to approach this world: with knowledge...
Belated April Fools – Teacher Assessment
posted by DJL
I can’t believe I forgot to post this on April Fools’ Day earlier this week! If I had remembered, I would have described this as our latest and greatest strategy for improving the teaching at Luther Seminary through consistent classroom assessment. But I since I blew it, I’ll just tell you ahead of time that this is the video some colleagues and I put together for our annual Variety Show at Luther. Given what a mess things are here right now, it seemed like a good time to make fun of ourselves. And given my earlier note on gratitude for good friends (#6), this seems like the second best day of the week on which to post it....
Luke 24:11
posted by DJL
But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. “Idle tale” is a fairly generous translation of the Greek word Luke uses to describe the apostles’ characterization of the women’s testimony. It’s accurate, but generous. “Leros,” the Greek word in...
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on ...
posted by DJL
Though released in 1984, Leonard Cohen’s beautiful “Hallelujah” didn’t catch on until it was covered by John Cale a few years later. Since then, more than 200 different artists have covered it, including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, k.d. lang, and Bono. Having “laid our alleluias to rest” during Lent, now seems the perfect time to hear one more cover of Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” this time from street musician Petr Spatina, playing the piece on crystal glasses. Notes: 1) If you are receiving this post by email, you may need to click here to watch the video. 2) Thanks to Diane for sending this my...