I’ve long thought that if we don’t reclaim a vibrant sense that all Christians are called to serve God by making a difference in the world wherever they are – theologians call this the doctrine of “vocation” – the Church doesn’t have much of a future. One of the great challenges...
Mark in a Nutshell
posted by DJL
As fast-paced as it is brief, the Gospel According to Mark feels a little more like the evening news than it does a biography. Indeed, Mark’s story comes across as a crash course in the essentials about what it is to be a follower of Jesus. And what a course! Read through the gospel...
“The Word” – A Poem for Friday
posted by DJL
I am not a poet. And though an English major in college, I often felt like I didn’t “get” the poems I was assigned. In the years since, I’ve come not just to appreciate poetry but to savor it. The trick, at least for me, is to slow down. I am accustomed to reading quickly and poetry stymies the impatient reader. The other key has been to stop trying to “figure out” the poem and instead let the words affect you, even wash over you, and then notice what happened when the waters recede. Moreover, I’ve learned a lot about language from poets – about how strict discipline, playful intentionality, and a willingness to risk odd...
What Are You Countin...
posted by DJL
Recently I was at a pastor’s conference that fell shortly after annual parochial reports were due. If you don’t know what “parochial reports” are, take a moment to give thanks. In short, they’re the tally sheets by which my denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,...
Behind the Post: Bib...
posted by DJL
Okay, so I do hereby swear and promise (and I’ve got my right hand on a Bible, honest) that I will not repost everything I’ve posted somewhere else here. (Maybe once in a while but, I swear, not always.) At the same time, I’ve had folks ask – by email and in person – for more info on...
What Are Lenten Devo...
posted by DJL
Lent is the 40-day period before Easter when Christians prepare to witness, celebrate, and participate in the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the early church, the forty days before Easter were devoted to study of the essential elements of Christian teaching so that...
Welcome to I.T.M
posted by DJL
Really? Another Blog? Really? Okay, so if this was your reaction to learning that I was starting a blog, you’re forgiven. More than that, you’ve got company as I totally sympathize. In fact, last year I was so tired of the onslaught of new blogs that I almost bought a tee shirt that read...
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