Posts

Showing posts from February, 2011

Let Me Comment On This

While I'm waiting to learn my synod assignment, I thought I'd share some wise advice. Of course it isn't mine. Here at the LTS, we had our Seminary Weekend, and prospective seminarians came to visit the campus. My apartment was one of the ones shown. (Made me clean things up.) One of the visitors noticed that I had all of the New Interpreter's Bible Commentaries for the New Testament, and asked if they were required. I told him they were not required, but many were recommended by our NT professors. That got me thinking about what some of the other seminary professors may be recommending. So, a few minutes later, (thanks Google) here are links to recommended commentaries by some professors at some ELCA Seminaries. (For those of you of a my conservative/literalistic perspective- this can be a don't buy list.)   Trinity Lutheran     Luther Seminary   LTS Gettysburg NT   OT   If the other schools have a suggested commentary list, put it it the comments, and I&

Don't It Feel Like Tonight Will Never Be Again

Image
In around 30 to 90 minutes, the ELCA Region to which I, and others at The LTS, will be revealed. To quote Mr. Petty, "The Waiting Is The Hardest Part." Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - The Waiting

They're Giving None Away

Image
One of my favorite prayer resources is the Church of Scotland's Pray Now site . Here is their devotion for February 17. Money Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’ -- Mark 12:43–4 Prayer We got our money’s worth that night in a garden, Lord, when silver changed hands as quickly as a kiss condemned. For you saved us from squandering our souls. We got our money’s worth that day on a hillside when we gambled with your innocence and landed a bargain. For you reclaimed our torn and shabby lives. We got our money’s worth that morning we cursed our empty nets and the hardship they hauled home while you bought our breakfast and our freedom. For you rescued us from a world of no rewards. You invest so much in us, L

What Does A -t-o-w-n-, err STATE That's Been To Hell And Back Know?

Image
I loved the Chrysler commercial from yesterday's Super Bowl. Because it was a pep talk, get your butts out there and win this thing halftime, fire 'em up speech for Detroit, for Michigan and for those who've been suffering with the American auto industry. I watched the Super Bowl with a dozen of my closest friends in my apartment yesterday, and those who aren't from Michigan didn't get it. They don't understand the pain and rejection that Michigan feels from the rest of the country. Michigan was built by the Big Three, and while they haven't put out the best of products, they don't deserve to be the butt of jokes. That ad was a statement. A statement that things are different. It'll probably be laughed at, and be the butt of some late night comedians monologue. But it warmed my heart, and that of a lot of people who are tired of being ignored and made fun of because the industry of their state has had a long run of rough times. VO: I got a

Frozen Turkey Evangelism

This is a great post about what evangelism is/isn't/could be/should be. The example that is used is of a church that gives turkeys to the homeless for Thanksgiving, forgetting that the homeless don't have ovens in which to cook the turkeys. Too often we focus our efforts on what we think people need rather than actually asking what people need or what the ramifications of our actions, the unintended consequences.

Thoughts On Last Night's Super Bowl

A couple of thoughts on last night's Super Bowl. One of the commentators on ESPN asked where the Steelers rush was. It was on the other side of the Packers OLine. Other than a few times the Steelers got to Rogers, the Packers OLine did a great job. I especially want to single out Bryan Bulaga, the rookie out of Iowa. Beyond a couple of plays early in the first quarter, LaMarr Woodley was invisible. When Wood did get pressure, Bulaga wasn't blocking him. I coached against Woodley when he was in high school. I couldn't figure out how to get him blocked. I watched when he was playing for Michigan, and no one figured how to block him. Bryan Bulaga did. Congrats young man. The Steeler running game was almost unstoppable when they were running the Power O. But because that play requires a lead blocker, either a FB or the TE blocking the EMOL (end man on line), when the Steelers wanted to go 4 wide, they took their best running play off of the table.

Does This Mean There Are Monday Morning Pastors?

I want to commend this article to people: it compares some of the pressures faced by parish pastors and quarterbacks. As a former football coach, these connections were easy to make. I think it provides a different perspective for people who may be familiar with one or the other vocations, and I hope it may be thought provoking for both communities. The website, Faith & Leadership , is produced by the Duke Divinity School. It is a worthwhile read and I suggest everyone find ways to read it, either bookmarking it or subscribing to the feeds in any of the ways that make reading it accessible to you.