Yes folks, The Lutheran Zephyr has reached a milestone – this is our 100th post! It has been a great run, and all of us here at The Lutheran Zephyr are looking forward to the next 100. In honor of this good ol’ 100th, and as a little thank-you to all four of my readers, here’s a list of some Lutheran Zephyr highlights from the first 99 posts:
It all began on Sunday, May 22, with my first post. From there I had a stimulating reflection on the quality of rest area snack options. June was a particularly lean month, with only two posts, but a nice one about Donald Rumsfeld’s comments that the Iraqi insurgency could be a problem for the people of Iraq for "four, eight, ten, twelves, fifteen years, whatever." Very thoughtful, Rummy.
My favorite baseball player, Bobby Abreu, won the annual Home Run Derby in July, inspiring this post comparing ministry to hitting a baseball. I posted several times about faith in the public sphere, with two goodies coming in July – one about our discomfort with the faith of public officials (reflecting on the faith of then-Supreme Court justice nominee John Roberts), and one rejecting Noah Feldman’s suggestion that we allow more religious practice and symbols in our public life.
July also saw my first post on the Emergent Church. This was the first of many posts about the Emergent Church, now earning themselves a column on the right side of my blog. August was non-descript, save for an intentionally glass-half-full description of my visit to two Lutheran mega churches in Minnesota.
On September 15 I wrote Why I am Lutheran, perhaps my favorite posting yet. I questioned Lutheran churches that talk about Bringing People to Christ and one congregation’s impressive yet problematic Bible Study discipline. I also reflected on reformation theology and identity in response to a book by Emergent Guru Brian McLaren.
October saw a post about stewardship and some wonderings about worship style. In November I reflected on a new book on divorce and my life as a child of divorce (this post earned a comment from the book’s author!). I also reflected on vocation and faith in daily life and a wonderful book on the topic by Michael Bennethum.
December rolled around and my most commented-upon post yet appeared – a reflection on Lathrop & Wengert’s wonderful little book, Christian Assembly. I also engaged in some instant messaging warfare, resulting in a mildly brusing warning from an online adversary. Gambling also made an appearance, after I watched a child beg her mother for an instant lottery game at the grocery store. The year ended with what my wife believes is an unrealistic New Year’s Resolution: that I will enter and complete the Broad Street Run, a 10-mile charity run, in May.
And so, a dedication: To you, my four blog readers, I dedicate this retrospective. In the next 100 posts, I promise to continue the tradition of insightful reflection about theology, ministry, politics, and the quality of rest area snacks that you’ve come to depend on. Thank you.
The Lutheran Zephyr 