Politics – Page 14 – The Lutheran Zephyr

Immigration and the Economy

A recent study shows that the UK’s openness to immigrant workers from Eastern Europe has proved to be a boon to the UK economy, whereas the economies of EU nations that have protected their domestic workforce from immigrant laborers have not fared as well. Full story over at the BBC. Once again, the open marketContinue reading “Immigration and the Economy”

Paying Taxes – a missed opportunity

I’m a Two Kingdoms kind of guy. I believe that God is active not only in the church, its ministry, its proclamation, or its witness. With Martin Luther, I believe that God is also active in the world apart from the mechanisms of the church. (Of course, the whole Lutheran tradition of paradox – especiallyContinue reading “Paying Taxes – a missed opportunity”

I’ll take my Bible, flaws and all

I’m never quite sure how to react when the popular media reports on religious matters. On one hand, I usually cringe when the media covers issues related to the Lutheran church, mainline protestantism, theology or Bible – things about which I know a few things – because of the simplicity, lack of nuance and errorsContinue reading “I’ll take my Bible, flaws and all”

Lutheran Hospital in Palestine Suffers

Our Lutheran hospital in Palestine, Augusta Victoria Hospital, is in bad shape (see ELCA press release here). A tax dispute with Israel began the crisis, but the hospital’s situation has significantly worsened since the election of a Hamas-led government to the Palestinian parliament. Augusta Victoria Hospital receives most of its funding via the Palestinian AuthorityContinue reading “Lutheran Hospital in Palestine Suffers”

Looking at the Big and Little Pictures

Condoleezza Rice wants us to look at the big picture in Iraq. "I know we’ve made tactical errors, thousands of them, I’m sure," the Secretary of State said. "But when you look back in history, what will be judged is did you make the right strategic decisions," she said. (See the BBC’s great coverage forContinue reading “Looking at the Big and Little Pictures”