Category Archives: Vocation

Praising God, Honoring Country

This Memorial Day weekend countless congregations will celebrate an unholy alliance of God & Country with services that blatantly blur patriotic celebration and Christian worship.  Here are a few draft guidelines for Christian Worship and the celebration of national holidays: When Christians gather for our primary worship on Sunday mornings, we gather around the RisenContinue reading “Praising God, Honoring Country”

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 got his autograph!

I haven’t been this tickled since I got a signed picture of Bobby Abreu (Phillies All-Star right fielder, for all you non-baseball fans out there)! Today D. Michael Bennethum signed my well-worn, much-underlined copy of Listen! God is Calling! Luther Speaks of Vocation, Faith, and Work (Augsburg Fortress, 2003). Pastor Bennethum, a long-time parish pastor,Continue reading “I got his autograph!”

Faith in Daily Life presentation

It’s done. And it’s not too bad, I don’t think. Six pages, single-spaced. With an intro, break-out questions throughout, etc., it should last me about an hour. I’ve never really done something like this. Gosh, I can’t imagine what professors go through – especially rookies – writing several 60-90 minute lectures each week . .Continue reading “Faith in Daily Life presentation”