 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
Summer has a strange way of speeding up just when we imagine it will slow down. We start the season dreaming of open calendars, lazy afternoons, and backyard evenings. But somehow, the pace picks up—filled with vacations, kids’ activities, family obligations, projects we’ve saved “for when there’s time.”
0 Comments
 Of the 78 million Lutherans around the world, 31 million are in Africa. 8.6 million of the Lutherans in Africa are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), which is the second largest Lutheran Church on the planet (The largest is the Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus in Ethiopia). By contrast, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (of which we are a congregation) has about 2.8 million members. While congregations shrink and denominations struggle here, the African church is growing and becoming more vital.
 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." — Galatians 2:19b-20
In a world that often feels fractured—where relationships strain, communities divide, and hearts ache—we long for healing. Healing in our relationships. Healing in our inner lives. Healing in our neighborhoods and beyond. But where does that healing begin?  Our theme for the season of Easter this year is, Christ is Alive. This does not simply point to a distant historical event. Nor does it refer to an ethereal presence of Jesus akin to a pleasant aroma or foul smell. It is easy to store Jesus safely in the future, anticipating his return, (but not too quickly, or he’ll spoil the fun). No, Christ is Alive means what it says. The bodily Christ is here, now, standing and serving and loving right in front of us.
 Easter Sunday stands before us this weekend, and with it comes a decision: Will we be drawn into the moral vortex of vindication and punishment? Or will we rise to the resurrection vision of Jesus?
 First Published November 2019.
Once in a great while I write something that has “legs” (at least I think so). I offer again a reflection on fear in an age of fear. C.S. Lewis, in his book “Screwtape Letters,” took on the voice of a demon trying to spread evil in the world. The book is a series of letters instructing how best to advance the cause of Hell in the face of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Sometimes, we miss what’s right in front of us. That’s what happened on the road to Emmaus.
Two disciples walked with Jesus after the resurrection, but they didn’t recognize him. It wasn’t just that they didn’t expect to see him; Luke tells us, "their eyes were kept from recognizing him." At first, it sounds like God was preventing them, but looking deeper, it becomes clear—they were blinded by their own expectations.  We don’t like to admit it, but so much of our self-worth gets wrapped up in external things—the opinions of others, our performance, our success, even our failures. We search for validation, hoping that if we achieve enough or do enough, we’ll finally be seen, finally be enough.
 Joyful individuals aren't always the ones cracking jokes or wearing a perpetual smile. Their joy transcends mere optimism; it's rooted in a profound understanding of life's complexities. They confront the harsh realities of human existence with eyes wide open, acknowledging the presence of evil forces that seek to harm; “looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Yet, crucially, joyful people refuse to be imprisoned by despair.
 When I reflect on what I hold dear—like birds in flight, beautiful mountains, vibrant coral reefs, or even the uncontainable laughter of my family — I can’t help but notice the threats on the horizon. I see the pollution and deforestation. But I also see the conflicts of this world. I see the injustices of this world that siphon off the beauty of this world.
|
Categories
All
Archives
June 2025
|
RSS Feed
