In Paul’s letter to the Phillipians he writes, “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9) Over the past couple of months, it’s been difficult not to reflect on everything we’ve experienced since that fateful […]
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be in the Easter season, celebrating the joy of Christ’s resurrection. May the grace, peace, and hope of Jesus be with you. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Our society is in the midst of a particularly polarized period, punctuated by hostility and anger. There is war and […]
Professor Andrew Root, Carrie Olson Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, is author of “Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age,” which was published in March by Baker Academic. The book addresses the crisis of decline in churches and the importance of remaining open […]
Beverly Wallace, associate professor of congregational and community care, is coauthor of “African American Grief.” First published in 2005 by Routledge, the book was rereleased as one of the publisher’s classic editions in 2021. Routledge’s Classic Editions series comprises books in the field of mental health that “are recognized as timeless classics covering a range […]
The Psalmist invites us to be open to learning God’s ways in the world. “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me in your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me.” This invitation for guidance and deliverance roots us in the hope of God’s promised future: hope in the midst of […]
Ash Wednesday is coming up in just a few days, marking the beginning of the third straight Lenten season we’ve spent at least partially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, our Lenten observances were interrupted suddenly by the news that a new virus had appeared and was spreading rapidly. Those were frightening […]