Last Friday, August 25, Hurricane Harvey hit landfall for the first time, putting millions of Texas and Louisiana residents in danger. (It has since hit landfall in Texas twice more). Eighteen have died so far, including a family who could not escape a van and a police officer who drowned on his way to work. You can help in numerous ways. Pray. Want to do something tangible? See the options (not a complete list) below. 1. Send a check made out to Lutheran Disaster respo

“Then God said, let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness. So God created humankind in his image. In the image of God he created them. Male and female he created them. God blessed them.” (Genesis 1:27-28) At each point of the creation story God speaks, it is so, and God declares it good. When God creates humanity, God looks at creation and, “indeed, it was very good.” Scripture does not say that God created Christianity and declared it good. Or Isl

I spoke to this in worship yesterday, but we couldn't all be there. I am horrified at the palpable hate expressed this past weekend. White supremacists, the KKK, neo-Nazis ... they represent bigotry and hate. It is evil personified. Yes, the Constitution gives us the right to peaceably assemble. To assemble in peace. May we join in prayer. Prayer for peace and unity. May we join in action ... speaking out against hate and isms. May we find tangible ways to reconcile.

There are two sounds that bring me peace and comfort – a train whistle and a frog’s croak. The train whistle probably goes back in childhood to visits with my godparents – whose parents lived close to the train tracks. We’d sneak on the tracks and leave a penny – delighted to see it flattened. The train whistle evokes good people and fun times. A frog’s croak makes me smile. First, the little creature looks ridiculously cute when it croaks. It’s also a sign of a well-b

Folks have different ideas about and approaches to vacation. Some want to see and go every minute. I prefer to mix it up with quiet times to just chill. To work a puzzle with my nieces. To trek out into the waves and get knocked over six times. (Laughter is good for the immune system!) To take an art class and lose thoughts and worries to the creative process. “Be still and know that I am God,” the psalmist said. (Psalm 46:10) May the waning days of summer include stil