How a God of love allow us to experience so much suffering?
To put that another way:  (1) God is love.  (2) God uses our suffering to draw us closer to Him.  (3) Wouldn't it be more loving for Him to simply relieve our suffering?
There are two theological points to be made here off the top of my head.  I realize that these two points don't really answer the question for the person who is suffering. They answer the more 'academic' side of the question.  So the first theological point is Read more

When dealing with abstract ideas, the key is to bring the abstractions down to earth.  As long as ideas, like 'love', are floating around 'up there' or 'out there' somewhere, they various elements of the abstraction won't come together.  "Love" for example has to go from being a collection of various ideas or elements or characteristics to a concrete, earthly reality.
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It has been reported this week that another church figure is being accused of sexually abusing young members of his congregation.  The "bishop" had an apartment off the back of the church with a bed which is claimed as the scene of his crimes.
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Recently I was accused of always thinking I'm right in an argument.  Excuse me?  Why would I argue if I didn't think I was right?  If I think I am wrong or even if I might be wrong about something I don't argue about it.  Do you?  Oh, I suppose some people will always take the contrary opinion just for the sake of "argument", but I'm not talking about a passionate discussion. 
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I've never thought of "re-naming" myself.  Now that I think about it, I've always accepted my name as one of those unchangable things that God made me to be:  male, a preacher's kid, the third and last born of the family, etc.  I've not particularly liked or disliked my name.  My parents must have tried it out in it's full form or they would have noticed that the first name ends in "L" and the last name begins in "L" making it difficult to say clearly without the middle name or initial.  Sometimes when I use my middle initial computers thiRead more

Some pastors and church workers seem to feel the need to end every conversation or email with some sort of blessing:  "God bless you!"   "Blessings on your day!"  "God bless!" or just "Blessings!"   I don't really have any trouble with that or mean to disparage those who do this, but I don't feel that need.  Is there something wrong with me?
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This entry is more a note to myself than for anyone else. But feel free to see what other broad titles are on my mind:Read more

There's a lot happening behind the scenes in my work which has my mind spinning with questions and considerations.  I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in at least two weeks because these things spin around in my head, keeping me from the random thoughts and dreams of sleep. 
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We Lutherans, myself included, believe that Ordination to the Office of the Holy Ministry does not confer any special grace, ability, or power on the one being ordained.  Rather, it is to be a recognition that God the Holy Spirit has put or brought this man into this place and time and congregation/assembly of His people to be the one through whom He, the Spirit, will deliver His gifts through the public proclamation of the Word of God and the public administration of His sacraments of Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and arguably also Holy Absolution. 
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