That thin thread of faith
Voices of Faith

That thin thread of faith

In February 2013, I received news that my mother had finally passed away. She had been on and off her feeding tube for months; her body simply wouldn’t give up…
My take: The ethics of a digital world
Voices of Faith

My take: The ethics of a digital world

I was convinced that new digital tools such as smartphone tablets were having negative effects on our ability to relate meaningfully to one another.   Then I got sick. Really sick….
Valuing the unvalued in the movies of 2019 (part 1)
Voices of Faith

Valuing the unvalued in the movies of 2019 (part 1)

Every story tells us how the storyteller perceives the world. Stories are how we describe the world as we think it is, as we fear it is, as we want…
Valuing the unvalued in the movies of 2019 (part 2)
Voices of Faith

Valuing the unvalued in the movies of 2019 (part 2)

Read part one. Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (written and directed by Quentin Tarantino) At first glance, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood feels like classic Tarantino,…
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Voices of Faith

My take: Servants come in all sizes

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” –1 Peter 4:10 Volunteering. Lots of us do it, whether…
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Voices of Faith

“A very rare treasure, indeed”

Her mother having passed away only days earlier, Carolyn Bolz was in deep grief while attending the Sunday service at Trinity Lutheran Church, Riverside, Calif. While others cheerfully passed the…
Illumination
Voices of Faith

Illumination

Alleluia. We have observed his star at its rising, and have come to worship him. Alleluia. —Gospel acclamation for Epiphany (Year A), from Matthew 2:2   When I left the…
Search the darkness
Voices of Faith

Search the darkness

Where is God? If you ask some children and many adults, they will point to the sky. And they might be right—at night. The Gospel readings that frame January locate…
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Voices of Faith

An unforgettable Christmas Eve

I’ve had many wonderful Christmas celebrations over the years. The most memorable one was more than 60 years ago, before I was ordained. I was attending Luther Seminary in St….