Hopeful waiting
Voices of Faith

Hopeful waiting

I think of Advent as the waiting season. For the First Sunday of Advent, the Gospel of Mark reminds us that no one knows the precise day or hour the…
I’m a Lutheran: Samuel L. Jones
Voices of Faith

I’m a Lutheran: Samuel L. Jones

Mountain View Lutheran Church, Edgewood, Wash. Eagle Scout; retired U.S. Navy commander When I got involved in my congregation, it started with the children. My wife and I wanted to…
My take: Pastoral approaches to the end—and the beginning
Voices of Faith

My take: Pastoral approaches to the end—and the beginning

Many believers are naturally curious about death and what comes after. This curiosity often appears in the context of funerals and hospitals, yet it also arises naturally throughout one’s life….
A holy gift
Voices of Faith

A holy gift

Editor’s note: This article originally ran Nov. 28, 2019.  My mom’s death, in December 2013, took my feet out from under me. I couldn’t imagine a life without her. But…
The well, the water and the women
Voices of Faith

The well, the water and the women

In a spur-of-the-moment decision, guided solely by my instincts, I found myself heading to a women’s retreat nestled within the tranquil confines of Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, nestled in the…
Thinking about “blue”
Voices of Faith

Thinking about “blue”

“Now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). I’m not a big fan of the winter months….
Living saints
Voices of Faith

Living saints

Editor’s note: This article originally ran Nov. 1, 2017. Often when I think of All Saints Day, my first thoughts are nostalgic, delightful memories of my grandparents. They were kind…
An “influential” legacy
Voices of Faith

An “influential” legacy

Martin Luther’s reforming ideas spread like wildfire in the 16th century because the recently invented printing press enabled mass distribution of his treatises and pamphlets. Since then Lutherans have been…
My take: The church and AI
Voices of Faith

My take: The church and AI

As our culture grapples with social, political and economic questions posed by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), the church is called into a conversation on adaptation and resilience….