Voices of Faith

Voices of Faith

Bartolomé de las Casas

Bartolomé de las Casas (1484-1566) is a good example of what Lutherans call a “saint and sinner.” As an immigrant from Spain who came to Hispañola in 1502, Las Casas…

Voices of Faith

A savior who exceeds expectations

Many of us are familiar with the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15), a story we’ll encounter in worship Sunday, July 29.   John’s version of the story occurs after…

Voices of Faith

What Incredibles 2 teaches about heroism

“Done properly, parenting is a heroic act.” Edna Mode (voiced by writer-director Brad Bird) serves this reminder to Bob Parr (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) in Incredibles 2 before repeating…

Voices of Faith

My faith story: Coming home

This piece is a reflection from Jay Thorson, pastor of Capitol Drive Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wis. As a pastor, there is one moment at the annual synod assembly that…

Voices of Faith

Faith, freedom and compassion: Lutherans and civic duty

Freedom is a quintessentially Lutheran and American ideal. Yet as ELCA members approach Independence Day, it’s important for us to acknowledge where Lutheran and American notions of freedom diverge. A…

Voices of Faith

Introverted leaders in the church

When we think of leaders in the early church, the first two people who come to mind are probably Peter and Paul. Peter was the “blockhead” turned into “the rock.”…

Voices of Faith

Trauma and the church

June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. A diagnosed mental disorder, it can be the result of a traumatic event. The National Center for PTSD estimates 7 percent…

Voices of Faith

Every day different: Why our bodies matter

When I saw the trailer for director Michael Sucsy’s Every Day, I expected to experience a movie about how love doesn’t have gender and racial boundaries. Its premise is interesting:…

Voices of Faith

The faith of my grandfathers

Last year, in the span of six months, I lost both of my grandfathers. Each left behind families forever enriched by their legacies of love. Their funerals—the tears, the eulogies,…

Voices of Faith

Cyberbullying and the church

There is a website that, at first glance, appears to be working for good. But delve a little deeper into it, and you’ll quickly find evidence to the contrary. On…

Voices of Faith

Augsburg Confession

The ELCA claims to be a biblical, creedal and confessional community whose faith, life and mission are shaped by Scripture, the ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran confessional writings of the…

Voices of Faith

When someone sins against you

OK, class, let’s take it from the top.  “If another member of the church sins against you, stew about it a good, long while and when you’ve calmed down, gather…