Author: Administrador

Karoline Lewis Martha, Martha, Martha. If you grew up when I did, you got that reference. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia — of Brady Bunch fame. The oldest sibling of three daughters. The one who always tries to do her best — and succeeds, darn it. The one who excels at what is expected. Yet, at the … Continue reading “No Comparison”

Karoline Lewis I am writing this column from beautiful Bay View, Michigan, a Chautauqua on the northern shore of Lake Michigan, where I am the preacher/lecturer for the week. I teach in the mornings, but then have the rest of the day free to explore a part of the country to which I have never … Continue reading “How Much More?”

Karoline Lewis We moved my mom into a nursing home last week. If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that she has Parkinson’s. She also has been diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, which she has chosen not to treat and I don’t blame her. Why have a heart that works when … Continue reading “Treasured Possessions?”

Karoline Lewis We are not done yet. We are moving my mom into a nursing home. We are getting closer, but the sorting and the sifting and the sadness persist. And so, the biblical text yet again lives my life is such a way that this column has to be a “part two.” The biblical … Continue reading “Treasured Possessions? Part Two”

Nathan Aaseng After a recent baptism at which I presided, a young girl asked me, very shyly, “How did you make the water holy?” I love such curiosity in children, as well as adults, and so it was with some reluctance that I gave her a very unsatisfactory answer: “I didn’t,” I said. I sensed … Continue reading “I Don’t Do Magic”

Karoline Lewis Family division. Sadly, it doesn’t take much these days to procure a pointed argument between those with whom we are supposed to be the closest. We know the usual suspects that will secure a disagreement — religion and politics. But, then there are those things closer to home — like parenting, a major … Continue reading “Division Matters”

Karoline Lewis “Immediately, she stood up straight and began praising God.” I have a feeling that when this woman bent over for eighteen years was finally able to stand up straight there was a good chance that the first eight verses of Psalm 103 were voiced from her mouth. Read these words again: 1 “Bless … Continue reading “Daughters of Abraham”

Patricia Tull The words “crisis,” “unprecedented,” and “chaos” seem to be appearing with alarming frequency in this year’s news — economic crises, political chaos, unprecedented climate disasters, public health emergencies, refugee catastrophes, violent outbreaks, and social turmoil, you name it and it’s in crisis. Even a basic, previously reliable resource like water now enters the … Continue reading “Truthtelling in Watershed Moments”

Karoline Lewis What does the cross mean to you? You kind of have to figure that out before you can make sense of or preach on Jesus’ statement, “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” When was the last time you asked yourself that question? Has your answer changed … Continue reading “Carrying The Cross”

Karl Jacobson What preachers do is more than a little bit crazy. “The foolishness of our proclamation,” as Paul put it, is quite literally all that we have to offer, and it is a strange enterprise. Preachers proclaim forgiveness. Preachers dare to speak with the power of God’s Word, and in God’s name. Preachers speak … Continue reading “A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Pastor Walk into the Pulpit: What preachers can learn from stand-up comedians (Part 1 of 2)”