In the early days of the C-19 pandemic there was the refrain ‘that we were all in the same boat’ as we faced the unknown in terms of transmission, infections, lockdowns, and major changes in society and relationships and the saddest statistic was the…
The Lutheran Reformation was not about being right. It was not a fight for the joy of conflict. It was about hope and comfort when fearful or even terrified. The question then was much more, ‘How will I face God?’ whereas today it seems…
If we are saved by grace alone through faith, why do we have to do anything for our salvation? Versions of this question arise in many situations. Lutherans are used to ‘saved by grace and not by works’ but over the centuries it might…
The news this week of the murder of the Year-11 pupil in Croydon and the felling of the landmark tree at Sycamore Gap, beside Hadrian’s Wall – and, of course, I could have chosen many other news items – testifies to the effects of…
Last week I smiled and then stopped. This week it was a visceral shudder and feeling ill. You may not want to read on. The news item mentioned Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, which caught my eye because my daughter had been visiting there recently for…
I smiled. I said ‘Ahhh!’ in a ‘Isn’t the world a nice place?’ sort of way. I was surprised but pleased to see that the pole vaulting gold medal was shared (between the USA and Australia) at the World Athletics Championships. I hadn’t realised…
The Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are concluding for another year. It is definitely a global event dedicated to the arts – think music, drama, comedy, poetry, dance, circus, opera, film, and more. The Fringe has had controversy with cancelling a…
I am more nervous about making ANZAC biscuits than I am about making a pavlova. The reason is simple. I have made far more pavlovas than ANZAC biscuits! I could make a pav from memory if required (though, truth be told, I still check…
She rolled her eyes a little and sighed with a smile. ‘Yes, you get used to it!’ I had met her twice at the Convention but when it came time to introduce her to the President of the Lutheran Church of the Philippines, I…
“This not a British accent” quickly became my opening line whenever I met new people at the LCMS General Convention. I said this most often in the Exhibition Hall at the Convention with its many stands from the seminaries, colleges, building and insurance groups,…
