Topics

1

Your Turn / David W. Preus

« on: August 01, 2021, 08:36:57 AM »

https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/0000398188/?fullname=david-walter-preus

A well-known Minnesotan has passed, David W. Preus.

2

Your Turn / Guns, Government. and Gospel

« on: July 17, 2021, 05:13:11 AM »

The June 2021 Forum Letter arrived in my Hopkins MN mailbox yesterday.  I was drawn immediately to a compelling argument written by ELCA pastor Peter Jonas.  Pastor Jonas had written an open letter to oppose the enactment of a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' in his county.  His argument is well-written and persuasive. The issue was to be resolved on June 14th.  I am happy to report that this resolution was defeated according to a news account in the Trempealeau County Times.  Whew!

Pastor Jones deserves some kind of reward for his logic and reasoning.  The editorial response to Pastor Jonas was tepid and unenlightened.   For further reading on 'Sanctuary' go to www.elca.org/sanctuary church.

3

Your Turn / The Clergy Novel

« on: May 06, 2021, 06:53:20 PM »

I am a re-subscriber to The Lutheran Forum newsletter.  My first issue, which arrived today,  contained an account of the  editor's cross-country relocation.   Of special intellectual interest was the David Young listing of titles of "The clergy novel."  I will write a note to Pastor Young thanking him for this listing.  As a Minnesotan, I will ask him to consider Garrison Keillor's humorous portrayal of clergy men and women in "A Prairie Home Companion.'   Who of us living here in Minnesota can forget Father Emil and Pastor Engvist?

4

Your Turn / Chauvin Trial and verdict

« on: April 20, 2021, 05:32:57 PM »

KYRIE ELEISON.  What does it mean?  There are issues here. Lord have mercy.

5

Your Turn / Diet of Worms Anniversary-1521

« on: April 10, 2021, 05:27:51 AM »

 Luther arrives in Worms on April 16. I will be brushing up on my church history this week.  Any thoughts?  Special reading recommendations would be appreciated.

6

Your Turn / Seminary Education

« on: March 09, 2021, 09:56:07 AM »

Seminary education is a vital topic for Lutherans.  see https://www.livinglutheran.org/2017/02/seminary-status-check/

7

Your Turn / Now that the 2020 Election is over....

« on: November 06, 2020, 11:17:55 AM »

The final results of the Election of 2020 may soon be known.  My suggestion is to put to bed the Forum topic on the 2020 Election and move on.  Remember...with malice toward none with charity to all.

There were some definite surprises.  What were some of these surprises?

8

Your Turn / Nuclear Family

« on: September 23, 2020, 11:32:29 AM »

Recently Pastors Engebretsen and Speckhard have made mention of "the nuclear family." I would be interested in reading comments about this topic.  What is meant by the term "the nuclear family"? Is  Is it a Biblical concept? Is the "nuclear family" a moral imperative?

9

Your Turn / White Fragility

« on: June 11, 2020, 11:22:26 AM »

My pastor has sent a profound and moving Pastoral Letter to the congregation.  He was born and raised in south Minneapolis.  He is as Minnesota and Lutheran as one could be.    He deeply feels the pain and sorrow which we all are experiencing.   He has made several reading suggestions and I list  one near the top of his list:  Robin Diangelo. "White Fragility   Why It's So Hard for White People  to Talk About Racism".  I ordered this book from the iTunes Store.

10

Your Turn / Unholy

« on: May 26, 2020, 09:07:14 AM »

Recommended reading.  "Unholy:  Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump". by Sarah Posner. Random House, 2020.  Available at the iTunes Store. 

11

Your Turn / When it's over...

« on: April 09, 2020, 12:05:03 PM »

It's too early to predict a time when the virus crisis will be over.  Whenever that time comes, there will be seen changes in the way that we live.  Since this venerable Forum deals with matters of faith and life, I wonder how  change will be seen here.  Will long standing trends be seen to continue or will they be seen to have ended?  Will the church grow or will it be seen to have diminished? Will there be connections between secular results and those in religious arenas?  Where can one seek to discover information on the subject.  For me, I see the communion of saints tied more tenaciously on the sources of the faith.

12

Your Turn / Ukraine, Russia and the Orthodox Church

« on: September 03, 2018, 10:05:25 AM »

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45396464

The President of Ukraine wants to keep the church in his country free from the dominance of Russia and Vladiimir Putin.  It's a long story of politics and religion.

13

Your Turn / John McCain: an American hero is laid to rest

« on: September 01, 2018, 09:34:26 AM »

Senator McCain served his country in life and in death.  Watching the funeral proceedings with great interest. How sad that POTUS disrespected this hero.

14

Your Turn / Has Christianity Advanced Under the Trump Administration?

« on: May 16, 2018, 08:17:50 AM »

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44113040

Some people believe that the cause of religion has advanced under the Trump administration.  Others might disagree. 

VP Pence has said:  "We live in a time when traditional values, even religious conviction, are increasingly marginalized by a secular popular culture – a time when it's become acceptable, even fashionable, to malign religious belief. I still believe with all my heart that FAITH in America is rising."

15

Your Turn / American Guild of Organists-Hymn Festitval honoring John Ferguson

« on: April 30, 2018, 07:18:42 AM »

https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=2208