Woe to you vineyards and vineyard people

Everyone has been talking about vineyards recently. Last week it was Matthew. On Sunday I suspect it was a large number of our pastors. Today Isaiah is the first to bring it up. I have heard a lot of people talk about wells and watering holes being the place to find a husband or wife. We see that over and over. But, what about vineyards. There is something about them. Just in these last few weeks we are seeing them as places where God's judgment is manifested and where people's faith is tested.

In Ezekiel last week we heard how fair God was and how unfair the ways of the world are. I believe that it can be seen the other way around: the world is fair and God is unfair. But, there is justice in the world's fairness and hope in God's unfairness. When we look to Christ on the cross in Luke's Gospel he hangs not just with sinners, but with criminals. These criminals have been found guilty, not of sin, but of crimes. They have been condemned justly.

We abhor the punishment of suffering and dying on the cross, but the fact that criminals are punished for their crimes against others is necessary, fair, equal, and just. We delight in the forgiveness that is ours through Christ, but it seems so unfair that we only pay a small price. Our small price is the price of repentance and what we get in return is grace, forgiveness, and the gifts of eternal life.

How unfair that in the end we might turn away from our sins to hear the lord say "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." There is an abundance and an overwhelming unfairness to grace... thank the lord.

Hey, once again I invite you to reflect on the lectionary texts this week and share some of those reflections with us, you can email me at cforeman001@luthersem.edu or leave your comments anytime this week.

The texts for this week are

Isaiah 5:1-7

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Philippians 3:4b-14

Matthew 21:33-46

Everything No One Ever Told You About CPE...

People here at Luther always talk knowingly about CPE. I mentioned in a previous posting how many warn against fulfilling this requirement during the semester. "CPE is really tough" "All I can say is CPE is intense." "So, you're doing CPE ? How are you?" Why are people so unable to articulate the intensity, struggle and growth of CPE? I have no idea, but for my sake and those to come after me I will attempt to concisely communicate the intensity of Clinical Pastoral Education.

CPE is both tough and intense. (Now you know everything I knew four weeks ago). One loses the control and predictability of the classroom and many other types of learning experiences. Chaplains are being thrown in as a pastoral presence to those in great need. As such, they are likely neither ready for, nor intelligibly (or emotionally) prepared to deal with such situations . This experience can be an accomplishment, a big fat failure, or somewhere in the middle. At the same time, group work with other chaplains brings out all kinds of parties I don't want to attend (you can decide for yourself). As a pretty well-put-together and grounded young woman (that is a self assessment-possibly way off), I was not really worried about digging up those "skeletons" and modeling them for my group mates.

My group members see plainly that which I hate most about myself and the ways I most often fail. They bring it up. It is terribly uncomfortable. I cry. We talk about it. We move on - doing it to someone else. This is how we learn and grow. We look at our enneagram results and use them to explain the worst aspects about ourselves. So, hopefully now you understand in part how the emotional toil of pastoral care and counseling and deep group reflection are so intense, as they say.




(notice how Feist discusses her enneagramatic wings)

Invitation: The Power of Christ Compels You!!!

I hope you all feel welcome to contribute your thoughts to our blogs. Personally, I would also like to invite you to contribute your thoughts on the lectionary texts of the week. Many of us value the almost devotional conversations we get to share with eachother on campus on a daily basis. But, as I've said before we don't always have time to sit down and chat especially since some of us are away on internship. This is a place we can slow down to our own pace even as we share the gospel with eachother. What unique and upbuilding uses the internet can have! What unique possibilities for upbuilding, expanding, and maintaining our communities!

So, as you read my responses and interpretations of the lectionary please, whether a student or not, be compelled to share your thoughts as the holy spirit inspires. You can comment on any of my posts of course, but I would really like to be able to post some of your reflections during the week to spark us in new ways, challenging, comforting, and upbuilding us. Please email me with your reflections at cforeman001@luthersem.edu. I'm thinking of around 250 words, but more or less is no big deal at all.

And, by the way, I know some of you interns are faced with the pulpit and the people of God each week, so let us in on what you're working over, struggling with, and of course what you are proclaiming! You might help us, we might help you!

You can find the texts for the upcoming Sunday on www.WorkingPreacher.org, but I suspect I'll be posting on the lectionary early in the week so you can check back here too.

Concordtastic

It's Concord Saturday. While students study in the library above, we sit, the five of us, cramped in an old janitor's closet in the bowels of Gullixson Hall. This month's theme is God. Perhaps a topic too large to tackle? We've decided, under the fearless leadership of our managing editor Natalie, to follow the Decalogue for this year's theme. The first issue of the year hits stands on Wednesday.

Next month's theme is centered around profanity, taking the Lord's name in vain and the various ways we do that or refrain from that in our daily lives. Let us know if you're interested in contributing (concord@luthersem.edu).

NB: Marc Ostlie-Olson, 2007 M.Div graduate and legendary editor of the concord and non, donated his turntable and LPs. Today we're listening to U2's Rattle and Hum. We still haven't found what we're looking for, either.

Spontaneity and Surprise

A friend and I decided to ride our bikes to the coffee shop down the street and study. We landed at Muddsuckers Coffee on the corner of 15th and Como Avenue. It is one of my favorite coffee places around here. We had good coffee, good music, good art surrounding us, and good study time.

When we left we wandered over to Van Cleve Park, which is just across the street. The Southeast Como neighborhood was having a big party. There was live music, a tomato tasting contest, door prizes, a free meal (which was incredible), information from local organizations and businesses, political tables, U of M representatives, soccer, Frisbee...community. It was a wonderful surprise. I came home with a backpack full of free pens, stickers, a low energy light bulb, information to sign up for wind power through Excel Energy, and learned October 11th brings a series of environmental workshops down the street at Sunny Day Earth Solutions. I even got a pack of postcards with old photographs of the neighborhood and its people.

There are certainly things to be seen and experienced outside the Luther Seminary library. Thank God for spontaneity and surprises.

Excited for Sunday

Well, it's the weekend again. How did that happen? It seems like just yesterday it was today and today was Monday. In any case Sunday is finally coming. This Sunday I have the pleasure of visiting a church I have never been to with several other students and staff members. We get to chat with the congregation about seminary life. What an opportunity!

I know that other members of our community are preparing to visit congregations this weekend and although I have mentioned this previously, in conversation and on this blog, I can't repeat it enough. If you are going to be preaching this weekend, next weekend, during chapel, or any time else you have to visit www.WorkingPreacher.org and listen to Sermon Brainwave. 

A friend of mine mentioned in class that he would be preaching for the first time on Sunday. I told him to check out Sermon Brainwave and the rest of WorkingPreacher.org. I hope that you and he take that seriously. The feedback on the site is very positive from pastors who preach every Sunday and I hope that we all take advantage of it as Seminarians as well.

You can find commentaries from different perspectives on each of the texts and you can listen to Dr. Lose, Dr. Lewis, Dr. Skinner and starting next week Dr. Rolf Jacobson discuss the lectionary text for the upcoming Sunday. Enjoy!

The Fall, an offered playlist

With the start of fall brings the unpacking of warm, inviting sweaters, hot drinks (pumpkin latte anyone) and a change of music on my iPod. Maybe it's because I spent last weekend uppadalake, but this list leans towards singer/songwriters, alt country with just a little bit o' pep to embrace the crisp cool air.

1. To the Dogs or Whoever by Josh Ritter
   
2. Boy with a Coin by Iron & Wine
   
3. Chin Up, Cheer Up by Ryan Adams
4. New Round by Beck
5. Elephant Gun by Beirut
6. Grapevine Fires by Death Cab for Cutie
7. Things the Grandchildren Should Know by the Eels
8. Omaha by Tapes n' Tapes
9. Heretics by Andrew Bird
   
10. I'll Be Your Mirror by Clem Snide (thanks Aase!)
11. Oviedo by Blind Pilot (thanks Bri-Bri!)
    
12. Poison Cup by M. Ward
    

What's your fall mix?

Oh, and if you want to check out many of these and perhaps some others, check out emusic.com. They don't even have to pay me to give them a plug.

Let's Go Twins! Live Blogging.

A live update.

Dane, Ingrid, Colin and I are watching the Twins in the top of the tenth.

People keep calling Dane afraid that the Twins won't win. Ingrid consoles them (and Dane) by answering the phone saying, "Don't worry Dane will hold you like he did on Naboo." The phone call ends.

Nathan Strike-Out. Boom. 1 Out.

Punto runs out of his way to catch a mad fly ball, 2 Out.

Nathan is behind in the count, 2-0. Ingrid consoles Dane, who is trying to endearingly mock Joe Nathan's ticks. Colin joins him.

A strike. A ball. 3-1. Nathan wipes his brow. Jeni thinks to herself, "Choke, Konerko."

High Pop-Up...Gomez, the game's stand-out catches it, ending the inning.

Dane laments Gardenhire's affection for Nick Punto. Jeni disagrees (but would rather dis-concur.) The line-up for the bottom of the 10th is Harris, Punto and Gomez.

Harris is gone on one pitch. Jeni thinks Punto will bunt and slide head first into first. Dane remarks, "Alright Punto, if you get a hit, the team will buy you the Blizzard of the Month: Banana Cream Pie."

Punto is on first with a walk. Will Gomez get his 3rd triple of the game?

Foul Pop Up. Gomez kisses his bat. Dane hopes Gomez gets a home-run to complete the cycle. Gomez is out but advances Punto to 2nd. Dane notes that Span, now up to bat, could also complete the cycle with a home run.

Punto steals third. It appears that Jeni is more right about Punto than Dane.

Intentional walk of Span, who will reach the bag for the 5th time tonight. Methinks, "lame."

Casilla hits a liner to center. TWINS WIN!!! TWINS WIN!!! Twins are number one in the division!!!

Punto, you get the banana cream pie.

Non-accredited Ninaversion Enneagram

The enneagram is a foundation of personality language and assessment in CPE. I know that not everyone who follows this blog...and there are a lot of you...has done this test. Therefore, I have decided to share my wisdom and expertise on the matter in helping you identify where you land in the enneagram circle. Please remember this is the non-accredited Ninaversion.

1.) Pick your favorite of the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride) plus the enneagram added fear and deceit.


2.) If you can't choose just one, too bad, you have to. Think carefully. Listen to your gut, heart or body...whichever one is the smartest.


3.) If you still can't choose one (I know you have a lot of wonderful experiences with many of these sins) then I suggest choosing your favorite color and sticking with the sin of that color.


4.) I know which one you're thinking about switching to....choose carefully.


Do you have it?


Okay, now that you've followed these simple steps - you know what your problem is (finally). Your problem has an assigned number related to all other numbers moving towards wholeness in a big circle of lines and arrows. [Do you feel like I can read your soul?...scary isn't it?] You always fixate on this sin (of your assigned number). It affects every part of your life. You are chasing this sin and running from this sin. You are both the dog and its tail in a swirling game of tag.

Everyone knows this about you...they just don't say anything because they're waiting for CPE to bring it out and help you work on it.

Chemin de Jerusalem

When I first began contemplating the prayer labyrinth it seemed clear to me that this was a practice that spanned cultures. It reminded me of walking meditation done by buddhists. There is running meditation too! Today I present to you my previously promised simple report on the history and nature of prayer labyrinths. (Note: this entry lacks citations to trusted third party sources)

I have returned from my journey to the center of the information superhighway. I have discovered one simple test to know whether you are in a labyrinth or in a maze. A maze has many possible branching paths to an exit or to a dead end. A labyrinth has only one route to a center. So, if you are at a dead end then you are in a maze. If you have no navigational choices you are in a labyrinth.

Apparently we were all correct when we supected that this was a pagan practice that Christians adopted during those medieval times. And, we were also correct in thinking that their history extends back to the minotaur's labyrinth of greek mythology. You remember the story? Minotaur in the centers, a man enters and trails a string behind him so that he knows the way out, then he kills the half man half bull with his escape route planned out.

Ok, but if there was only one way in and out why would he have needed the string? I guess over the years labyrinths changed and became independent of mazes and by the time we were all medieval they were putting them into the floors of cathedrals.

According to wikipedia the minotaur's labyrinth is only the 2nd most famous labyrinth. The first most famous labyrinth is a prayer labyrinth set into the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France. Way to go france! The funny part for me in all of this is that 2 years ago I visited Chartres Cathedral and didn't notice a thing! There was no sign, that I remember, or anything else that would call your attention to the floor other than your feet. I wandered around looking at the walls, looking at the ceiling, and of course the huge rose window. But, I missed the labyrinth.

What do you know... full circle.

Please see also: Corn Maze (similar to a labyrinth, but punnier), also enjoyed by Europeans.

Welcome to Fall

Fall in Minnesota is a peculiar thing. One day it’s sunny, majestic, and beautiful – the kind of weather that is warm enough to wear shorts and somehow, at the same time, cool enough to for a sweater or light-jacket. The leaves are jusssst starting to turn too. It’s pretty beautiful. Everywhere you look is alive with color - almost like something that Bob Ross guy who made all those paintings with the “happy little trees” would make. I recommend that everyone takes some time out of their busy lives at school, work, and social activities to check this out while you can. It’s pretty easy to become absorbed by all of these things. Sometimes, just a simple walk outside can help remove you from some of the stress that we take on from day to day.

Just remember those “other” days. As I said – some days it’s nice out…. On other days, however, it’s like my J-term trip in London; damp, chilly, and somewhat drab. Its days like this – when it’s “grey” out… when my hay fever kicks in full force. Yikes. L Does anyone else have this problem up here? If so you should let me know what sort of tricks you use to get rid of it! The school-year is in full swing again. I’d like to be “over this” so it doesn’t interfere with my regular life. Oh, by the way – my thesis is finally underway. This week my advisor and I will talk it over to see if it “works.” Welcome to Fall!

-Dan

Let us all hope that we are preceded in this world by a love story

This weekend finds me back up north for the second time this month for my friend Mia's wedding. At the groom's dinner last night, when we all put or name tags on, name tags that included our names and how we know the couple, I put on my name tag "Mia's Friend." Mia's dad said that I should have put "Mia's soul friend." You see, I get to preach my first wedding sermon for Mia and her soon-to-be husband Matt. The label makes sense, though it is a little backwards.

Mia is the saint who put the bible into my hands for the first time. When we graduated from high school (we're about to celebrate our 10 year reunion -- I'm getting old!) she gave it as a gift, one that has obvious implications to my life and vocation today. Where would I be without saints like Mia?

The text they chose for the day is, you've guessed it, 1 Corinthians 13. I have to say that I'm pretty jazzed about preaching, even on that text, today. The sermon has three-p characteristics: it Preaches, it's Personable, it's Pithy (short). I guess I'll find out if it was a good one or not when we examine it in Tuesday morning's preaching lab, but for today, I couldn't be more excited.

The title of the blog comes from the movie "Sweet Land." It was the quote that was the red thread throughout the sermon. The quote comes from the book Of Time and Memory by Don Snyder. But the movie was based on the book Sweet Land by Will Weaver. I haven't read the book though a friend highly recommends it. I can commend to you the movie. It is, as its title mentions, very sweet.

Whoa.

There is ancient wisdom passed through the hallways and little sidewalks and cafeteria at Luther Seminary. It says "Don't do CPE during the semester."

Now I'm not sure why this is, and those who share such advice rarely explain why. I love CPE. I really do. My site is absolutely amazing. My supervisors all are wonderfully supportive and understanding - and really want to help me grow and learn. The staff I work with are the most loving and patient people I have ever met.

But I still feel like the word, which most articulately describes this semester is WHOA. (Just one though, Rollie). Perhaps when I was told "Don't do CPE during the semester," I should have heard: "Don't do CPE, an internship, class and think it's going to be easy."

Well, I know it's not going to be easy. ...but I also know I will make it. I know others have gone before me who have managed more and have not enjoyed their CPE - so I will be just fine. In fact, I know this will be great. Right now I just have to give myself permission to repeatedly mutter that word....Whoa.

Livin' On a Prayer

My other favorite song 4 times out of 5 is Jon Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer."

You know the one:

Whoa...we're halfway there,
WHOA-OH! Livin' on a prayer!
Take my hand and we'll make it I swear
WHOA-OH! Livin' on a prayer!

Confession: When I was a wee little 7-year-old, I actually had a life-sized poster of Jon Bon in full snake skin pants, 80's rocker hair and a guitar slung to his back. It wasn't my idea as much as it was my sister's, who was ten years older than me and enamored by his renegade love-on-the-edge type songs. I was secretly afraid of the poster.

Back the the song. It's one of my favorites.

In Germany there is a Jon Bon Jovi edition Volkswagen. Every time my friend Lisa and I saw it, we would break out in "Livin' on a Prayer." The Germans they love the Jon Bon too.











At my wedding, we danced to this song and when I say danced, I mean we shouted the lyrics out, pumped our fists in the air and forgot that others were not only watching, but also taking photographs.

Yesterday, one of my very best friends Laurs was in town for about an hour (she's very jet set) and we went, along with Catie and Lauren (pictured, right) went to Big 10 in Dinky Town for the Wednesday special, 1/2 turkey sub with fries and a coke. Delish! Anyway, whilst waiting for our turkey delights, the aforementioned song played through the speakers, causing all of us to stop our conversations and sing along. What else would we do?

I think the point of all of this is that this ridiculous (read: awesome) song that came out when we were knee-high to a grasshopper, way before any of us ever met, this song is still a shared experience. Everybody seems to know to rock out whenever it comes across the radio or played at weddings and even at sub shops in Minneapolis. I think the other point is that it is it's good to be ridiculous (read: awesome) once in a while. It's sort of a part and parcel of life together, which is daily bread: to be goofy, to rock out, to be who you are within a community of other who are just as ridiculous (read: awesome).

Give it a shot.

On Relics

I'm not really into relics, at least not in the increasing of my personal holiness, but I have to gush at least a little about the "Lutheran" relic I was working with this week.

Without boring you with too many details, I spent hours looking over and making copies of Dr. Gerhard Forde's original sermons. These sermons nurtured the faith of many saints throughout the years and will hopefully become more accessible to the public in years to come.

A side note: Forde's text Where God Meets Man: Luther's Down to Earth Approach to the Gospel, was my catechism in college when the faith promised to me in my baptism finally came to me.

Back to the sermons: I couldn't get over the palpable grace on each sheet of paper, sometimes handwritten, sometimes typed out on a typewriter so that you could feel, like braille, the letter through the page. These sermons spanned a lifetime of proclamation and were written on letterhead from various institutions (Luther, St. Olaf and Oxford) and sometimes even on vellum so thin I thought it was butcher's paper. What a treasure! What a gift!

One of the things that I couldn't help but notice were the constant notes to self, questions to self, afterthoughts and other sentiments that seemed to foster an environment of growth, change and development in Forde the preacher. Even in some of his later sermons, Forde continued to ask the quintessential Lutheran question: "What does this mean?" For Forde, the theologian, pastor, church historian extraordinare, theology was the creature's task for the sake of proclamation.

We must hope never to forget this.

Prayer's Labyrinth

I know many of you have classes and responsibilities up in Bockman, Gullixson, and of course the OCC so you rarely find a reason to come visit we, the North and Westerly centered students, faculty, and staff. But, I recommend that you do so more frequently. Particularly in these days when the prayer labyrinth is spread across the center of the... center... of the NorthWestern building.

I have never done a prayer labyrinth (is that what we say "do" a prayer labyrinth? Maybe it's "walk" a prayer labyrinth.), but I have been forced to walk around one very carefully which is a little like doing a free form prayer labyrinth, right? I mean, if you wear shoes and you encounter a prayer labyrinth you're basically doing a labyrinth without really "doing" the labyrinth. You have to cling to stairs and swing around pillars to avoid the corners of the mat, sometimes you have to hop skip or jump over larger sections as a result of people blocking the sideways and byways around it, and you have to wonder... why don't I just walk the labyrinth? 

My answer is... I don't know where it leads... Will I be in the same place I was when I started... What if I have to go to the bathroom... are people going to be watching me... man, my feet really stink, no way I'm taking my shoes off in this closed environment, who knows if any of us will survive. I guess those are the perils of the labyrinth. 

I hope you have some labyrinth experiences to share with me, because if it is up today I'm going to do it, and your thoughts and advice might come in handy. There are directions right next to it on the floor, so that will help. And, I've noticed, when looking at it from above (an intricate and compelling experience itself) that there is no minotaur at the center, just what appears to be a Bible. So, we've got that going for us.

Expect some pictures and/or history of labyrinths sometime soon. In the mean time what do you think of prayer labyrinths? When was the last time you did a prayer labyrinth? Would we be evicted by the city of St. Paul if we let some grass grow really long and trimmed other grass really short to make our own outdoor labyrinth on campus? C'mon, it would just be for the fall!

Water into Wine

Well, I had a strange experience over the last couple of days. I know you're thinking, "It better be strange or interesting or funny or important and meaningful if I'm going to keep reading it!" Well, I don't know what category this story falls into. You see it is a story of me turning to a text, and after reading it, not knowing what category it falls into! Is it strange? Is it interesting? Is it funny? Is it important or meaningful? I don't know!

I had to prepare a retelling of John 2:1-11. It's a pretty easy story to remember,

1. Jesus and his disciples go to a wedding in Cana

2. Wine runs out, Jesus makes a ton more (120-180 gallons (I think that's the equivalent of about 44-72 cases of beer worth of wine, but I'm a theologian not a mathematician. After all, I believe 3 does fit in 1, just like 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner.)).

3. The steward tastes it, and tells the bridegroom that he has saved the good wine "until now"

4. John says, this is the first sign done by Jesus to reveal his glory and his disciples believed in him.

Ok. Fine. But, that just seems like an event based story to me. Where is the meaning what is the purpose? Why is the first sign that Jesus does in John's gospel to make wine?! Aren't there more significant things like healing the sick, casting out demons, or raising someone from the dead that should be his starting point? If the first thing Jesus did was to take a dead person and make them alive that would be astonishing. Resurrection? That's a walk off grand slam in the first inning (Would Jesus bat 4th? Would he name his bat?)!

Somehow I've always missed the story on this one. I could retell the facts, but I had no reason for why I would or should retell this story. Fortunately, I know this story has to be more than just proof that Jesus can do things no one else can do. And, I know that if I had been there I would have a heck of a story I would want to tell after the fact.

The cure for the frustrating ignorance that ails me? Well, this morning I've nurtured my 4th gospel headache with a lectionary fix. Check out Sermon Brainwave on WorkingPreacher.org. It's a podcast that you can download to your ipod and each week you get to hear professors talking together about the lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. In times of ignorance or frustration it is a blessing to get back to the text with some knowledgeable guides. And, the bonus for me this week is there is no wine sign in sight.

I'll add a link for www.workingpreacher.org in my links section as well. It's a great site. I'm sure you'll hear more exhortations about it from me.

Cooper

I love dogs. My family always has had outdoor dogs. For the last few weekends I’ve been browsing the St.Paul Humane Societies website checking out some of the very cute doggies. Well, almost all of them were cute. I’m not too much into the “froo-froo” ankle-biters and “old-ladyish” dogs. The society does a wonderful volunteer program where you can walk dogs if you are hard-up for puppy-time. Check them out of you get a chance! It’s not too far from campus.

Well, I live off campus so I’ve contemplating getting a dog for some time now. It gets a little lonely without someone else around sometimes. It is a big commitment too. It’s like taking care of a very furry child. I knew I was ready to adopt. It just took a little push. Something about seeing them in the shelter is so touching – and heart melting that it’s almost dangerous to step inside! You wish you could take them all home but you know deep down inside that it would never work. I recommend visiting them unless you don’t have willpower. :)

Well, I melted. Cooper is my new, beautiful, fully grown (37 lbs) golden retriever and beagle mix. He is two years old. There is something about having an animal companion by my side that I’ve been missing over the last few years. Yes, when I lived in the campus apartments I had a dog with my roommate – but after they moved away something was missing. I might try to take Cooper up to campus with me when I run errands. So – here’s my new doggy, Cooper! :)

1 Week Down

I did something weird.

For people who know me this is no surprise. Everyone else asks a lot of questions. I am doing CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) this semester. CPE is required (and groaned about) by mDiv students here at Luther. As an MA student, CPE is not necessary. But I am weird and am doing CPE anyways.

Most CPE units are done in large urban hospitals or nursing home facilities. I found out about speciality social ministry CPE sites through the Luther Seminary website last winter and was curious. Now, nine months later I've survived the first week of a chaplaincy internship through Catholic Charities. As part of my experience this week, I toured all the different facilities my group members are serving in. I cannot help but be impressed and humbled by the amazing ministries Catholic Charities is doing here in the Twin Cities. If you don't know much about Catholic Charities, you can learn more at their website http://www.ccspm.org. And, if you're interested in doing something like this yourself - contact CPE Supervisor Sue Allers Hatlie at sallershatlie@gmcc.org.

I have 285 hours of clinical requirements left this semester. For better or worse, you are bound to hear about this again.

Daily Chapel Round-Up

With the start of the academic year brought the return of chapel, part and parcel of my daily bread. This week saw key Luther faces leading and preaching including Academic Dean Rollie Martinson, President Bliese, Dean Lull and John Mann.

We heard a diversity of texts, including Isaiah 55, Matthew 18 and Genesis 50 which holds one of my favorite scripture passages: "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good" (Gen 50:20). We hear words that echoed forgiveness, community and invitation. What a wealth of treasure!

In my year of internship I realized how much I relied on daily chapel to keep me balanced, pointed to Christ and calm in spirit. I was so thankful for the online component to chapel and made great use of them. (Nerd alert: I put sermons on my iPod and sometimes even listen to them on repeat, especially the great ones!)

If you missed any of the sermons, it's well worth your time to check them out online, either through Luther's chapel page or via iTunes.

And just a plug for our servant sacristans, Heidi & Tracy, please consider signing up to serve for communion (as a community, we need 15 on Wednesdays) or as an assisting minister. It's a great way to meet professors, practice what you're learning and experience leading a large group. To sign up, email Heidi & Tracy: sacrist@luthersem.edu.

What's on the iPod this week?

A lot of people ask what I'm listening to as I'm often seen walking around campus with iPod in tow. Colin, Jesse & I went to Nebraska last weekend and since then I haven't been able to stop listening to Bright Eyes and Conor Oberst (one of the same but both from Nebraska). He's a kind of Joni Mitchell though his voice is a different kind of beautiful.

Without further ado, what I've been listeneing to:

• Conor Oberst's self titled album
  

• Bright Eyes (Conor Obert's other band)

If you're interest is piqued, here's a glimpse at my playlist:

1. Bowl of Oranges: LIFTED or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
   
2. Take it Easy (Love Nothing): Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
3. If the Brakeman Turns My Way: Cassadaga
4. First Day of my Life: I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
   
5. Classic Cars: Cassadaga
6. Landlocked Blues: I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
7. At the Bottom of Everything: I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
   

Check out especially "Bowl of Oranges" from the album LIFTED or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your ear to the Ground:



I have this hypothesis that one way that people connect and express themselves is through music. In fact, I based my internship project on this idea (concentrating on high school youth in teh congregation).

I hope you'll join into the musical conversation here on this blog because there are actually people who listen to what you're listening to at Luther Seminary.

What are you listening to?

Donde esta el sol?

(sunshine)

My current Facebook status reads: "Jennifer misses the sunshine."

Seriously, where did the sun go? Why is it so afraid to shine its beautiful face in Minnesota, my beautiful homeland? What did you do while I was away?

If I were in CPE and presented this issue to my group we probably would have come to the conclusion that my missing the sun is transference from missing or grieving internship.

It's true. I do.

Internship was in Sierra Vista, AZ. As the crow flies, it is about 20 miles from the Mexican border. It is high desert, so imagine the perfect climate all year round. Imagine also, if it is at all possible, a brilliant, resilient, faithful and kind congregation of saints. On top of it all, imagine, if you can, a seasoned supervisor who was worth his salt.

I'm wondering if there is a delicate way to say this, but, it's difficult to come back from having responsibilities, having a say in how things are run and having people actually look up to you to not. We come back to receive more than we can give, to be one leader among many leaders, to be just another student than an intern or pastor.

It's difficult, but I think it's also important.

Important to remember where we've come from and where we need to grow and go. Important to remember that we are in the middle of a beautiful if painful process. Important to remember that who we were as interns is not who we will be as pastors and this year of development will benefit us greatly, even if today we are ready to take off the training wheels and soar.

It's also important for those of us who had wonderful internships to remember that we were lucky and that many of our friends and colleagues were not as lucky. This year for them might involve a reaffirmation of sorts, or a great venting session, or maybe just time to breathe after a suffocating year.

Whether it was a good or bad year, or even just an okay kind of year, this adjusting takes time candid conversations, and, in my case, a little sunshine.

Corrections and Retractions

*Over the last few days we've received many an email and phone call at the Luther Seminary Blog Center vehemently requesting answers to specific questions. The biggest concern of most of our loyal critics has been "Why is Chase such a liar! He lied to me." Now, how do you respond to something like that? So, the powers that be decided to force me, the aforementioned party (heretofore referred to as "Chase") to address the question head on.

**To friends and critics Chase apologizes if anyone was confused or misguided. No, your right Chase does not own an iguana and no its name is not Peapod. Although, Chase believes that Mr. Stark has an iguana and its name is Peapod. Also, no, Chase is not a member of the UCC and no that's not Chase's home Church in the links section. Which is to say that when Chase told you Chase was Lutheran Chase was not lying. Therefore Chase is not a liar.

Thank you for your patience. Chase the Middler Master of Divinity student will continue to write the truth, to the best of his abilities.

*This is not true, it is an exaggeration and there is no such thing as the "Blog Center" nor "Blog Central" nor "Blog Central Command."

**This post addresses confusion in the bios and links section, specifically with reference to the information about Chase. Please find it humorous. Any information or statements on the bios or links of any other students made here are strictly ignorant and not malicious, and the sole responsibility of Chase.

Cuidado

This morning I have a brief note of caution for us all. I believe you are all familiar with one of my favorite "uncontrolled intersections." It is the one that separates Northwestern from the OCC. It is that unique place where Hendon and Fulham come together. This is also the place where Luther Seminarians boldly risk their lives, comforted by the security they feel in the Gospel and the faith they have in the drivers on Hendon. That faith amounts to the belief that those drivers "wouldn't hit a pastor." But wouldn't they? I think they would.

Yesterday as I crossed that intersection (one street at a time, after all I'm no law breaker) a car came over the top of the hill with its engine revving. While the seconds passed its bumper grew, reaching out like the morning sun over familiar fields. I knew that it would soon fall upon my face, but unlike the morning sun I would not be warmed, but rather broken to pieces. At this point I said, "oh!" and tried to scoot across more quickly, as any Minnesotan might. Unfortunately, I must warn you, it was at this same moment of what I thought was courtesy on my part, that I heard a slight acceleration in the engine that revealed the driver's hesitancy to allow me to survive this crossing. A hesitancy with which many Minnesotans might also be familiar.

Apparently, some drivers would hit a pastor, or rather pastor to be. My suggestion is that today and other days, wear your glasses to cross that intersection. Maybe they wouldn't hit a person with glasses. I don't know. I guess we have our answer to the age old question: You wouldn't hit a guy in a collar, would you?

Hey, by the way, didn't I tell you winter was nearly on top of us? Yikes!

Welcome Home

You can call me simple – maybe even old-fashioned, but one of the most
satisfying things that I experience year after year is getting to crack
open my new pens and notebooks and christen them. I’ve been looking
forward to the first day of class ever since I was given the opportunity
to take a summer German class. It was kind of a “teaser” for my final
round of classes as an Old Testament MA here at Luther.

I admit, starting a round of new classes with new professors can be a bit stressful.
Today, however, was full of introductions, firm handshakes, laughs, and friendly
exchanges. Sometimes I forget where I am. Surely, this semester will be a
challenge. There’s a lot on my plate right now with the Master Thesis
lurking around the corner– but I know with the help of faculty,
colleagues, and a little friend I like to call “caffeine” everything will
be just fine.

By the way – if you have a short break from class I highly
approve of the Finnish Bistro right on Como about a block and a half away
from campus. Those banana chocolate chip muffins are absolutely sinful
(AND I LOVE THEM)!

:)

-Dan

...an introduction

Hi, my name is Nina. I am a student in the Children, Youth, and Family ministry concentration seeking an MA degree and a candidate for Associate in Ministry (AIM) through the ELCA. I grew up in nearby South Dakota, attended a public unversity (SHOCK! here at a seminary), and have a degree in Zoology and Physiology (which means "science"). It is an unconventional path to this place, so people always wonder just how it happened. I wonder that, too, but trust that God is bigger than my plans or the expectations of the world. I served in youth ministry for a few years before discerning that ministry wasn't just a phase in my life, or a way to stay young and pay some bills, but rather my call. This is my second year at Luther and I love it here. It is a rich and supportive community of faith and a place of academic and leadership challenges. I hope my random thoughts on this place will help you laugh, think, discern, and understand better what God is up to in our life together.

We're gonna win Twins!

The plan to attend was set over 3 months ago when the four of us (myself, Colin, Jesse & Anna) were scattered across the greater western states: Twins v. Tigers, September 7th, 7:10 p.m., HHH Metrodome.

We ended up with 11 instead of 4 to watch the Twins massacre the Tigrés 10-2. The game included a commanding grand slam by Justin Morneau and beautiful pitching by Francisco Liriano.

I'm really not too sure what else went on. I was too caught up in a different game, the getting to know you game, the catching up game, the I'm so glad we're friends game.

We caught up on internship stories, regaled the glory stories of the Seminary years gone by, chatted about favorite professors, authors and theologians. We bonded.

What an awesome community we have at Luther Seminary! I'm proud and excited to be among the ranks of this amazing place. A lot has changed in the last year. Everyone seems new, even old friends, even me. Catching up, plugging in and getting out there are just as important now as when we first arrived.

Life at Luther is rich with community, or, rather, a richly blessed community.

Oh, and Jesse, the Tigrés eat their mama's toe-jam!

My Secret Online Journal

Hello all you online blog readers!

Welcome to this Life at Luther blog. Blogs are pretty funny if you ask me. It's like publishing something quite like a diary for the whole world to read online....and seriously, what's with the word "blog?" But countless people are writing blogs these days trying to stay connected with friends and family, distribute information, and (I think) desperately hoping that someone will care enough about their life to read it (that subject is probably an entire blog entry). I have no idea who is reading this. I have no idea why you're reading this. BUT, I'm glad that you're here & I hope to help you get an idea of what life at Luther Seminary is like.

Remember when you used to call the radio station (remember when you used to listen to the radio) to request and dedicate a song to someone special (think: Richard Marx, Right Here Waiting)? Well, I would like to invite you to apply that concept to this blog. Yes, I take requests, but I will make the dedications myself. So if you have a specific question about Luther, seminary, theology, avian physiology, etc - let me know and I'll try to address it in this virtual space.

Stay tuned to find out more about all the secret happenings of Luther Seminary through my eyes!

Preaching

As Lutherans we seem to get pretty excited to preach about the Bible, its stories, persons, places, things, and events. We enjoy and demand an exploration of their significance when considered in the light of our salvation through faith. We appreciate a description of their relationship to the events of our daily lives that allows us to see our own worlds in terms of the Gospel. And, as we approach our first week of classes we enter an important time for preaching as well.

This Sunday we'll hear preaching on texts that speak of loving your neighbor, living honorably, and how to reprove the sinful by love through faith. These texts convey a unique Christian perspective on both the best and the worst of relationships among people. These texts on a day that falls so closely to September 11 will, no doubt, challenge our pastors in the pulpit. Luckily, our expectations are simple; we hope to hear the word of the lord.

We are blessed in the following week to have the unique opportunity of worshipping together all week, including 9/11 and listening to members of our community consider other texts. The lectionary next week presents us with the subjects of forgiveness, loyalty, vengeance, mercy, thankfulness, judgment, and accountability to God.

I look forward to worship next week and the word of God we will most definitely hear each day at 10:00 AM. If you want to find out who is preaching you can link to the chapel schedule on the right hand side of our current students homepage: www.luthersem.edu/intranet.

Under Pressure

If only life came with a bridge by David Bowie.

If I had to pick out of all the world's music my favorite song, 3 times out of 5 I think I'd pick "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie. More often than not this song offers a great soundtrack for life.

Let me explain. It's been a hectic few weeks.
For the sake of brevity, a synopsis:

• 8/10 Internship ended
• 8/17 Colin's internship ended
• 8/18-20 moved Colin out of his apartment (boys are messy)
  
• 8/20 started to welcome guests
• 8/20-23 Wedding Weekend
• 8/24 hit the road home
• 8/26 arrived in MN, went to the fair
• 8/27 went up to the lake
• 9/1 came back to the Seminary

We've been back at the seminary since Monday, helping out with First Week (the seminary's orientation program), digging out of boxes (and waiting for about 30 more to arrive) and writing our Approval Essay (which is now more than a few days late).

Which brings me back to Bowie.

Life at Luther is often a life of transition and chaos. But life is good. Life finds its own David Bowie bridge, but instead of a strong tenor, it takes its shape in the faces of friends, in the hugs of family, in the taste of meals and food so long absent, in the returning to homes of worship, and even in the embracing of pressure and welcoming bivouacs of rest whenever and wherever they may come. And when all else fails, there's nothing like turning up the volume and singing along:

Well, Hello There

I'd like to say a hearty hello and welcome (back) to the Life at Luther Blog. Per usual with academic calendars, the seminary (and this its blog counterpart) ebbs and flows as well as dramatically shifts and changes with the close of one school year and the start of the next.

There are new faces and writers to meet this year and I'm excited to be a part of this group. I'll be getting to know most of them along with all of you. First, a little about me.

My name is Jeni. I'm a senior in the M.Div program, meaning that once I hatch from this great place, I might actually be a pastor. I'm just back from internship in Sierra Vista, Arizona and am getting my Minnesota legs back after nearly 15 months out of state. (I had a 3 month CPE stint in NW Ohio the summer of 2007, so I've been out of my home state for quite some time).

I'm also recently married. It's been a good and solid 12 days now and Colin & I are starting to settle in, save for all of the boxes that fill our new apartment. Colin is a student at Luther Seminary as well and if you're nice, maybe you'll hear from him.

I've found that the Life at Luther is a good one. I consider this place my home. I look forward to sharing more about and learning more from this place that has launched the church's preachers, teachers and musicians (and so many others!) for generations.

So, hello and welcome.
We're glad you're here.

Seminarians Bound

Say, just before the days take their nightly break I wanted to mention a slight and nudging epiphany which was settled upon me as I read God Pause today. You might know where I'm coming from. Of course it's First Week, and like you I've been thinking about the Luther Seminary community and the church at large who sends their gifted members to institutions like ours each year. 

I cannot help but consider that there are hopes invested in our work of which we are totally unaware. And I cannot help but believe that there is faith invested in us of which we are also totally unaware. And yes, there is of course, faith, hope, and love shared with us of which we are made abundantly aware.

While reading Pastor Alan Baglien's reflections on Matthew 18:15-20 I felt a secret hope and a profound faith burgeoning in my own heart. This passage advocates for a community bound to one another, committed to loving one another the right way, even when it hurts. Pastor Baglien reminds me that from time to time firewood gets stuck in our blind spot and we need a good Christian friend or two to help us get that log unjammed and out of our eye.

What I'm driving at from the long way round is that in a community like Luther Seminary and the ELCA there is hope for goodness and the prosperity of the Gospel. That hope is rooted in honest disagreements and an honest commitment to the Gospel. In my short time at Luther Seminary I have observed and taken part in a fair number of honest disagreements and the Gospel was at the center right along with the disagreements. Having been reminded of this, I'm excited to begin another year of learning here and begin again with fear and trembling to prepare myself to serve the Gospel in the years to come.

I've always been proud of our church and a defendant of it because it is a church in which we allow ourselves to disagree. A disagreement requires 2 or 3 people. And, when it's a disagreement between good Christian friends who are committed to the hope there is in Christ and the truth of the Gospel then we can be assured that Christ is there with us. We've all heard it said that the Lord works in mysterious ways, I think one of those ways is conflict and disagreement.

What a lovely condition; the Lord's got a lot of raw material to work with! We are bound to disagree.

Feeling Minnesota

I awoke today with no suspicions that I would be receiving a message. After all, my phone was on silent. But, as I stepped outside, strolled through the tired stupor I had spent all night working so hard on, and as I began to work the keys to my car I started to have an inkling at the edge of my consciousness. Before I could hesitate I was at the coffee shop. 

And, getting out of the car that inkling rose to a shockful thought that sent me reeling. Winter is on the horizon. It's almost here! I know. It's bad news, and you wish I wouldn't have said anything. I wished I wouldn't have felt it! But, I got the message. We're in for a fall and an onrushing winter. I heard that the farmers almanac, which gets it right more often than weather men and women, was indicating the coldest winter in a long time. My bones echoed that sentiment with a chorus of chattering this morning. 

And trust me, born and raised here, we're about to know what that The Stone Temple Pilots mean by "feeling Minnesota." It's gonna be cold. Sorry! Happy first week! This just means we'll be happy to be inside studying together. Minnesota is cozy that way. Just grow a beard!