Deeper Still

First thing tomorrow morning, bright and early at 8:00 am, I begin the very last class for my 8-course online Certificate in Theological Studies. My final class is an introductory study of the Hebrew Bible. The goal, as written in our syllabus: To assist students in entering the delightfully diverse and expansive conversations of the Hebrew Bible in order to grow in their own understanding of biblical faith and to gain resources to continue the living biblical conversation in their places of ministry. This final class was intended to be live – in person within the walls of Wartburg Seminary! It is actually meant to be taken early during the Certificate program but I pushed it out, finding it difficult to commit to one full week away from home.

Feeling Generous

This past Wednesday was the annual Omaha Gives! online giving event organized by the Omaha Community Foundation to encourage philanthropy in the Omaha metro area. We will usually donate something extra each year to charitable organizations we are familiar with, people and groups out there making a difference in our community. Now more than ever we are called to respond – to seek need in the world and find a way to fill it!

Being Human, Together

My youngest will turn 8 years-old tomorrow. I swear she has had a countdown since the day after her last birthday, 364 days ago! She will not let us forget, nor will she let a moment pass if there is an opportunity to celebrate the big occasion.

To Abide: a Passive or Active State

In a weekly zoom bible study this week, those little boxes on my screen filled with smiling faces spent time exploring the word “abide.” I had considered the topic myself for quite some time but had nothing insightful to add. So, I stayed silent the entire conversation – which left me uneasy, unsure if my musings had any purpose.

Beneath it all: Beautifully, wonderfully made!

Last weekend, the family and I journeyed 90-minutes out of Omaha – quite an excursion these days – to visit Indian Cave State Park and enjoy hiking along the Missouri River. Sure, we could have done this same thing a little closer to home. But it felt great to get away, and with that much distance between us and the Omaha-area there were far less people and fewer awkward attempts to maintain social distancing while passing strangers on the trails!