The Burr in the Burgh

Someone asked me recently what advice I would give to a new pastor.  My first thought was that there is no vice worse than ad-vice.  I was ordained in 1996 and I am now six months into serving my second congregation.  I have been the recipient and beneficiary of good counsel many times over.  So [...]

In America today, there really are two distinct holidays celebrated on and around December 25th. Both celebrations are called “Christmas.” One is a cultural celebration while the other is religious. These are not necessarily mutually exclusive although it seems common for people to observe one and not the other. See the seminary blog [...]

Here is my seminary chapel homily from this morning: Kramer Chapel HomilyAugust 2, 2007Text: Acts 26: 1-23 St. Paul was called before kings and governors to explain himself and defend his apostolic ministry. In so doing, he gives us a very nice summary of what a minister in God’s church is to be about. He [...]

One of the most delightful customs in our beloved Lutheran church body is what takes place at the seminaries each spring. In April, our students receive their vicarage (internship) assignments and the graduates receive their call placements. How wonderful it was to watch these highly dedicated men being sent to serve God’s people in places [...]