We began again with breakfast at the Old Latin School. Have I mentioned that German breakfasts are THE BEST BREAKFASTS IN THE WORLD?!?!? I became convinced of this while visiting friends over 20 years ago in Ulm, and I’ve never changed my mind – or had reason to even consider changing it. Don’t get me… Continue reading Retreat – Day 1
Category: History
Meetings – Day 2
We concluded our leadership meetings today. We didn’t finish everything on the agenda – ha! – but we did finish the time we had allotted to do so. More work to be done in the future, but good still has been done. Good news includes we are finishing the year almost exactly on budget target,… Continue reading Meetings – Day 2
Meetings – Day 1
It doesn’t feel like Sunday, yet it is. We had worship this morning which was very good, and normally that would help anchor my sense of time and date. But we’ve been so many places in the last nearly three months that even this is not enough to fully secure my sense of time. Breakfast… Continue reading Meetings – Day 1
In Wittenberg – I Think!
I’m a bit groggy still. The nine hour flight from Phoenix to London, and another two and a half hour flight to Berlin, then a short night’s rest before being up and headed to the train station to ride to Wittenberg has left me a bit addled in the head. More so than usual even,… Continue reading In Wittenberg – I Think!
It Is Finished
We brought our home service to a conclusion yesterday with Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West, Arizona. Relatively in our old back yard of Phoenix, Crown of Life have been partnering with us since we first began in 2021, and it was a great note to conclude a fantastic home service with.… Continue reading It Is Finished
Changing Time Zones
We’ve entered the third and final phase of our on-the-road home service visits. We started in Southern California, migrated to the Pacific Northwest, and now have made our way across the country to Chicago. We’re officially a little road-weary at this point. Still happy to be on the move and sharing with congregations and friends… Continue reading Changing Time Zones
You Can’t Go Home Again
I’ve not read Thomas Wolfe’s final, posthumous novel with the above title. But I’ve known the truth in that statement in multiple ways over the course of my life. Coming to grips with the inevitability of change and transition – whether you want it or not – is a constant process. The past remains always… Continue reading You Can’t Go Home Again
Friday Preparations
One of the special blessings of this particular trip back to the US was the opportunity to officiate at a wedding. Of all the different types of services I’ve done in the ministry, I’ve probably done fewer weddings than anything (other than confirmations). And this was a special opportunity – to do the wedding for… Continue reading Friday Preparations
A Bit of Sightseeing
While there was plenty to do on this trip (just getting around town is laborious given the incredibly dense traffic!), Nomin and his wife were gracious enough to take us a little ways out of the city to see some things they are very proud of as Mongolians. They were eager to share a bit… Continue reading A Bit of Sightseeing
A Day in Lae
Lae (pronounced lay) is a major shipping port for Papua New Guinea (PNG) on the northern coast. We came here for several reasons, mostly exploratory in nature. There are two major Lutheran church bodies in PNG – Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELC-PNG). The LCMS founded the GLC, while… Continue reading A Day in Lae
The Nelson Family Indonesia 