After a very brief time with family back in the US, I am back in Baguio, Philippines, to help teach at the start of a new academic year for Lutheran Theological Seminary. My two-week time in Baguio was only somewhat marred by last minute changes to the academic schedule, meaning classes started a week later… Continue reading Field Trip
Category: Theology
Leading in Sri Lanka
With the departure of all the executive leadership in the Asia Region, I and my colleagues Rev. Steven Mahlburg and Rev. Matthew Wood, as the Asia Area Facilitators, are tasked with holding down the fort, so to speak, as the search for new executive leadership begins. It will likely not be until early next year… Continue reading Leading in Sri Lanka
Back in Baguio
Not quite as catchy as Back in the USSR, but c’est la vie. I have been back in Baguio. It’s becoming a second (or maybe third?) home for me over the past few years. This time I’m back to coordinate and assist in a training and review week for deaconesses of the Lutheran Church in… Continue reading Back in Baguio
Three Keystones
Organizations rely on a variety of tools to help maintain focus. Truth be told, I can’t remember any of the vision or mission statements created by the various companies and organizations I’ve worked for over the years. Most likely a failure on my part, given the substantial resources poured into the creation and selection of… Continue reading Three Keystones
The Good News in Schools
I wonder what type of student Jesus was. Knowing practically nothing of his youth (because first century concepts of biography differed considerably from our 20th and 21st century psychology-dominated concepts of biography), we have to guess at what that education consisted of. Training in the Scriptures leading to his welcoming into the Jewish community at… Continue reading The Good News in Schools
Necessary Evils
I have learned and maintained over years of experience in a variety of vocational fields that meetings are a necessary evil. At best they accomplish some imperfect good. At worst they are a perfect waste of time. I like to think this attitude is not evil in itself, though I’m sure there are folks who… Continue reading Necessary Evils
Take Your Sandals Off Your Feet…
These were God’s Words of love and warning to Moses in Exodus 3:5 as Moses approached the burning bush. God’s plan had worked – the burning bush attracted Moses’ attention. Then God spoke to Moses, warning him that coming closer would be harmful, and instructing him in how to show the proper respect and honor… Continue reading Take Your Sandals Off Your Feet…
Blessings in Baguio
On February 28th I winged my way eastward, from Medan to Kuala Lumpur and on to Manila. There I met my colleague, Rev. (and soon to be Dr.!) JP Cima. JP and his family have served in Cambodia for the past seven years after spending a decade working in Vietnam. But through the middle of… Continue reading Blessings in Baguio
Homeward Bound
My flight from Asia to the US was: Medan to Kuala Lumpur to Singapore to Chicago to Ft. Wayne. But tonight as I started back towards Asia my route is a bit longer. Tonight I flew from St. Louis to Chicago. Then tomorrow morning bright and early I fly Chicago to Los Angeles to Tokyo… Continue reading Homeward Bound
Renewing Old Connections
My wife was born in Papua New Guinea where her parents served in LCMS missions. I’ve been hearing their family stories about that formative decade overseas for over 30 years now, 20 of them as part of the family by marriage. And one of the recurring characters in those stories were their teammates on the… Continue reading Renewing Old Connections
The Nelson Family Indonesia 