Call Washington

 Things are not going well in the war.  Things are not going well in the world. We are tempted to turn off the TV, ignore what is going on and focus only on our own lives.  But all of our lives are being affected. An alternative is to become engaged.  Just now I called four senators and urged them to act. It takes only a minute or so to leave a message. Call the Congressional switchboard and ask for your senator or the representative of another state. Call 202-224-3121.  We can act!

Pope, Vance, Trump, Budde, Lutherans

 Vice President J.D. Vance has made outrageous comments, trying to correct the Pope's theology. Trump criticizes the Pope constantly. Trump also vehemently criticizes Episcopal Bishop of Washington, Maniann Budde. Many Evangelical Lutheran Church in America bishops, including our presiding bishop have come out with statements against what Trump is doing. I as a Divinity and Seminary Lutheran Professor professor, have written often on the problems of Christian Nationalism and on justice. I have not been criticized nor do I know of any Lutheran leaders who have been criticized by Trump. Perhaps he doesn't know what a Lutheran is. Remember the importance of the first Amendment of the Constitution. 

Cory Booker

"Our democracy is not a spectator sport. It demands participation. Now is our time to remember that we are each other's hope. . . We need to be stewards of the truth. When we remain silent out of fear or out of indifference our believing that what we say won't make a difference, we fail to meet what this moment demands."  Sen. Cory Booker from his new book, Stand."  I highly recommend it. The book is both an easy read and profound.

Artimis returns from the Moon

We just watched splash down of the space capsule Integrity on the Artemis ll mission, April 10, 2016. On July 24, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins safely returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean to conclude the historic Apollo 11 mission, the first human moon landing.They brought back lunar samples. Early the next morning, July 25, I gave birth to our son, Kirk Andrew Everist.

Narcissist

 A narcissist is a person with an extreme, unhealthy preoccupation with themselves, characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Trump is not just old, not just sleepy, not just unintelligent. He is a dangerous narcissist, saying "A whole civilization will die tonight" about Iran. We must stop him.

The moon

We watched on C-SPAN the astronauts of mission Artemis ll emerged from the far side of the moon. This morning we watched the moon from earth. This is what we saw from our deck: the same moon, different perspectives. Ps. 8: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your finger, the moon and the stars that you have established. . . O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth."

Easter 2026

Christ is risen! Blessings from the Everists at church in Mason City. Burton this morning preached and presided at four rural churches in three services in two states. I am thankful for his continuing service as a pastor. Blessings to all.

 

Holy Saturday

 When hope was lost, what did the women who came with Jesus from Galilee do?  "Many woman were also there looking on from a distance." The women, some named, and some not, watched and grieved. They followed and saw Jesus' body laid in the tomb. They sat opposite the tomb and watched it be sealed shut. They saw a stone rolled against the door of the tomb. It was the sabbath. They went home and prepared spices and ointments. They rested and then, on the first day of the week, at early dawn they came to the tomb. We wait and watch and hope--and believe.

Holy Week MLK killed

 Holy Week. On Maundy Thursday, 1968, Martin Lutheran King Jr. was assassinated. What followed were uprisings in over 100 cities across the country. Earlier that Holy Week of 1968, on Palm Sunday, President Lyndon Johnson announced "I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president." Death and decisions are on our minds also this Holy Week.