On November 15, 2017, arsonists set fire to the Masjid Al-Salaam mosque, in the town of Petersborough, in Ontario, Canada. No one was injured in the fire; thanks be to God. The fire was set around 11pm, which was just 30 minutes after the building had emptied out. The building experienced significant damage and would be closed … More When the Walls Come Tumbling Down
40 years ago, Karen Anderson was a young woman who had grown up in Owatonna and as a member of Trinity. After graduating from college, she went on to be trained as a medical missionary. Karen then moved to Chile, where she started EPES. With the support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Karen … More Celebrating 40 Years of EPES!
Truth…truth is tricky business. In the 1950’s a college freshman went out for the track team. He did it to please his father, who had been a very good runner in his day, setting school records in the one-mile race. His son, the freshman, had never run competitively. This freshman’s very first race was one-on-one against the university’s … More The Truth Will Set You Free
About a month ago, I said what I think was my final “goodbye” to Margie. Margie lives in Blooming Prairie. I’ve never actually met Margie in-person, but I have spoken to her on the phone, a lot. Margie works for the United States Census Bureau. During the 2020 national census, the Buegler household was one of 100,000 homes chosen at … More Day after Day after Day…
If I were making a list of all of the things that I wish Jesus had never said, this saying about having faith the size of a mustard seed…it would be near the top of my list. Not because it is wrong…or bad…or anything like that. But because it immediately makes us think of faith as a quantity…as something … More From the Very Smallest Things
Some years ago, before the death of Mother Theresa, a television special depicted the grim human conditions that were a part of her daily life. It showed all the horror of the slums of Calcutta and her love for these destitute people. The producer interviewed her as she made her rounds visiting the people she … More God Notices
In 2016, ABC News ran a story about a woman named Tiffany Otterbeck. Tiffany and her husband had had a baby, she’d gone on parental leave, and now, she had returned to work. One night, even though she was exhausted from working all day and then caring for her young daughter, she decided that she was … More No Place Too Far
by Carrie Newcomer
Every weekday morning, our alarm goes off at 5:30am. After getting up, getting moving, tending to the dog and the cat, I head to the gym. I step onto the treadmill and look at my watch. It is almost always 6:01am as I press the “Start” button. (Or, 6:02am if I’m moving slowly.) I do … More Like Clockwork
Today, after 12 weeks of rest, renewal and learning, I return to the office. I loved these 12 weeks. They were a wonderful opportunity and a gift. At the same time, I’m glad to be back to Trinity. I’ve missed the people and the work. I wrote a summary of my sabbatical experience for the … More A Sabbatical Summary
Test Driving Theology 