Why Follow Jesus?

When I first heard about the "Big Bang Singularity," probably while watching the movie Interstellar, back in 2014, my immediate thought was God. Think about it: classical theology teaches that God resides, likewise, beyond space and time. Space and time, in other words, lose meaning when applied to God. How is this any different from the Singularity posited by science? Maybe, I wonder, the Singularity is sacred.

On this episode, we're featuring a session from the Queen Anne Lutheran Church forum series, Demons, Darkness & the Devil, with Catholic perspectives from Fr. William Watson, S.J.   Watch a recording of this forum and view earlier sessions at in the series on the Queen Anne Lutheran YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/queenannelutheran Join us on Sunday, March 21 for the final session in the series, with Pastor Dan sharing contemporary Lutheran perspectives on the topic: https://fb.me/e/1S2GHaoXe About this week's speaker: Fr. Watson has spent over thirty years developing Ignatian programs and retreats used by Georgetown University, Seattle University, Santa Clara University, Gonzaga University and Loyola College in Baltimore. In 2011 he launched The Sacred Story Institute, a non-profit promoting third millennium evangelization for the Society of Jesus and the Church by using the Examination of Conscience of St. Ignatius. Fr. Watson received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 2009 from The Catholic University of America (Washington D.C.). He also holds Masters degrees in Divinity and Pastoral Studies, respectively (1986; Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge Massachusetts).

Pastor Dan Peterson and Dr. Beatrice Lawrence discuss and compare Christian and Jewish perspectives on violence, in light of the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

How do we explain such rash behavior on the part of the earliest disciples? Pastor Dan Peterson shares what he believes to be the best answer to the question of why the disciples immediately left everything to follow Jesus. The answer sheds light, as well, on what it might mean for us to follow Jesus today. This episode of God for Grownups is Pastor Dan's sermon from Queen Anne Lutheran's weekly audio podcast service. Subscribe to the Queen Anne Lutheran podcast for the full service and more messages from Pastor Dan. 

On this episode, we're presenting highlights from one of our most enlightening virtual forums of the past year. The talk focuses on a turning point in the life of Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German who lived from 1906 to 1945. Bonhoeffer is widely known for his resistance to Nazi dictatorship and genocide, and for his writings on Christianity in secular life, including his classic book, The Cost of Discipleship. Lesser-known is the impact on Bonhoeffer of his year of study at Union Seminary in New York, in 1930-31, during which he worshiped at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church and was deeply influenced by Harlem Renaissance intellectuals. Dr. Reggie Williams writes about this subject in his award-winning book, Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. Dr. Williams is our featured guest for this forum, which Queen Anne Lutheran co-hosted with St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Bellevue. Watch a video of the forum here, with additional audience Q&A. 

In difficult times like these, where do you find hope? Pastor Mark Griffith of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Wash., joins host Pastor Dan Peterson of Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle to grapple with that question on this episode of God for Grownups.

This past week we learned, thanks to an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, that Dr. Jill Biden, soon to be our nation’s First Lady, is not a doctor, at least according to Joseph Epstein. Today, when men like Epstein deny the dignity and freedom of women by telling them to “know their place,” let us remember the example of Mary, whose choice and dignity were respected by no less than God.

For millennia, believers in God have asked, “Why doesn’t God prevent unnecessary suffering?” The usual answers to this question leave most of us unsatisfied. Dr. Thomas Jay Oord offers a different answer—actually five answers that combined, solve the problem of evil. In this "God Talk" forum discussion from Queen Anne Lutheran Church, Dr. Oord will speak from ideas in his best-selling book, God Can’t. This discussion will center on God’s uncontrolling love for us and all creation. For more on this topic, listen to an earlier discussion between Pastor Dan Peterson and Dr. Oord on the "God for Grownups" podcast. Go to this blog post for an introduction to Oord’s views. This short video gives an overview of Oord’s book, which can be ordered from Amazon here. Thomas Jay Oord, Ph.D. directs the Center for Open and Relational Theology at Northwind Theological Seminary. He’s a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multidisciplinary studies; author or editor of more than twenty-five books. He is known for contributions to research on love, science and religion, open and relational theology, the problem of suffering, and the implications of freedom for transformational relationships.

Matthew 25:13 ... or Dave Matthews? We're trying something new this week on the podcast, sharing my sermon from Queen Anne Lutheran Church's weekly audio service. As you'll hear, however, it's not a traditional sermon. I enjoyed putting it together, and I hope you're able to take from it some insight and inspiration. You can hear the full audio service at queenannelutheran.org, including the gospel reading, prayers, and music by our cantor, the amazing Kyle Haugen. You can also subscribe to the Queen Anne Lutheran podcast wherever you listen. — Pastor Dan Peterson

This is the first of four “God Talks” in Queen Anne Lutheran Church's forum calendar, each of which serves as a one-time discussion of an issue or topic that intersects with God or faith. The conversation features Amy Radil of KUOW Public Radio and Martin Kaste of NPR News, with Pastor Dan Peterson, and questions from members and friends of the Queen Anne Lutheran congregation. What is it like for people of faith to cover politics? How do these journalists’ faith/values inform the way they cover the news as well as what they choose to cover? What do they feel people of faith should know when it comes to their coverage of politics, particularly elections? We invite you to read the article “How Should Lutherans Be Involved in Politics?” in this month’s Living Lutheran magazine in conjunction with this talk.