The Lutheran Zephyr

Ed is Lutheran (sort of!)

Ed, who blogs over at The Hilton, responded to my question.  He is Presbyterian, BUT he serves a Lutheran/Presbyterian congregation and he had to put up with me and my wife for two years as neighbors (needless to say, he got an earful of Luther!).  From beer to theology to God's good grace, Ed likes being mixed up with Lutherans.

Read his post Why I am Lutheran . . ., and give thanks for our Presbyterian partners in ministry!

Melancthon is Lutheran

Melancthon, who sins boldly over at his blog, describes Lutheranism as a "deep-seeded passion for the Gospel, the good news that Christ sets us free."  Lutheranism is about how we see God, an "intuitive feel" rather than a strict theology.  "I think the essence of Lutheranism is simpler than that."

Read his post, On Lutheranism, and sin boldly.

Lee is Lutheran

Lee, who blogs over at Verbum Ipsum, appreciates that Lutherans stand a middle ground - whether balancing evangelical and catholic strands of the Christian tradition, or liberal and conservative theologoical & political perspectives.  Like others who have responded to this question, Lee is not a cradle Lutheran.  Read his entire post, Why Lutheran?

Thank you, Lee, for responding to The Question!

My Lamb Cake Woes

(Please keep those What It Means To Be Lutheran posts coming!)

Growing up we had this old, cast iron lamb cake mold.  My mom said that it came over on the boat from Denmark or Holland over 100 years ago.  Anyway, two years ago I aquired the lamb cake mold from my mother (a pre-inheritance thing, I told her) and began making the Easter Lamb Cake as a tradition in my (new and growing) family.  For the first two years it went off without a hitch - the nose was perfect, the ears stayed on, and most importantly - the lamb itself didn't fall over.  I was very proud of my success, especially because as kids my brother and I would laugh as my mom struggled to keep the head, ears, nose and face intact each year, all while trying to keep the cake itself from falling over.

But this year has been different.  I tried to make the cake on Easter Day, but it didn't cook long enough and the cake itself was undercooked and rather disgusting (though my sister-in-law and mother-in-law were very charitible in their praise and claimed to love my undercooked lamb cake).  Just today I tried to make it again, but this time the face and nose didn't come out.  I'll try it again tomorrow, but gosh, this is frustrating - especially after having two good years in a row!

Here is a picture I found off the internet.  My lamb cake mold looks very similar, though according to various antique websites and eBay merchants, the authentic Griswold cake molds have a certain number on the side.  My mold doesn't have any numbers or other manufacturing markings - perhaps mine is a late-19th/early 20th century knock-off of the brand name Griswold molds that sell for $100+ at eBay?

The intrigue of the lamb cake mold continues . . .

Liz likes a Garrison Keillor perspective on Lutheranism

Liz over at Dwelling in Possibility promises to write her own contribution once she gets her head above the water of law school final exams . . . but in the meantime she offers us a wonderful little article from Garrison Keillor about the comfort of Lutheran community.  All you hymn-singers out there will surely enjoy this one!

Thank you Liz, and good luck with your exams!

Christopher Halverson is Lutheran

Our Lutheran missionary to England says that the Lutheran understanding of grace is "the trump card," but finds paradoxes to be tasty "icing on the cake."  Read his post I'm a Lutheran Because (hey, what does an American Lutheran missionary to England do, anyway?).

Many thanks, Christopher, for providing the first response to my question from the other side of the pond!

Mata is Lutheran

Mata, over at Times Fool, tells a moving story of the warm welcome and social witness she experienced in the Lutheran church in the 1960s. Though currently without a church home, that experience and the Lutheran church's theology of grace keeps her rooted in Lutheranism.  Read her post over here.

Thank you, Mata, for responding to my question and introducing me to your blog!

Ross is Lutheran

Ross, over at In Lay Terms, was raised a Lutheran and remains a Lutheran, because the Lutheran tradition's theology of grace "resonates with my spirit."  Catch a glimpse of what moves Ross' spirit by reading his post, Why Am I Lutheran?

Thanks for responding to my question, You're Lutheran: What Does This Mean?

Rich is Lutheran

Our seminarian brother Rich, who blogs over at God's Upside Down Kingdom, is a grace-loving, sacramental Lutheran in an ecumenical context.  Read his post Why I'm Lutheran or Why I'm an Ecumenical Christian.

LutherPunk is Lutheran . . .

. . . because somebody invited him to church.  Read his comments here.