Your Brain on Prayer

Researcher Uffe Schjoedt and colleagues (2009) measured brain functioning of Danish Lutherans as they prayed either formalized (the Lord’s Prayer) or spontaneous prayers. As controls, the research participants’ brains were also scanned while they recited a well-rehearsed nursery rhyme and made wishes to Santa Claus. Brain images revealed that when people prayed the Lord’s Prayer and recited nursery rhymes both activated regions of the frontal cortex and cerebellum associated with rehearsal and retrieval of information. Spontaneous prayer activated three regions of the cortex associated with interpersonal interaction, but making wishes to Santa did not. All participants reported belief in God and in God’s response to prayers. This means our brains process spontaneous prayers as conversations between real, active participants.
So what can we do with this information? We can start (and/or) end each day with the Lord’s Prayer, as Martin Luther suggested. That reminds us of God’s qualities and our relationship to the divine, now and forever. We can then strengthen that relationship through our personal prayers—engaging in conversation with God about ourselves, our neighbors, and the world.

Concerned about Peace in the Middle East?

If you're concerned about peace you're probably concerned about peace in the Middle East. Check out what the ELCA and others are doing:
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Peace-Not-Walls.aspx

Who would Jesus vote for?

You may have seen something like this on a bumper sticker a few years ago. When I first saw it I thought it was propaganda from some extremist group. The more I thought about it though, the less it seemed to push any agenda except maybe that of Jesus. What a radical concept!
The short answer to "Who would Jesus vote for?" is "it depends." It depends on whether the candidate cared to meet the needs of the people, not just their voting constituents. That's a lot to ask of any public servant, even clergyfolk. I’m new to this role, but I can already recall too many conversations that started as lectures about how I offended someone’s political sensibilities. I must confess that I have little patience for such nonsense. When I talk to someone about the gospel, I do not want to hear about political affiliations. When I talk truth, I do not want to hear responses about traditions. When I ask people to recall what God has asked of them, I do not expect to hear what their favorite political pundit has to say about the work.
I haven’t found any mysterious reading of Scripture that predicts who will or should win elections, but I can share a few basic principles about how those of us who pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-13) may want to keep in mind on election days.
Feed my sheep (John 21: 15-17)
..love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… (Matthew 6:44)
…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. (Matthew 25:35-36)
If someone is trying to convince you to avoid these things, be very suspicious.

Videos about the ELCA

It has taken a while, but the denomination has taken a huge step towards truly inclusive social justice in the arena of human sexuality. This and a few other videos are linked below.

ELCA Social Statement on Sexuality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQmTSG2ceC0
ELCA Identity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAKCHLzKc-0
The Story of the ELCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl6_vAstDzg