Jeremy L. Berg

For the past 12 years I have called my blog Daily Illumination. I am expanding and broadening my online ministry platform, with my blog just being one small part. Today would like to introduce a new theme I am experimenting with. Introducing “Kingdom Harbor: Light for the World, Anchors for the Soul.”

I have chosen a nautical theme for many reasons, among them being:

• For 40 years I have resided in a lake community surrounded by water.
• We recently moved our church to a lakefront location.
• A small nod to my oldest son, who is obsessed with all things nautical and pirate.
• The lighthouse imagery, though a bit cliche, keeps some continuity with Daily Illumination which I like.
• I’m currently working on a water-themed manuscript Spirit on the Water.

Mostly, however, I like how “Kingdom Harbor” captures our current two-fold focus of 1) actively engaging culture by shining kingdom light or truth into the often dark and confusing cultural waters we find ourselves navigating; and 2) providing a safe and grace-filled place for people to finding inner healing and pursue spiritual growth.

I find pastors and churches tending toward doing one or the other: focusing on personal spirituality to the neglect of public engagement, or else fighting for social justice while neglecting the inner journey into the soul. I’m striving to be a rare bird who both engages in prophetic critique of culture from a Jesus-shaped perspective, and a contemplative pastor who leads people into deeper spiritual formation.

The LIGHTHOUSE image captures this outward focused missional Christianity that engages in the current issues of the day. My blog regularly challenges Christians to not be so easily “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14). Paul would call much that is being peddled in Christ’s name these days as childish immaturity, and only when we begin “speaking the truth in love, will we grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Eph. 4:15).  

The LIGHTHOUSE image acknowledges many are lost and adrift, and that followers of Jesus should be characterized by a bright and dazzlingly beautiful witness that would attract people to Salvation Point like a porch light attracts bugs on a summer night. (Lord, forgive us for taking this metaphor too far, and luring people into the church only to “zap” them with a bait-and-switch!)

KINGDOM gets to the heart of everything I stand for and what I believe should be at the heart of every teaching ministry: putting on display the unique, upside-down ethics and values of a Jesus-shaped life. Jesus used “kingdom” as shorthand for the rich and “abundant life” (John 10:10) he came to make available to those who open themselves to his reign. For me, “Kingdom” is interchangeable with “Jesus-shaped” and that’s the kind of grace-filled space, or “Harbor,” I want to cultivate.

The HARBOR image obviously captures the soft and gentle side of Jesus’ Kingdom movement: “Come to me all who are wear” (Matt 11). Harbors provide tired seafaring vessels shelter from the winds and waves of the open sea. They conjure up images of safety, protection, rest and a place to repair what’s broken.

My own “midlife rethink” forced me to admit that knowing and teaching Kingdom truth and proclaiming the light of the gospel doesn’t necessarily translate into the inner maturity God desires for us. I’m now snorkeling in the harbor of the spiritual formation movement and contemplative spirituality, as well as the world of biblical scholarship. I spent too many years admiring the light beaming from the lighthouse, while treading water in the waves of my own restless soul.

ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL. Hebrews 6:19 suggests there are spiritual truths that become for us “a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” This website and hopefully my entire ministry aims at cultivating spiritual practices and attending to certain spiritual truths that can keep us anchored and centered in God when so many around us are flailing about and being tossed about by every whim.

My hope is that listening to my podcast would keep people anchored in Christ. That my writings will keep people tethered to Kingdom truth in a sea of lies and partisan spin. That my sermons and videos would anchor people in God’s mercy and love. That my books would help people grow in Kingdom Truth and gain greater self-awareness of their soul’s longings.

Finally, HARBORS are meant for only temporary layovers and repairs, and that ships are ultimately made to be out sailing the high seas, not forever in port. Likewise, Christianity is lived out in public, out in the wild and untamed world of ideas and idols, and we are on mission to reach souls that are lost and drowning all around us. We gather in the church sanctuary, or Harbor, on Sunday, only to be sent back out into the world as vessels of hope and good news the rest of the week.

So, welcome to Kingdom Harbor, a hub for Jesus-shaped resources aimed at providing LIGHT FOR THE WORLD and ANCHORS FOR THE SOUL. Let me know what you think!

Warning: You will notice changes in coming days in the style and content of my site. And I may scrap the whole idea and go another direction. 😬Thanks for your patience!