I received this story by email. A good challenge. A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales conventionin Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home inplenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with ticketsand briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over … More “Excuse me. Are you Jesus?”
One of the moments that marks one’s journey are the “cleaning out the office” experiences on the last day at a job. I’m 30 and this is the first real office I’ve cleaned out. Some are less fortunate and have cleaned out the office (or cubicle) dozens of times, each time leaving a person more … More The “Clean Out Your Office” Experience
A devotional passed on to me by a friend from Pastor Dan: This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: “In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream … More Fan the Flames and not Douse them with Dogma
Here’s another DI classic post from back in the spring of ’06. I heard a bird chirping today. I actually stopped for a brief moment andlistened. It was a good sound, and a good sign. Sign of what? A sign, I believe, of freedom. A freedom from self-absorption. Our cell-phone society confines our internet identities … More One Chirp at a Time
We might accurately call God the original Recycler. Long before it was trendy to “Go Green” God made earth and everything in it and declared it “good.” When God’s beautiful creation turned so quickly on it’s Creator, dragging all humankind into the long night of sin and death, paradise was polluted. Original glory became spoiled … More God Recycles
While dark clouds are a foreboding sight, they’re not always bad. Our own dark cloud is settling on our life as May approaches and Keri and I prepare to leave our current church and ministry in a few weeks. The dark cloud represents the following: The sadness of leaving our beloved church family and dear students. … More Our Dark Cloud: A Personal Update
On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. (Mark 4:35-36) When you follow Jesus, he always drags you to the other side. The … More Adventures in Mark 4 (4:35-36)
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen. May God bless you with tears to … More A Franciscan Blessing
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4) I suspect Jesus wouldn’t last long in churches today before being fired for “irresponsible” leadership. What pastor in his right … More Leaving 99 to find 1
My phone rang today. I picked it up to hear those exciting words: “Congratulations! You have won a free cruise!” Yeah, right. What’s the catch? This must be a scam. I’ve never won any drawings I’ve entered. Even though the voice on the other end was friendly and sounded sincere, I was a mean sounding, … More Too Good To Be True
These are the words that came to me on a prayer walk last night around midnight.
A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, ‘ God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’ God led the holy man to two doors.. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in . In the middle of the room was a large round … More Classic Parable of the Long-handled Spoon
My mom sent me this in one of those infamous “Forward This Or Else” chain letters. But maybe some of you like these. Some good wisdom here. It was written by Regina Brett, who is NOT 90 years old as the email said. “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught … More Timeless Wisdom for Life
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7:7-8) “Look! I stand at the … More Sacred Doors to the Presence of God
This is an older post that fits this time of year when people are contemplating their plans for the new year. Grace and peace. -JB “Where do you plan to be three to five years from now?” I have been asked this question two or three times in the past couple weeks. For some reason … More My Crystal Ball: Facing the Future in Faith
We have been observing the season of Advent with the help of Mark D. Robert’s Devotional centered around the ceremony of the Advent Wreath. Finally our wait is over as we welcome our Savior to the world with the lighting of the 5th candle. Merry Christmas! JB The Lighting of the Christ Candle: The Waiting … More Advent Devotional: Christmas Eve/Day (by Mark Roberts)
We are following the Advent Devotional written by Mark D. Roberts on our journey to the stable. This fourth Sunday we light another candle on the Advent Wreath as we expectantly wait for the coming of the Son! Grace and peace, JB The Lighting of the Fourth Candle: Waiting for the Son The Fourth Sunday … More Advent Devotional: 4th Sunday (by Mark Roberts)
We are joining Mark D. Robert’s journey through Advent with the help of his devotional. Today we light the 3rd Advent Candle while we wait for the joy brought by the coming King. Grace and peace, JB The Lighting of the Third Candle: Waiting with Joy The Third Sunday of Advent (or thereabouts) [Re-light the … More Advent Devotional: 3rd Sunday (by Mark Roberts)
Join us for Rev. Mark D. Robert’s Advent devotional guide centered around the Advent Wreath. This week we celebrate the lighting of the second candle focused on waiting for forgiveness. Grace and peace, JB The Lighting of the Second Candle: Waiting for Forgiveness The Second Sunday of Advent (or thereabouts) [Re-light the first purple candle] … More Advent Devotional: 2nd Sunday (by Mark Roberts)
I am posting Advent devotionals this December prepared by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts. Enjoy! Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us to prepare for the coming, or “advent” of the Christ child at Christmas. (The word “advent” comes … More Advent Devotional: 1st Sunday (by Mark Roberts)
The book of Romans doesn’t mess around. Paul is shooting straight and going to the heart of things. Our senior youth group is plowing through portions of Romans this fall and winter. We’re still bogged down in the swamp of chapter 1 and Paul’s description of the fallen human condition is growing darker verse by … More Sin & Monopoly (Rom 1:18-32)
Some will still protest, saying: “I tasted the morning coffee only to have it turn bitter in my mouth! I jumped up at the first breakfast call only to find stale cereal and sour milk waiting on the table! The sweet song of the morning bird was quickly drowned out by the loud ruckus of … More ALARM CLOCK 11: Everyday is a Fresh Start
We all owe the man who invented the alarm clock radio a heart felt thanks. I am still baffled by those who insist on waking up to obnoxious beeps or irritating buzzers. I still remember my first year of college, living on a dormitory floor with some thirty other freshmen. Every morning as I … More ALARM CLOCK 10: God’s Alarm Clocks
Business marketing strategists have even capitalized on the power of the olfactory sense. Fast food joints located within close proximity to other businesses are rumored to pump their deep-fried smell into the parking lot in hopes of drawing in hungry shoppers for a bite. Coffee shops grind their own beans, filling the air with that … More ALARM CLOCK 9: Your Smell Gives You Away
“The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.” Who can forget this classic coffee jingle? Before there was a Starbucks on every corner, there was Folgers. I can still picture the fake smiles of the actors in the ads as they enjoy their first sip of the morning. For many, coffee is the best part of waking up. For … More ALARM CLOCK 8: The Smell of Coffee in the Morning
Jeremy Berg 