Recent Barna Study: 51% Of Churchgoers Are Unaware of The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20 is the most well-known biblical record of what is commonly referred to extra-biblically as “the Great Commission.” But despite the significance of these and other verses that call Christians to “go and make disciples of all nations,” a surprising proportion of … More The Great Omission
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” or “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5) Have you ever tried putting together a puzzle without having the box cover to show you what the finished product is supposed to look like? Without the cover picture we … More Christ Hymn 1 (Phil 2:5)
We’re on a steady incline up the great mountain that is Psalm 119, scaling the heights of God’s Law and the glimpsing the glory of his promises along the way. Each peak is 8 verses, so let’s tackle another this morning — Psalm 119:49-56. Reading the Bible is kind of like watching a tennis match. … More The Theme of My Song (Psalm 119:49-56)
Dear Beloved, I use that salutation purposefully, knowing how strange it must sound to contemporary ears: “Dear Beloved?” We live in an age of quickly shot-off emails and spontaneous texts that begin with an informal “Yo” or “Hey”(if there’s any salutation at all). But let me tell you why I use “beloved” in my weekly … More Beloved
God’s Word to us doesn’t always have shiny wrapping and a big red bow attached. God’s Word isn’t always warm and fuzzy. God’s Word sometimes needs to hit us like a ton of bricks. Sometimes we need a wake up call or a holy confrontation. … More THE BIBLE: Confrontation & Summons
Ever look back at your parents’ year books and laugh and gag at how ridiculous they appear? Ever read the embarrassing notes your friends scribbled in the margins of your year book? Acne covered faces, scrawny legs and awful hairdos. Many of us would like to bury or burn ours. Yet they are a part of us. … More THE BIBLE: God’s (Crazy) Family Album
In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #5 – THE BIBLE AS GOD’S PRACTICAL GUIDEBOOK FOR LIFE The most popular approach to Scripture in modern-day America is to search it for practical principles for daily living. The Bible is God’s “Handbook … More THE BIBLE: Guidebook for Life
In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #4 – THE BIBLE AS GOD’S GRAND STORY The Bible is God’s Grand Story of his dealings within history — the grand metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption and restoration. We are all characters within … More THE BIBLE: God’s Grand Story
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from.” Psalm 121 There she sits, windows all aglow, full of warmth and perched high upon Berg Mountain: our cozy home. But here we all sit at the bottom of the hill, tired from travels, cranky with coughs and sniffles, stranded in our mini-van, … More Cold Snowdrifts to Warm Fireplaces
Psalm 42 declares, “O my soul, why are you downcast within me?” For the past week I’ve been declaring, “O my nostrils, why are you so full of mucus and snot?” This raises the question: Are you one of those people who refuse to go to the doctor? Do you know anybody like that? I … More Spiritual Docs & Soul Pharmacies
From the DI archives — December 2009. I love fresh starts. Clean slates. New beginnings. Therefore I love New Year’s day. It’s a time to take inventory of our lives’ rhythms and priorities, make necessary adjustments, or those pesky “resolutions” and all the rest. For the Christian it is a time for inward reflection on … More “Shackled” for the New Year (James 4:13-17)
By Nancy Adsem I make mittens. I love the search for old wool sweaters and great buttons – the cutting and stitching and lining with fleece. Each pair is different and, I think, has a unique “personality”. Each fall I gather with another mitten friend, and we sell our mittens at an out-door Christmas festival … More Mittens for Yvonne (by Nancy Adsem)
So, I walked into a Holiday Gas Station bathroom this week, and suddenly a light from Heaven burst through the dim light of that grimy little stall and I felt the Presence of the Divine touch my shoulder and smile upon me! Bear with me….I’ll explain … More Epiphany in the Porcelain Sanctuary
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). If I were called to the hospital bedside of a person who just attempted but failed to take their own life, I think I would bring this … More EPHESIANS 14: God’s Masterpiece (2:10)
A National Gardening Survey revealed that 71 percent of all U.S. households (an estimated 82 million) participated in one or more types of lawn and garden activities in 2007. The most popular lawn and garden activities in 2007 included lawn care (48% of households), growing indoor houseplants (31% of households), flower gardening (30% of households), … More Going Green 3: Do-It-Yourself or Hired Hands?
“Don’t Be So Heavenly Minded That You’re of no Earthly Good.” Has this ever been said of you? What do people usually mean by such a statement? Can someone ever become too heavenly minded? I would submit that such a statement is based upon an inaccurate understanding of “heavenly” and “earthly”. This old, platonic dualistic view … More So Heavenly-minded, No Earthly Good?
The greatest tragedy is not to die but to have lived a long life with no real sense of purpose. Twenty-first century life in the West boasts of more freedoms, opportunities, modern comforts, and vocational choices than ever before. Yet, we are also more depressed than ever before. We go-go-go nonstop, working longer hours and involving … More Are We Running in Vain?
Instead of giving up something for Lent this year, how about taking up a 28-Day Spiritual fitness challenge? Two amazing MainStreet friends — Jaimie Hanly and Melissa Noreen — created a wonderful tool for growing in one’s prayer life and relationship with God. It’s a great idea for this Lenten season. In invite you to check this out, and join … More 28-Day Spiritual Fitness Challenge
There are two major building projects undertaken in the story of Scripture — they both continue today. In our study of 1 Peter we discover that each believer is called to be a part of God’s “spiritual temple” He is building. In the OT era, God’s healing, forgiving presence dwelled in the physical temple in Jerusalem. People … More A Tale of Two Buildings (1 Peter 2:4-11)
I was awake well before the sunrise. I paced the house, deep in thought. What will it be like to meet Jesus face to face? How should I address him? A handshake? A hug? Should I fall down prostrate in worship? Should I offer him some toast and orange juice? My thoughts were both practical and ridiculous … More Cabin 05: Meeting Jesus
After a short snooze, I awoke. Restless. Nervous. No sign of my family anywhere. I still had no sense of time, and my surroundings still looked altered in some inexplicable way. Familiar and yet strange. Hazy yet somehow clearer than ever before. I tossed and turned, trying to sleep. How could anyone sleep with the … More Cabin 04: Riding Shotgun
Here’s a timely repost from 2010. -JB It’s that time of year again. The leaves are turning colors and the trees are raining down acorns like rogue astroids in our backyard. They’re more plentiful this year than ever before at our home. I literally need to shovel off the deck every morning to avoid a … More Squirrel Spirituality
Can you imagine a weekend at Jesus’ lake cabin? Join us for this summer series. … More Cabin 03: Traveling Light
My heart nearly lept out of my chest with excitement. And yet the lump in my throat was hard to swallow. I was paralyzed with delightful dread at the thought of a personal invitation from Jesus. “What kind of an invitation?” I asked. Again, still wondering who the prankster was on the other end of the … More Cabin 02: The Invitation
I was jolted out of a deep and dreamy sleep by my vibrating cell on my night stand. Light beamed through the crack in my window shade, a sharp focused ray of sunshine right in my face. Blinded and disoriented, I fumbled for my phone. As my eyes adjusted, the room looked somehow different. The … More Cabin 01: The Voice
Jeremy Berg 