Category: Easter/Lent

Swedish Pancakes By the Empty Tomb

April 24, 2025

We celebrated Easter this year under the shadow of disease and death. We sang victory songs nearer to the tomb than usual. Jesus’ grave is empty, but we will someday be lowered into ours — at least temporarily. I used to visit a cemetery early on Easter morning before showing up at church to proclaim God’s victory over the grave. It’s good to stare death in the face before you go on stage to publicly announce its humiliation and defeat! … More Swedish Pancakes By the Empty Tomb

Easter 2025 Highlight Video

April 21, 2025

MainStreet Covenant once again took our Easter service on the road to bless seniors with resurrection hope! This year we did two services at Lake Minnetonka Shores, and was extra special as all three of my kids participated in the service. Peter on the piano, Abby singing, and Isaak reading Scripture. For the message, I did a dramatic reading of my short story, “The Naked Truth About Easter.” Here’s a highlight video. … More Easter 2025 Highlight Video

A Night of Shadows

April 18, 2025

Our family tradition is to return from Good Friday service and observe an evening of darkness and shadows at home. We light candles and don’t use electricity. It’s a dark, somber night. But our culture doesn’t readily embrace silence and darkness. We run the other way from all that, just like we run away from the reality of death and grief. … More A Night of Shadows

Podcast #197: Special: The Naked Truth

April 16, 2025

Enjoy a special Holy Week audio presentation of Jeremy’s story, “The Naked Truth About Good Friday.” For centuries the story of the naked guy in Mark’s passion story has been shrouded in mystery and the source of much speculation and snickering. The young man is finally read to tell his side of the story. Get the bare facts and stripped down version of Good Friday in this imaginative and inspiring short story. … More Podcast #197: Special: The Naked Truth

We Still Choose Barabbas

April 15, 2025

There is nothing Christian about Christian Nationalism. It’s a capitulation to the Way of Barabbas over the Way of Jesus. It’s waving palm branches for Judas “The Hammer” Maccabeus on his warhorse over Jesus on a donkey. We are faced with the same question as the crowd that first Holy Week: Who do we want to go free and to follow, and who do we want to send to the cross to be rid of? … More We Still Choose Barabbas

Singing Trees & Crying Rocks

April 9, 2025

I didn’t like the song at all. It seemed hokey. It seemed non-sensical. And it didn’t help that it was being sung off key and off tempo by a small congregation of primarily 75 year old church ladies. Not to mention being led by someone who sort of resembled Dana Carvey’s SNL character “Church Lady.” Today I repent of my snobbery and spiritual immaturity. I now believe in singing trees. … More Singing Trees & Crying Rocks

Podcast #195: Creation’s Voice in the Passion

April 3, 2025

In this Anchor Podcast episode, I share a bit about our spring break road trip to Myrtle Beach, including stops at the Ark Encounter and the Billy Graham Library. Then Doug and Sara do a deep dive into a piece I just wrote where I reminisce about a cheesy song that used to bug me, and explore the non-human participants in the passion story. … More Podcast #195: Creation’s Voice in the Passion

The Alabaster Jar

March 19, 2025

As long as I can remember, I’ve always been quietly breaking things—breaking customs, breaking gender roles, and, one day, breaking an alabaster jar. History remembers me sitting quietly at the Jesus of feet, but a first-century woman taking the posture of a male disciple was a loud and revolutionary act in my day. A quiet person is not always a compliant person. A gentle spirit is not necessarily a tame spirit. … More The Alabaster Jar

Podcast #192: The Vineyard and the Well

March 13, 2025

Lent is a season for inviting God’s loving but painful pruning in our lives. Toward this end, I’m sharing an excerpt this week on the Anchor Podcast from my unfinished book about an imaginative trip with Jesus to the Father’s lake cabin. Jesus takes me on a walk through the Father’s carefully pruned and bountiful vineyard, and a sober visit to the neighbor’s overgrown property with a toxic well that took his tragic life. … More Podcast #192: The Vineyard and the Well

A Sweet Aroma For Lent

March 5, 2025

In this story, Mary’s action fills the entire house with a sweet smelling fragrance. And Jesus is pleased. Meanwhile, another person at the table is exuding a different aroma—a foul smell stinking up the dinner party. Jesus is not happy. Let’s begin the season of Lent by pondering the aroma our lives are giving off, and where to apply spiritual deodorant if necessary. … More A Sweet Aroma For Lent

Bonfire, Beer & Bourbon on Maundy Thursday

March 28, 2024

One Maundy Thursday, I found myself at a bonfire with neighbors, reflecting on the contrast between church rituals and the neighbors’ gathering. Feeling torn between my identity as a pastor and fitting in, I chose to partake in the communion, finding beauty in their fellowship and realizing the importance of embracing the world as Jesus did. … More Bonfire, Beer & Bourbon on Maundy Thursday

Podcast #136 – Special: Love Cut the Rope: Tragic Tale of Judas

March 26, 2024

Listen to a special audio presentation of my original story, “Love Cut the Rope: The Tragic Tale of Judas” at the Anchor Podcast available during Holy Week. Purchase a copy of the fully illustrated book for you and for a friend to help support the ongoing ministry of Kingdom Harbor and MainStreet Covenant Church. … More Podcast #136 – Special: Love Cut the Rope: Tragic Tale of Judas

Crushed Bones into Spiritual Diamonds

March 12, 2024

The Fifth Sunday in Lent reminds us of the necessity of enduring hardships for growth and maturity, both spiritually and in all aspects of life. Just as a diamond forms under pressure, Jesus’ suffering leads to glorification. We are called to embrace present challenges for future joy, allowing God to shape us into immortal diamonds through adversity. … More Crushed Bones into Spiritual Diamonds

Love Cut the Rope: The Tragic Tale of Judas

March 7, 2024

With historical imagination and pastoral sensitivity, my new short story probes the inner turmoil of one of history’s most tragic figures: Judas Iscariot. What drew him to Jesus? What led to his infamous betrayal? Most importantly, does his death by suicide place him outside of God’s grace or more directly in his embrace? Find out Sunday at 5pm! … More Love Cut the Rope: The Tragic Tale of Judas