Many of you know that I have always felt a tension and tugging in my soul between my desires and gifts for academic study and writing on the one hand, and my commitment to leading real people to experience the life of the Kingdom in the church today. I am a pastor-scholar at heart in a world … More Announcement: Doctoral Studies with Scot McKnight!
A repost from 2014. I completely broke down during worship recently. I was overcome with emotion — kind of out of the blue. I was speaking and just lost it and could not compose myself. If you were there, you know how long I wept up front… (Aaaaaawkward.) When I finally pulled myself together I … More Just 33 Years
Let me share about a fun side-project I’ve been working on. I’ve spent the past few months compiling the past 10 or so years of Daily Illumination writings into a collection of self-published books for my personal library and to share with family and friends. The original intent was to collect all my best blog pieces into physical books for my own shelf — solely … More My Book Project
Originally posted on Jeremy Berg:
Dear MainStreet friends, On the eve of Thanksgiving 2011, Keri and I have much to be thankful for. The past year has been perhaps the most difficult and most satisfying year of our lives. One year ago, I was unemployed and scrambling to raise seed money to start planting MainStreet.…
After marveling at the framed masterpieces of key moments in my life decorating the walls, I realized this was only the beginning. The rest of the room Jesus’ prepared for me was filled with other personal touches. Photo collages decorated the dresser and night stands with candid shots of Keri and my wedding day, my … More Cabin 11: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Today I want to share a personal update of sorts. Pastors wear a lot of hats. For example, today I was negotiating a lease with our landlord and consulting with our architect for our building project when I received a call from a person in rural Minnesota asking me to pray with him for … More God’s Gourmet Chef
Here’s a sweet and thoughtful video our church put together for Keri and I for Pastor Appreciation Month. All I can say in return is “Thanks for being such a fun, grace-filled, caring and committed church family to lead.” I hear other pastors complain about the shenanigans they have to put up with — petty … More Feeling the Love at MainStreet!
Over 5 Years ago I sat on this rock feeling extremely lonely and scared. God called Keri and I to start a church in Mound, and I often came to pour out my doubts to the LORD in prayer on this rock. Then one night I heard God speak Matthew 16 directly to me, “Jeremy, upon … More On Christ the Solid Rock We Stand
The next time someone makes you feel guilty for taking a much needed vacation, consider sharing with them the following case for biblical rest and vacation. (Note: The following make the case for both a weekly day off (sabbath rest) and occasional extended vacations (a week or two)). We are a mess without sabbath. I think … More Thus saith the Lord, “Take a Vacation!” (Pt. 2)
I’m currently trying to enjoy some time away from work — for me that means church related stuff and ministry situations. My email ‘Out of the Office’ notice is on, and my voicemail alerts people that I am not taking calls. I asked our leadership team not just for a vacation (which typically means family time, … More Thus saith the Lord, “Take a Vacation!” (Pt. 1)
Exactly 10 years ago today I married the most beautiful, fun, strong, life-giving, faith-filled woman on planet earth. I struck gold and now she’s given me 3 amazing kids and a life that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’ve shared bits and pieces of our story over the years but thought it’d be good … More Happy 10th Anniversary: Our Story
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! Almost every night on my paper route this past summer and fall, I would stop into Super America for junk food and pop. Don’t tell Keri. Richard is the cashier for the … More Nocturnal Summer 4
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! We live in a busy, noisy world. Sadly, much of the noise is self-induced as we constantly fill every potential silence and solitude with our iPod, a television, radio or constant activity … More Nocturnal Summer 3
I’m reposting a fun summer series from 2010 from when I had a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy some late night ramblings! I’ve long been a ‘night owl.’ At first, I thought it was a college phase that would eventually fade. I thought ‘real adults’ become early birds like my dad when … More Nocturnal Summer 2 – Night Watchman
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! I picked up a weekday paper route this summer to earn some quick cash as we begin to plant a new church. No, this isn’t the cute little 30 papers in a … More Nocturnal Summer 1
I’ve been creating a baseball field on our lower lawn this summer. I’m letting the outfield grow wild in order to create habitat and let wild flowers and native grasses return. I’m also trying to create a Field of Dreams-like outfield grass fence — our own Green Monster. (Should I plant some corn out there … More Welcome to Stumphole Field!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my heroes. He was a brilliant and gentle follower of Jesus. He formed an underground seminary in Nazi Germany and taught people the loving Way of Jesus. He stood fast and resisted the pressure to go along with the churches that were under the influence of Hitler’s regime. (I tried … More A Hymn for the Suffering by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Tonight is David Letterman’s final show. I remember when I first started watching Letterman. It was around 1993 and I was about 14 years old and spending the week at my cousin Tasha’s house. That week we watched him every night and I was hooked for the rest of my high school days. I had … More Good Night David Letterman
We are currently adjusting from being a homeowner to now being a landowner. We now know the difference between having a house in town and owning some acres in the country. For one thing, there’s much more to maintain! Trees, leaves, lawn, landscaping, driveway, and more. We are LOVING it. Especially these first days of spring … More Planting for the Future
Originally posted on Jeremy Berg:
My new favorite daddy-Peter time activity these days is stroller walks around town while listening to the Daily Audio Bible podcast. Now, 95% of the time Peter is fast asleep from the motion, soothing wind and outdoor noises. Strollers are the baby-equivalent to a sleeping pill. Well, the other day…
I have almost finished the long journey toward ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church. It will become official at our national gathering in Kansas City this June. But I was recognized this week along with other ordinands at our Northwest Conference Annual Meeting at Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton. On Friday morning all of … More Ordination: A Milestone in the Making
The naming of a child is a big deal for us. We put quite a bit of thought into the namesakes of our children. We are following a rich biblical practice of giving our children names that speak to the character and legacies we hope our children rise to live out in their lives. We just … More A Girl Named Abigail – Part 2
It’s a girl!!! Before we had kids I wanted a daughter most. I’m not sure entirely why. Everyone is quick to joke about the “teenage terror” years of a girl and dad’s are universally portrayed as either aloof or completely terrified by the thought of their baby girl becoming a woman and all the hormonal … More A Girl Named Abigail – Part 1
Summary: This long series of about 30 posts narrates Jeremy’s own spiritual journey from 2000-2007 exploring his radical transformation in college, vocational doubts in seminary, a long season of “tent-making” jobs in Mound, and the God-encounters that led Jeremy to plant a new, apostolic youth ministry — The Revolution — reaching teens for Christ in … More Divine Summons: A Spiritual Memoir 1
Personal Journal Entry — October 7, 2014 I’ve had a profound and illuminating two nights away at my dad’s cabin in Starbuck, MN. I can hardly put into the words all of the insights and energizing thought-time I’ve had. I have spent another reassuring retreat with the pastoral teaching and wisdom of Eugene Peterson. (Three years … More Starry Night on the Prairie (10.7.14)
Jeremy Berg 