We headed north for the weekend with friends. Beautiful log cabin with rustic charm and comfortable leather couches to read on by the fireplace. A little bit of snowshoeing, a lot of munching and sipping, some sauna time, watched the comedic blast from the past “The Three Amigos” (you have to be in the right … More Buckhorn Log Cabin Escape
Hi friends, December and January are always peak reading months for me. Something about snowy weather, hot chocolate, fireplaces, and new books and Amazon Gift cards for Christmas seem to factor in. So, if you’re curious, here are the books I’m reading or have recently read. I especially enjoyed One.Life by McKnight. Peace. After You … More Books I’m reading these days
Yep, it’s true! Keri and I have a lil’ Berg baby on the way!! We’ve been keeping our little secret for several weeks so we could surprise our parents and families on Christmas! So, surprise!! With God’s help we hope to give birth to both a new church and a new baby in 2011. Keri … More Personal Update: We have BIG NEWS!!
Keri and I decided to play “Pirates” with our niece Hailey this week. Aren’t we scary?!
We made it – 100,000 visitors to Daily Illumination. I began blogging — like semi-seriously — a couple years ago. I love to think, read and share ideas – and am more articulate in writing than face to face. So, I thought I’d practice out-putting all the stuff I’d been inputing through all my studies. … More 100,000 Daily Illumination Visitors!
Hi blog friends, My dear wife, Keri — the warmer, lighter side of this marriage — has been keeping a “secret blog” for the past several months. Not really secret, but for the past year she has been quietly chronicling the crazy season of transition we’ve been experiencing in leaving Faith Covenant, venturing into Church … More Keri’s Secret Blog (Sshhhh!)
I’ve shared my bookish nook with ya’ll before. Read about the importance of having a ‘happy place’ to retreat to for solace and renewal HERE. Mine would be Hawaii or even a weekend in the city if we had extra money for such a thing. Fortunately, God has made me a relatively content person who … More Still my ‘Happy Place’
Hi blog readers and friends! I’m enjoying my “blog-cation” this July. Providing “daily” illumination everyday for the past 500+ days straight was…well…time consuming work. Plus transitioning into the lifestyle of a church planter this summer has added a whole new intensity and work load to my life. But this new ministry adventure also brings fresh … More Personal Update – July 2010
Continued growth is the key to success in any arena of life. The same holds true with love and marriage. I have never loved my bride more than I do today on our 5th anniversary. We have never been healthier and more satisfied in our marriage we are today. But our first couple years of … More Five Years of Marriage
I need a “blog-cation” — a vacation from blogging. I need to step completely away for a month. I may post a couple of personal updates during July, but I need to free myself from the self-imposed pressure to provide new content daily. This is long overdue. Pray for us when you think of us. … More See you in August…
CLARIFICATION: The “Divine Summons” series is telling the story of my call to Mound and the Revolution ministry we planted back in 2005-2007. This is not to be confused with our current efforts to continue that work with MainStreet Community. =) An Open Door of Ministry With the opposition-filled narrative-world of Acts shaping my personal … More Divine Summons 17
IV A Mustard Seed Revolution Begins When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with … More Divine Summons 16
This series tells the story of the Revolution in Mound back in 2005-2007. Divine Encounters and Open Doors I don’t think it was more than a week later that Keri and I were out on one of our walks about town. We stopped by Caribou Coffee as part of our normal routine. We struck up … More Divine Summons 15
The Lord still calls loyal servants to accomplish tasks far too great if He didn’t give us the power. This morning I went down to the lakeside, perched myself on the rocks and opened my Bible for my morning devotions. As I stared out at the islands and shoreline of Lake Minnetonka, I was given … More “Is It too Small A Thing?”
Walkin’ After Midnight It was episodes like Paul’s Macedonian Call that so enraptured me that night some five years ago in the dining center as I read the Acts of the Apostles for the first time. The question that haunted me from that day forward was simply this: Do I have the same God as … More Divine Summons 14
The Macedonian Call Paul was both an “Apostle” and “apostle.” The big “A” Apostles are in a class all by themselves. They played a unique, God-chosen role in the expansion of the church in those early days following Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. They had to have seen the risen Christ. Luke restricts this this to … More Divine Summons 13
I’ve been pulling DI classics out of the old archives this summer. The following is one of the more random posts I’ve written — hence, the title! Honestly, I wonder what exactly I was trying to say. But I feel today that same anticipatory spirit I was feeling back then in ’06. God is preparing … More Out of the Silent Fog to the Tuna Juggling Spectacular
Drivers Ed Car Confessions “Turn left up here. Now, let’s pull over and try an uphill park. Don’t forget to S.M.O.G. Do you remember what S.M.O.G. means? Yes, Signal, check your Mirrors, look Over your shoulder, and if it’s clear you can Go ahead.” Now, imagine carrying on like that for 4 hours straight, 5 … More Divine Summons 12
3 A Vision in the Night Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow … More Divine Summons 11
In the “Divine Summons” series, I am sharing an exciting season of obedience and Revolution ministry in Mound from 2005-2007. All Things to All People The Apostle Paul was willing to wear a lot of hats and learn to navigate many worlds in order to be a more effective servant of the gospel. As he … More Divine Summons 10
I woke up this week…well…bearing the label many would call UNEMPLOYED. Yet, I’m in denial. I reject the label. I met for a my weekly prayer walk with Peter today, and he was adamant to drive home the point: “Jeremy, you’re not unemployed. Unemployed people don’t have a job. You know the job the Lord … More Unemployed or Unpaid?
Stay tuned. There’s a story of great significance behind this rock located in downtown Mound….
My crazy in-laws up north this past weekend. Nice hair, Brento!
Nothing to Write Home About I have always imagined the apostle Paul spending every waking hour of his life teaching in a synagogue or preaching on a street corner somewhere. I doubt I’m the only one who has drawn this inaccurate assumption. I mean, this is the impression the writings give us — especially the … More Divine Summons 9
Kingdom Harbor 