We Christians in the Christian blogosphere can easily isolate ourselves and our writing into a little club of associates who all speak our language and understand our biblical framework. This goes for Christians in general who only surround themselves with other Christians and pastors whose social interaction is almost exclusively with fellow believers. When … More An Interview: Some Personal Thoughts
Just one more reason my wife is so amazing. She really knows how to throw a party and puts extra time into the little details that make it more special. Check out her creepy crawler cookies and cupcake creations! They sure didn’t taste as scary as they looked. PS: She even let me put some … More Keri’s Creepy Crawler Cookies & Cupcakes
I spent the weekend with 400+ senior high teens at Trout Lake Camp’s fall “Break-away” retreat. The weekend featured energetic worship led by the talented and fun Bensonwells and animated speaker Ketric Newell. Most excitingly, I saw students ministered to and challenged to be a generation that rises up and takes the baton and lives all … More Fusion Fall Retreat
I was blogging this morning in my study when a little furry visitor scurried in to say hi. Yes, we have a chipmunk in our house! He tried sneaking up on me in my study. This was a huge violation of my sacred space. I jumped up and said, “Hey, stop right there Mister!” and … More The Undercover Chipmunk Spy & Book Thief
I’m a podcast addict. I haven’t listened to my car stereo forever. My CDs are collecting dust and the songs on my iPod are far outnumbered by all of the podcast sermons, lectures, radio programs I subscribe to. While I listen to my staple sermons each week by my favorite pastors (Greg Boyd, David Johnson, … More My Top 3: Cultural Commentators
These are not the BEST books I’ve read. There are definitely books more profound, better written, more well-known and vastly more influential. But there are books that we read at certain times in our own spiritual and intellectual journeys that just come at the perfect time to open new windows of thought, challenge previous convictions … More My Top 3: Impacting Books
Where were you when the news broke on that tragic morning in America September 11, 2001? That’s the question we all ask years later. And we all remember. For what it’s worth, I was in my car on the way to Bethel University to lift weights with some buddies on campus. We didn’t lift any … More Remembering 9/11
“Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be … More PHILIPPIANS 25: Basketball and Dog Dung (3:8-9)
Nobody likes being told what to do and what not to do. To some degree or another, everybody is suspicious and wary of “authority” and those we call “authority figures.” We think of relentless bosses, overbearing parents, slave-driving teachers, stern-eyed judges and intimidating police officers. Yet, the Authority that stands above the rest is God. … More A Powerful Collision: God, Bible, Authority & Narrative 2
Keri made me watch it. I didn’t want to. I watched it when it first came out in the mid 80s when I was about 8 years old. It was creepy. Do you remember The Neverending Story? Bastian is a boy bossed around by his dad and bullied by schoolmates, all the while grieving the death … More MOVIE REVIEW: The Neverending Story (1984)
There is a lot of discussion over Pastor John Piper’s statement that God sent a tornado to Minneapolis yesterday to warn the ELCA leaders not to condone homosexuality. Read more about it HERE. This story has my head spinning and my theology challenged. I feel I need to come clean with my confusion because I … More God & Tornados: A Personal Confession
We had been dating exactly one year. I had to come up with the perfect gift for our special date that night. I was determined to write her a love song, but had only a lyric-less tune bouncing around in my head as I drove off to work that day. I was sub teaching at … More Happy Anniversary, Love!
Every scholar-teacher has their favorite topic — those aspects of their field of study they are most passionate about. When a student raises a question related to one of your favorite topics, you get instantly energized, your voice gains added force and you launch into lecture mode. In my Bible Studies and discussions with people … More My Top 3: Theological “Hobbyhorses”
On my 30th birthday some years back I shared some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s. When Keri walked into my life Cupid’s arrow struck me with an abundance of emotion and fresh inspiration. I began journaling like crazy and … More 30th Birthday Reflections: New Love 2
On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s. You are about to read one of my most cherished journal entries of all time. I am so glad I took the … More 30th Birthday Reflections: New Love
On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s. I made a critical decision between my sophomore and junior year of college to switch my major from Education to Biblical & … More 30th Birthday Reflections: New Calling
Bethel Campus On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s. I had my share of days where anxiety over the future and insecurities over the person I was becoming brought … More 30th Birthday Reflections: New Anxieties & New Peace
On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s. In our teens we are the center of the universe, and everything revolves around us. In our 20s many of us begin … More 30th Birthday Reflections: New Song
On this week of my 30th birthday I am sharing some personal journal entries that provide a window into the trials and triumphs I faced during the decade of my tumultuous 20s. I experienced a radical faith transformation during my first 2 years of college. Almost overnight I went from being a sports jock … More 30th Birthday Reflections: New Faith & Focus
Bake me a cake, light some candles and break out the noisemakers and party hats. I am turning the big 30 on July 3. I am leaving behind the tumultuous twenties with much hesitancy but even more gratitude. I am not going to let this birthday pass by without reflecting back on the past decade … More 30th Birthday Reflections
You’re beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless. You’ve captured my heart, dear friend. You looked at me, and I fell in love. One look my way and I was hopelessly in love! Song of Solomon 4 (The Message)
Many of you know I spent several years during seminary teaching Driver Education and substitute teaching in the public schools. I had many neat encounters with teens, but one of my all time favorite stories involves Greg. And it all began in the front seat of the student driver car. Greg was a skinny, geeky … More “Behind-the-Wheel” Evangelism
You may be thinking that the camera is out of focus in this recent photo of Keri kissing me at a wedding in Chicago. Well, you are mistaken. Love is electric. Keri’s kisses have been known to short-circuit microwaves, blow fuses, shatter glass, pop balloons, startle old ladies, and, of course, send shock waves through … More Electric Kisses
1. My number one favorite blog that is a part of my daily diet of reading is Jesus Creed with Scot McKnight. It’s hard to top the variety of topics and the depth of discussion found there. I have been honored to have some of my writings featured there. I admire Scot as a reputable … More My Top 3: Blogs
Kingdom Harbor 