I am not a “funcle” – a “fun uncle” as they say. If I could show up at family gatherings and push a magic button that transforms me into carefree and social uncle who holds newborn baby nieces, rolls around on the floor with toddler nephews, and makes small talk with teenage nieces, I would push that button in a heart beat. Here’s an introvert’s apology. … More Funcles & Muncles: An Introvert’s Apology
We just wrapped up our “Imago Vita” series on the role of imagination in spiritual transformation. In this post I share my “imago vita” and spiritual journey and yearning to become a more joyful and carefree sower of God’s Word. I have found inspiration in an AI-generated Van Gogh-style portrait of a happy sower, which symbolizes my desire to be a more joyful worker in God’s field. … More The Happy Sower
Today I compare God’s transforming power to a home renovation project, emphasizing the importance of visualization and imagination. Did you know Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones played a pivotal role in the launch of MainStreet? I share how and explore the need for God’s transformative breath to revive and transform souls, and the need for a vivid, colorful vision of God’s desired future for us to enliven dead faith. … More Dry Bones TV Network
My goal is to put out a ministry update every quarter sharing the impact of our outreaches and ways we’re bringing the ministry of MainStreet Covenant beyond our walls. The past few months have been a highly productive writing season for me. Watch this video and join us in celebrating our Kingdom impact. … More Ministry Update May ’24
I’m often blown away by the beauty of my kids’ artwork that comes home from school. I often see a Bible passage jumping off the page and captured by their paint strokes. Artsonia emails fill my inbox, inviting me to print their art onto a coffee mug or t-shirt. I have found other fun uses for their masterpieces. … More Abby’s Art: Streams in the Desert
Last night was a sweet kind of homecoming for me. I was invited back to speak at the church of my childhood, where I was baptized and confirmed and the early seeds of my faith were sown. I brought my two boys along to show them where it all began for me. Here’s what I shared. … More Goodness & Mercy Follows
My new short story tells the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27, imagining Paul, a lone Jew on a ship of superstitious pagans, each telling stories from their sacred texts. As the storm outside grows more perilous, and the shipmates begin to panic, Paul remains calm and brings spiritual leadership to these doomed “souls in chains.” … More New Book Debut this Sunday
In this week’s lectionary text, 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul emphasizes his holy obligation and divine calling to proclaim the gospel, representing a countercultural surrender to a higher purpose. I share some of my own experience and challenges of my call to full-time ministry, and conclude by highlighting the current crisis of clergy burnout and offering a call to love and support those who have surrendered their life to full time Christian service. … More The Company of the Summoned
“Isaak, grab a notepad and pen, and go watch Trump’s victory speech. Tally up how many mean things he says about someone else.” Isaak loves counting, and he’s very sensitive to bullying, so he relished the assignment. He caught only the last 10 minutes of the speech, but the photo here shows the result. … More 32 Put Downs in 10 Minutes
We sat in a sacred circle with a chair placed in the center. Myself and about a dozen other pastors were on retreat at St. Mary of the Lake north of Chicago back on October 8-13. We each took a turn sitting in the “hot seat” where we held a candle in our lap and … More God’s Healing Light
In case it has escaped your attention, today is Day 22 at Children’s Hospital with our 10-year old son, Isaak. It was four Mondays ago I rushed him to the ER in stomach pain. Things continue to improve and there is real talk of going home “soon”. I haven’t had the energy or time or … More Divine Bowel Movements
From my comfortable spot in the jacuzzi I can see people upstairs moving and sweating on the machines. Today, as I toweled off after 20 minutes of reading Brueggemann’s book on Exodus in the hot tub, I pondered the value of both running and soaking in spiritual terms. … More Soaking in Christ
As I turned 44 years old this past week, I’ve been ruminating on this breathtaking quote from Saint Augustine’s Confessions: “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you.” … More Better Late Than Never: 44th Birthday Reflection
I went on a retreat recently with my good friend Peter and our spiritual father David Johnson. We spent much time around the fire talking about our desire to be better fathers. Ironically, this absent-minded father didn’t realize this retreat would take me away from my son on his 10th birthday! … More Fathers Around the Sacred Fire
Words fail me for once to express how blessed I am to have Curt Berg as my dad. He’s so steady. So consistent. So trustworthy and loving. In a world where foundations often seem shaky and where people are so often two-faced and fickle, my dad is pure gold all the way through. So friendly. So helpful. So handy and resourceful. So strong and yet tender. So faithful. … More Happy 70th Birthday, Dad!
Over the past nine months I have taught 9 college courses at 4 different schools traveling over 12,000 miles to plant seeds of the Kingdom in the hearts and minds of some 250 students. This is made possible by the financial support of MainStreet and Kingdom Partners like you. Let me share some highlights! … More Teaching Outreach: Year End Report
Another one of my passion projects. Not a “real” book release, but I’ve just finished up compiling my Advent Reflections and sermon series from last year into a fun little keepsake volume as well as to share with anyone interested. Email me if you want me to order you a copy. Then today I somehow … More Book Release: “Christmas On Mount Mystic”
My ministry cup runneth over! (And some days it’s spilling all over the floor.) I haven’t posted any written material here for ages because my time and energy is absorbed with a very full daily teaching and ministry schedule. Maybe it’s time for a brief update. Photo above: A recent Sunday communion service in our … More Where I’ve Been: A Ministry Update
Let me share what I gleaned from bringing my daughter to dance camp this week. … More My Daughter’s Dance Camp and the Kingdom
During my time away from the normal routines and responsibilities of ministry, I have been giving my left-brain a little rest and fired up the creative engine of my right-brain in a fun little project. … More Sabbatical Update: “Hello, Right Brain!”
And she began to explain in 2nd grade terms what no 8-year old should ever have to explain…something this 42-year old can’t find words to explain or make sense of. I walked behind the two, watching my son’s innocent world being punctured, and helplessly watching the ground literally and figuratively becoming less stable under his little feet. … More Sabbatical Thoughts & Crumbling Sidewalks
In a former life I breathed the oxygen of basketball. I gave my heart, soul, mind and strength to excelling on the hardwood. Now 25 years later, I’m a dad on the sidelines and dipping my toe into the world of hoops again. The fiery passion has not returned, but I have been thinking about the game more than usual these days. … More Basketball Fever & Nostalgia
Am I the stereotypical professor scurrying through the door at the last minute, hair disheveled and throwing off my coat as I ramble off an obscure quote by some 4th century theologian? … More Personal Update: Itinerant Professor
This is my second grade son Isaak’s painting. I think it’s majestic and speaks to me on various levels. I wonder what message it sends to you? Even better, what Scripture might it evoke? … More Christmas Snow (Isaak’s Painting)
What if we could bring back impetuous Peter from the dead to be the keynote speaker at a New Year’s Church Leadership conference at MainStreet? Would our attendance spike if the famous water-walking apostle was filling the pulpit the next 8 weeks? Would we show up with eager ears and ready to take notes? … More New Year’s Letter: St. Peter’s Last Words
Kingdom Harbor 