My musical talent comes from my mom’s side. Mom is rusty now, but was a fine piano player and would occasionally dazzle us with the accordion. But Dad had a guitar tucked away that we occasionally beg him to pull out. Whenever he brought it out, Dad had one go-to song he would, ahem, attempt to play: “Wildwood Flower.” … More “Wildwood Flower”
I finally bought a tripod so I could capture some video clips of what I do at senior communities. We have a good time! Especially when I get to partner up with my good friend Kris, who really knows how to introduce a performer! Here’s some highlights from a recent show! … More Diamond Cat Highlights
For 20 years, I’ve been writing on the Christian life. Over 2,000+ articles published and 40 volumes of writings fill my shelves. What if there was a way to repackage my favorite articles and give old sermons a second life in a new digital form? Introducing my latest project: short visual summaries of some of my most thought-provoking articles, sermons, essays, and teachings over the years. … More NEW! Visual Sermons & Articles
Stephen Colbert hosts outspoken Christian seminarian and Texas State Rep. James Talarico for an online-exclusive interview that touches on the issues raised in Talarico’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for Senate including the separation of church and state, the dangers of consolidated corporate-owned media, and the fabricated culture wars pushed by Republicans in states like Texas. … More Rep. James Talarico Talks Christianity & Politics on Colbert
Introducing a short video and podcast conversation that revisits my urgent 2019 theological essay arguing that ethnic diversity should be viewed as a spiritual gift essential for the health and witness of the global Christian community. I challenge believers to move beyond nationalism and tribalism toward a “most excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31) defined by suffering in solidarity with marginalized groups. … More Ethnicity and the Church: A More Excellent Way
An American song on this holiday weekend. … More “America” (Simon & Garfunkel)
Here are some highlights from Abby and my show last Friday. I shared a piece explaining the nature of this personal show earlier this week. Read “Precious Memories.” Enjoy a glimpse of Abby being a brave 10 year old! … More #SaturdaySong – Country Show Highlights
Willie Nelson may be my favorite country singer of all time. His nasally pitch is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love his unconventional timing and phrasing, and his songwriting is as legendary as his unique fingering on his Martin classical guitar, “Trigger.” This song is a bit of a tearjerker full of regret, just as Willie will confess many of his broken relationships are as well. … More #SaturdaySong – “Always On My Mind”
Abby has been obsessed with this Dolly song for weeks, and she performed it recently at the Country Jam at the Gillespie Center. The mornings I drive her to the bus stop, she practices it in the car while we wait. Here’s us rough cut from the Cavern with Peter experimenting on the drums. I dig Abby’s dance moves. … More #SaturdaySong – “Here You Come Again”
Here’s Abby and I goofing around in our Music Cavern, doing a rough first take on “Jackson” as part of our classic country set we’re putting together. My first full show is this coming Monday in Eden Prairie. Making good memories! We recorded a few others, so look forward to more #SaturdaySongs in coming weeks. … More #SaturdaySong – “Jackson”
Paul warned the Corinthians that the cross-shaped wisdom and power of Jesus Kingdom seems foolish and weak to the worldly mind. If so, we need Jesus to rewire our minds, change our way of thinking and to have “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Toward this end, we invite you to join us this spring for a video course, The Cruciform Kingdom of God taught by Dr. Greg Boyd. Here’s a taste to whet your appetite. … More NEW Class: The Cruciform Kingdom
My friend Cheryl shared this with me, and I wanted to share it with you today. Stand up comedian, Jeff Allen, shares his long and winding path from an alcoholic atheist to finding meaning and a transformed life through faith in Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Scriptures. … More A Comedian’s Testimony
Here’s a rough cut, first attempt at a newer song. A powerful message and charge to keep laboring for the LORD, and to “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up and quit” (Gal. 6:9). I like the rough unpolished vocal for the message of this song, just as Jesus graciously works in and through our rough and unpolished lives. … More #SaturdaySong – “My Labour Is Not In Vain”
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
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
It’s Holy Saturday…the day Jesus rested in the tomb in some traditions, or the day Jesus raided Hell and proclaimed victory over the powers in others. Either way, Sunday’s a-coming! It is fitting this Easter to share a famous sermon clip from the late, great Tony Campolo who is celebrating his first Easter in glory. … More Sunday’s Coming! (Tony Campolo)
Musk and Trump have taken a chainsaw to foreign aid—literally. But before you cheer or condemn, let’s talk about what foreign aid really is. Is it American generosity? Christian charity? Evangelical thought leader, Skye Jethani, provides some historical perspective, suggesting foreign aid has always been about power, wealth, and self-interest. Cutting it might sound good in a MAGA speech, but it could backfire hard—on America. … More VIDEO: A Christian View of Foreign Aid
Enjoy a classic story by Tony Campolo who went to be with the LORD this week. He was a good and faithful servant. He describes the kind of church that Jesus came to set up on earth. … More Birthday Parties For Prostitutes
As someone who struggles with anxiety, I understand the crippling power fear can exercise in our lives. As a pastor and disciple of Jesus, however, I live in a story where faith overcomes fear, and where Christ’s “perfect love drives out all fear” — including in our political engagement. What can the “Got Milk?” ad campaign teach us? Skye Jethani explains in this video. … More Fear Not, Christian!
In this 4th of July episode of Theology in the Raw podcast (which was recorded on May 1st), Preston Sprinkle talks with Shane Claiborne about the conflict in Israel-Palestine, student protests on U.S. university campuses, and various things related to patriotism, nationalism, and the gospel. Good food for thought for Christians trying to keep their allegiances straight. … More Should Christians be Patriotic?
We’re spending a few Sundays exploring the role of imagination in faith, prayer, and spiritual transformation drawing from a teaching series by Greg Boyd that has been very impactful in my life. We kicked things off with this sermon by Greg, and I invite you to watch it if you missed. … More Imagination and Transformation (Greg Boyd)
My singular call these days is to try to get people under my influence to turn down the volume on the worldly voices (social media, cable news, etc.), and to turn up the volume on wiser voices. David Brooks is one of the wise voices in public life. … More Wisdom in a World of Sound & Fury
Carl Ellis knows what it’s like to get flack from both left and right because he’s navigating a “third way” as a Jesus follower. Systemic racism is a problem, but critical race theory is also problematic. White privilege is a reality to be aware of, but should not lead to white guilt. Dive into wisdom in this nuanced conversation with Preston Sprinkle. … More Neither Liberal nor Conservative: Systemic Racism, White Privilege, and Christian Nationalism, Oh My!
My friend John Phelps shared a powerful sermonette in Israel that brought many to tears. Standing in the Garden of Gethsemane he said, “This is my first time standing in this place, and yet I’ve been here many times.” He shared wisdom on how to face our own suffering, and now he’s battling brain cancer and practicing what he preached. … More Facing Your Own Gethsemane
In this video Ian Morgan Cron talks about the false narratives that we as individuals and as a culture are trained to believe, and what it looks like to connect instead with our true selves in the true stories of our lives. … More False Narratives & Finding Our True Selves
Kingdom Harbor 