While we’re busy carving pumpkins and collecting candy this weekend, November 1 will be All Saints Day. More familiar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians, this is a day we pause both to remember and celebrate all those brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us. The church universal is made up of … More ‘A Great Cloud of Witnesses’: All Saints Day Reflection
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
Rigid traditions create small boxes with well defined borders. Small boxes define a world where some are in (us) and some are out (the outcast). We see this portrayed in this video; we see this in scripture, and, unfortunately, we see this in the world we live in today. … More Chosen 6 – The Spiritual Toxicity of Fear & Rigidity
When Christ returns for His Bride, the church, will we be dressed in deeds befitting our role as Christ’s Bride? Or will our collective witness be stained by hypocrisy, divisiveness, infighting and adulterous acts with idols? … More Chosen 5 – Jesus and His Bride
The reconstructors are fine with salvation if it is deep enough to take root in the whole life, if it is wide enough to embrace all that God is redeeming, and high enough to be genuine religion and spirituality, and low enough to matter when they get in the car to fetch the kids at school. … More A Deeper Salvation (Scot McKnight)
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
Listen to Greg Boyd share his wisdom and insight 3 times per week. Recognized in 2010 as one of the 20 most influential living Christian scholars, get to know Greg and his profound theology through his Q & R podcast hosted by my friend Dan Kent. … More Will We Have Freewill in Heaven?
In Episode 4 Simon Peter comes to the end of himself. He reckons with a debt he cannot pay, and has dug himself into a hole that he cannot get out of on his own. Peter grapples with a “I-can-fix-it-myself Syndrome” and it takes his wife Eden’s truth-speaking to wake him up. … More Chosen 4 – The False Gospel of Self Help
Many today are deconstructing their faith, the faith of their parents, the faith of their church, the faith of public evangelicalism. I have observed what I will call here three “phases” of this deconstruction. … More Beyond Deconstructing Faith
We think the kingdom comes by taking responsibility, putting in the blood, sweat and tears, grabbing life (and faith) by the horns. This is life, faith, and ministry under the heavy yoke. This is the pathway to burnout, bitterness, and disillusionment with God and religion. This is doing God’s work without God’s presence and power. … More I Am Nicodemus
Jesus doesn’t usually impose himself on us, but prefers to kindle a small fire in the background of our lives and consciousness. He prefers to strike a small match — a passing thought, a brilliant sunset, an inner yearning — and waits for us to start fanning the flame together. … More Chosen 3 – Pitching a Tent in Our Backyard
A friend shared this prayer of Thomas Merton with me. I enjoy my occasional morning walks with Merton in the woods. He’s a great guide to get lost with in the woods, and deep thought! … More Lost in the Woods with Merton
“I no longer go by that name.” These are the words out of Mary of Magdala’s mouth as she is stopped by Nicodemus in the street, recently healed from her demonic affliction in episode one. Her healing was set into motion when Jesus called her by her true name, and she threw off her false identity – “Lilith.” The same healing awaits us. … More Chosen 2 – “I No Longer Go By That Name”
Bishop Barron explores four thinkers who are shaping the world that we are confronting: Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Michel Foucault. Once we understand some of their most basic ideas, we will recognize their influence everywhere today. … More Ideas Have Consequences
I have found it necessary to spend the first couple classes laying some groundwork about healthy attitudes and approaches to learning, and naming and avoiding unhealthy approaches and attitudes that stunt growth. Toward this end, I have found one book helpful. … More 3 Great Untruths Stunting our Growth
This week we re-launched our very informal “youth group” we call Jason’s House by hosting some organized 10-14 year old chaos at our home. Our newly baptized Peter is old enough to attend, and is eager to invite his friends to learn about Jesus. Peter’s fearlessness to be on stage in front of a crowd … More Holy Rowdiness at “Jason’s House”
We had a nice turnout and some yummy popcorn at our first showing of The Chosen Sunday at MainStreet Covenant. Each Tuesday we’re releasing a follow-up reflection on the Anchor Podcast featuring myself and other MainStreet voices. Listen to the first one here. … More Chosen 1 – He Knows Your Name
Educational models today are more focused on efficient content delivery than the teacher’s pedagogy and relationship with students. I fear we’re delivering disembodied ideas and degrees, but less and less embodied wisdom. … More Teachers, Students & Effective Education
Join Christianity Today’s Russell Moore and a diverse panel of evangelical leaders as they explore the facts, falsehoods, and theological implications of critical race theory. … More Christians and Critical Race Theory Webinar
What happens when the words about Jesus in the Bible leap off the page and become “living and active” among us? We have a fresh encounter with the real Jesus. This has happened to me this summer, and for millions of viewers around the world through the TV series The Chosen. … More The Chosen: The Sermon Goes Visual this Fall
A couple weekends ago, I grabbed my iPhone 8 (yep, a few models behind) and mini-tripod and drove north to Lake Superior with a singular goal of capturing some video for a little “Welcome Video” for the front page of my newly branded (still tweaking) Kingdom Harbor website. … More “Filming” On the North Shore
What message does a father preach at his firstborn’s baptism? Well, if his name is Peter, he loves adventurous sea stories, and desires to be a bold disciple, how about Matthew 14:22-33? … More Waters of Faith: A Baptism Sermon
Two young fish are swimming along when they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?” … More This Is Water (David Foster Wallace)
What thoughts or feelings do you have when you pass a person on a street corner holding a cardboard sign, asking for help? Do you give them some cash and a smile as you roll by? Do you think, “Why don’t you just get a job?” Do you look the other way, avoid eye contact, and drive away feeling uneasy and conflicted? … More Entertaining Homeless Angels
What a sad day it is when those called to show the world the true character and embracing love of God end up preaching bigotry, withholding grace, and turning a cold shoulder to those we’ve labeled the Other. … More Waters of Enemy-Love
Kingdom Harbor 