A Conduit, Not a Factory
August 4, 2020
He is the faucet, the spigot, the ever flowing spring. I’m that rusty watering can with a slow leak. … More A Conduit, Not a Factory
Olde Tyme Letters Speak Today
August 4, 2020
This fall I will be writing pastoral letters to my congregation as part of my doctoral program. Seeking inspiration and models, I have been devouring letters from many spiritual writers such as Henri Nouwen and Eugene Peterson. I still love the olde time wisdom packed into Francois Fenelon’s letters (1651-1715). Here’s one written to someone who has … More Olde Tyme Letters Speak Today
Seeking Still Waters Under a Waterfall (1 Peter 2:1-3)
July 17, 2020
Soon the soothing sounds of the gentle breeze and singing birds were drowned out by loud music coming from a vehicle parked ahead by the stream. DNR officials were taking water samples from the stream. The people called to protect the beauty and peacefulness of the natural habitat were checking the water for pollutants while polluting the air with noise. … More Seeking Still Waters Under a Waterfall (1 Peter 2:1-3)
Salvation Lives Here (A Home Blessing)
July 7, 2020
Marvel of marvels, the Living God wants—no insists—on taking up residence in our homes! “I must stay at your house,” he tells Zacchaeus. … More Salvation Lives Here (A Home Blessing)
A Weekend at the Father’s Cabin
June 28, 2020
The Father’s Cabin is an account of Jeremy’s imaginative and prayer-generated journey to a quiet, northern lakefront cabin where the Son of God himself is our host and guide. The Father’s Cabin illuminates scripture and kingdom truths in a creative narrative style that is full of both witty humor and profound insights. This is a trip you’ll never forget! … More A Weekend at the Father’s Cabin
Apocalypse Now 5: Garden City
June 27, 2020
Part 5 of our Revelation series looks at the church’s call to resist the seduction of Empire and worldly power, avoiding the mark(s) of the Beast and bearing the marks of Christlike character. We should fix our eyes on the New City that will someday come down to Earth, and become a here-and-now colony of Heaven in the middle of this groaning creation. … More Apocalypse Now 5: Garden City
Conversation #3: What About White Privilege?
June 21, 2020
This week’s service honors Father’s Day, Keri’s birthday and Conversation #3 on Racial Righteousness with a message by Pastor Jon Tyson of Church of the City, New York, on Jesus, power and privilege. … More Conversation #3: What About White Privilege?
Sermon: Apocalypse Now Part 4 – “Babylon & the Mark of the Beast”
June 19, 2020
We’ve been taught to see evil and injustice in mainly individualistic terms. The Book of Revelation confronts and exposes oppressive “cultures” and exploitative economies represented by the “Beasts” and “Babylon” and the Harlot. This makes Revelation a very timely book as we expose aspects of American society and our history that has the “marks of the beast.” … More Sermon: Apocalypse Now Part 4 – “Babylon & the Mark of the Beast”
Jesus, Power, and Privilege
June 19, 2020
There is no shame in being privileged or being white; it’s whether or not we’re aware of this privilege, understand that privilege often comes at another’s expense, and, most importantly, what we decide to do with our privilege. … More Jesus, Power, and Privilege
Confessions of a Responsible, Hardworking White Guy Who Earned His Own Way (cough)
June 17, 2020
When I have been confronted with claims of racial injustice, white privilege, and racism as a ‘social issue’, I was taught to dismiss such thinking as a concoction of liberals and certain black leaders who are still living in the past. … More Confessions of a Responsible, Hardworking White Guy Who Earned His Own Way (cough)
A Prayer in the Confusion
June 17, 2020
A prayer from Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971) … More A Prayer in the Confusion
Conversation #2: Being Black in America
June 13, 2020
Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Yet, in this moment, white Christians should also heed Jesus’ brother’s advice: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak … More Conversation #2: Being Black in America
Revelation Reveals a Tale of Two Cities
June 11, 2020
The lesson that God would judge a city for its economic practices is a sobering thought. The fact that much of the condemnation appears to stem from its self-indulgence should hit with particular force at modern consumer culture … More Revelation Reveals a Tale of Two Cities
Conversation #1: History of Post-Civil War Racism
June 10, 2020
Phil Vischer (Veggie Tales) and his law professor brother Rob taught a class that touched on the Black Lives Matter movement, asking and attempting to answer the question, “Why so angry? Isn’t racism over?” … More Conversation #1: History of Post-Civil War Racism
What’s in a Name?
June 10, 2020
When someone’s name is taken away, that person is dehumanized. In a very real way, our name is our identity. No one has the right to take it away or change it. … More What’s in a Name?
Pastoral Letter: A ‘Kairos’ Moment for the American Church
June 9, 2020
This is a “kairos moment” for the white church and America that I pray doesn’t pass us by leaving us unchanged. … More Pastoral Letter: A ‘Kairos’ Moment for the American Church
Daily Spark: “A Bigger Story to Live In”
June 9, 2020
This is a challenge to follow King Jesus into greater public goodness and witness just one day before our country was rocked by the murder of George Floyd sparking protests around the world. … More Daily Spark: “A Bigger Story to Live In”
Pastors & Prophets, or Political Pundits?
June 9, 2020
My worst fear — and it is well-founded — is that the white church will continue to be influenced and shaped more by partisan political rhetoric than by the God-ordained, Biblically drenched, Jesus-centered pastors and prophetic Christian voices God has placed in our lives for such a time as this. … More Pastors & Prophets, or Political Pundits?
Daily Spark: “Escaping the Echo Chamber”
June 8, 2020
“The time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim 4:3). … More Daily Spark: “Escaping the Echo Chamber”
It’s Time to Grow Up
June 7, 2020
It’s time for the Body of Christ to grow up. Like a refrigerated teething ring given to an infant cutting her teeth, I have offered Paul’s ‘Body Metaphor’ for the church to chew on as we seek to become One Unified Body of Many Ethnic Parts. … More It’s Time to Grow Up
Sunday Service – June 7, 2020 – “Enough Is Enough: Toward Racial Justice”
June 6, 2020
Today we hear a raw and impassioned message by Pastor Greg Boyd challenging the white church to wake up to our nation’s Original Sin of racism. … More Sunday Service – June 7, 2020 – “Enough Is Enough: Toward Racial Justice”
Seek the Greater Gift of Racial Sensibility
June 6, 2020
The “Love Poem” in 1 Corinthians 13 is often pulled out of context and read at weddings. When applied to racial division and ethnic differences in the local church, its doubly explosive! … More Seek the Greater Gift of Racial Sensibility
Racial Injustice has Benefited Me
June 5, 2020
I’m watching America burn, and watching fingers point in all directions. Of course, I’m not a racist. I’ve never kneeled on anyone’s neck or denied housing to anyone. So I’m clean. Right? … More Racial Injustice has Benefited Me
Giving Greater Honor to Minorities
June 5, 2020
This is the task of the church today: for Christians of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to receive those of different backgrounds as a gift to broaden our perspective and deepen our love as we learn to not only understand each other’s experiences, but enter into each other’s pain and, God willing, to learn how to suffer in solidarity with them. … More Giving Greater Honor to Minorities
An Intoxicatingly Beautiful Unity-in-Diversity
June 4, 2020
Paul emphasizes our mutual interdependence in the Body which, when applied to race/ethnicity, offers some of the following revolutionary and far-reaching principles for racial healing and cooperation in the church. … More An Intoxicatingly Beautiful Unity-in-Diversity
Kingdom Harbor 