Images abound for our tendency to settle for less than the best. “Failure to launch.” “Cold feet.” “The boat is still in the harbor.” “She needs to spread her wings to fly”—and sometimes you need to kick them out of the nest before they’ll ever try. … More Learning to Swim in Your Faith
A tearjerking poem I pull out every first (big) snowfall. With love to all who have suffered great loss, but who also know the grace that gently covers our great sorrow like a fresh blanket of snow. … More The First Snowfall
“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” —Oswald Chambers … More WOW – Oswald Chambers
Today most names are chosen based on a parent’s preference or popularity. But in the ancient world, a person’s name was believed to be the essence of their identity. … More Your True Name (Skye Jethani)
These are exciting times for the mission of the church! But to echo Jesus, the harvest is plentiful but the methods have been too few and outdated. … More MainStreet 2020 Vision
Instead of pushing a heavy boulder up a hill, what if spiritual growth was more like stepping into a river and being gradually swept along by God’s life-giving current? … More Boulders & Rivers
People are being shaped and “discipled” far more effectively by the secular media they consume all week long than by any Sunday sermon they might hear twice a month. … More The 21st Century Areopagus
“The poet enters into himself in order to create. The contemplative enters into God in order to be created.” -Thomas Merton … More WOW- Thomas Merton & Divine Poetry
The church needs to embrace the pastoral gift/role of “spiritual writing” as enthusiastically it celebrates the gift of public speaking. … More Pastoral Letters in a Digital Age – Part 2
From Your Enneagram Coach: Finally, let’s explore Core Longing, or the central message each of our hearts is longing to hear. Each Type has a tendency to feel, think and act in certain ways in order to satisfy their Core Longing. But we forsake our Creator when we try to fulfill this unending craving in … More Enneagram: Core Longing
You know you’ve successfully launched a social revolution when even non-coffee drinkers like me are regularly heard saying, “Hey, wanna grab coffee this week?” … More Apostle Paul at Starbucks
Today’s Words Of Wisdom (WOW) are from Parker J. Palmer. I’m currently reading his book Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life (2004). “Like a wild animal, the soul is tough, resilient, resourceful, savvy, and self-sufficient: it knows how to survive in hard places. I learned about these qualities during my bouts with depression. In … More WOW – Parker Palmer on the Soul
Instead of flinging a relatively impersonal sermon out over a nameless crowd each Sunday, a personal letter to the right person at the right time can fling a shepherd’s arms around wounded or wandering sheep, refreshing their soul. … More Pastoral Letters in a Digital Age – Part 1
While other Jewish teachers were content to spend their time teaching in the synagogue, here is Paul sipping coffee at the ancient equivalent of a Starbucks in the ancient equivalent of Time Square in the ancient equivalent of New York City. … More The Writing is on the Wall
From Your Enneagram Coach: Let’s dive into Core Weakness or the issue that each Type struggles within everyday situations and interactions with others. Each Type has something that they are always wrestling with, an Achilles’ heel that remains with them for all their days on Earth. This is like the “thorn in my flesh” Paul … More Enneagram: Core Weakness
While most churches are trying to attract people to their Sunday services, where are the churches finding new ways to engage spiritual seekers where they are? … More We’re Not In Mayberry Anymore
We don’t know how Kanye’s story will end, but we do know that the call of every follower of Jesus is to let love flow out toward every soul-in-process. … More Thoughts on Kanye’s Christian Faith
From Your Enneagram Coach: Today, we’ll take a look at Core Desire, identifying what each Type is constantly striving for, believing it will bring complete fulfillment. The way we each think, feel and behave are rooted in satisfying our Core Desire, and we become hurt, sad, frustrated, or angry when we can’t obtain it.⠀
Twenty-first century America is rampant with every conceivable form of idolatry and ripe for a kingdom harvest. But ‘motive’ is monumental for every missional endeavor. Paul shows us that all ministry should begin with a broken heart.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” -Saint Augustine … More WOW – Augustine
We have been exploring the Enneagram personality typing system this fall at MainStreet. This powerful tool is helping us grow in self-awareness and compassion for others who perceive and experience the world in ways far different from us. For those who want to go deeper, or for those out there who want to jump in … More Enneagram: Core Fears
On Facebook and Instagram, we’re voluntarily inscribing the details of our lives in a book for the whole world to read. We’re leaving digital footprints in the social media sand that will someday, when we’re gone, reveal a lot about who we were and the kind of life we led. … More Job’s Digital Footprint
This week’s Words of Wisdom (WOW) come from ca. 500 BC. “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” -CONFUCIUS, Chinese philosopher
A sermon I gave at a beachside service this summer as we prepared to receive holy communion. “Cast your bread upon the waters and you will get it back in a few days. Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2) The traditional … More Bread on the Waters
In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. … More Poem for a New Beginning
Kingdom Harbor 