On March 10, MainStreet is hosting “Tech-Wise Family” Sunday. Our regular worship service will feature a video presentation by Andy Crouch on his book The Tech-Wise Family. The service will be followed by a luncheon that includes a panel discussion, Q&A and live interaction/discussion with fellow MainStreeters as we share our struggles and offer tips to one … More Tech-Wise Family Sunday – March 10 @ MainStreet
Richard Halverson, the former chaplain of the United States Senate, summarized church history this way: “In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next, it … More The Idol of Celebrity (Skye Jethani)
“What is this babbler trying to say?”(Acts 17:18) “In public he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them” (Mark 4:34). “Let your house be a gathering place for sages; And wallow in the dust of their feet; and drink in their words with … More Preaching or Teaching?
A Sermon preached February 17, 2019 Texts: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Cor. 15:12-20 One of the great privileges of parenting is introducing kids to things for the first time—classic movies, timeless stories, and, my favorite, music legends. Recently, seven year old Peter and I shared a holy moment on the drive home from IKEA … More The Third Tree
Repost from 2018. Happy Valentine’s Day! While many will rely on Hallmark’s card writers to find the perfect words to say “I love you” today, some Christians might reach back to the famous “love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13 read at many weddings. Yet, the man who wrote these words would probably find it quite … More Your One True Love
I often talk about church as a car repair shop rather than a Sunday trip through a car wash. While the latter may feel nice and give your exterior a little extra shine for a few days, it does not address the ‘engine’ inside that makes us go. At MainStreet we desire to open the … More Epictetus: Soul-Wrenching Work
One of my favorite Christian thinkers and leaders these days is Skye Jethani. I subscribe to his “daily devotional for people who hate daily devotionals” called “With God Daily.” I really enjoy it. He’s currently doing a series focusing on a different idol each week. This week has been The Idol of Comfort. I thought I’d … More The Power of Contentment (Skye Jethani)
“We’re running out of kabobs already!” someone (probably the mother of the bride or groom) informed the wedding party in a bit of a panic. “Everyone hasn’t even been through the buffet yet!” The night was still young and they had spent good money on grilled salmon-kabobs to fed 400 guests. What was going on? … More Wedding Crashers (John 2:1-11)
We’re celebrating 7 years of God’s faithfulness this week. Here’s something I wrote in the summer of 2010 when MainStreet was still “merely a vision living in our hearts and not yet taking root in the community in any tangible, concrete way.” Then many of YOU came along and helped make it a reality. Thanks! From … More My Immovable Rock (2010)
Here’s the introduction to “MainStreet Beginnings” book as we mark our 7th anniversary. Read more about the project here. Contact me if you’re interested in getting a copy. INTRODUCTION: A Hometown Apostle I was an unlikely choice—but then that sort of makes me a more likely choice in God’s eyes. He loves surprises and unlikely heroes. … More MainStreet Beginnings, Intro
I get nostalgic each year around Jan. 15. How can one not look back and cherish such a miraculous new birth?! Here’s two videos from the beginnings of MainStreet. This first one is probably my favorite MainStreet video of all time. Baby Peter was celebrating his first Christmas and we were preparing for our Grand … More Happy 7th Birthday, MainStreet!
MainStreet was a long, slow launch. We were one of the last “pioneer” plants to get the green light. That is, we didn’t have a parent or partner church when we were approved by the Northwest Conference to begin gathering a Launch Team. Thank God, Excelsior Covenant soon came alongside us to give us a … More Through the Fog (2011)
Today marks the 7th anniversary of MainStreet Covenant Church’s first weekly worship service. I thought this an appropriate occasion to announce the completion of a commemorative book I’ve produced that details the journey. As you probably know, I love history, and therefore I love probing origins. Any appreciator of the past quickly becomes an appreciator … More NEW! MainStreet Beginnings Book
Just read a great article by Ellen Davis called “Surprised by Wisdom.” Here’s a taste: Anyone attuned to both the [biblical] text and contemporary culture might pause as early as the second line of the book [of Proverbs], where the purpose of “the proverbs of Solomon” is stated thus: “For knowing wisdom and discipline {musar)…” … More Wisdom’s Allure
They found him…sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions…And Jesus grew in wisdom.” (Luke 2:46, 52) Jesus was a middle schooler once. Can you imagine that? Popping pimples. Voice cracking. Surging hormones. Changing body. Our stained glass images of a stoic Jesus the Son of God and second person of the … More Sermon: Growing in Wisdom
The Work of Christmas by Rev Dr Howard Thurman (1899-1981) When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To … More The Work of Christmas
“This life…is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well, not being but becoming….We are not yet what we shall be, but we are on the way….This is not the goal but it is the right road….all does not gleam and sparkle, but everything is being cleansed.” -MARTIN LUTHER
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not … More Sermon: Christmas Hide & Seek
Here’s the hauntingly beautiful ancient hymn we featured at our Christmas Eve service. Listen below after reading the words. O SAVIOR OF OUR FALLEN RACE Ancient Christmas Hymn, circa 6th Century O Savior of our fallen race, O Brightness of the Father’s face, O Son who shared the Father’s might Before the world knew day … More O Savior of Our Fallen Race
On his death bed, just before he breathed his last, the Buddha gathered his disciples around him and offered these last words of wisdom: “You are a light unto yourself. Seek not any external refuge. Salvation is found in no other place than yourself.” I’ve been taking the advice of a good friend, and dabbling … More Jesus, Buddha & the Light of Salvation
by Author Unknown Pa never had such compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from … More Old Fashioned Christmas
The escape attempts from Alcatraz were thwarted every time as the fugitives were swallowed up in the frozen waters of the San Francisco Bay. The scandal of Christmas is that God does not leave sin-stained humanity stranded on an island or demand we swim through icy waters for our freedom. It celebrates God’s swim across the cold waters in order to secure our freedom. … More Christmas at Alcatraz
“Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.” “Only the humble … More QUOTABLES: Bonhoeffer & the Lowly Manger
A throwback piece from years ago. -JB Remember the momentous day of January 20, 2009? All the eyes of the world were set on Washington D.C. for the inauguration of the first African American U.S. President Barrack Obama. Throngs of people flocked to the Capitol to witness this history-making event. Every news camera, every political … More Seriously, Why Shepherds?
The guy must be nuts! Look at him sitting there on a hard dirt floor, the smell of human waste thick in the air, hands raised to the sky with big smile beaming from ear to ear as he prays to his god! I can’t make any sense of it. … More Sermon: Paul’s Secret
Kingdom Harbor 