Kingdom Harbor

Blogging Aloud in the Streets

February 19, 2018

My daily posts are my attempt to parade Lady Wisdom’s attractive figure across the busy intersections of Facebook with its whistling pedestrians casually scrolling about, passing the time, spying on old friends, watching silly cat videos, reading nasty meme’s and tripping over all the political trash littering the streets and ditches of the social media landscape. I only hope that occasionally someone will hear Lady Wisdom’s cry and stop to listen. … More Blogging Aloud in the Streets

Ancient Sermon on 40 Days of Lent

February 18, 2018

A Christmas gift to myself this year was a collection of Sunday Sermons from the ancient Church Fathers. They are arranged according to the Church Calendar with about 5 or 6 sermons each Sunday for that week’s Gospel text from the likes of Chrysostom, Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine. This first Sunday in Lent I read … More Ancient Sermon on 40 Days of Lent

THE BIBLE: God’s Grand Story

February 17, 2018

In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #4 – THE BIBLE AS GOD’S GRAND STORY The Bible is God’s Grand Story of his dealings within history — the grand metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption and restoration. We are all characters within … More THE BIBLE: God’s Grand Story

THE BIBLE: Revelation of God’s Majesty

February 15, 2018

In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #3 – THE BIBLE AS REVELATION OF GOD’S MAJESTY Christians often take the mind-blowing fact of God’s self-revelation for granted. Our faith stands or falls on the foundational belief that God has stooped to … More THE BIBLE: Revelation of God’s Majesty

What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 3

February 15, 2018

I worry we’re preaching the love of Christ while ignoring the wisdom of Christ. I worry we’re raising up a generation of Christians shaped by the shallow and spineless gospel of the Beatles: “All you need is love, love, love.” Yet, take away wisdom and all you have a bunch of “foolish lovers” driven along by fluctuating emotions and trendy causes. Love must be accompanied by wisdom. Wisdom guides us to love rightly. … More What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 3

What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 2

February 14, 2018

What keeps me awake at night is wondering if all of my pastoral efforts are actually producing disciples. Are we just keeping people busy with programs and gatherings, or are people being gradually (and imperfectly) formed into Christlikeness? I felt Paul’s exasperation lately over his beloved church when he wrote, “Oh, my dear children! I … More What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 2

Martin Luther: Comforting the Sick

February 14, 2018

I know the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is over, but I just happened upon an old essay I wrote on Luther’s pastoral approach to the sick and dying I found interesting. Martin Luther’s book Comfort For the Sick and Dying provides a window into his faith and theology as it is worked out in the face … More Martin Luther: Comforting the Sick

Love, Marriage & Singleness at the Apocalypse

February 13, 2018

The United States has a love affair with Eros; I’d say our society as a whole is worshiping at the temple of Eros — and not just once a year. Consider the numbers… … More Love, Marriage & Singleness at the Apocalypse

What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 1

February 13, 2018

Every Christian should want to know what keeps their pastor awake at night. What is his/her greatest longing and burden for his/her congregation? I’ve been asking myself this question a lot as I prepare for the next year at MainStreet Covenant Church. It’s year seven or so in the life of this church. The excitement … More What Keeps Me Awake? Pt. 1

Where Thou Dwelleth?

February 12, 2018

Like the angels ascending and descending on Jacob’s ladder, the person who “abides” or “dwells” in Jesus by faith will experience the grace and peace of God ascending and descending in our lives on a regular basis. We’ll experience grace as Heaven’s promises descend into our valleys of despair and need. … More Where Thou Dwelleth?

THE BIBLE: God’s Book of Promises

February 12, 2018

In this series of posts we’re exploring the different ways the Bible confronts the reader and the appropriate response to each. #2 – THE BIBLE AS GOD’S BOOK OF PROMISES The Bible is a treasure trove packed full of the enduring promises of God. When life’s troubles trip us up and get us down, when … More THE BIBLE: God’s Book of Promises

Climbing Mt. Everest (Psalm 119)

February 9, 2018

We don’t think attaining “the blessed life” has any correlation with faithful obedience and diligent devotion! If Jesus was obedient for us, then we can lazily float away our days on a inflatable lounger in the pool of cheap grace. … More Climbing Mt. Everest (Psalm 119)

THE BIBLE: Divine Encounter

February 9, 2018

I want to repost a series exploring the many different ways God speaks to us through the Scriptures. #1 – THE BIBLE AS DIVINE ENCOUNTER There is a significance difference between examining God’s written Word on the one hand and having a personal encounter with the Living God through our reading of His Word on … More THE BIBLE: Divine Encounter

QUOTABLES: Karl Barth on Theology

February 8, 2018

“Of all the disciplines theology is the fairest, the one that moves the head and heart most fully, the one that comes closest to human reality, the one that gives the clearest perspective on the truth which every disciple seeks. . . . But of all disciplines, theology is also the most difficult and the … More QUOTABLES: Karl Barth on Theology

QUOTABLES: Luther & Prideful Writing

February 5, 2018

“If you feel or imagine that you are right and you suppose that your book, teaching, or writing is a great achievement . . . then, my dear man, feel your ears . . . . You will find that you have a splendid pair of big, long, shaggy ass’s ears.” -MARTIN LUTHER

LIFE VERSES 9: Acts 17:17

February 4, 2018

In this series I’m sharing some of the Scriptures that have most radically influenced my own life and faith. Read full series here. I love the moment in The Lord of the Rings when Samwise turns to Frodo and asks, “I wonder what kind of a tale we’ve fallen into?” The two hobbits perceptively realized that their … More LIFE VERSES 9: Acts 17:17

Juggling Tuna, Waiting on God

February 3, 2018

Remember that awful season of life when you were floundering around in Nowheresville, with no direction or purpose, feeling stalled and stuck? Waiting on God, or anyone for that matter, is rarely fun. This week’s lectionary features both Isaiah 40 where “those who wait upon the Lord will rise up on eagles wings” and Jesus’ … More Juggling Tuna, Waiting on God

QUOTABLES: Pondering Miracles

February 2, 2018

LIFE VERSES 8: Isaiah 49:1-6

February 1, 2018

In this series — Life Verses — I’m sharing some of the scriptures that have most impacted my life and faith journey. Today I want to share one of the most memorable moments I’ve had during my morning devotions. I even know the exact date. It was July 20, 2010. I was seeking God more desperately … More LIFE VERSES 8: Isaiah 49:1-6

On Eagles’ Wings & Selective Memory

January 31, 2018

I’m a typical guy, so I know all about “selective hearing.” Just ask my wife. We (especially men) have ways of tuning certain things out and tuning in others; I don’t always know why and its not always intentional. Please forgive us, wives! Just as “selective hearing” can put a strain on a marriage, so … More On Eagles’ Wings & Selective Memory

Church & Politics: A Jesus-Shaped Approach

January 30, 2018

“Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” -Jesus My politics actually haven’t changed all that much over the years. When I go to the polls every two or four years to give “caesar” my opinion on how best to run this particular “kingdom of the world” called America, I still … More Church & Politics: A Jesus-Shaped Approach

LIFE VERSES 7: Acts 17:6

January 29, 2018

In this series I am sharing some of the passages of the Bible — or Life Verses — that have most impacted my own life. “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also….they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, proclaiming that there is another king, Jesus.” ACTS 17:6 After college I immediately began … More LIFE VERSES 7: Acts 17:6

Women Pastors & Professors Who Shaped Me

January 29, 2018

Influential pastor and teacher, John Piper, got a heated response from some recent comments made in an interview regarding women as pastors and seminary teachers: “If it is unbiblical to have women as pastors, how can it be biblical to have women who function in formal teaching and mentoring capacities to train and fit pastors … More Women Pastors & Professors Who Shaped Me

Cold Snowdrifts to Warm Fireplaces

January 26, 2018

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from.” Psalm 121 There she sits, windows all aglow, full of warmth and perched high upon Berg Mountain: our cozy home. But here we all sit at the bottom of the hill, tired from travels, cranky with coughs and sniffles, stranded in our mini-van, … More Cold Snowdrifts to Warm Fireplaces

Beecher on Corrupt Government

January 26, 2018

There’s no shortage of corruption in places of power today. So I found this warning from Henry Ward Beecher from the 1860s interesting. Though, the main illicit behavior he was attacking was leaders spending their spare time gambling at casinos. If only that were our biggest problem today. “Our land has little to fear from … More Beecher on Corrupt Government