My boys and I planted some trees a couple summers ago. Each week we went out to water them together. Peter was almost 4 and Isaak was almost 2 years old. I noticed something each time we watered them together. I poured the bucket of water all around the little tree to sink down and … More Going Green 2: Water the Roots
A few years back I had to write a paper exploring an image or metaphor that describes my personal vision for pastoral ministry. Here’s what I wrote. (Note: Keri was pregnant with Abby at the time). “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…” Gal. 4:19 … More Pastor as Spiritual Midwife
I’m reposting this in light of recent conversation in our Heaven LifeCourse about the nature of heaven and hell, freedom of choice, being ‘given over’ to the destructive consequences of sin, and how we are daily becoming creatures more fit for heaven and hell. -JB _________ This post is in memory of Robin Williams and a … More Cabin 16: The Neighbor’s Well
God has green thumbs. There’s no doubt about that. You are never closer to the heart and purposes of God than when you’re on you’re on your knees in the garden pulling weeds with sweat running down your brow. Or tilling that rocky soil, pulling up thorns and thistles, or wringing your hands with frustration … More Going Green 1: God Has Green Thumbs
“We come to the Bible, raising questions about its relevance to our present daily lives, only to find that the Bible questions us about our relevance to the way of Christ.” -Will Willimon We’re modern people. We value efficiency and practicality. We like quick how-to tutorials that immediately get to the point. We’re self-driven, ambitious … More The Perils of Preaching Today
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Phil 4:23). Paul begins with “grace” (1:2), and ends with “grace.” The gracious love of the Lord Jesus was the joy of his heart. For Paul, grace was the name of his game. Grace was the blood running through his veins. Grace was the … More PHILIPPIANS 34: Evening Grace (4:23)
Many of you know that I have always felt a tension and tugging in my soul between my desires and gifts for academic study and writing on the one hand, and my commitment to leading real people to experience the life of the Kingdom in the church today. I am a pastor-scholar at heart in a world … More Announcement: Doctoral Studies with Scot McKnight!
“Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will reap a crop of my love; plow the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord. HOSEA 10:12 Jesus spent his entire ministry teaching one main message: Open your eyes and see a new way of being human available to … More Going Green with Jesus
In this essay from 2004, I seek to expand our understanding of salvation emphasizing the significant roles of both narrative and community in one’s conversion. Many years ago, seemingly in a different life, I found myself on a bus full of zealous Christians headed to a San Diego music festival to pass out gospel tracts on the street corner. Only after … More Loosening the Helmet: Narrative & Communal Dimensions of Salvation
After pushing ‘pause’ for about 8 years, I finally concluded my reflections on the entire Book of Philippians recently. I’ll share the last few parts in the days ahead. See rest of the series here. “How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for … More PHILIPPIANS 33: The Secret (4:10-19)
I’ve been studying the raising of Lazarus recently. I love how a closer examination of a very familiar passage can reveal new spiritual truths. Here are a few little insights I’ve gleaned. First, this story is full of deep emotions and coated with tears, grief, loss and longing. Just think of the last funeral visitation you … More Move the Stone, Come Out & Be Unwrapped
The Christian life is filled with counterintuitive paradoxical truths. One of my favorites is Jesus’ strange warning that “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). On the surface this is ludicrous. I mean the last time I lost $10 I was poorer and … More Re-Born Identity: “Kingdom Exchange Principle”
Here are some foundational leadership principles passed on to me related to ongoing congregational health and mission. How have these manifested themselves in your personal ministry? In your lay leaders? In your congregation? Leadership definition: “Leadership is the process by which a man or a woman, guided by the Holy Spirit, influences a group of … More Leadership Axioms for Healthy Congregations
Suicide is an all too common thing these days — especially among adolescents and younger adults. I thought I’d repost an older piece from around 2009 for a Christian perspective on such tragedies. Some of these words also give perspective on the evil of recent events. -JB The forces of darkness are always around us. Most of the time, if … More When Darkness Wins a Battle, We Still Win the War
A repost from 2014. I completely broke down during worship recently. I was overcome with emotion — kind of out of the blue. I was speaking and just lost it and could not compose myself. If you were there, you know how long I wept up front… (Aaaaaawkward.) When I finally pulled myself together I … More Just 33 Years
“Don’t Be So Heavenly Minded That You’re of no Earthly Good.” Has this ever been said of you? What do people usually mean by such a statement? Can someone ever become too heavenly minded? I would submit that such a statement is based upon an inaccurate understanding of “heavenly” and “earthly”. This old, platonic dualistic view … More So Heavenly-minded, No Earthly Good?
The greatest tragedy is not to die but to have lived a long life with no real sense of purpose. Twenty-first century life in the West boasts of more freedoms, opportunities, modern comforts, and vocational choices than ever before. Yet, we are also more depressed than ever before. We go-go-go nonstop, working longer hours and involving … More Are We Running in Vain?
Theology matters. And we all “do theology” — whether we’re aware of it or not. Theology is “thinking about God.” The question is not whether we do theology but whether we do good or bad theology. This is why my one of my biggest passions as a pastor is trying to help people begin to think critically … More Faith Over Feelings
I pulled the little chain and nothing. My little green lamp didn’t turn on. I checked the bulb to see if it was dead or not screwed in tight. The bulb was fine. Pull the chain—nothing. Hmmm? My favorite green lamp simply wouldn’t work. Just as I was beginning to grow frustrated and ready to … More “Behold, Electricity is at Hand!”
The moon is made of green cheese. At least this was the silly myth began some 500 years ago. Nobody really expected to find Swiss or Cheddar when we began sending rockets to the moon in the 1960s, but I bet many were at least hoping to discover something, well, quite extraordinary—something “out of this … More Down-to-Earth Spirituality
I remember it was early spring and unseasonably warm. It was just after Passover. I can still smell the warm, salted breeze coming off the Aegean sea, and hear the squalk of seagulls circling above. We stood on the hill overlooking the harbor and waited for the ship to appear on the horizon. The ship … More The Lucky Tale of Eutychus
PSALM 23 REWRITTEN (WORRY) Worry is my shepherd, I can’t turn it off. Worry never lets me lie down and rest, It leads me beside waterfalls of “what ifs.” Worry torments my soul. Worry guides me down safe paths only, I’m afraid to step out, embrace change, really live! Worry makes even minor trials seem … More Who’s Your Shepherd? (5)
PSALM 23 REWRITTEN (DEPRESSION) Depression is my shepherd. I deserve nothing. I have no right to lie down; even the weather conspires to make my life miserable. My soul is beaten down. I have no one to follow and lack the energy to make my own way. My mind is filled with dark thoughts. I … More Who’s Your Shepherd? (4)
I want you to imagine two scenes. First, picture a peaceful tropical beach resort, yourself lying in a hammock with a cold drink and good book. Can you hear the seagulls squawking as the sounds of the surf provide a relaxing soundtrack? Feel the sun warming your neck, and the gentle breeze keeping you cool? Peace … More SERMON: Navigating Life’s Storms
Let me share about a fun side-project I’ve been working on. I’ve spent the past few months compiling the past 10 or so years of Daily Illumination writings into a collection of self-published books for my personal library and to share with family and friends. The original intent was to collect all my best blog pieces into physical books for my own shelf — solely … More My Book Project
Kingdom Harbor 