Almost every single sporting game involves the use of established boundaries and penalizes players for going “out of bounds.” Whether we’re playing football, baseball, soccer, the gymnastics floor exercise or the game of golf, every honest player accepts the established boundaries and agrees to abide by the official rules of the game. And, if you’ve … More GOLF & GOD (4): Out of Bounds
I’m reposting this from 2010 in light of my current series called “Going Green.” -JB I’m an “environmentalist” — but of a certain kind. I’m a Christian whose worldview holds that the earth is God’s good creation and human beings were created in the image of the wise, creative, caring God who gave us the … More VIDEO: Is Environmentalism a Religion?
I worked on the grounds crew at Burl Oaks Golf Club in high school for four years. I absolutely loved almost every aspect of this job — mowing the greens, fairways and roughs, moving the hole placements, landscaping, washing and gassing carts. I can still smell the fresh morning air as I remember mowing greens … More GOLF & GOD (3): Sand Traps: Blessing or Curse?
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt 7:13-14). The flag stands some 500 yards away on … More GOLF & GOD (2): Playing the Fairway
Dave Goldberg died tragically about a month ago on vacation with family. His wife, Sheryl Sandberg, is the COO of Facebook and a very thoughtful soul who bravely shared the following personally heart-wrenching thoughts on her grieving process. There is wisdom and humanity in these words. Read, reflect and hug your loved ones a little longer … More Honest Reflections on Grief and Loss (by Sheryl Sandberg)
Our first born is named Peter. This means, among other things, that we’ve been given many copies of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit books. I can’t count how many times I’ve read the tale of that fluffy, nosey rabbit sneaking into Farmer McGregor’s garden only to steal a carrot and barely escape with his life. While … More Peter Rabbit in the Garden of Eden
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my heroes. He was a brilliant and gentle follower of Jesus. He formed an underground seminary in Nazi Germany and taught people the loving Way of Jesus. He stood fast and resisted the pressure to go along with the churches that were under the influence of Hitler’s regime. (I tried … More A Hymn for the Suffering by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I used to shoot my best scores at Lakeview Golf course just two miles outside my hometown of Mound, MN. I grew up playing Lakeview weekly and later worked two summers on the grounds crew mowing and maintaining the course. I, therefore, became very familiar with every detail of this particular course. I know every … More GOLF & GOD (1): The Front 9 of Faith
Welcome to the Club House. Get your clubs ready and your shoes laced up. We are preparing to tee off on a new discipleship series called Golf & God: Spiritual Links to life with God. Jeremy continues to bring us devotional writings that cleverly and applicably link faith with the stuff of everyday life — what … More Welcome to the Club House!
Enjoy this challenge from my friend Mike Fox whose writings have been featured here in the past. -JB 100 years ago there was no television, no internet. News traveled slowly. Because of this a drought in Africa, a tsunami in SE Asia, or an epidemic in India might go unnoticed by most Americans. It was the … More Blistered Feet & Bloody Hands (by Mike Fox)
A repost from 2010. Things have only gotten worse! -JB Albert Mohler, Jr. reports on a significant new study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation on teenagers and technology HERE The study states: As anyone who knows a teen or tween can attest, media are among the most powerful forces in young people’s lives today. … More New Study on Teens & Technology
Respected leader Bob Buford highlights diverse perspective on recent reports proclaiming the decline of Christianity Here’s the article from Exponential entitled Is It “The Big Drop”? Or Is the U.S. Church Becoming More Evangelical than Ever? I expect most of us have been seeing the media barrage reporting on the drop in the number of Christians in the United … More The Demise or Evangelicalization of the American Church?
“If I had 6 hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first 4 hours sharpening the axe.” -ABRAHAM LINCOLN
As the school year wraps up, I’m reminded of my youth pastor days. Here’s a repost from 2009. I’m typing this blog from my laptop while text messaging, checking my email, listening to my Ipod, updating my Twitter and sipping an iced mocha. I’m totally wired and buzzed — both from caffeine and all the … More Constantly Buzzed: Teens & Technology
Tonight is David Letterman’s final show. I remember when I first started watching Letterman. It was around 1993 and I was about 14 years old and spending the week at my cousin Tasha’s house. That week we watched him every night and I was hooked for the rest of my high school days. I had … More Good Night David Letterman
What if Jesus pulled up on a Harley the day of the biker gang massacre in Texas? Jeremy offers one theory. … More EPHESIANS 16: Biker Gangs at the Cross (2:14-18)
SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE THERE’S SIGNS “They’re not just for decoration.” That’s what I tell my beginning drivers as they nervously drive down the road with tunnel vision, never reading the myriad of signs lining the roadside. Signs warn us of potential hazards ahead. They inform us of services up the road. They regulate traffic flow … More RUSH HOUR 7: Road Signs & Warning Lights
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5) Have you ever tried putting together a puzzle without having the box cover to show you what the finished product is supposed to look like? Without the cover picture we only a jumble of pieces that might, taken individually, give us a … More Puzzle Pieces & Box Covers
Our little community of Mound, Minnesota, is again making the local news. This time its the strange presence of a group of friendly “ninjas” dressed up in costumes and walking around town. They’ve been at it for a few months already. At first, people didn’t know what to make of it. Then people starting taking … More The Mound Ninja & the DNA of a Movement
Once we have found ourselves traveling down God’s Holy Highway, with the wind of the spirit at our backs and the bright morning Son lighting the road ahead, there are still some basic driving tips we can follow to make the trip safer, more enjoyable and problem-free. One of the many jobs I have had … More RUSH HOUR 6: Eyes on the Road!
We are currently adjusting from being a homeowner to now being a landowner. We now know the difference between having a house in town and owning some acres in the country. For one thing, there’s much more to maintain! Trees, leaves, lawn, landscaping, driveway, and more. We are LOVING it. Especially these first days of spring … More Planting for the Future
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake” (Matt. 13:1). The Christian life is largely about imitating the spiritual habits and behaviors of Jesus. Now, many of Jesus’ teachings and practices are rigorous and demanding. E.g., “If you want to be my disciple you must first deny yourself and take … More WWJD: Go Sit by a Lake!
The decision to make a U-turn in life is much more difficult when everyone else seems to be headed in the same direction. I mean, come on! Can all this traffic possibly be going the wrong way? I mean, isn’t it safest to just go with the flow if you’re not sure what direction you should be headed? … More RUSH HOUR 5: Going Against the Flow
It’s sunrise. The day after Fishing Opener. Location: Sea of Galilee. Date: A.D. 28. The schools of fish have gathered for an emergency all school assembly at Rock Pile Point. There is great unrest in the school. The fish of Galilee are extra fidgety this year. There are strange rumors afloat. You see, every year around … More Fishing Opener Mystery on the Sea of Galilee
Turn around. Change direction. Make a U-turn. These are all accurate renderings of the Greek word metanoia, which is translated “repent” in most Bibles. The word ‘repent’ is loaded with religious baggage, notions of gloom and doom, judgment and wrath, hellfire and brimstone. But the word literally means “change” (meta) of “mind” (noia). Why even … More RUSH HOUR 4: Time to Make a U-Turn
Kingdom Harbor 