For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! Almost every night on my paper route this past summer and fall, I would stop into Super America for junk food and pop. Don’t tell Keri. Richard is the cashier for the … More Nocturnal Summer 4
“What did you get on that hole?” the scorecard keeper asks. Your answer may not be as simple as just counting up your strokes. For many, this question immediately forces an ethical dilemma or sparks an internal wrestling match with one’s conscience. Do I tell him the truth– that I got “a snowman” on the … More GOLF & GOD (9): Mulligans & Scorecards
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! We live in a busy, noisy world. Sadly, much of the noise is self-induced as we constantly fill every potential silence and solitude with our iPod, a television, radio or constant activity … More Nocturnal Summer 3
We live in a world that has largely forgotten how to play. When our worth and value is measured primarily by what we DO for a living and how much we ACCOMPLISH individually, then just “wasting a day” in the pure enjoyment of a fun hobby or game is really a lost art and rare … More GOLF & GOD (8): Relax! It’s Just a Game
I’m reposting a fun summer series from 2010 from when I had a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy some late night ramblings! I’ve long been a ‘night owl.’ At first, I thought it was a college phase that would eventually fade. I thought ‘real adults’ become early birds like my dad when … More Nocturnal Summer 2 – Night Watchman
Ask any golf expert what separates the pros from the pack of beginners and intermediate “hackers” on the course, and they will all tell you its the putting game. Many people mistakingly believe that its the 300 yard drive that makes the pros so good. While a long tee shot doesn’t hurt at all, it’s … More GOLF & GOD (7): Mastering God’s Green
For fun I’m reposting a summer series from 2010 from when I took a paper route while trying to get MainStreet started. Enjoy! I picked up a weekday paper route this summer to earn some quick cash as we begin to plant a new church. No, this isn’t the cute little 30 papers in a … More Nocturnal Summer 1
I’ve been creating a baseball field on our lower lawn this summer. I’m letting the outfield grow wild in order to create habitat and let wild flowers and native grasses return. I’m also trying to create a Field of Dreams-like outfield grass fence — our own Green Monster. (Should I plant some corn out there … More Welcome to Stumphole Field!
There was a young man who did his best to follow all of the laws of Moses. But he knew that it was impossible to do everything the law commanded and lived in fear of God’s punishment. Then one day a new rabbi came to his village. This rabbi preached a message unlike any he … More The Parable of the Butterfly (Mike Fox)
Every golfer knows that what goes on between the ears is just as critical for success as all the other mechanics that go into a golfer’s game. In fact, long after you have mastered the mechanics of a smooth, skillful golf swing, the mental game continues to be the greatest obstacle for the advanced golfer. … More GOLF & GOD (6): The Mind Game
The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course of Idaho is the proud home of the world’s first floating green — an intimidating target with water on all sides. But remember, “everything breaks towards the water.” Ka-plunk! Splash! Ever have one of those rounds where it seems as though if there’s water to be found, your ball … More GOLF & GOD (5): Water Hazards
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
Kingdom Harbor 