It’s time for my annual non-conformist post on lawn care. Several months back I shared my thoughts on “Why we rake and shovel.” Today I want to raise the topic of those beautiful yellow “flowers” that are so willing to decorate our yards if we’ll only allow them safe refuge. Yes, let’s talk about dandelions. … More Dandelions: What would Jesus Do?
Summary: This long series of about 30 posts narrates Jeremy’s own spiritual journey from 2000-2007 exploring his radical transformation in college, vocational doubts in seminary, a long season of “tent-making” jobs in Mound, and the God-encounters that led Jeremy to plant a new, apostolic youth ministry — The Revolution — reaching teens for Christ in … More Divine Summons: A Spiritual Memoir 1
LENTEN REFLECTION SERIES The ancient Christian season of Lent is a 40-day journey leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Traditionally, Christians have observed this 40-day season through intentional self-examination and repentance, demonstrated by self-denial and fasting. I would like to spend this Lent by a series of reflections on the theme of sin … More When to Use the “S” Word
Covenant Pastor Eugene Cho has a potent reminder for Lent: We are now in the Lenten season and let me begin by sharing outright that Lent isn’t about you or about what you’re giving up. But we’ll get to that soon. For those that might not be familiar with Lent, it is the 40 day period (not … More What are you giving up for Lent? (Eugene Cho)
In the “Alarm Clock” series Jeremy offers some spiritual lessons and biblical insights from the all-too-familiar process of waking up. This excerpt is called “Christmas Gifts & Final Exams.” Enjoy! Six-o-clock. The alarm has sounded. The sun is peeking through the half-raised shade, piercing your squinting eyes as you roll over to hit the snooze bar for … More Alarm Clock: Reflections on Spiritual Awakening
“Actions into Place” by Danny Evans This new year leave the fear behind that is normally in your mind. It’s time start anew. Let this ring true. Let those thoughts go, for this is your opportunity to bless others and grow. Make amends to all. Break down that wall, but remember, this is all your … More A New Year’s Poem
“Keep Us Believing” by Danny Evans Let us move toward The Lord as a reward this season as we choose to address our brothers by blessing our brothers. This time we dare to prepare for the birth of Maker of the earth. It’s a season we make the choice to hear His still, small voice. … More “Keep Us Believing” by Danny Evans
“I am the LORD’s servant,” Mary answered. “Be it unto me as you will” (Luke 1:38). “Nothing impresses us more than the calmness with which, after the first trouble was past, the virgin received the message of the angel. She was not dazzled nor excited by her glorious future. She was not touched by any … More QUOTABLES: The Boldest Words Ever Uttered (Stopford Brooke)
The Book of Wisdom and Romans remind us that the awesome power of idolatry is found above all in its ability to shape the structures of society so that they suppress the possibility of perceiving the world in any way other than idolatrously. It is idolatry when much of the world is constructed on the … More QUOTABLES: The Subtle Power of Societal Idolatry
“With Care” by Danny Evans This Christmas season, let us not commit holiday treason by excluding anyone from celebrating the real reason. It doesn’t matter how long someone has known God; give everyone the nod. Some people will enter under a steeple for the first time this December, so give them Him to remember. While … More “With Care” by Danny Evans
“Glee” by Danny Evans This time comes but once a year, but let me make it clear that everyday we should hold the real meaning dear. This is the time of Jesus’ birth, who would give us worth here on this earth. It’s okay to give gifts, but let us not drift from what it … More Glee by Danny Evans
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”
Here’s an old DI classic from the winter of ’06. Enjoy! Most of us can remember sharing those childhood adventures exploring secret passages and hidden closets in the home of a friend or relative. It was always the closets tucked under the stairs that seemed the most mysterious to me. At five years of age, … More Jacob and the Wardrobe
“I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her vulnerable self.” In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen
We all come from a diverse background. Some may be sound. Others may be a roller coaster of lost and found. No matter where we originate, where we choose to navigate despite this will say a lot about our future state. Good or bad, your past is gone. Let’s leave a legacy in which the … More Legacy (by Danny Evans)
Originally posted October 2009. -JB The following paragraphs are taken from CNN.com. This issue is not going away and the slide toward the normativity of sexual promiscuity is only growing steeper by the day. How can Christ-followers show the world the beauty of God’s design for monogamous sexual fidelity? Here’s the message the pop … More CNN: “Is Monogamy Realistic?”
Personal Journal Entry — October 7, 2014 I’ve had a profound and illuminating two nights away at my dad’s cabin in Starbuck, MN. I can hardly put into the words all of the insights and energizing thought-time I’ve had. I have spent another reassuring retreat with the pastoral teaching and wisdom of Eugene Peterson. (Three years … More Starry Night on the Prairie (10.7.14)
I recently preached a message from Psalm 126 which mentions “going out weeping” and “sowing in tears.” I used that message to encourage those of us who may be battling depression or facing difficult times to keep on “sowing” and “planting” even when you don’t feel like it, or when you don’t see immediate results. … More Sowing in Tears
Journal Entry – October 7, 2014 I spent a couple nights at dad’s cabin in Starbuck for some spiritual reflection and rest. What a gift — having a place to retreat to built with the sweat and love of your own dad! This cabin is not so much a getting away from home as it … More Little Thoughts on the Prairie (10.7.14)
God continues to make MainStreet a place for “new beginnings” and a place where amazing grace is proclaimed and experienced. Brandon was a freshman at Crown College back in 201o when we were just beginning to gather a launch team to start MainStreet. He performed at our open mic event for youth and I had … More BRANDON’S STORY: A Cry From the Pit
This is an oldie but goodie from the old DI archives from 2007. A good reminder that though we’re all broken people, we have a God who shines his grace through all the cracks of our lives. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes … More Cracked Pot Confessions
Check out Trevin Wax’s review of Tim Keller’s book Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Penguin, 2009). Keller is one of my favorite Christian thinkers these days, and I find him a very insightful, articulate writer bringing clarity to very complex theological issues. He is a … More Tim Keller’s “Counterfeit Gods”
Narrative theology is a relatively new undertaking and is one good example of a positive development in theological studies, due, in part, to the influence of postmodernity.[1] I would suggest that the contributions of this movement will surprise many with numerous insights into how we might better approach the theological task, read the Bible, and … More God’s Grand Story & Our Role In It
“Go away. I don’t care what you have to say. Go take a quarter for your disorder, and see a shrink because I don’t care what you think.” That’s the mentality of our world, but Jesus changed that in a whirl. He wants to know everything going on in your life from good things to … More God Believes in You (By Danny Evans)
One of the greatest concerns I have for the emerging generation is the growing pervasiveness of “mircro-communication” in their lives. I recently saw a 15 year old girl featured on “Nightline” who sends 30,000 text messages on her phone each month. Do the math: that’s 1,000 per day, 62 per waking hour, or one … More Combatting Soundbite Christianity
Kingdom Harbor 