FATHER’S SONG (6): The 40-Year Long Band Rehearsal (Exodus-Judges)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. I spent several years substitute teaching in the public schools to pay my way through seminary. Substitute teaching is not for … More FATHER’S SONG (6): The 40-Year Long Band Rehearsal (Exodus-Judges)
Gethsemane 2: A Meditation
How slow the moments must have seemed, there in the garden, among the olive trees that moonlit night, as the trees uplifted their branches in the dappled light and shadow like arms uplifted in prayer. Only they managed to stay and watch with you. The garden grew quiet as your followers fell asleep one by … More Gethsemane 2: A Meditation
Jesus in Newsweek
What do you think?
Gethsemane 1: Two Gardens
In one garden, the lie was chosen over the will of God, and nature groaned under the curse and the grief and the countless tears of mankind that followed. In one garden, quietly, one full moon night the will of God was chosen over the lie and nature knew the promise of healing that would … More Gethsemane 1: Two Gardens
FATHER’S SONG (5): A Masterpiece in Written Form (Moses & Torah)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. The crowds came with great anticipation to the mountain amphitheater. Many great and awesome rumors preceded the night’s long awaited spectacle. … More FATHER’S SONG (5): A Masterpiece in Written Form (Moses & Torah)
April Fools on Greg Boyd
This prank is so cruel….please don’t start an April Fools tradition at MainStreet! I beg you! Greg is a good sport — I fear I would have reacted less graciously… :) WATCH THIS!
FATHER’S SONG (4): Whistling Alone in the Dark (Abraham)
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January … More FATHER’S SONG (4): Whistling Alone in the Dark (Abraham)
Gethsemane: A Journey to the Cross
Good Friday is one of my favorite, most moving evenings of the year. It is the holiest of nights, the most somber of times, the pinnacle of human reflection of the gravity of humanity’s sin problem and the depths of God’s love ing provide a way to freedom. For several years I have tried to … More Gethsemane: A Journey to the Cross
QUOTABLES: Peter Kreeft
All sin is spiritual garbage, and necessarily meets its end in destruction. God can’t let garbage into heaven. Only if the “sinner” won’t let go of his garbage does he get burned with it. God offers to take the garbage off his back, to separate the “sinner” from the sin so that the sinner is … More QUOTABLES: Peter Kreeft
FATHER’S SONG (3): Cosmic Dissonance (Fall)
Since the creation of the world God’s perfect melody, the Father’s Song, has been clearly heard, it’s harmonious rhythms and soothing beats echoing forth from all that God has made, so that people are without excuse. For although we knew the Father’s Song — which is written on our hearts — we chose to deafen … More FATHER’S SONG (3): Cosmic Dissonance (Fall)
QUOTABLES: Anonymous Prayer
LORD God you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through JESUS CHRIST our … More QUOTABLES: Anonymous Prayer
Out of my Mind for Christ
“It’s amazing, in fact, what one highly charged, crazy man can do.” -Peters & Waterman, In Search for Excellence Here’s my problem. I actually believe our role as Christians today is just as significant as God’s servants in the Bible. Our call is no less real as that of Abraham or Moses, Deborah or Mary, Peter … More Out of my Mind for Christ
FATHER’S SONG (2): Creation Song (Creation)
The Creator could have chosen an infinite number of methods to bring the universe into being. God chose to sing. Well, we don’t know if God actually sang, but the creation narratives make plain that the first stars, moons, trees, oceans, platypuses and people danced into existence through the spoken word of God. (“And the … More FATHER’S SONG (2): Creation Song (Creation)
Spring Break on Facebook (or “Are Men Scum?”)
A message is currently circulating on Facebook that claims that “men are scum.” Here’s a bit of it:
“Despite all the romantic notions that men or women may have about how men really are, the fact remains that nature has pretty much made them all one way: hormone-crazed animals bent on blessing as much of the planet as possible with their genetic code. Like any other male animal on this planet, the foremost thought on the untrained human male’s mind is sex… I estimate that 99.87% of adult males walk around in a hormone induced zombie trance of lust. For every thousand men, 13 of them are rationally thinking gentlemen.”
Well, boys? What do you think of this claim? Is this true? Is it partly true but overblown a bit? If so, which part is true? Which part is overblown? What beliefs about human nature, nature, human development, morality and God leads this person to this portrayal of human males? Please read on…. … More Spring Break on Facebook (or “Are Men Scum?”)
FATHER’S SONG 1: The Dance of the Trinity
SERIES INTRO: One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy guides us through the main episodes of the biblical narrative with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in sync. Leave the dissonance of the world and join the Dance of the Trinity as we catch a glimpse … More FATHER’S SONG 1: The Dance of the Trinity
Masks & Belonging: Deeper than Nude Beaches & Palm Branches
This is a repost from a few years back. -JB Chap Clark has written a must-read book for all youth workers and those who want to understand the current world of today’s teenagers. Listen to these honest words of a (typical) high school student in Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers: “I’ve always been … More Masks & Belonging: Deeper than Nude Beaches & Palm Branches
Dedicated to the Lord
We celebrated Peter’s dedication to the Lord at MainStreet Church on March 18, 2012, among family and friends. The meaning and significance of this event is amplified by the fact that when Peter was conceived we barely had a church in existence in which to have such a celebration. A baby dedication service is largely … More Dedicated to the Lord
QUOTABLES: E.A. Skogsbergh on Small Beginnings
“When the wanderer stands by the little hidden spring in the woods and observes how the newborn brook searches its way between moss and heather, it is difficult to understand that this is the beginning of a mighty river that a few hundred miles farther on plunges down into deep gorges and finally flings itself … More QUOTABLES: E.A. Skogsbergh on Small Beginnings
GARBAGE DAY 11 – Locked From The Inside (Hell 3)
Now for a second key point to Jesus’s “cosmic landfill” image of Hell. We should not speak of eternal damnation as something God imposes on us against our will, as if we had no choice in the matter. Jesus has taken our trash upon himself, his offer of forgiveness is always before us and he … More GARBAGE DAY 11 – Locked From The Inside (Hell 3)
E.A. Skogsbergh Website Project ‘Completed’
It is with great excitement that I share the fruit of my research and labor pertaining to the life and legacy of E. Aug. Skogsbergh – early pioneer leader and revivalist preacher of the Covenant Church who had a powerful ministry in Minneapolis and on Lake Minnetonka in my backyard. Building this website has been … More E.A. Skogsbergh Website Project ‘Completed’
GARBAGE DAY 10 – Scissors That Won’t Cut (Hell 2)
What then does Jesus’ graphic allusion to Jerusalem’s garbage dump tell us about the nature of hell? First, as we have already discovered, each person has been created for the common purpose of bringing glory and praise to the Creator. We were made to be showcases of God’s majesty. We fulfill this role whenever we … More GARBAGE DAY 10 – Scissors That Won’t Cut (Hell 2)
GARBAGE DAY 9 – God’s Cosmic Landfill (One Hell of a Mess)
Earlier I mentioned the unpopularity of the topic of repentance both inside and outside the church today. An even more hair-raising, gut-wrenching topic, offering a greater challenge to our culture’s sensibilities is the idea that an all-loving, all-merciful God would send people to some hell for all eternity. Shall we pour a cup of coffee and talk about Hell for a moment?
… More GARBAGE DAY 9 – God’s Cosmic Landfill (One Hell of a Mess)
QUOTABLES: P.P. Waldenstrom
Statement made during assembly of evangelical pastors in 1877 pleading for a union of evangelical believers based on scripture alone without regard to human creeds or confessions: Let us in this matter be followers of Jesus and not split into different denominations and factions; we have the same Savior. Rather may all those who are … More QUOTABLES: P.P. Waldenstrom
Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith
I’ve been studying the history and founding fathers of the Covenant the past several months. Perhaps the greatest influential figure of the 19th century revivals that swept through Sweden was C.O. Rosenius (1816-1868). He became one of Sweden’s most widely read religious writers of his time as the editor of Pietisten used heavily by the Mission Friends … More Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith


















