VIDEO: MainStreet Mission Friends
April 10, 2011
Here’s a glimpse of the people God is calling into our mission of launching MainStreet Covenant Church in Mound!
Rob Bell Comes Clean
April 8, 2011
Thoughts?
LAURIE’S STORY: A Coffeeshop Connection
April 6, 2011
We are living into our vision of being people who are “in the marketplace daily with all who happen to be there” (Acts 17:17). Dave and Melissa met us in the Farmer’s Market, Deano heard about us from the chiropractor, and recently Laurie bumped into us at Caribou Coffee. Here’s her story: “A young man … More LAURIE’S STORY: A Coffeeshop Connection
Rethinking Rob Bell’s Rethinking of Hell & Rethinking It Again
April 5, 2011
Ben Witherington is picking apart Rob Bell’s Love Wins chapter by chapter here. Here’s a taste of his critique of chapter 7: Let me be clear that I think in one sense Rob is right—- God is not quixotic. He is not gracious and loving one moment, and cruel the moment after you die. I … More Rethinking Rob Bell’s Rethinking of Hell & Rethinking It Again
QUOTABLES: Mark Labberton
April 2, 2011
“[The] God we seek is the God we want, not the God who is. We fashion a god who blesses without obligation, who lets us feel his presence without living his life, who stands with us and never against us, who gives us what we want, when we want it. We worship a god of … More QUOTABLES: Mark Labberton
The Screwtape Letters on stage!
April 2, 2011
We’re going! Why aren’t you?
Strong & Courageous 3
March 31, 2011
“God’s ways are not our ways,” we often say somewhat flippantly. But to what extent are we willing to live into that reality? How far “out there” are we willing to in our obedient to God? Are we willing to follow the Apostle Paul in being “fools for Christ” (1 Cor 4)? Will we risk … More Strong & Courageous 3
A Cruciform Perspective
March 30, 2011
I was blessed to be sitting at a table having breakfast yesterday with a fella who was baptized in a high school pool the evening before. Sadly, this is rare for me. By God’s grace I hope to be surrounded by a constant flow of newly baptized believers in the years ahead — and may … More A Cruciform Perspective
Peter Jackson in Hobbiton
March 29, 2011
Word on the street is that “The Hobbit” movie is indeed coming….
Strong & Courageous 2
March 29, 2011
In Joshua 4 the Israelites cross the Jordan River after God miraculously parts the waters for them. To commemorate the mighty work of God among them, Joshua has them set up 12 stones to be reminders of God’s faithfulness. “When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men … More Strong & Courageous 2
Discovering God’s Will (Scot McKnight)
March 27, 2011
If you are in high school or college, or at any point in your life, make Scot McKnight’s One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow mandatory summer reading. Here’s a taste from Scot’s blog: I grew up with the idea that I could only be happy if I found “God’s will.” People do weird things because they … More Discovering God’s Will (Scot McKnight)
C. S. Lewis, Rob Bell & Two Kinds of People
March 24, 2011
Why does C.S. Lewis often get a pass with the same crowd that has written Rob Bell off as a heretic or at least heterodox? C. S. Lewis held to many theological positions that pushed the theological envelope just as far — especially related to Hell — and he fairs alright among the crowd that … More C. S. Lewis, Rob Bell & Two Kinds of People
BW3 on “Love Wins”
March 23, 2011
By all means read Ben Witherington’s chapter by chapter review of Rob Bell’s Love Wins here. Here’s a taste: The first chapter of this book involves raising a plethora of questions (pp. 1-19). They are perfectly fair questions, but what comes to light in the enumeration of these questions is that in fact Rob Bell … More BW3 on “Love Wins”
Strong & Courageous 1
March 23, 2011
Enjoy some reflections from the book of Joshua in light of our mission as a church to be moving into territories today with the love, grace, selfless acts of service and the good news concerning Christ and the Kingdom of God. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your … More Strong & Courageous 1
Mouw on “Love Wins”
March 23, 2011
What do you think of the perspective of Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary, below? From Dr. Mouw’s blog: I told the USA TODAY reporter that Rob Bell’s newly released Love Wins is a fine book and that I basically agree with his theology. I knew that the book was being widely criticized for having … More Mouw on “Love Wins”
An Angry God?
March 22, 2011
Jesus is the fullest revelation of God’s character. “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” Jesus said. God looks like Jesus. If you want to know the character of God, look at Jesus. I reread Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, recently. I simply read paragraph after paragraph, … More An Angry God?
Lake Minnetonka
March 21, 2011
We are blessed to live here.
Widen Your Perspective
March 19, 2011
The Christian blogosphere is often a nasty place, where stones get tossed back and forth around the clock with very little listening to the other side. I think I’d give up all together on the hope for balanced and grace-filled conversation if it weren’t for Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed. He’s a kindred spirit in … More Widen Your Perspective
H. Richard Niebuhr on Liberal Theology
March 19, 2011
“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” -H. Richard Niebuhr
Bonhoeffer on Reading Scripture
March 17, 2011
This is an excerpt from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in a letter he wrote to his brother-in-law Rudiger Schleicher, who was as liberal theologically as Bonhoeffer was conservative: “First of all I will confess quite simply — I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we need only to ask … More Bonhoeffer on Reading Scripture
DeYoung’s Review of Bell’s Love Wins
March 16, 2011
Kevin DeYoung has a thorough and devastating review of Rob Bell’s book Love Wins. It’s well worth the read — though it’s lengthy. I read it late last night and I’m still processing it. But here’s a couple paragraphs to chew on and share your comments. “So why do I say Bell is a universalist … More DeYoung’s Review of Bell’s Love Wins
Covenant Affirmations: What do we (firmly) believe?
March 15, 2011
I just read a very long, well-written review and critique of Rob Bell’s controversial book, Love Wins, by Kevin DeYoung. I have to admit that his arguments are very strong, and makes Bell’s argument and position seem weak and biblically fragile. I will withhold judgment until I read Bell’s book for myself, but I think … More Covenant Affirmations: What do we (firmly) believe?
A Different World is Calling You!
March 14, 2011
This is the most significant spiritual lesson I have learned in my entire life – perhaps. There is a world of difference (literally, a “narrative world” of difference) between (1) being a religious person who holds certain beliefs in their head, and (2) a person who has decided that the narrative world of the Bible … More A Different World is Calling You!
Buckhorn Log Cabin Escape
March 13, 2011
We headed north for the weekend with friends. Beautiful log cabin with rustic charm and comfortable leather couches to read on by the fireplace. A little bit of snowshoeing, a lot of munching and sipping, some sauna time, watched the comedic blast from the past “The Three Amigos” (you have to be in the right … More Buckhorn Log Cabin Escape
American Idols (Rom 1:22-25)
March 12, 2011
Here’s the notes from a message I gave to a youth group awhile back. Always a timely and tough topic. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images… … More American Idols (Rom 1:22-25)
Kingdom Harbor 