I just left the ballot box and have officially exercised my democratic right and privilege in the 2024 election. As a follower and representative of Jesus, I wish His Kingdom values and the fruit of the Spirit were on the ballot with little ovals to fill in. But they are not. Or are they? … More Character on the Ballot
I just listened to a good interview with Fr. Robert Spitzer unpacking his new book “The Four Levels of Happiness: Your Path to Personal Flourishing.” I found his wisdom compelling and practical for charting the ultimate goal and diagnosing why so many of us get stuck in ruts that leave deep and enduring happiness elusive. Here’s a nice summary and overview. … More The Four Levels of Happiness
Politics are dividing our churches like never before. Preston Sprinkle’s new book reminds us that the first-century church was not an apolitical gathering, where Christians left their Roman politics at the door. It also wasn’t a place where Christians mounted a Roman flag next to—or above—a Christian one. Church was a place where God’s plan for governing the world was revealed, where one could witness what it means to follow the Creator’s design for human flourishing. … More Exiles: The Book We’ve Needed
Mainstream media fails to depict the true reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a Christian perspective. The “Theology in the Raw” podcast features diverse viewpoints, including a Gazan Christian theologian advocating for nonviolent resistance, an Orthodox Jewish Zionist working for reconciliation, and a scholar questioning blind support for Israel from a New Testament perspective. The media coverage’s failure to capture the complexity of the conflict is also highlighted. … More The Israel-Palestinian Conflict with Preston Sprinkle
Russell Moore’s article discusses antisemitic chants at elite campuses, highlighting the danger of mob mentality and the importance of individual accountability. He emphasizes the need to reject hate and embrace love and community, drawing on Christian values of personal responsibility and the vision of unity in diversity. … More What Antisemetic Chants Tell Us
Like Jesus, every preacher should have a story of being pressed into a corner and seeing fire in the eyes of an offended congregant after a sermon, unless they are in the ear-tickling business. … More How A Preacher Gets Thrown Off a Cliff Then & Now
We so easily become bound by a common social status or style of music rather than by Jesus’ word, table, or cross because in a free market the customer, rather than Christ, is king. … More MLK on Pandering to Religious Consumers
What about abortion? Should this one issue determine how Christians vote? … More Abortion: The Reality Behind the Rhetoric
Archbishop Foley Beach has written a pastoral letter to the Church suggesting four actions points needed for Christians to respond in faith to the coronavirus emergency. We are to trust God, be informed, be prudent and always act in love. I especially like his suggestion to pray Psalm 46 at home as a family for next 46 days. Peace! -JB … More Four-Fold Response to COVID-19
How did the first Christians gather and worship? We don’t need to guess, or piece a picture together from the sparse comments in the New Testament. We have descriptions from historical sources outside the Bible such as Pliny the Younger, Justin Martyr, Tacitus and Seutonius. Before we read their firsthand accounts, John Gooch gives some … More Early Christian Worship & Persecution
I was recently asked a good question: What do you think about the popular practice of “mindfulness” and “meditation”? Here’s my initial response. I’m not sure what kind of “mindfulness” you’re critiquing. Eastern meditation seeks to empty our minds, to be mindful of our own “inner divinity” and mindful of the Oneness that permeates all … More Q&A: On Mindfulness & Meditation
The United States has a love affair with Eros; I’d say our society as a whole is worshiping at the temple of Eros — and not just once a year. Consider the numbers… … More Love, Marriage & Singleness at the Apocalypse
This is an article by Greg Boyd that piggybacks on my sermon from Sunday on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. By Greg Boyd | 09 Jan 2008 Today in western culture people tend to have a rather “recreational” view of sex. It’s just a pleasurable physical activity we engage in. Even people who don’t consciously believe this … More What’s the Big Deal about Sex?
WWJT? “What would Jesus Tweet?” I’ve been asking this question this week as I watch people wax bombastic on their Facebook pages or Twitter feeds. There’s a lot of shouting past one another and very little listening (not to mention loving). Strong opinions abound while grace and civility are in short supply. So, how might … More Social Media & The Sermon on the Mount
It all began when I turned my knob from FM to AM on my radio dial. I was about 19 years old and had discovered the new world of talk radio. It began with non-stop sermons on a Christian station nurturing my new hunger for Bible teaching. Before long I was also drinking in my daily dose of conservative political talk as well. I was hooked. But then Jesus came along … … More Me & Jesus Cruise the AM Dial
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
As someone who helped start a ministry movement among local teens called Revolution, I’m drawn to other people’s descriptions and redefinitions of the Christian faith as something more than ‘church as usual’. I am part of a group of Christians who like the label ‘Revolutionary Christians’. When I’m looking around on Facebook, and reading people’s … More On Christian Labels
Does Halloween have Christian origins, pagan origins, or both? I’ve heard much of the ancient celtic Druids and the pagan festivals of the dead, and so on. Yet, today I read another perspective that challenges the pagan origins and argues that Halloween has very pure, Christian roots. I highly recommend reading “Concerning Halloween by James … More The True Origins of Halloween
Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed is raising that touchy but crucial issue of national idolatry. I love America, democracy and the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation. I listen to my share of political talk and love keeping up on the latest debates. BUT….I also see many Christians who are far more interested and … More Church or State: Where do our hopes & passions lie?
The political climate in America this week is boiling hot on the heals of Sunday night’s signing of the Obamacare proposal. There is an apocalyptic like mood on the conservative right, with talk show hosts prognosticating on the eventual collapse of America as we know it. Today, I walked to the gas station for a … More Which Government Do You Serve?
The most inspiring, heart-warming cinematic experience of the year for me has been without question The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock. While this movie based on a true story is sure to win over everybody’s heart, there is a special significance for Christians viewers. Coming out just in time for the Christmas season I found … More MOVIE REVIEW: The Blind Side (2009)
“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their … More PHILIPPIANS 29: Follow My Example (3:17-21)
Jeremy L. Berg 