The longest weekend of my life
Recently, I was faced with a decision to cancel some important organizational events due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The response of several people was, “We should not act out of fear.” I agreed, but also…
Why We Bought a House in Bergen
That’s right. We bought a house. We are as surprised as you are, but only because it seemed so far from possible. In another sense, though, we are not surprised at all. It has been…
Permission to Forget My Last Sermon
A question many pastors ponder is how to preach in a way that sticks in the minds of the hearers. Preachers have shortened their messages, made them more memorable through illustrations and multi-media, and increased…
Christ the Bringer of God
“Christ is not the bringer of a new religion, but rather the one who brings God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jesus Christ and the Essence of Christianity. Where the church has gone wrong, I believe, is that we…
Musings On Why Young People Leave the Church
I’m reading a book about why people leave the church after graduation. It’s called You Lost Me. There’s a statement in the beginning that caught my eye: “He and his bandmates were ‘all really embarrassed…
When Madonna and the Church have the Same Message
Do Madonna and the church offer the same message of hope? Living for Love These are the opening lyrics and the chorus for a song by Madonna titled “Living for Love” that hit #1 on…
Generous Sacrifices: Hebrews 13:12-16 – Sermon from March 23, 2014
Note in this passage that those who identify themselves with Christ are not at home in the world, and so we should live in a way that is generous to God and generous to others.…
Robust in Love
With today being Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to write on the topic of love. I am struck by this statement made by Eugene Peterson in Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing up…
Professionally Holy
“You probably won’t like this, but I work at a liquor store.” I had asked this gentleman what he does for a living after just telling him that I was recently hired as a pastor.…
Book Review: Giving Up Gimmicks by Brian Cosby
Brian Cosby is not proposing anything new in his book Giving Up Gimmicks. But, that’s exactly the point. Cosby is rightly concerned that the entertainment culture has infiltrated youth ministry. Giving Up Gimmicks, then, is written for…
1 John 1:5-10 in Two Parts
On February 24 and March 10 I preached from 1 John 1:5-10. Here are the videos: Part 1: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUObW9FFio?rel=0&w=650&h=366] Part 2: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XackF2ZSSV4?rel=0&w=650&h=366] Notes – Six acknowledgments from 1 John 1:5-10: 1. Acknowledge The…
Advent Day 23: For All People
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone…