Christ wrote a beautiful tune, which the church has often performed well, and often badly. But the melody was never completely drowned out. Sometimes it became a symphony. John Dickson, Bullies and Saints Dickson opens the book, Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look At The Good and Evil Of Christian History, with a story. HeContinue reading ““Bullies and Saints” – John Dickson”
Tag Archives: God
Sabbatical Sit Down: Bryan Mincks
I traveled south into the exotic land of “Iowa” to meet with Bryan Mincks. Bryan is pastor of Iron Ridge Church in the small town of Waukon, IA. He helped to plant the church with his father Marlan, a national church planting leader. Bryan highlighted a journey of a lot of ups and downs forContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Bryan Mincks”
“The City of God” – Augustine
The earthly city has made for herself, according to her heart’s desire, false gods out of any sources at all, even out of human beings, that she might adore them with sacrifices. The heavenly one, on the other hand, living like a wayfarer in this world, makes no false gods for herself. On the contrary,Continue reading ““The City of God” – Augustine”
Sabbatical Sit Down: David Sorn
David Sorn is the founding pastor of Renovation Church in Blaine MN, and he’s someone I’ve known for many years. Meeting with David was a little bit different for my sabbatical plans, as Renovation and River’s Edge Church have very little in common (I mean, apart from being missional churches centered on the Bible andContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: David Sorn”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Jared Bangs
Pastor Jared Bangs hails from Cook, MN (population approx. 500), which is a stones throw from Canada, so it isn’t that Jared is Canadian but he is Canada-adjacent. Jared has taken a fairly unique role since becoming lead pastor of 1st Baptist Church of Cook 7 years ago. He oversees the church as a whole,Continue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Jared Bangs”
“Dominion” – Tom Holland
How was it that a cult inspired by the execution of an obscure criminal in a long-vanished empire came to exercise such transformative and enduring influence on the world?… Today, at a time of seismic geopolitical realignment, when our values are proving to be not nearly as universal as some of us had assumed themContinue reading ““Dominion” – Tom Holland”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Wade Bishop
Wade Bishop, pastor at Element Church in Hayward WI, was my first meeting with a ministry leader that I didn’t know. I had reached out to a couple of well-connected friends and asked for the names of pastors of churches in small towns that were using some innovative, creative, or unique ministry ideas. So, IContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Wade Bishop”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Tiger McLuen
Tiger is one of those guys that I don’t see regularly, but every few years for the last couple of decades something comes up and we get a chance to reconnect and catch up. Which is cool, because Tiger is a legend! He’s been doing ministry for something like 5 decades, and is one ofContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Tiger McLuen”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Jonathan Dahl
Getting a chance to sit down with Jonathan was a slightly unexpected, but greatly appreciated opportunity. I’ve felt a connection to Jonathan for several years – the meeting that I got a crazy idea to bring River’s Edge into the Converge fold was the same that Jonathan was introduced as the newest member of theContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Jonathan Dahl”
Sabbatical Sit Down: Mark Bjorlo
When we think about church (or most other subjects), we tend to think about what we are familiar with, what we experience regularly, what we know. It isn’t often that we expand our perspective to see a bigger picture-there are others out there, in similar settings like ours, but they have a very different wayContinue reading “Sabbatical Sit Down: Mark Bjorlo”
Driven 