Jana and I spent the summer and early fall at Mount Carmel Family Camp and Retreat Center in Alexandra, MN. I have been the Interim Director of Programming there the last two years and Jana has been working as their Director of Development. As a result of being away from our home in Cedar Rapids […]
I have now learned, this being the second of two “drop-off-daughter-to-college” moments, that said activity leads to an entirely predictable chain of events, the details of which can only be outlined as follows: First, a brief and poorly executed (read “failed”) attempt at fatherly bravado soon followed, (approximately 8.4 seconds after beginning the drive away) by
Dropping Your Daughter Off at College… Read More »
To my fellow Christians…. reflecting on Robin William’s Death. Let’s think about what we say. And think before we say (or write) it. Click on the link here, to hear some thoughts I have about how we Christians react in these tragic public moments…. Movie on 2014-08-12 at 00.57
Reflecting on Robin Williams’ Death Read More »
A spontaneous word of appreciation to teachers, school administrators and school workers everywhere…Movie on 2014-08-07 at 14.06 Thanks for what you do! + Jonathan
I think a lot of my non-Christian friends would love Jesus, if they met him. And I think a lot of my Christian friends might be surprised by who He is, when they do meet him, face to face, one day. I will be too. I have no doubt. I am guessing the whole
Jana and I received cards from Luther Seminary this past week congratulating us (and honestly, reminding us) that June 28 was the 20th anniversary or our ordinations. I remember that night, two decades ago, at Roseville Lutheran, when so many of you joined us for that Holy moment. Thanks to many of you, family and
“Pastor Jonathan” and “Pastor Jana” … 20 Years Read More »
Let’s just call him Joe. This would be appropriate, because his name is… well…. Joe. But this ain’t no “Ordinary Joe.” Not on this night, especially. Background: I am the Program Director here at Mount Carmel Family Camp and Retreat Center in Alexandria, MN. It is my job, among a long list of other
Thoughts on Ash Wednesday, 2014 People sometimes ask how I can possibly believe, in this day and age, that the Bible is true. After all, I am a relatively smart man. I graduated in the top percentage of my high school class and did just fine for myself in college and grad school. I am
Ash Wednesday and Why I Actually Believe the Bible Read More »
To those for whom this day is hard, know that you are loved. To those who grieve, may you sense God with you in the midst of the tears and the memories. To those who are alone, may you sense God’s presence, holding you in his sweet embrace. To those who are angry, may you
You Are Loved (Valentine’s Day 2014) Read More »
Note: Our beloved Beagle, Daisy, died yesterday. She had been increasingly lethargic on Thursday. Eating and drinking nothing. We began to worry. I took her to the vet yesterday and we soon learned Daisy’s liver was filled with several small cancerous tumors, some of which were spilling blood into her stomach. The kindest (and hardest)
The “Holy Spirit With Fur On” Read More »
