Author Archives: Bob Bjerkaas

Psalm 1:1 Learning to Say “No”

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Bob Bjerkaas

When I was a boy, my family used to camp several times a year.  There were five of us then: Dad, Mom, Doug, Bob, and Jim (Steve was born when the three of us older brothers were young men – … Continue reading →

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Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Bob Bjerkaas

The language of the Bible is graphic – sometimes even shocking!  While I may take other opportunities in blog posts to demonstrate the shock value of some scriptures, in this post I want to shed some light on how graphic … Continue reading →

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Love is Not Easily Angered

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Bob Bjerkaas

Jeremiah Burroughs, a seventeenth-century English pastor and theologian, wrote a book that was intended to heal divisions and promote a gracious unity in a land fractured by civil war, party spirits, and general discord.  He offered his readers a wonderful … Continue reading →

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Perseverance or Insanity?

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Bob Bjerkaas

Seven years ago I posed myself a question that I would like to share with you as you begin this new year.  It was sometime in April 2010 that I was watching my youngest two boys (then ages five and seven) … Continue reading →

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A New Year’s Resolution: Be like a Recovering Alcoholic on the Indian Road

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

I am not a psychologist or a medical doctor.  I am what the old Puritans would term a “physician of souls.” Vocationally I am a pastor.  Avocationally, I coach lacrosse. In both cases, I am focused on helping people change … Continue reading →

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A Tenth Century English Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

This past Spring I stumbled across a great find in my good friend’s used bookshop.  It was a well-worn, expertly highlighted edition of Jackson Campbell’s highly regarded translation of the Advent antiphons from the Exeter Book.[1]  Intending to read it this … Continue reading →

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Spiritual Gifts

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

Well, Thanksgiving is over and now we are beginning our cultural obsession with… gifts.  We are making lists of what we will give to whom. Or perhaps, and even tougher as we grow older, we have been asked to come … Continue reading →

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The Representative Christian

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

During times of socio-political angst, Christians are often perplexed about how to participate in a secular culture.  Whatever we do, or any segment of society for that matter, participation can be challenging.  We are sometimes caricatured as  SNL’s “Church Lady” or, more viciously, … Continue reading →

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What Did You Buy with Yesterday?

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

Not many of the young men I coach are familiar with the name Gayle Sayers.  At one time, and perhaps still today, some football commentators consider him one of the best – or even the very best – running back … Continue reading →

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Gospel Joy

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Bob Bjerkaas

The world is a stranger place than you think it is.  A year and a half ago I was riding in the rear bench seat of a Toyota all-terrain minivan on one of the very few paved roads in south-western … Continue reading →

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