• An unworthy focus

    To those of you who are Christians, let me ask a very direct question: Is Jesus the centre of your Christianity?  It’s easy for it to become about something else. If we’re not careful, our religion can become about how well we observe a certain set of rules, or about… Listen ⇢

  • Make time for fun

    Having fun is fun. But do you know what? Some people probably don’t do fun things as much as they should. Or, when they do something fun, they feel bad about it. Why? Because they know about people who are struggling, and feel bad or guilty that they’re out having… Listen ⇢

  • The perfect day to begin again

    I came across an unsettling statistic. It was that most suicides occur on Sunday nights, and that most heart attacks happen on Monday mornings. (If you’re reading this on Monday morning, don’t stress—take a deep breath!) Maybe it’s because, for many people, Monday signals the return to responsibility. And with… Listen ⇢

  • Transformation needs this

    Okay, let’s get right to it. Being casual toward the sin in your life is being casual toward God’s will for your life.  Here’s what I mean. In Colossians 3:5 (CSB) Paul says to “put to death what belongs to your earthly nature…” He’s referring to sin. Then in verse… Listen ⇢

  • Piercing themselves with many griefs

    We’ve been talking about idolatry, and how, when many of us hear that word, we think of ancient peoples bowing down to man-made statues. But our understanding of idolatry is often too narrow. Here’s how I think of it: Idolatry is giving first place priority to something or someone who… Listen ⇢

  • What is your (real) goal?

    On Monday we talked about idolatry. When many of us hear that word, we think of ancient peoples bowing down to man-made statues. But our understanding of idolatry might be too narrow. Here’s how I define modern idolatry. It’s giving first place priority to something or someone who isn’t God.… Listen ⇢

  • Just do it for Jesus

    Well, I’m pretty excited. Today this devotional is being published as a book! It’s called “Up! – 313 Devotionals To Help You Start Your Day in a Biblical, Relevant Way.” (See the links below.) I started “Up!” in 2015. I had been thinking about a writing a devotional for a… Listen ⇢

  • Modern idols?

    When we hear the word “idolatry,” many of us think of ancient peoples bowing down to man-made statues. In Exodus 20:3 God says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” No other gods? Check. No problem there! But our understanding of idolatry might be too narrow. Here’s how I define… Listen ⇢

  • The one label that matters most

    Labels. We put them on clothing. But we also put them on people. Sometimes they’re labels other people put on us. Labels like “friend” or “classmate” or “co-worker.” But there are also labels like “jerk” or “ugly” or “enemy.” And do you know what? We put labels on ourselves as… Listen ⇢

Meet the producer, Matthew Ruttan.

Matthew is a disciple, pastor, husband, and dad of three who lives in the psalms.

Your 1-minute shot of soul espresso

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