Okay, let’s be honest. Some people who believe in Christ can fall into a trap: Pretending to be perfect. You’re right: It’s not always true! But it’s sometimes true, isn’t it? Speaking to the believers in Corinth, Paul said, “we are ambassadors for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). And who doesn’t want to be a good … Continue reading Don’t pretend to be perfect
Author: MatthewRuttan
Fear not, do
Someone recently brought something to my attention. When you reverse the words “Do not fear” you get “Fear not, do.” Here’s why I like it. Some people get paralyzed with fear. They sense (or create) something to be afraid of in their minds—something invisible and possibly destructive—and, as a result, cease living their lives. What … Continue reading Fear not, do
You’ve ALREADY forgiven them, right?
Many of us have memorized the Lord’s Prayer, including this line: “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The original Greek word for “trespasses” is epheilemata which could also be translated as debt, or sin. But what I want to emphasize today is how the entire sentence should actually … Continue reading You’ve ALREADY forgiven them, right?
Youth isn’t tethered to your age
A lot of people are concerned about looking young, staying young, or being youthful. This can be true for teenagers, middle-agers, or seniors—and for both women and men. And wow, there sure are a lot of books and blogs about it! I’m sure that, to a certain degree, people have always wanted to be at … Continue reading Youth isn’t tethered to your age
Confidence is contagious
Recently I was listening to a radio program called Hockey Central at Noon on 590 The Fan. Speaking about an athlete, one of the announcers said that “confidence is contagious.” It was a good point. When one person on a team is confident—not only in themselves but in the team—that attitude spreads to the other … Continue reading Confidence is contagious
Why it matters that God is good
Right now I’m in the midst of a jam-packed, high-energy Vacation Bible Camp. Our key verse is Psalm 106:1: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” The main idea of the Camp is that God is good! Day 1: When life is unfair… God is good. Day 2: When … Continue reading Why it matters that God is good
The Rat Race
There's a section from a children’s book called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH which is an insightful commentary on 1 Timothy 6:6-8 which says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we … Continue reading The Rat Race
Are all new ideas good, bad, or something else?
Some people think every new idea is a good idea. And others think that every new idea is a bad idea. But it’s not that simple. So let me share something that I think should make us both more humble and more hopeful about how we approach new ideas. Larry Osborne points out that virtually … Continue reading Are all new ideas good, bad, or something else?
The situation you’re ALREADY in
Apollo 13 was a movie starring Tom Hanks about a lunar mission that went off the rails. Remember that iconic line? “Houston, we have a problem.” While in space, the three astronauts started to run out of oxygen. To help find a solution, a ground crew back on earth worked feverishly to try and design makeshift … Continue reading The situation you’re ALREADY in
A nicotine-tinged dog and spiritual progress
Being aware of your flaws can make you feel bad about your spiritual progress. But what if this awareness was actually a good thing? Let me explain. When Tim Chester was growing up he had a small, white dog. One day it snowed and the dog went outside. That’s when Tim noticed that his dog … Continue reading A nicotine-tinged dog and spiritual progress
