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
Author: Matthew Ruttan
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
Dealing with frustration
It’s easy to get frustrated. That’s why having a different attitude toward your frustrations can make them… well, less frustrating. So what is this “better approach”? Frustrations aren’t always final. They might just be calling your attention to something that needs to change. For example: -If you’re continually frustrated that there aren’t enough hours in the … Continue reading Dealing with frustration
The prayer list
I remember a cartoon that was really funny. An unnamed man sees someone named Bob walking toward him. That triggers in his mind that he had said he would pray for Bob. But he had forgotten! So, very quietly, and as Bob quickly approaches, he whispers, “Dear God, please help Bob.” Seconds later he calls … Continue reading The prayer list
Humility: He asked him to step on his neck
St. Francis is one of great heroes of the faith. He died in 1226. I’ve always been inspired by his example of humility, sincerity, love, poverty and charity. There’s a little known story about an interaction he had with someone named Friar Bernard. Apparently, Francis had a negative thought about the Friar. Upon realizing this, and … Continue reading Humility: He asked him to step on his neck
Behind the times?
I get the opportunity to interact with people who aren’t totally sure about Jesus yet. Sometimes these interactions are online, and sometimes they’re in person. One of the stumbling blocks people identify is that the Bible seems to advocate teachings that are “behind the times” or “morally regressive.” And that makes them uncomfortable. I appreciate … Continue reading Behind the times?
Credit where credit is due
Psalm 115:1 starts like this: “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” It’s a prayer for God to get all the glory. And yet we don’t always glorify God, do we? Jud Wilhite pastors a church in Las Vegas. He writes, “God … Continue reading Credit where credit is due
