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busyness

Your inner monk?

August 4, 2025July 28, 2025 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

John Mark Comer says we should find our inner monk “to live with depth and serenity and focus right in the middle of the noise and traffic and hurry of the modern world.”*I like that. Depth.Serenity.Focus.Right in the middle of the…Noise.Traffic.Hurry of the modern world.Can I get an Amen?!The challenge isn’t whether or not we think … Continue reading Your inner monk?

Making margin

February 7, 2023February 6, 2023 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

I recently had the opportunity to interview the Rev. Dr. Sarah Han. She’s a professor at Tyndale University in Toronto (and also a friend) who is writing a book about “margin.”  Having margin in your life is having mental and emotional space in your life. It’s also having a schedule which isn’t consistently jam-packed. Sarah … Continue reading Making margin

So little unstructured time

January 27, 2023January 27, 2023 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

The New Yorker once had a single-pane cartoon which depicted two boys walking down a sidewalk. They were wearing baseball hats and had a stack of books under their arms. One said to the other: “So many toys—so little unstructured time.” It was a commentary about how busy many children are. Their time is very … Continue reading So little unstructured time

How do you spell love?

January 24, 2023January 23, 2023 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

I once heard someone ask, “How do you spell love?” Seems simple, doesn’t it? L-O-V-E. “No,” they said. “You spell it T-I-M-E.”* Technically you don’t spell love like that. But they were obviously making a point: One way you can give someone your love is to give them your time. It’s a powerful message in … Continue reading How do you spell love?

Stopping not starting

May 13, 2022May 10, 2022 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

In John 5 Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, the day of rest. Verse 16 tells us that “because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.” Observing the day of rest has long been important to God’s people. Even today “there are special ‘religious police’ with … Continue reading Stopping not starting

Is your current speed dangerous?

November 19, 2021November 16, 2021 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Have you ever had a thousand things to do, but couldn’t get them done because things kept happening which prevented you from getting through your to-do list? Perhaps like a flat tire, a surprise visit from someone, losing your keys, or even a cold? Let me ask you a question: What if God was forcing … Continue reading Is your current speed dangerous?

The cost of rushing

March 26, 2021March 25, 2021 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

What was the fastest thing in the world when Jesus walked the earth? It couldn’t have been a jet or car because they weren’t invented yet. So it was probably an animal or a ship. Of all the things life would surely have been, it would definitely have been… slower. Difficult? Yes. Meaningful? Yes. But … Continue reading The cost of rushing

Becoming less busy

September 5, 2019September 4, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

“Busyness” is a strange thing these days. On one hand, some people subconsciously take pride in telling others they’re “busy” because it projects the idea that they’re important. When one person asks another how they’re doing they often reply, “Good—busy, but good,” when in reality they’re no more busy than everyone else—but it just seems … Continue reading Becoming less busy

How do you spell love?

January 8, 2019January 7, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

I once heard someone ask, “How do you spell love?” Seems simple, doesn’t it? L-O-V-E. “No,” they said. “You spell it T-I-M-E.” Technically you don’t spell love like that. But they were obviously making a point: One way you can give someone your love is to give them your time. It’s a powerful message in … Continue reading How do you spell love?

Over-committed people

July 10, 2018July 9, 2018 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Let me start by throwing something out there that might rattle a few cages. Over-committed people are un-committed people. Here’s what I mean because I realize I'm going to have to put a few footnotes on that statement! When you over-commit to the wrong things you can’t deliver on the right things. In other words, … Continue reading Over-committed people

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