John Ortberg writes: “Obedience has become the virtue that nobody wants.”*What does he mean?The apostle Peter says that to “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue” (2 Peter 1:5). Patience is a virtue, as we often hear. So is kindness. So is loyalty. But many people find obedience a tougher pill to swallow.Perhaps … Continue reading The virtue nobody wants
God first
See to it that no one takes you captive
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).In the Odyssey, Ulysses is travelling by boat past the island of the sirens. He knows that when he and his crewmates hear the … Continue reading See to it that no one takes you captive
The vortex
An outdoor adventurer loved to get close to big whirlpools in lakes and other locations. He used a body camera and got up close under the water. He would then post the videos to YouTube.It was exhilarating, but dangerous. During one of his dives he died. He got too close and was sucked into the … Continue reading The vortex
The wandering eye
As we run with perseverance the race before us, Hebrews 12:2 says we are to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Let’s look at a few other translations of these words: The CSB translation: “keeping our eyes on Jesus”The NET: “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus”The ESV: “looking to … Continue reading The wandering eye
Autumn: the first step back to good
Yesterday was the first day of autumn. There’s something new about a new season. I’m not just talking about cooler temperatures, pumpkins, or pirouetting, multi-coloured leaves. A new season can be a great opportunity for a mental re-set. Have you been consumed by emotional fog? Have you been distracted by lesser distractions? Have you been … Continue reading Autumn: the first step back to good
He just HAD to get the credit. And it cost him.
I heard a story about two geese and a turtle. They wanted to go somewhere far. Together. But the turtle couldn’t fly. So he came up with an idea. The two geese could hold the ends of a big stick in their beaks. The turtle could grab the stick in the middle with his own … Continue reading He just HAD to get the credit. And it cost him.
It’s not You-ianity
The word ‘religion’ comes from the same Latin root as ‘ligament,’ meaning ‘to bind.’ In this sense, ‘religion’ refers to a system of beliefs and practices that ‘bind’ us to God and other people in a community. That’s obviously a good thing. But there’s another way the word ‘religion’ is used which I think is … Continue reading It’s not You-ianity
When things that seem fine are fatal
In Mark 4:18-19 Jesus says that some people “hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” He’s describing people who don’t respond well to God’s word and message because of three things. Today we focus … Continue reading When things that seem fine are fatal
Order of Operations
I forget which grade I was in but it was definitely high school. And it was the day of the big math test. I remember that the problems were complicated. You had to follow all the mathematical rules, what the teacher called the “order of operations.” If you didn’t, your entire answer would get messed … Continue reading Order of Operations
Until we are aware of God’s marching orders
Life is full of decisions. Small ones, easy ones, tough ones, and over-sized. But how do you make decisions in a faithful way? That is true to what God’s purposes might be for your life? Well, you’re right. That’s a big question. But here's some advice: Consult God FIRST. Carl George writes, “Until we are … Continue reading Until we are aware of God’s marching orders
