John Ortberg wrote a book titled Everybody’s Normal Until You Get To Know Them. Wow, what a great title! Anyway, it refers to a study on relationships that tracked the lives of seven thousand people over nine years: “People who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, obesity, or alcohol use) but … Continue reading Twinkies or broccoli
health
Calming down
There’s a lot of worrying going on. I get it. People are hearing daily updates about the COVID-19 global pandemic, and many of them not good. Plus, we have a tendency to go over worst-case-scenarios in our heads over and over again. That’s why it’s important to relax. To calm down. Panic is a breeding … Continue reading Calming down
Wasting time well spent
Maybe we should all get a bit better at wasting time sometimes. Now hear me out. I’m not saying we should be lazy. And I’m not saying we shouldn’t work hard. We should. Just not every second of every day of every year. We generally look down our noses at wasting time. After all, we’ve … Continue reading Wasting time well spent
Pretending to be perfect
Today I’d like to ask you this: If you’re going through something really tough, have you talked to someone about it? Talking to someone about your situation can be hard. It can be difficult to verbalize your feelings. Or maybe you doubt if it will do any good. But one of the reasons I think … Continue reading Pretending to be perfect
The modern fountain of youth?
Many books and movies have explored the idea of a fountain of youth—a magical flow of water that stops the aging process, and which makes you younger and feeling great. As far as we know, it doesn’t exist. But one of the things I’ve come to discover is that a well-rested soul may be the … Continue reading The modern fountain of youth?
Dealing with stress…
Have you ever dealt with stress? Wow, all of your hands just shot up at once! Dr. Tim Cantopher explains that the word “stress” is from the world of engineering. Think of a bridge. When it is bearing a load that is heavier than it is designed to carry, it is “under stress.” With that … Continue reading Dealing with stress…
Diet and God
Speaking to the young Timothy, Paul wrote that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things…” (1 Timothy 4:8). When people look at that verse they usually see Paul’s advice to take godliness and spiritual training seriously. And that’s good. But that isn’t ALL he says. He also says that … Continue reading Diet and God
Can a hollow tree grow healthy apples?
Can a hollow tree grow healthy apples? Of course not! If a tree is hollow it doesn’t have any of the strength it needs. Plus, it can’t draw water from the ground that is supposed to flow into the branches to help produce fruit. Well, you’re the tree. In John 15:16 Jesus says this to … Continue reading Can a hollow tree grow healthy apples?
For a healthier and better grounded you
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about mental health. According to the Canadian Association of Mental Health, mental illness affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths for 15-24 year olds. And by age 40, about fifty percent of people in my country will have or have had a … Continue reading For a healthier and better grounded you
Does someone in your life have issues?
Does someone in your life have issues? Someone in your family? A co-worker or classmate? Or maybe a friend? Perhaps it’s just that their priorities are frazzled. And you just don’t know what to do. Maybe it’s legitimate. Maybe it’s not. Maybe you’re just not sure. The point is that it can be complicated. But … Continue reading Does someone in your life have issues?
The Up Devotional 