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walking with God

Impact bias

June 22, 2022June 20, 2022 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

In yesterday’s devotional I talked about your soul’s appetite. Fill it with the wrong thing and be eternally corroded; fill it with the right thing and be eternally contented. In light of that, I suggested that you think proactively about how you are responding to your deepest longings since they can only and truly be … Continue reading Impact bias

Perpetual change and controversy?

September 7, 2021September 6, 2021 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Change is everywhere. That was true prior to the pandemic. But that was nothing compared to now. In the past year and a half we’ve experienced (and are experiencing) massive change as we try to adapt to ever-evolving social realities and upheavals. Spinning is not a way to see clearly. We are becoming increasingly polarized … Continue reading Perpetual change and controversy?

Joy is what happens when…

July 15, 2021July 14, 2021 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Yesterday I highlighted Act 14:17 where Paul was telling the people of Lystra about God: “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” He told them how God was personally involved in their lives and … Continue reading Joy is what happens when…

Is fasting the black sheep?

May 13, 2021May 12, 2021 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Fasting is like the black sheep of the spiritual disciplines. Prayer, Bible-reading, worship, simplicity, and servanthood are much more on display. But fasting is often tucked away, kind of awkward, and a bit neglected. And yet there it is. Fasting was practiced by Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Anna, Paul and, of course, Jesus. After … Continue reading Is fasting the black sheep?

Pray attention

December 23, 2020December 22, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

“pray continually…” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) “Pray attention” is a phrase coined by Ross Lockhart in his book Beyond Snakes and Shamrocks.* Ross is the intelligent, energetic, and mission-focused Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall at the Vancouver School of Theology. Plus, he can rock a bowtie like nobody else I know! Here’s how he explains it: … Continue reading Pray attention

RationaLies

December 17, 2020December 16, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

It’s easy to lie to ourselves, isn’t it? We take the easy path instead of the right path—and rationalize it.We can be lazy instead of diligent—and rationalize it.We sometimes avoid the reality of God’s word—and rationalize it. Psychologist Charles Lowery says this: “Rationalize means Rational Lies.”* Bam! When we say or do something that is … Continue reading RationaLies

An erosion, not an explosion

July 30, 2020July 29, 2020 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

It’s no surprise that I highly value—and consistently teach about—the importance of daily, spiritual practices. As I’m fond of saying, at first you make your habits, and then your habits make you. Spiritual practices are things you do on a daily basis (habits) which help you know and walk with God. But they serve another … Continue reading An erosion, not an explosion

They went to the gunman’s parents’ house

June 12, 2019June 11, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

In October 2006, a gunman took hostages in a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. He shot ten children. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Then he shot himself. Five of the children died, and people around the world were horrified. But get this: Just hours after it happened, people in the … Continue reading They went to the gunman’s parents’ house

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