While in college John Ortberg had to attend mandatory chapel services. They had assigned seating. It was a clever format. After all, since the services were mandatory, and since the students had assigned seating, it was easy for the monitors to see who was (or wasn’t) in attendance.During one of the semesters a controversy broke out. … Continue reading His performance, not yours

Note: New Podcast Episode and Blog (link below)~ Have you seen the world lately? The pain, the division, the hardship, the anxiety, the threat of war, the evil, the darkness…The Dark Knight trilogy of movies with Batman came to a head with the final release in 2012. People thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be … Continue reading Ready to leave the dark night behind

“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:5-6).The apostle John has a particular way of writing. His style makes us see clear and definite contrasts. Throughout his New … Continue reading Your choices matter

Have you ever heard the expression that someone is “sitting on the fence”? It’s about being neutral, or perhaps being slow to make a decision about something. With that in mind, let me say this: You can’t follow Jesus if you’re sitting on the fence. The exact expression “follow me” occurs twenty times in the Gospels. For example, … Continue reading If you’re sitting on the fence

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart” (Psalm 51:6).In 1992 a movie came out called “A Few Good Men.” It’s been a while since I saw it, so there are a lot of parts I don’t remember. But one line stood out, and it … Continue reading God can handle the truth

One of the most well-known verses in John the apostle’s first letter is this: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). People tend to quote that verse to say we never have any need to be afraid of anything. However, the second part of the verse explains the context: … Continue reading Perfect love casts out fear?

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).I sometimes see T-shirts or online memes that say something like this: “Surround yourself with people who make you happy.” I get it. But that’s an unfortunately shallow way to look at life. Now, before you think I’m being too harsh or … Continue reading Surround yourself with people who make you…

One of Jesus’ most famous statements—and also one of his most challenging—is about taking up your cross. Here it is:“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and … Continue reading Unduly attached to the earthly

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).What comes to mind when I say the word “rival”?A rival competes for something—and that competition is usually fierce. Perhaps you think about a sports rivalry, like the one that exists between … Continue reading Love has a rival

I’m going to share Jesus’ famous statement about loving our enemies. Then I’m going to point out what is perhaps the most neglected part of that statement:“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who … Continue reading Bearing the family resemblance