Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day […]
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed of hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”- Philippians 4:12-13 “Peace cannot be stolen without your consent. You willingly yield it up.”- Anonymous Chapters 3 (“Trapped, Drowning, and […]
In Chapter 2 (“Time to Enroll”) of Satisfied, author Jeff Manion asks how God’s grace can prevail and empower us to live deeply satisfied lives when our lives are interrupted by unexpected or undesired events. Pastor Manion adds that radiating Christ’s joy and peace in such situations is a challenge not to be underestimated. Our […]
As Chapter 1 of Satisfied continues, author Jeff Manion notes that the gravity of Paul’s message to Timothy is intended to sober us as we contemplate the amount of time and energy we spend accumulating stuff. That sobering reminder is that we will wear out and get old. Our stuff is only temporarily in our […]
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”- 1 Timothy 6:6-8 In Chapter 1 (“Material World”) of Satisfied, Jeff Manion reports that recently he embarked on a project […]
“So when you get right down to it, your house is nothing more than a place to keep your stuff . . . while you go out and get . . . more stuff. ‘Cause that’s what this country is all about. Trying to get more stuff. . . . So you keep getting more […]
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day (Multnomah Books, 2006) The author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson, is the founding pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C. Pastor Batterson bases the book on 2 Samuel 23:20-21, where Benaiah seizes opportunity by the […]
His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”- John 2:17 As Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 8 of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, he states that there is a very powerful scene in Rocky III where Rocky has achieved boxing fame but in the process […]
“Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”- Matthew 18:3 In Chapter 8 of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, author Mark Batterson discusses how we can tap into that natural weirdness with which we’re born. His answer […]
As Chapter 8 of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day continues, Mark Batterson discusses the topic of divergent spirituality. He begins by citing a fascinating study on divergent thinking- thinking outside the box. That study found that 98% of three to five year olds scored in the genius category for divergent […]
“We try to be too reasonable about what we believe. What I believe is not reasonable at all. It’s hilariously impossible. Possible things aren’t worth much. These crazy impossible things keep us going.”- Madeleine L’Engle “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.”- 1 Corinthians 1:27 In Chapter 8 (“The […]
“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”- Ecclesiastes 11:4 Toward the end of Chapter 7 of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson notes hat the English word “opportunity” comes from the Latin phrase ob portu. Before modern harbors were […]