“After paying the fare, he [Jonah] went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.”- Jonah 1:3 “Sometimes it’s hard for a prophet and a profit to coexist.”- John Ortberg Today John Ortberg discusses the second reason that holds us back from saying “yes” to God. 2. Having other options holds us back. […]
“I am very brave generally, but today I have a headache.”-Tweedledum, Through the Looking Glass “Be strong and courageous . . . for the Lord your God will be with you.”- Joshua 1:9 In Chapter 8 (“The Jonah complex”) of All the Places to Go, John Ortberg notes that we long for open doors, yet […]
“God doesn’t demand perfect decisions, just perfectly submitted ones.”- Lysa TerKeurst “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”- Ephesians 4:5 John Ortberg complete his discussion of ways recognizing and going through open doors reveals and requires us to face the truth […]
Today John Ortberg discusses the first two ways recognizing and going through open doors reveals and requires us to face the truth about ourselves (Chapter 7, All the Places to Go). 1. What are my strengths and weaknesses? We have to have some sense of our strengths, weaknesses, and interests if we’re going to understand […]
“The truth about you is you don’t know the truth about you.”- John Ortberg In Chapter 7 (“What Open Doors will Teach You”) of All the Places to Go, John Ortberg writes that all of us suffer from a kind of personal blind spot. The difficulty is that when someone has a problem, the last […]
“Be . . . as innocent as doves.”- Matthew 10:16 “What the world needs is not simply isolated outward deeds but transformed character from within.”- John Ortberg John Ortberg concludes Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go by discussing the final dimension of wholehearted threshold crossing: “Be . . . innocent as doves.” Pastor […]
“So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”- Matthew 10:16 (NIV) As John Ortberg continues Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go, he emphasizes that Jesus wasn’t a “well-intentioned dreamer who floated serenely above human difficulties and reality.” Jesus really was serious about getting His work done. Pastor Ortberg notes that part of […]
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”- Matthew 10:16 In Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go, John Ortberg writes that the sheep is not an inspiring animal, so this is an unexpected metaphor. While many sports teams have animal nicknames, no […]
“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”- John 17:18 John Ortberg continues Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go by presenting another statement that many people think Jesus actually said: “Be in the world but not of the world.” Pastor Ortberg states that his misconception has led […]
“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.”- 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 (NRSV) “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I […]
“[Teddy Roosevelt] danced, just as you’d expect him to dance if you knew him. He hopped.”- Doris Kearns Goodwin, The Bully Pulpit As John Ortberg continues Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go, he writes that hopping is something we do with our whole selves. Even adults hop in moments of great joy. Pastor […]
“It’s better to go through the wrong door with your best self than the best door with your wrong self.”- John Ortberg In Chapter 6 (“How to Cross a Threshold”) of All the Places to Go, John Ortberg observes that it’s good for us to choose our doors carefully. But when we decide to go- […]