As Mark Batterson concludes Chapter 15 of The Grave Robber, he comments on an eighth miracle, the miraculous catch of fish (John 21:1-14) , tucked away at the end of John’s gospel. This miracle followed Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples had been fishing all night without luck. Then Jesus told them to try the other side […]
“Joy is not getting what you want. It’s fully appreciating what you have.”- Mark Batterson In Chapter 5 (“Six Stone Jars”) of The Grave Robber, Mark Batterson begins with the observation that water is the most basic chemical compound on earth. Yet it also is the most vital. But when is the last time we […]
“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”- Psalm 40:3 (NLT) “God is never a God of discouragement. When you have a discouraging spirit or train of thought in […]
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”- Psalm 119:105 “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”- Psalm 16:11 In Chapter 4 of Waiting on God, Charles Stanley presents four ways […]
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hearts, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”- James 4:8-10 Today Sara Horn completes […]
Soul Keeping (Zondervan, 2014) Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You by John Ortberg was published in April, 2014. Based on John’s conversations with Dallas Willard, Soul Keeping expands our understanding of the human soul by discussing what the soul is, what the soul needs, and the soul restored. The search for […]
As John Ortberg concludes Chapter 16 of Soul Keeping, he notes that Walter Brueggeman speaks of “psalms of disorientation.” The are psalms in which the soul is disoriented, God appears to be absent, and darkness is winning. The psalmist vents and boils over at God rather than demonstrating a polite piety- an honest faith. John […]
“Because your love is better than life . . . my soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”- Psalm 63:3-5 “You can admire without having to acquire.”- John Ortberg John Ortberg begins Chapter 14 (“The Soul Needs Satisfaction”) of Soul Keeping by citing author […]
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”- James 3:10-11 “Blessing-giving should be asymmetrical. It’s not a form of barter. It’s grace.”- John Ortberg, Soul Keeping […]
Today John Ortberg continues Chapter 11 of Soul Keeping with the second movement in the Cycle of Grace, Sustenance– or sustaining grace. 2. Sustenance. Pastor Ortberg states that Jesus engaged in specific practices that enabled Him to keep replenishing His spirit: prayer, maintaining a circle of close friends (the twelve disciples), regular corporate worship at […]
John Ortberg expands on his concept of “The Soul Experiment” as he concludes Chapter 10 of Soul Keeping. When scientists conduct an experiment, John notes, they formulate a hypothesis concerning the anticipated results. John then presents three assumptions, or hypotheses, to put The Soul Experiment to the test. 1. God wants to make every moment […]
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”- John 15:5 In Chapter 10 of Soul Keeping, John Ortberg references John 15:5, noting that when we make sure- through the power of the […]