Picking Songs For Your Own Funeral
Maybe it’s a morbid blog. Or… A hope-filled one! I sometimes ask people if they’d like some input into the songs used at their funeral. […]
Authormatthewruttan
Questions Are More Important Than Answers
Questions are more important than answers. At least, the right ones are. Why? Because the quality of your questions regulates the range of your answers. When you say, […]
It’s a Girl! (From a Dad’s-Eye-View)
They didn’t used to let dads in the delivery room. They do now! On Monday, my wife gave birth to our 3rd child—a little girl! […]
Reducing Negative Input (My News Blackout and Mirror Neurons)
We get bombarded every day. Every angle. I drove 10 minutes across town and saw (or heard) over 70 advertisements. Some not appropriate for kids—but […]
What’s a Dad Want on Father’s Day
“A father carries pictures where his money used to be.” (Unknown) I’m a new dad. Well, not that new. And I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but […]
What if God is Asking US for a Sign?
So often we think the burden is on God to give people signs. But what if it was the other way around? Why is God the one with something to prove?
The Un-Bucket List: 4 things NOT to do before you die
“Bucket lists” are popular these days. Movies and books propose lists of things to do before you “kick the bucket” (hence “bucket list”)—a kind of grocery shopping list for the soul before you walk up to the Grande Amen check-out line.
Converting Again for the First Time
The word “conversion” means change, transformation, crossing over from point A to point B. Each conversion means something new. Point A to B. Then B […]
5 Movies I’d Watch Over and Over
“Movies are just a fad. Audiences really want to see live actors on a stage.” Or at least thought Charlie Chaplain. Maybe it’s unfair to […]
Shhh… Politics
Shhh. Politics. It’s not a big pulpit-topic these days. Why not? Especially in light of newly minted Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, the various travels of Barack […]
20 Months of Running
Not consecutively. I’m not Forrest Gump. But it’s been 20 months since I laced up the shoes and hit the streets (again). When growing up, […]
Mother’s Day from a Man’s Perspective
When I was about old enough to know nothing I remember asking my mom, “What’s mother’s day?” She told me. I replied (as all kids […]
Thrivival
Good things are happening at our church. We’re not perfect, but hope is happening.
How Can I Support the Minister?
This is a short and simple blog. Most of you know I’m a minister (or ‘pastor.’) The vocation involves a lot of things. Many joy-filled, […]
What If You Only Had One Day Left?
Our world seems obsessed with its own demise. Hollywood movies, strange cults in the desert and the Left Behind series. Scientists in Chicago even made a ‘Doomsday […]
Every Once In A While You Have to Say Your ‘I am’ Speech
Alexander Hamilton said that if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. And over the past few weeks it’s been a tough world […]
Helping Our Kids Have Faith
Will our kids believe? Do they? This is a big question. Even before I had kids I was reading about our own homes being mission […]
Got Doubt? Doubt Faithfully
Ever feel like an outsider because you have had some doubts? In your faith? As if everyone else has seen Jesus personally and therefore exudes […]
How Do You Know When You’re Wrong?
I’m not really talking about that decision to finish the box of donuts yourself or to buy those $300 sunglasses. Well, maybe! I’m thinking more […]
Trusting and Trying
Can we make any generalizations to explain why things are going in the right direction? Does some of the good have to do with introducing a strategic plan, or some praise songs, or different programs, or something else?