Have you been hijacked by anxiety? Or someone you care about? An unwelcome terrorist comes and goes playing with your peace? For those who know
Author: MatthewRuttan
"A pulse doesn't mean you're alive." I'm a disciple-in-progress, dad, husband & pastor. Homebase: www.MatthewRuttan.com. I write The Up Daily Devotional and host The Pulse Podcast. One day I hope to own a rowboat. Just because it seems awesome.
Simplify Your Life
The opposite of simplicity isn’t complexity—it’s confusion. We can often fall into the trap of thinking our lives are complex. And they are, sort of.
Talking To Your (Small) Kids About Easter
Last year I blogged about this very thing. So here it is again with a few tweaks: How do we teach our children about the
What To Do When Someone Judges You For No Good Reason
Don’t sweat it. They’re not your judge. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows crooked ways will be exposed.” (Proverbs 10:9) Victory is tied
Be Our Primary Disease (A Prayer For Us—with apologies to Walter Brueggemann)
Stuff gets into us. A germ here, a seed of spiritual sickness there. You think you’re opening the door for a special gift delivery and
Raising Boys: What Makes Them Different and How We Can Help
Boys are different from girls. I grew up as 1 of 3 boys. Now, I have a son. My friends have sons. And there are boys
The Opposite of Love Isn’t Hate—It’s Indifference (Lent Begins)
You’re still here. On earth. What difference will your life make? Elie Wiesel wrote something that changed me. He is a Holocaust survivor who saw
What I Just Learned from Teenagers and 20-somethings (It’s something good)
Sometimes the best learning happens when you don’t know you’re learning. This past weekend the church welcomed the Presbyterian Young People’s Society Winter Weekend. A
A Better Way To Think About Your Failures
I once thought my destiny was to be an NHL-er. I did pretty well for a while. But I was no Sydney Crosby. I “failed”
Date Your Spouse
Originally posted on Matthew Ruttan:
For those of you who are married, do you remember your wedding vows? Having had the privilege of marrying several…
Show Up For Someone
I’m guessing there’s someone in your life right now who needs you. The ‘how’ or ‘what’ of that need might be obvious—or it might be
Suffering From the January Blues? (You’re Not Alone)
Have you heard about Blue Monday? Someone told me it’s supposed to be the most depressing day of the year and falls on the Monday
If You’re Raising Girls, Don’t Make This Mistake
I’ve been doing a lot of reading on parenting these days. Makes sense—not only do I care about families, but I’m a dad to 3
Courage (A Christmas Day Message)
It’s Christmas Day. A baby cries. It will not be the last time. A mother is tired. It will not be the last time. Hope
Jesus Without Tinsel (A 7-Year-Old Doesn’t Get a Christmas Tree)
In 1939 Eugene was 7 years old. And his mother decided they would not get a Christmas tree. She was a woman of conviction and had seen
Making Christmas Meaningful
Christmas is like water. It can be a great source of nourishment—but it can also drown you. The beauty can be eclipsed by a distracted
If You Make It About Presents, Guess What?
I think we all want Christmas to be awesome. Filled with awe. And as I drive through the neighbourhoods and see multi-coloured lights going up
Date Your Spouse
For those of you who are married, do you remember your wedding vows? Having had the privilege of marrying several people (no, I’m not a
Spiritual but not Religious?
Like me you’ve probably heard someone say they’re “spiritual but not religious.” Maybe it’s a friend; maybe it’s you. No one has told me they’re
The Earliest Drawing of the Crucifixion in History?
The cross is at the centre of Christianity. No cross, no anything. Jesus outstretched on the ancient torture device is his open-armed embrace of humanity.
Matthew Ruttan 