ODJ: destructive pride
In the classic 1991 animated movie Beauty and the Beast, Gaston is the town’s strapping, egotistical hero.He’s a ‘manly man’ admired by the locals and desired by many of the town’s younger women. Most seem to be huge fans of Gaston and overlook his obnoxious ways, except for the young and beautiful Belle.
At the start of the film, Gaston meets Belle on the street
At the start of the film, Gaston meets Belle on the street
ODJ: spiritual self-examination
Yed Anikpo created an app called Heartpoints to help Christians track their spiritual progress. Users of the app can review their daily history to rejoice over victories and to repent of sins. According to Anikpo, “Heartpoints [can] help us capture [what] makes up our walk today so that we can examine it and use [it] to inform . . . our pilgrimage tomorrow.”
Spiritual se
Spiritual se
ODJ: the source
For the past 2 years I’ve served in a church in the urban heart of a large city. It’s a difficult ministrythat requires me to have deep compassion and an open heart for others—things that don’t come naturally to me. I often feel woefully unqualified and wonder how I can be the person of grace and compassion that I need to be.
It’s good to remember that there was someone e
It’s good to remember that there was someone e
ODJ: staying alert
Writer and media consultant Phil Cooke was on a business trip to Calgary, Canada. More than a thousand miles from home, he thought he was walking around in total anonymity until someone tapped him on the shoulder and asked, “Aren’t you Phil Cooke?” The man who made the inquiry had read Cooke’s books and followed him through social media. Phil wasn’t doing anything that could have damaged
ODJ: the tale of three men
Once there were three men who served in the same community—Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius.
Gaius was “Mr. Nice Guy”. But that doesn’t mean he was a pushover, as some movies portray nice guys. He rightly discerned who needed help and faithfully cared for those who served God—even if they were strangers (3 John 1:5). He was a man of integrity (v.3), but that wasn’t his be
Gaius was “Mr. Nice Guy”. But that doesn’t mean he was a pushover, as some movies portray nice guys. He rightly discerned who needed help and faithfully cared for those who served God—even if they were strangers (3 John 1:5). He was a man of integrity (v.3), but that wasn’t his be
ODJ: the long wait
Forty years ago, as the violence in Vietnam rained down on his village, an explosion killed Ho Van Thanh’s wife and two of his children. In fear and desperation, Thanh scooped up his infant son, Ho Van Lang, and fled into the jungle. For 4 decades, father and son lived far from civilisation, carving a rudimentary life out of the land. Recently, villagers exploring some 25 miles from their homes
ODJ: don't judge?
Do not judge others” may be the most popular verse in the world. It’s the one phrase from the Bible that everyone seems to know—and often misapply. A former politician continued to text inappropriate photos of himself to strangers even after he apologised and resigned in disgrace. He angrily told a disgusted voter that he had no right to judge him. Pope Francis, when asked about gay priests,
ODJ: tested
As a kid, I enjoyed helping my mum in the kitchen— especially when it came time for our holiday baking. One tool that fascinated me was the sifter. My mum stored it in a large plastic bag that kept it clean and caught any remnants of flour dust from previous projects. Turning the handle, I’d watch as the heavy clump of flour met with the metal pieces and screening to become a soft, light produ
ODJ: where's God?
On the homepage of a website I discoveredrecently, all the global natural disasters for the current year are graphically presented on a world map. Icons reveal landslides, earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, erupting volcanoes, windstorms and more. It’s sobering to see the number of natural disasters that affect people around the globe!
As we turn our eyes to the minor proph
As we turn our eyes to the minor proph