ODJ: He knows you

He knows you. He knows every microcosm and nanosecond of your existence—every cell, atom and molecule; every interest, weakness and achievement; every hope, dream and grief.
He knows every movement you’ll make today (Psalm 139:2-3)—every action, step and pause for rest; every blink, glance and breath. He knows when I will stop typing this paragraph and when you’ll stop readin

ODB: Asking Different Questions

When tragedy strikes, questions follow. Our loss of a loved one may lead us to ask God any number of pointed questions: “Why did You let this happen?” “Whose fault was this?” “Don’t You care about my pain?” Believe me, as the grieving father of a teenager who died tragically I have asked these very questions.The book of Job records the questions Job asks as he sits down with friends

ODJ: a bad rep

For centuries the church has sometimes had the unfortunate reputation of bitter wrangling and vicious disagreement. There have been opposing denominations and those within the same denomination claiming to know the true interpretation of Scripture and its application to daily life. These days many Christian leaders are calling for less division and greater humility as we practise our faith togethe

ODB: Uncertain Times

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During a major economic downturn several years ago, many people lost their jobs. Sadly, my brother-in-law was one of them. Writing to me about their situation, my sister shared that although there were uncertainties, they had peace because they knew that God would care for them.Believers in Jesus can have peace in the midst of uncertainties because we have the assurance that our heavenly Father lo

ODJ: endure towards joy

When people become comatose, one of the many concerns is to keep their muscles from degenerating. Atrophy sets in quickly when there is no movement. On the other hand, most exercise trainers will tell you that muscle grows after it has been under stress. Strenuous exercise makes small tears in the muscle tissue. As it heals, the muscle grows stronger or larger than it was before the ordeal. Some p

ODB: The Jaws Of Death

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Lauren Kornacki is glad she took that summer CPR class, but she probably never thought she would have to use it so soon and on someone she loves. Her father was repairing his car when the jack slipped and the car fell on him. Lauren, a 22-year-old, reportedly heroically lifted the 3,300-pound car enough to pull him from underneath! Then she kept him alive with CPR until the paramedics arrived.Far

ODJ: families and pendulums

My middle-aged friend was struggling to value his local church. He was raised in a home that emphasised a personal relationship with God but didn’t care much for organised religion. When his parents were younger, their church had stopped preaching the gospel, so they became suspicious of all churches. They passed their scepticism on to their son. I’m hoping he won’t over compensate and allow

ODB: Not A Hitching Post

You may have heard the saying, “The past is supposed to be a guidepost, not a hitching post.” It’s easy to become tied to memories of “the good old days” instead of using our experiences to find direction for the road ahead. We are all susceptible to the paralyzing effects of nostalgia—a longing for what used to be.Jeremiah was a priest from a small town near Jerusalem when God called

ODJ: planted

Accompanied by a cool breeze, the sunlight slowly spread over the horizon. It was a beautiful morning to plant. Grabbing various tools, my husband and I set out to rake back mulch and dig some holes. We had carefully selected plants that would work in the various growing environments our garden offered. Though the work had been strenuous, I later found it rewarding to stand back and see the fruits