Otts On Mission
Reflections on ministry, mission, and the Church
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“Nascosto”
The other day I was praying and asking the Lord what he was doing with his people. With so many in transition, waiting for the next step, it can be hard to remain hopeful. So many find themselves in a strange and unsettling holding pattern as though on the verge of movement, but not quite…
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A Death That Leads to Life
The Way of the World The world consistently adheres to the values of power and subjugation with a tenacity that undermines its own humanity. Win at all costs. Dominate the competition. Consolidate the power and hold on to said power with every fiber of your being. Rinse and repeat. This is the history of mankind.…
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How We Become Discerning
“How do I know if I’m doing the “will” of God.” “How do I know if something is true?” “How do I know if that’s really God’s voice.” The questions come, one right after another for us as we journey with God. Ultimately, these questions all deal with discernment. We know discernment is important. We…
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On the Hunt For Glory
Vainglory and Obsession With Fame “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.” 1 Peter 1:24 Glory. Reputation. Prestige. Celebrity. Greatness. Much of our world today centers around the acquisition of titles such as these. One need to look no…
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God opposes the proud…
God opposes the proud We have a problem. Our minds are fragmented. Our hearts, divided. Our communities, fractured. We are coming apart at the seams. The people of God who I encounter have lives that seem to grow increasingly more disintegrated by the day. Our media continues to overload our senses with messages that splinter…
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A prayer for the weary
Lord, chaos causes eyesto flitter to and fro.The never ending streamof violence and destructionturns and wearies one’s focus, stifling hope. The groans of the wearied soulscan be heard under the weight of oppressionthat darkens the minds of allwho’ve lost sight of good,rendering them unable to see anything other than loss. We know, that in the…
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A Shift In Seasons
A shift is taking place. Seasons are changing. God’s people are being moved. Roles are changing. Assignments are being reworked. For many, what once brought life has slowly been drained of its vitality. The confusion and disorientation that has bubbled forth in the people of God is no accident. God’s people know this is true.…
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How Do I Know That’s God’s Voice?
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27 For the people of God, discerning God’s voice has never been more important. Over the past few months we’ve seen God bring many of his people through intense seasons of discernment training. We have heard story after story of…
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Ministry and ROI
The Thrust of Business Recently I heard a former Major League Baseball president talk about how decisions are made in front offices with regard to renovations in stadiums. Ultimately, he said the money is ALWAYS put in to the areas in a ballpark that will recoup the money spent on renovations the fastest. More often…
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Pity Pushes Away. Compassion Enters In.
When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned… The life of a missionary is one that requires a great deal of flexibility and adaptability. The skills we’ve developed over time as missionaries have served us well in an ever changing world. The things is, even with those skills, objectively speaking, our lives have been anything but stable…