Otts On Mission
Reflections on ministry, mission, and the Church
Category: Uncategorized
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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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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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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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God Is Good?
Is God Good? “May you always choose to believe that God is good and that he has good for you, no matter the circumstances.” So part of my prayer every night over my boys goes. These words are as much for my boys as they are for me. Some days it is quite difficult to…
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My Top 10 Most Influential Books
The Beautiful Life As we began our process of moving to Italy some 10 years ago, I began to meet with a spiritual director. His influence in my life and care for me as we journeyed through support raising, moving, and ministering abroad can’t be overstated. Early on, he made reference to a collection of…
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Watchful In The Dark
A Cloud of Evil Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 There is a strange cloud that seems to hang over the world. Everyone seems to feel it, though no one is able to clearly define it. It’s increasingly hard to see what is really…
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The Madness of Pride
“The beginning of pride is the consummation of vainglory; the middle is the humiliation of our neighbor, the shameless parade of our labors, complacency in the heart, hatred of exposure; and the end is denial of God’s help, the extolling of own’s own exertions, fiendish character.” – Saint John Climacus Pride Points To Me I…
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Thoughts, Passions, and Sin
Sin as Sickness A kid was recently shot fairly close to where we live. In the middle of the woods, surrounded by other teens, he was shot and killed. Humanity is sick. We see the brokenness of our world just about everywhere these days. All of us feel it. We experience it in just about…
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Harmony And The Role of The Prophet
A Contemplative Life I have often heard contemplation simply described as gratitude. Perhaps this is because as we cultivate contemplative lives, we begin to see more clearly. When we see clearly, we begin to understand God’s rich interaction with us rightly. There is a simple truth to this definition because it is in contemplative prayer…