John 15 — Blog — David J. Collum

Day 39: Choose your friends wisely... there is a cost

The company you keep deeply affects your life. It does. Countless experts advise us to specifically surround ourselves with the “right kind" of people. I like the phrase like-valued people. Do you consciously put this advice into practice? Or are you more of a “go with the flow” sort of person, choosing along the way those you will spend time with? Jesus has just said, “I call you friends” (verses 14-15), and now he says, “And because you are my friends, the world will hate you!” Choose your friends wisely.

Day 38: Layers

Layers: they are everywhere. We look at something, take a new car for example. It is shinny and clean. It looks great. Underneath the hood is a wildly complex machine. There are days we, or an expert, need to get under that hood. However, most days, we simply enjoy driving it. In each of our lives, there are things we are the experts at. Our jobs, a hobby, maybe cooking, or something else. When necessary, we can “get under the hood”, but most days, we simply enjoy the drive. Where can you “get under the hood”?

Day 37: Play it again, Sam

Jack, aka Humphrey Bogart, chides his longtime friend and piano player: “Play it again, Sam.” Sam resists. He knows hearing that melody, hearing those notes, will conjure up old feelings in Jack. But sometimes it is good to conjure up earlier thoughts. I spent 7 Blog Posts going through Chapter 14. Before we jump into chapter 15 today, let me ask you to “play it again”. Here are the points I was trying to invite you to see in Chapter 14...