Eternal Perspective Ministries

In Revelation 5:8-10, Heaven’s four worshiping animals (usually translated as “living creatures”) fall down before the Lamb alongside God’s people. John describes how they sing a new song about Christ’s redemptive work: Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

Our ministry was sent this video from Set Free Alliance, a ministry focused on giving clean water, rescuing children, providing mobile medical clinics, and planting churches. One of their donors, attorney Peter Manning, was deeply impacted by my book The Treasure Principle: Peter became a “reverse tither,” with the goal to live off 10% of his income and give the rest away.

A reader asked me, “I often hear the saying ‘I want to be ready to meet my Lord.’ Can you explain what exactly you mean by this, please?” First of all, and most importantly, being ready to meet the Lord means you’ve made sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ, and are trusting only Him to save you—not anyone or anything else, and certainly not any good works you’ve done. R. A.

In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis paints a beautiful picture of the New Earth in the final book, The Last Battle. The book begins with a near collision of a railroad train, where the children are thrust into Narnia. But when their adventure is over, the children are afraid they will be sent back to Earth again. Having experienced the joys and wonders of Narnia, and the presence of Aslan—the Lion who is in fact Christ—the thought of returning to earth was unbearable.

A few weeks ago, I posted this on my Facebook page: In recent years, many cases of immoral relationships of Christian leaders, including those I have spoken with at various events, have happened with men in their seventies. Since I am 72, I take that very seriously. It should make all of us carefully examine our lives and take heed to Paul’s warning, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

“Live simply that others may simply live.” This well-known phrase challenges us to evaluate how we use the resources God has entrusted to us. But it’s important to recognize that simple living doesn’t automatically benefit anyone else. There’s no magic in owning less or spending frugally unless the margin we create is intentionally used to serve others—to feed the hungry, to support missions, and to further God’s kingdom.

In 1977, I became one of two co-pastors of a rapidly growing new church near Portland, Oregon. It was an exciting time: People were coming to Christ and becoming true disciples. I loved being a pastor and naively pictured myself “just” teaching the Bible without controversy. But God had a different plan. A few years later, my wife, Nanci, and I opened our home to a pregnant teenager who had previously had an abortion. We guided her toward placing her child for adoption into a Christian home.

In her book Choosing Gratitude, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth shares a pledge written by a Bible teacher named Russell Kelfer. He challenged believers to write these words on a sheet of paper, and sign their names, then make a habit of recommitting themselves to it on a regular basis: Having been born into the kingdom of God, I do hereby acknowledge that God’s purchase of my life included all the rights and control of that life for all eternity.

A week ago yesterday, I spoke at Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia, led by Louie Giglio, who has become a dear friend in recent years. I love this church, and the grace and truth of Jesus is so obviously at work in the people and leaders there. I did a Q&A with my friend Todd Peterson, who I first knew as the kicker for Nanci’s and my beloved Seattle Seahawks back in the 90s.

It was a delight to share some animal stories in my new book All God’s Creatures, which will be released on November 17. Though the book has a great deal of Scripture and deals with theological topics (which are certainly important and, I believe, compelling!), I also wanted to include enjoyable stories for readers. Some of them are more lighthearted; some are especially touching. One of my favorites—and in my opinion, one of the most remarkable—even has a connection to my home state of Oregon.