Jani Ortlund

@BethMooreLPM I hate to tell you, Beth—six whole weeks!!!! It seemed like six months, but she truly was an obedient joy to be around when we got her back home.

@JaniOrtlund This brings me great consolation, Jani!!!!! How long did she stay??

Pecos is at real live birddog school and will be there for A MONTH. (Keith says it may be 2 months but I’m like naw bro nope gimme my baby back.) We’ve never been able to part with one of our GSPs for training before but this one’s too smart & agile to not see what she can do.

@BethMooreLPM Only you can make us smile as you anticipate spine surgery! Thank you for your Christ-centered faith, your powerful perseverance and your open-hearted love for us all. I love and admire you so much! Praying daily~

Have to be in a back brace for weeks after spine surgery (1st week of Aug). Hoping to have it off by the time I start speaking again but it is what it is. Out of options. They fit me for it like a cast. Craziest thing! Guess which pattern I chose.

@BethMooreLPM Ray and I are thrilled that such care is available! You have been an inspiring example to us all of courageous perseverance. Thank you! Continued prayers as you face into surgery.

You marvelous loved ones who’ve been praying for me, I was at the Texas Medical Center much of the day and got to see one of the most highly recommended neurosurgeons in Houston. No surprise that I seriously need surgery but the ball is rolling. It will probably take till mid August to do all the things required for it but I am deeply grateful. When he showed me the images, I nearly fainted. It’s no wonder the pain has been unrelenting. I’ll not get into what surgical measures are anticipated because, the thing is, I don’t have a lot of options. I have practically tried it all. This has gone on so long, I can’t even imagine being out of pain. I’m so happy and full of hope that I won’t have to live like this forever!! I won’t carry on about it but, as we get close enough to set a date, I will definitely let you guys know. Until then, just pray for me as the Lord leads and know that he is my joy and keeps my spirit buoyed and my frame strong. He is well able to get me through 8 more weeks! I love you guys in our active little community so much. Thank you for your prayers! They are gold!!! God bless you back 100-fold.

@BethMooreLPM Thank you, wise friend, for your cogent and trustworthy thoughts on recent events. You help us in ways you cannot imagine. And!!! We are deeply grateful that protecting your peace is bringing you some relief physically. We love you and (selfishly) want you well. Praying!

Want to tell you loves something. I know some of you were and are waiting for my thoughts on recent events and I have a lot of them which is one reason why I haven’t shared them publicly. I’ve had plenty of conversations in private. In my family group, diverse opinions and complex thoughts are not anathema. Thing is, y’all, so few people read anymore. They read into. They hunt down gotcha phrases to fit their narratives of you. And, let’s be frank, nuance is considerably above X’s IQ. My thoughts about the current event are complicated and not well suited here. I will say this much and leave it here. I believe in justice for all. I do mean all. Even people who make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. If that’s what’s underway here, good. I’m for it. Then make it apply across the board. If it’s not justice, then all they’re doing is making a megalomaniac a bigger cult hero. What I think is that Washington is a mess. An embarrassing mess. A TROUBLING mess. Your basic person spending 30 days in county has more scruples than many of our nation’s leaders. My faith is in Christ alone. Last thing. It’s occurred to me recently that I’m dealing with residual effects of a very intense eight years of embodied stress that has played havoc on me physically. My gracious God has me in a recovering mode with him. I’m protecting some of my peace so I can get well. And it’s working. He’s working. Oh mercy, I love him so. He has been so merciful to me. And I love y’all. This is written specifically to my friends on here because all I’m going to get from my opponents is “BUT …!” And right now I’m just wanting to deal with a few less buts.

@NancyAFrench Grateful to hear this. Continued prayers as you face into surgery and radiation. We love and respect you so much! 💕

Waited until I got to Chicago to give you this update. I have a long road ahead of me but this is good news. ❤️ you!

@NancyAFrench Praying for you, dear Nancy. Thank you for sharing with us. I love and admire you.

Okay yesterday took a turn for the worse, and - in the interest of keeping it real - no pickleball was played. TBH, not sure teeth were brushed. This last infusion made me so so so sick, but am hoping today is going to be a better day!

A concise edition of Gentle and Lowly (1/3 the length) with more accessible language and some new illustrations. Designed for anyone who may be daunted by the 220-page version (teens, digital addicts, non-readers, the hyper-busy, etc). Pre-order now up: amazon.com/Heart-Jesus-Re…

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (Jn 13:34). Can't read that without thinking of my granddad, Ray Ortlund Sr, who lived it so well, and taught it the last time I ever heard him preach in '04.

Wonderfully done and worth watching! Less than 30 minutes long.

I'm excited to be teaching an online cohort on arguments for Christianity. We will dive deep into these 6 topics, with a view to real conversations and the pressing questions of our culture. Lots of time for interaction. This will be fun! Join us here: thegospelcoalition.org/cohort/ancient…

Our low cost, easy access Summer Intensive Courses are now on our website. Eric Ortlund and Tim Ward talk about the topic of the 'Preaching Bible Stories Better’ course. Click here for more info: oakhill.ac.uk/cpd/-continuin… #oakhillcollege #ministrytraining #summerintensive #cpd

So struck by this language today: “… an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people” (I Timothy 6:4-5). Every word strikes me. Clearly this problem persists today. Much of our social media wrangling can easily fall into this. Two basic observations: 1) there is a way to engage theology and truth that is ungodly. It’s unhealthy. It’s probably a bit pedantic and technical (note the focus on “words”). Not all theological zeal is good. 2) we can see it by its fruit: it leads to conflict and ugly relationships (envy, dissension, etc.). Conclusion: if our theological arguing is consistently leading to relational brokenness, we should ask the Lord to help us search our hearts, and cleanse us from any “unhealthy cravings” and replace them with a wholesome love that leads to peace and truth and clarity.

As a student & now faculty member of Oak Hill I am full of gratitude for the huge impact this college has had on my faith, life, and ministry over the past 16 years. Interested to learn more about how the college might encourage and equip you likewise? Come to this Open Morning!

"Our culture is aching for kindness." Just a tremendous lecture from @gavinortlund at @SEBTSBushCenter. He delivered it a few months ago, but it's particularly timely as we begin a new year. cfc.sebts.edu/faith-and-cult…

For the next 4 days Crossway is making my book Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners free as an ebook and audiobook for any Crossway+ members (which is free). Perhaps it would serve your growth and joy.

"I was very EAGER to write to you about our common salvation, I found it NECESSARY to write ... to contend for the faith" (Jude 3) Celebrating the gospel should be a matter of eagerness; contending for it, a matter of necessity. For some Christians, sadly, it is the reverse.

If you don’t subscribe to the Truth Unites newsletter, and YouTube channel, it’s time! @gavinortlund is doing important theological and apologetic work: truthunites.org

The ancients stared at the stars most nights. We stare at screens most nights. Stars make the world feel huge. They remind us we are tiny. Screens often make the world feel small. They make us feel connected to everything. I wonder how much this contributes to our anxiety.

"Reason takes you to the diving board and even tells you when to jump, but it does not jump. Reason is like dating; faith is like marrying." Blaise Pascal