Thoughts to Ponder (Related, and Yet Not)

"When God was merciful to us, we learned to be merciful with our brothers. When we received forgiveness instead of judgment, we, too, were made ready to forgive our brothers. What God did to us, we then owed to others." --Dietrich Bonhoeffer


". . . the proof of spiritual maturity is not how 'pure' you are but awareness of your impurity." --Philip Yancey


"I've decided I'm against abortion. I think it's murder. But I . . much prefer the pro-choice to the pro-life people. I'd rather eat dinner with a group of the former." --Andy Rooney

Revisiting Reading Notes from the Past, Part 2

"When Jesus asked people to 'repent and believe' the gospel, he was not asking them to be sorry for their sins and to embrace an orthodox theology.

He was asking them to forfeit their own agenda and embrace his. That's the invitation to the Kingdom.

It is not whether we want to go to heaven or hell but whether we want to trust God or continue trusting ourselves."


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"The motives of conformity do not produce intimacy. This is where organized religion so often gets it backwards and why so many people . . . remain so distant from God and so unchanged in their character.

We think conformity to God's way will lead us closer to him, when the opposite is true. Our intimate relationship with him is what will transform us. Fearing God can compel us to conform our behavior to his desires, but it will not last . . .

The behavior that results only lasts as long as the fear itself, which is why those who approach it this way will need greater fears to stay motivated . . . There is nothing more critical to spiritual growth than making this transition.

John concludes, 'The one who fears is not made perfect in love.' (1 John 4:18)"


--He Loves Me by Wayne Jacobsen