Define Yourself Radically As One Beloved By

The Sorrow Of God Lies In Our Fear Of Him, Our Fear Of Life, And Our Fear Of Ourselves. He Anguishes Over Our Self-absorption And Self-sufficiency... God's Sorrow Lies In Our Refusal To Approach Him When We Sinned And Failed.

The Fierce Words Of Jesus Addressed To The Pharisees Of His Day Stretch Across The Bands Of Time. Today They Are Directed Not Only To Fallen Televangelists But To Each Of Us. We Miss Jesus' Point Entirely When We Use His Words As Weapons Against Others. They Are To Be Taken Personally By Each Of Us. This Is The Form And Shape Of Christian Pharisaism In Our Time. Hypocrisy Is Not Hte Prerogative Of People In High Places. The Most Impoverished Among Us Is Capable Of It. Hypocrisy Is The Natural Expression Of What Is Meanest In Us All.

I Want Neither A Terrorist Spirituality That Keeps Me In A Perpetual State Of Fright About Being In Right Relationship With My Heavenly Father Nor A Sappy Spirituality That Portrays God As Such A Benign Teddy Bear That There Is No Aberrant Behavior Or Desire Of Mine That He Will Not Condone. I Want A Relationship With The Abba Of Jesus, Who Is Infinitely Compassionate With My Brokenness And At The Same Time An Awesome, Incomprehensible, And Unwieldy Mystery.

The Dominant Characteristic Of An Authentic Spiritual Life Is The Gratitude That Flows From Trust

Creation Discloses A Power That Baffles Our Minds And Beggars Our Speech. We Are Enamored And Enchanted By God's Power. We Stutter And Stammer About God's Holiness. We Tremble Before God's Majesty... And Yet, We Grow Squeamish And Skittish Before God's Love.