Thoughts

I can't figure it out: either I’ve figured out that God can’t be figured out, or I can’t figure out how to understand others who do have Him figured out.  12/12/11

Man-centered, try harder religion can produce a safe, neat, in-control life, but it’s like a Monet painting on a postage stamp – pretty, but very small. By contrast God wants to convulsively detonate your life to the expansive size of Montana, complete with the breath-taking beauty, mystery, danger and challenge of Big Sky Country. 12/10/11

When you are on the way to the High Places and the Kingdom of Love, it a great joy when you can get an encouraging shout or hand wave from another pilgrim who may be at a different place on the trail, but is nonetheless headed for the same heavenly city.  12/7/11

Christ’s great victory over sin, death and hell was bracketed on both ends by weakness. On one end, the chosen coming as a helpless baby in a manger; on the other end, the chosen yielding of the innocent Lamb of God on the cross. If Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, won his victories with weapons of weakness, why do we think we can win ours in our own strength, through trying harder and self-exertion? The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. The power of God is most completely available in weakness. Choose the mighty weapons of weakness: prayer, trust, humility and obedience. 12/5/11

The deep needs, continual failures and embarrassing shortcomings in my life are not my bitter enemies, but divinely selected faithful companions who will be transformed into outrageous joy at some future time, either here on earth or at the coming of the Lord Jesus. 11/17/11

With one catalytic work at the cross by Jesus Christ, God fused two irreconcilable enemies, justice and mercy, and unleashed the greatest power in the universe – gospel love. We have an amazing God! 11/12/11

The agony of inexpressible love, joy and delight;

A bursting bladder and nine miles to the next exit. 11/11/11

"Don't drift into a decision through indecision, and then call it God's will." (a slight modification of a quote heard at a sermon at Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, IL on 7/10/11.

Everything in life worthwhile has a cross attached to it, a price that has to be paid.

The Bible is a book about dying to yourself; it you are not wanting to die then it does not have a lot to say that will be of interest to you.