God loves us as we are...not as we ought to be. because we are never going to be as we ought to be." --Brennan Manning

I am wonderfully content with a God who does not deal with me as my sins deserve.

Our culture says that ruthless competition is the key to success. Jesus says that ruthless compassion is the purpose of our journey.

As we come to grips with our own selfishness and stupidity, we make friends with the impostor and accept that we are impoverished and broken and realize that, if we were not, we would be God. The art of gentleness toward ourselves leads to being gentle with others -- and is a natural prerequisite for our presence to God in prayer.

There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.

Jesus was victorious not because he never flinched, talked back, or questioned, but having flinched, talked back, and questioned, he remained faithful.

Sin and forgiveness and falling and getting back up and losing the pearl of great price in the couch cushions but then finding it again, and again, and again? Those are the stumbling steps to becoming Real, the only script that's really worth following in this world or the one that's coming.