God chose to set his love on the Israelites not because of any merit in them but solely because of mercy in him.

If you can trust God to save you for eternity, you can trust him to lead you for a lifetime.

We have the audacity to look God in the face and say, 'No.'

We assume that our race simply deserves heaven; that God owes heaven to us unless we do something really bad to warrant otherwise.

I was immersed in comfortable Christianity. Years ago, I found myself living what seemed like the American church dream - pastoring a large church, living in a large house, and surrounded by all the comforts this world has to offer. But inside I had a sinking feeling that I was missing the point.

The very first word out of Jesus; mouth in is ministry in the New Testament is clear: repent.

We act, though, not under a utopian illusion that you or I or anyone or everyone together can rid this world of pain and suffering. That responsibility belongs to the resurrected Christ, and he will do it when he returns. But until that day, we do with an undivided heart whatever God calls us to do.