People are not problems to be solved. They are mysteries to be explored.

You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.

Pastors need to know what's going on in the world and what has been going on for 4,000 years. We need a way to read Scripture which is imaginative, interpretive.

The life of faith isn't meant for tourists. It's meant for pilgrims.

Church is the textured context in which we grow up in Christ to maturity. But church is difficult. Sooner or later, though, if we are serious about growing up in Christ, we have to deal with church. I say sooner.

I believe God takes the things in our lives - family, background, education - and uses them as part of his calling. It might not be to become a pastor. But I don't think God wastes anything.

I didn't write because I had anything to say, but in order to find out what there was to say.