The Good News does not hinge on words like do or change but on the powerless, irrelevant, and frightening words like belief and faith.

To paraphrase Paul, God often uses the cheesy to confound the sophisticated. He regularly honors those who are confused about his leading as if they have nailed it.

This is part of what it means to become holy, to be refined by fire. Difficulties and sufferings are God's form of hazing. Sometimes it gets so hard, we think Him cruel. But He's only looking for men and women who will keep their cool when things go horribly wrong, a people prepared to dash into burning rooms to rescue those about to be engulfed in flames.

Only unconditional grace can transform a hardened heart into a grateful heart. Only a free gift can demolish any notion of quid pro quo. Only an utterly merciful act of love can fashion a new creation capable of love. As theologian Karl Barth puts it, 'As the beloved of God, we have no alternative but to love him in return.

As is typical of this God [of Israel], he calls his people into freedom in the most unlikely place.

The Christian life does not just evolve. It also requires specific decisions and public commitments to deepen our faith and obedience.

The cost of discipleship is to live the life God has given us, serving in mundane ways the people he's put in our path.