What you do for a tree, God does for you.

I was about 21 when I read that [Mere Christianity], and my faith was really being shaken during those days. Its a great, classic book.

When grace moves in... guilt moves out

Christ lived the life we could not live and took the punishment we could not take to offer the hope we cannot resist.

I do think there is great strength, though, in starting a sermon with a story, then returning to that story at the end. That puts book ends to a sermon. It is a real simple technique that communicates to the audience that there is a sense of closure, that they have a package here, or we began and we closed with this. I think that's just a nice technique.

Being religious without knowing the cross is like owning a Mercedes with no motor. Pretty package, but where is your power?

Every other religion is a salvation by self, Christianity is a salvation by Christ.