How grimy did God get when He reached down to clean you up? How grimy are you willing to get in order to be an 'imitator of God'?

God loves you because He has chosen to do so.

Nature is God's first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are not preachers there are spring times... If a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God.

Sin is not an unfortunate slip or a regrettable act; it is a posture of defiance against a holy God.

The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or taste God's mercy.

I think that the Holy Spirit works through the pastors of the church. It helps me avoid the trap of writing to the reading market. It helps me stay a pastor first, because they have no agenda; they are not thinking: "This would this be a good book someday." They're thinking: "How this will help Bob and Suzy who are going through a tough marriage? What series can encourage them?" And so I really bow to their preference.

Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three- piece suit.