Either we conform our desires to the truth or we conform the truth to our desires.

Idolatry is huge in the Bible, dominant in our personal lives, and irrelevant in our mistaken estimations

In other words, we are never freer than when we become most ourselves, most human, most just, most excellent, and the like.

One of the key places where sociology should be used is in analyzing 'the world' of our times, so that we can be more discerning. To resist the dangers of the world, you have to recognize the distortions and seductions of the world.

The question the doubter does not ask is whether faith was really useless or simply not used. What would you think of a boy who gave up learning to ride a bicycle, complaining that he hurt himself because his bicycle stopped moving so he had no choice but to fall off? If he wanted to sit comfortably while remaining stationary, he should not have chosen a bicycle but a chair. Similarly faith must be put to use, or it will become useless.

Followers of Jesus who count the cost and are willing to take up their crosses after him must have broad shoulders.

The story of Christian reformation, revival, and renaissance underscores that the darkest hour is often just before the dawn, so we should always be people of hope and prayer, not gloom and defeatism. God the Holy Spirit can turn the situation around in five minutes.