You are as close to God as you choose to be.

The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears.

Now God has never shouted out to me. I've never heard God speak audibly. He doesn't have to.

Obviously there have been historically many different theories of the atonement and I think each of them has a part. But I think fundamentally it is the substitutionary understanding that God - Jesus took our payment and you can't understand.

Jesus measured greatness in terms of service not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.

My hermeneutics is when I see verses in Scripture that are "apparent" contradictions - I don't believe they are contradictions - I believe them both. I believe them both. I believe take up your cross and deny yourself and follow me, and I believe come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. They are different sides of the same thing.

Sacrifice is the essence of love, which is the essence of God.