Christmas is an invitation by God to say: Look what I've done to come near to you. Now draw near to me...I want to be a friend.

Legalism is looking to something besides Jesus Christ in order to be acceptable and clean before God.

The image of God carries with it the right not to be mistreated or harmed.... Regardless of their record or character, all human beings have an irreducible glory and significance to them, because God loves them.... So we must treasure each and every human being as a way of showing due respect for the majesty of their owner and Creator.

Ironically, the insistence that doctrines do not matter is really a doctrine itself

I think these younger Christians are the vanguard of some major new religious, social, and political arrangements that could make the older form of culture wars obsolete. After they wrestle with doubts and objections to Christianity many come out on the other side with an orthodox faith that doesn't fit the current categories of liberal Democrat or conservative Republican.

The happy ending of the Resurrection is so enormous that it swallows up even the sorrow of the Cross.

When people say, "God is love," I think they mean that love is extremely important, or that God really wants us to love. But in Christian conception, God really has love as his essence.