To stand in the presence of God, that is what the Gospel is. The Gospel is not primarily about forgiveness. It’s not primarily about good feelings. It’s not primarily about power. All those things are byproducts, sparks. It’s primarily about the presence of God.

Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle-yet, the way to reality.

A rich, vibrant, consoling, hard-won prayer life is the one good that makes it possible to receive all other kinds of goods rightly and beneficially. [Paul] does not see prayer as merely a way to get things from God but as a way to get more of God himself.

If God is real, why does he align perfectly with our views? We should expect God to challenge us on what we think is right somewhere

Christians necessarily believe we depend on God for everything-a prayerless Christian, then, is a contradiction in terms.

Marriage does not so much bring you into confrontation with your spouse as confront you with yourself.

Christmas means Jesus came down and got involved in suffering. He hears your cries.