When people say, "I know God forgives me, but I can't forgive myself," they mean that they have failed an idol, whose approval is more important than God's.

Some suffering is given in order to chastise and correct a person for wrongful patterns of life (as in the case of Jonah imperiled by the storm), some suffering is given not to correct past wrongs but to prevent future ones (as in the case of Joseph sold into slavery), and some suffering has no purpose other than to lead a person to love God more ardently for himself alone and so discover the ultimate peace and freedom.

What the heart most wants, the mind finds reasonable, the will finds doable, and the emotions find desirable.

Hell is having to execute a pointless act from which nothing ever comes except the need to do it again.

We would say homosexuality is not the original design for sexuality. Therefore, it’s not good for human flourishing. We want people to do things that are good for human flourishing. But that’s not what sends you to heaven or Hell.

Paul reminds us that in the Gospel we are both brought lower and raised higher than we can imagine.

The church is often like a football stadium where 22 people need a rest and thousands of people need exercise.