The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.

If God does not have our highest allegiance, we will use prayer to try to get things that have that designation.

When Job was prospering, he prayed. When he was suffering, he still prayed.

Covenant community is like air. We don't miss it until we need it.

Jesus does not divide the world into the moral "good guys" and the immoral "bad guys". He shows us that everyone is dedicated to a project of self-salvation, to using God and others in order to get power and control for themselves. We are just going about it in different ways. Even though both sons are wrong, however, the father cares for them and invites them both back into his love and feast.

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

As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom.