Before we can even begin to grapple with the frustrations and tragedies of life in this world, we must do away with our faithless morality of payback and reward.

In the Old Testament, we are continually told that our good works are not enough, that God has made a provision. This provision is pointed to at every place in the Old Testament.

The more I focused on my need to get better the worse I actually got - the more neurotic and self-conscious and self-absorbed I became.

Grace frees you to be honest about what you've always known to be true about yourself: that you're weaker & more afraid than you want to be.

Sometimes God has to remind you that you're weak so that you can be set free from your "self-sufficiency."

Unfortunately, some Christians are guilty of throwing out an equivalent sentiment when they play the "God is sovereign" card as a way to trump every evil that comes your way.

The gospel announces that God doesn't relate to us based on our feats for Jesus, but Jesus' feats for us.