And though it is true that the church must always dissociate itself from sin, it can never have any excuse for keeping any sinner at a distance

The gospel declares that no matter how dutiful or prayerful we are, we can't save ourselves. What Jesus did was sufficient.

We must go out into a desert of some kind (your backyard will do) and come into a personal experience of the awesome love of God.

The temptation of the age is to look good without being good.

Genuine self-acceptance is not derived from the power of positive thinking, mind games or pop psychology. IT IS AN ACT OF FAITH in the God of grace.

Ragamuffins are simple, direct and honest. Their speech is unaffected. They are slow to claim, "God told me..." As they make their way through the world, they bear wordless, prophetic witness.

I have been seized by the power of a great affection.

Those who have the disease called Jesus will never be cured.

The ragamuffin gospel says we can't lose, because we have nothing to lose.

Jesus was victorious not because he never flinched, talked back, or questioned, but having flinched, talked back, and questioned, he remained faithful.

A man doesn't grow old because he has lived a certain number of years. A man grows old when he deserts his ideal. The years may wrinkle his skin, but deserting his ideal wrinkles his soul.

Sometimes waiting is the hardest thing.

'Tell Suzie she's a lucky cat.' Have sexier words ever been spoken?

What man thinks of changing himself so as to suit his wife?

You are fastened to them and cannot understand how, because they are not fastened to you.

This is government's primary function - to keep us safe - and when large percentages in America don't feel safe, they start asking: What am I paying my taxes for? What is government all about?

I hope your bacon burns.

Shaking off restrictive chains requires action. They cannot be wished away. A declaration will never break chains. It requires commitment, self-discipline, and work.

The brave, impetuous heart yields everywhere to the subtle, contriving head.

Most people lived their lives like criminals: act first, worry about the consequences later.

When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present ... we experience heaven on earth.