How Religion Works: If I obey, then God will love and accept me. The Gospel: I'm loved and accepted, therefore I wish to obey.

Legalistic remorse says, "I broke God's rules," while real repentance says, "I broke God's heart."

God sees us as we are, loves us as we are, and accepts us as we are. But by His grace, He does not leave us as we are.

The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will to mine, but to mold my will into His.

Jesus didn't come to tell us the answers to the questions of life, he came to be the answer.

The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access

Everyone says they want community and friendship. But mention accountability or commitment to people, and they run the other way.

God looks at the anxious and says, I tore my Son to shreds for you, and you're afraid I will not give you what you need?

There are some needs only you can see. There are some hands only you can hold. There are some people only you can reach.

If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.

In religion, you obey because God is useful. In Christianity, you obey because God is beautiful.

Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.

God has accepted your repentance. He gives his forgiveness freely.

Look at life all around; everything is growing, everything is moving forward. Therefore I recommend keeping in touch with life and with art.

Women like jewelry. They're like racoons: show them some shiny stuff and they'll follow you home.

The president can't have a conflict of interest.

Full moons, skunk weed all up in the room; You got the munchies, baby? Ice cold milk and Lorna Doones.

I don't really have any interest in playing the same part again and again. Let's just keep everything crossed that doesn't happen.

American travel writing is very healthy. I'm always flicking through the reviews and I see plenty of travel writing - and an impressive line up and continual demand.

Last night, I had that dream again. I dreamt I had to take a test, in a Dairy Queen, on another planet.

Who says the eternal being does not exist? Who says the sun has gone out? Someone who climbs up on the roof and closes his eyes tight, and says, I don't see anything.