Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God.

When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs toward that person.

I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will make sense only in reverse.

Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog.

In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.

Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.

The proof of spiritual maturity is not how pure you are but awareness of your impurity. That very awareness opens the door to grace.

Any discussion of how pain and suffering fit into God's scheme ultimately leads back to the cross.

No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument.

In the stories of extravagant grace given to us by Jesus, there are no loopholes disqualifying us from God's love.

I doubt God keeps track of how many arguments we win; God may indeed keep track of how well we love.

Sydney, look at me.' He rested his hands on the car roof and leaned in. 'No one is going to hurt you. Do you know why?' She shook her head, and Victor smiled. 'Because I'll hurt them first.

I tried to teach them [his sons] that about the importance of self-discipline, and that the culture of yes is built on a foundation of no.

Appreciation is yeast lifting ordinary to extraordinary.

It is better to be devoured by lions than to be eaten by dogs. Explaining why his Northwestern teams played difficult schedules.

One of the attractive things about being in Scotland is that we have a very good pipeline of new people coming into the company from the excellent universities around us.

I have learned more and more to enjoy my body when I have a few extra pounds on, just being more voluptuous.

Flattery is a base coin which is current only through our vanity.

Trials, obstacles, difficulties and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.

Thrift is not some obsolete Victorian notion. . . . It will be the difference between those who prosper and achieve respect and those who become a burden to their children and society.

In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.