Basic Training has a purpose. It’s to take feckless, immature, self-centered young recruits off the street and change them into a valid fighting unit. In short, to make them effective, and to keep them alive. Translate that biblically as to God’s purpose regarding a People!
From p. 92, The Trouble with Grace, Keith Hueftle
don’t cry have a cookie Christianity is creating a generation of momma’s boy sissy pants Christians that stay home and bask in their experience of God while the outside world puts Christians into a powerless subculture and lines up for hell in their pimped up rides and their psychic guides
If we’re going to worship over the Word, I will not be able to be neutral about great realities. There is simply too much at stake every week to entertain you with trivialities and platitudes. John Piper, from a sermon on Romans 9:19-23
I don’t necessarily agree with all of Thomas Merton’s ideas (he was more buddhist than Christian near the end of his life, I think), but here are a couple good quotes from “Contemplative Prayer” ‘Unless a man leave father and mother… ‘ These words of Christ give some indication of the deep conflict which underlies…
“They make em, not for information, but they make them so you can experience them. Because there is a tremendous gulf between experience and information.” –said of Krispy Kreme Donuts, in comparison to the Gospel. ***note, I’m sure Louie would have talked about Donut Bank fruit fritters instead, but Krispy Kreme is all he knows….