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“The Scripture stories do not, like Homer’s, court our favor, they do not flatter us that they may please us and enchant us - they seek to subject us, and if we refuse to be subjected we are rebels.”
— Erich Auerbach
“In the self-assured world of modernity people seek to make sense of the Scriptures, instead of hoping, with the aid of the Scriptures, to make some sense of themselves.”
— Nicholas Lash
“In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing to worship...is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things... you will never have enough. ... Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you. ... Worship power — you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart — you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. And so on.”
— David Foster Wallace, This is Water
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
— The Prophet Habakkuk
“Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”
—Psalm 107:23–31 (ESV)
Jesus is who you think. He is after the marginalized. He is after those who are on the outs. In fact, if you've experienced shame, that is good evidence he is coming for you. You are in the very center of his mission statement.
—Ed Welch
“Covid-19 is not a blessing. It is one more obvious, terrible instance of a broken world. But amid all the reasonable concern, we shouldn’t lose sight of the deeper cause of our anxiety—our mortal fear, [death]—and the unprecedented chance within this life to become fuller, richer and more joyful human beings...No sane person would ever give thanks for a pandemic. But if we take the chance it gives us to become truth-tellers, lovers and reconcilers, we may well wind up giving thanks for what we have become.”
—Kavin Rowe, Professor of New Testament, Duke University, article from the Wall Street Journal
“He said to him a third time, ‘Simon, Son of John, do you love me?...Feed my sheep.’ ” — Jesus with Peter, John 21:17
“Don’t beat the sheep or eat the sheep. Feed the sheep.” — origin unkown
“Repeated crimes awake our fears, and justice armed with frowns appears. But in the Savior’s lovely face, sweet mercy smiles, and all is peace, all is peace .... He lives! The great Redeemer lives! What joy the blest assurance gives! And now, before His Father, God, pleads the merit of His blood. He lives! The great Redeemer lives! What joy the blest assurance gives! And now, before His Father, God , pleads the merit of His blood. He lives, oh, He lives.” — Anne Steele, He Lives