1. Predestination, Jim knew, is no longer a frightening doctrine of mystery when you understand that God makes his choice about you in the simple word of God, given from one sinner to another.
  2. Even as he was dying, the heart of God poured itself out for the sake of sinners.
  3. I think the problem with the idea of eternity is that we do not have any direct experience of it, but we encounter enough of its possibility to be unsettling.
  4. The gospel's message is the scandalous announcement that Yahweh has stooped to our frame, to where we are.
  5. The usual acclamation when one becomes King is: “Long live the King!” But this King of kings, this son of David, has come to die.
  6. As the writer to the Hebrews affirms, what makes the Christian gospel so much better is that we are no longer dealing with “types and shadows."
  7. Who would ever want all these screamers and haters? It turns out that Christ does.
  8. If Jesus shows up and you are a sinner, ‘tis more blessed to receive than to give
  9. The lesson of Malachi reveals God’s love for his people. When the people ask for proof of God’s love, he reminds them of their election.
  10. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of him who works.
  11. Help comes for those who cannot help themselves. When we bottom-out and come to the end of ourselves, that is where hope springs.
  12. We don’t start with behavior and work toward Christ. We start with Christ and everything works out from there.