An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.
Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I’m not going to make it, but you laugh inside–remembering all the times you’ve felt that way.
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) is a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His prolific writing produced over 45 books of poetry and prose, and much of his writing spoke to the despairing urban conditions of the downtrodden.
If we submit to whatever road the Lord has chosen for us, His Spirit will guide us and–slowly but surely–produce His fruit.
From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in a man, you feel he is a man after God’s own heart.
From Acts 9:17: “So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'”
Where there is so much racket, there must be something out of kilter.
What we give to the poor, we lend to the Lord.
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) is an amazing witness of many formidable causes in American history. During her lifetime, she served as an evangelist, civil rights activist, and author. Being born into slavery, she escaped in 1826. Upon gaining her freedom, she became a Christian, and she felt the Lord urging her to take up the causes of equal rights and the abolition of slavery.
One reason so much American Christianity is a mile wide and an inch deep is that Christians are simply tired. Sometimes you need to kick back and rest for Jesus’ sake.
From Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Blessed be God’s voice; for it is true, and falsehoods have to cease before it.
From 1 John 5:20: “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed.
From Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another.
From 1 John 1:8-10: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
You can’t have creativity unless you leave behind the bounded, the fixed, all the rules.
When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.
American professor of literature, Joseph Campbell (1904-1987), was also a prolific writer about many aspects of the human experience. His best known book was The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949).
When you look at the Cross, what do you see? You see God’s awesome faithfulness.
From 1 John 4:9-10: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
Big Sky Buckeye 