Sample Quotes

IT'S ALL IN THE KNOWING

Knowing about Christ and knowing Christ are two very different things. The former is outer knowledge; the latter is inner knowledge -- being "in Christ." The former has little effect on the individual; the latter has a life-changing effect.  J. G. Holland once said of the former, "A man may carry the whole scheme of Christian truth in his mind from boyhood to old age without the slightest effect upon his character and aims.  It has had less influence than the multiplication table."  The Apostle Paul once said of the latter, "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV) The former is information; the latter is transformation.  

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson

ALL THE BEAUTY

I do not think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains. 

-- Anne Frank

RADICAL GRACE

The comfort and help that God gives come in a variety of ways, but probably most important in the face of death is the assurance of God's radical grace.  In the face of death each of us, like the apostle Paul, becomes convinced that he or she is the worst sinner in the world.  Certainly Paul had this sense about himself when he reflected on his character.  Most of us will probably come to the same conclusion about ourselves that Paul did.  Regardless of any religion we might have had, or any good works we may have done, our just due is condemnation from God and all that goes with it.  But if we take time to really get into the Bible, we will hear the message that God loves us anyway.  If we stop putting our trust in how good we might have been and living in fear over how sinful we really are, we can know peace because of the good news that Jesus did everything necessary to guarantee us heaven.  Grace, the word that appears over and over again in the New Testament, means that we will receive what we never earned and don't deserve.  The Scripture that drives home that truth better than any other I know is Ephesians 2:8-9:  "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." 

-- Tony Campolo in Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God

GOD'S VISION

Church Growth is ultimately not about what we can do in our own power; it is about God's power and His choice to work through us. Refuse to settle for anything less than God's vision for your church. 

-- Nelson Searcy, Founding Pastor of The Journey Church, New York

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

Every Christian is a witness for Christ.  We cannot bear the name Christian without indicating by our words and deeds what Christ means to us.  We are empowered by our faith.  We also invest the word Christian with meaning by the way we live our faith.  The only gospel some of our friends will ever know will come from their relationship with us.  We are bearers of the best news in the world.  And we owe it to those we love, to cultivate our abilities at sharing this news with them.

-- Harold K. Bates in Witness for Christ

STEPPING INTO THE UNKNOWN

When you come to the edge of all the light you have and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen. Either there will be something solid for you to stand on … or you will be taught how to fly. 

-- Patrick Overton

 

Recent Feedback from around the world

6/2/08
I often forward your Sound Bites to friends. I love quotes and words of wisdom, and sometimes they really strike home, either for me, or for someone I know who might benefit. Peace,  -- K. Berken, Iowa

6/3/08
In response to THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE ARGUMENT (#2098): Thank you for this message.  Sometimes I begin to wonder if I am the only one who regularly have a conversation with Him.  Who governs his life with the meetings. Who lives for the special time when, yes prayers are being answered and the contact has been established.  This, to me is only because I discovered that special precious word -- TRUST. It was a most elusive word but when I recognized it and adopted it for my own, my whole life was uplifted. Thanks for listening! -- C. Silverstone

6/7/08
Thank you so much.  I enjoy your verses everyday I wake up.  They're so inspiring and make life so worth living for.  God Bless.  -- A. Kidman

6/13/08
In response to A FATHER'S LEGACY (#2103): A study done at Harvard c. 1940 by a husband and wife team, Gluek and Gluek used 600 children, 300 as an experimental group and 300 in a control group.  Each child was compared with its opposite number.  The only difference between the two groups was that each child in the experimental group has committed an offense that would have been considered a felony if the child had been an adult. The major factor contributing to the delinquency of the children was the absence of love for the child on the part of the father.  Often the father was missing from the family. This study was a part of my graduate work at Western Reserve on the causes of delinquency.  -- N. Richardson, Ohio

6/25/08
     In response to CLEAN THE CANVAS (#2111): I'm not fond of calling Jesus a Revolutionary, perhaps because there are so many social and political connotations therein. A cursory glance in any dictionary will run the gamut from complete change to something radically new or innovative to the revolutionary war to someone trying to overturn a prevailing political or social system (viz. a South American government) to revolving (something turning axially or orbitally) to supporting a revolutionary to a change in ideas or methods.
     It is perhaps theologically more correct to speak about change of heart. Jesus was clearly full of the Spirit. Rather than being "commanding" in his manner, as Vigeveno puts it, Jesus was compassionate. Rather than "challenging" in His message, Jesus was inviting. Rather than "conquering" in His manhood, Jesus was forgiving and healing in his humanity, something each Christian ought to celebrate and seek to emulate.
     Jesus was certainly non violent, something each of us Christians must become if America is ever to turn away from war and death to peace and brotherhood. Even for those who declare they are saved by the cross of Christ, life is a journey in which each of us must grow in the Spirit of life and peace and allow the Spirit to shine through our words and deeds so others may find healing and join us.
     The belief from Christ that God loves us and forgives us in an unlimited manner is not something to fear, but rather is something to celebrate and live. Plants grow, people also grow. Attitudes can change and hearts can change, people can change, too. As Mahatma Gandhi showed us, a little love, non violent peace, and justice first changes us and then others, including empires. -- Chaplain Mike Murphy, Wisconsin

6/27/08
In response to WORRY DIVIDES OUR ENERGY (#2110): This word is excellent!  Why worry when we can pray?  Our Lord is so so so faithful no matter what!!!!!!!  -- N. Hunt, Michigan

6/27/08
In response to A SOURCE OF WISDOM AND STRENGTH (#2113): Thank you, pastor, for choosing this one! It was copied for future reference, and may be sent on to a niece's birthday today! My husband died suddenly at Christmas time. Someone suggested a journal. I now have a record of the first year without him--88 pages in length! I hope it gave me strength and wisdom during the 12 years that have passed. (Later our youngest son died, after 6 years living with cancer.) Thank you again for our brightest moments of each day. In HIS AWE!!  -- E. Nohr, Wisconsin

6/30/08
     In response to WORRY DIVIDES OUR ENERGY (#2110): I find that to me there are words that can come up, but I believe they shouldn't be allowed to come up.  These detrimental words are:
      Worry, Doubt, Hate, Envy, Fear
      You may say that we cannot eliminate them, but tell me, Why Not!!! I do and it has made my life much nicer and I believe I am much nicer. 
      No, I do not worry.  I haven't since I found my favorite word to live by.  It is TRUST Now that I Trust in Him.  I have no need to worry.  How can I broadcast this great discovery to every potential Christian?
     Please let me know. Again, thanks for listening. -- C. Silverstone