A Ragamuffin Knows He's Only

For Me The Most Radical Demand Of Christian Faith Lies In Summoning The Courage To Say Yes To The Present Risenness Of Jesus Christ.

I Have A Word For You. I Know Your Whole Life Story. I Know Every Skeleton In Your Closet. I Know Every Moment Of Sin, Shame, Dishonesty And Degraded Love That Has Darkened Your Past. Right Now I Know Your Shallow Faith, Your Feeble Prayer Life, Your Inconsistent Discipleship. And My Word Is This: I Dare You To Trust That I Love You Just As You Are, And Not As You Should Be. Because You’re Never Going To Be As You Should Be.

Accepting The Reality Of Our Sinfulness Means Accepting Our Authentic Self. Judas Could Not Face His Shadow; Peter Could. The Latter Befriended The Impostor Within; The Former Raged Against Him.

One Of The The Loveliest Lines I Have Ever Read Comes From Brother Roger, The Prior Of The Protestant Monks Of Taize, France: 'assured Of Your Salvation By The Unique Grace Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.' It Is Still Difficult For Me To Read These Words Without Tears Filling My Eyes. It Is Wonderful.

My Trust In God Flows Out Of The Experience Of His Loving Me, Day In And Day Out, Whether The Day Is Stormy Or Fair, Whether I'm Sick Or In Good Health, Whether I'm In A State Of Grace Or Disgrace. He Comes To Me Where I Live And Loves Me As I Am.