"When a homemaking aunt scolds a niece for following her evangelistic passion instead of domestic pursuits, her reply is interesting. First, she clarifies that God's individual call on her doesn't condemn those in more conventional roles. Then, she says she can no more ignore the cry of the lost than her aunt can the cry of her child."

"The church is not to be judged by how useful we are as a 'supportive institution' and our clergy as members of a 'helping profession'. The church has its own reason for being, hid within its own mandate and not found in the world. We are not chartered by the Emperor."

"The surname of an atheist is compound unfortunate plus being, therefore unfortunate-beings, making all atheists unfortunate beings because human beings are created by God and not products of big bang atoms undergoing evolution."

"The cross of Jesus says to us there is nothing God won't do to bring us home--except force us to choose him. The cross is God laying down his great power so we might be compelled by the beauty of his heart. He will not coerce us, but only woo us."

"Imagine being with the apostles and having the opportunity of seeing Jesus being taken up into heaven. Imagine if you had been there to witness to the ascension of Christ. For sure it must have been an awesome experience!"