In Human Beings, Love Is A Quality,

The Spirituality Of Wonder Knows The World Is Charged With Grace, That While Sin And War, Disease And Death Are Terribly Real, God's Loving Presence And Power In Our Midst Are Even More Real.

[jesus] Matters Because Of What He Brought And What He Still Brings To Ordinary Human Beings, Living Their Ordinary Lives And Coping Daily With Their Surroundings. He Promises Wholeness For Their Lives. In Sharing Our Weaknesses He Gives Us Strength And And Imparts Through His Companionship A Life That Has The Quality Of Eternity." (dallas Willard In Ruthless Trust - Brennan Manning)

The Way Of Trust Is A Movement Into Obscurity, Into The Undefined, Into Ambiguity, Not Into Some Predetermined, Clearly Delineated Plan For The Future. The Next Step Discloses Itself Only Out Of A Discernment Of God Acting In The Desert Of The Present Moment. The Reality Of Naked Trust Is The Life Of The Pilgrim Who Leaves What Is Nailed Down, Obvious, And Secure, And Walks Into The Unknown Without Any Rational Explanation To Justify The Decision Or Guarantee The Future. Why? Because God Has Signaled The Movement And Offered It His Presence And His Promise.

The Good News Means We Can Stop Lying To Ourselves. The Sweet Sound Of Amazing Grace Saves Us From The Necessity Of Self-deception. It Keeps Us From Denying That Though Christ Was Victorious, The Battle With Lust, Greed, And Pride Still Rages Within Us.

The Fierce Words Of Jesus Addressed To The Pharisees Of His Day Stretch Across The Bands Of Time. Today They Are Directed Not Only To Fallen Televangelists But To Each Of Us. We Miss Jesus' Point Entirely When We Use His Words As Weapons Against Others. They Are To Be Taken Personally By Each Of Us. This Is The Form And Shape Of Christian Pharisaism In Our Time. Hypocrisy Is Not Hte Prerogative Of People In High Places. The Most Impoverished Among Us Is Capable Of It. Hypocrisy Is The Natural Expression Of What Is Meanest In Us All.