Joe

“Good behavior is often a means of keeping God at bay. Obedience and obligation can erect as much a barrier to life with God as lawless rebellion and wanton destruction. Duty and debauchery have more in common than we might expect. Selfishness and self-righteousness just might be twins separated at birth. Both good and evil hang from the tree of knowledge of good and evil; the problem is that they are on the wrong tree.”
― Joshua Ryan Butler, The Skeletons in God's Closet: The Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgment, the Hope of Holy War

“The Psalms are the steady, sustained subcurrent of healthy Christian living.”
― N.T. Wright, The Case for the Psalms: why they are essential

“I don't find pastors and professors, for the most part, very interested in matters of formation in holiness. They have higher profile things to tend to.”
― Eugene H. Peterson, Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ

“Very rarely in the Bible does God come to someone and say, “Stay.” Almost never does God interrupt someone and ask them to remain in comfort, safety, and familiarity. He opens a door and calls them to come through it.”
― John Ortberg, All the Places to Go . . . How Will You Know?: God Has Placed before You an Open Door. What Will You Do?