Larry Asplund

“Personhood is only possible in relationship, and friendships are of essential, and not merely incidental, significance.”
― Brian Edgar, God Is Friendship: A Theology of Spirituality, Community, and Society

“I believe the wilderness is an invitation from the Holy Spirit, a gorgeous, rowdy invitation to the life you never dreamed possible, a more welcoming sort of party with a few quiet corners for good conversation. It seems to me that we’re desperate for some gentleness, compassion, wide-open space, and kindness.”
― Sarah Bessey, Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith

“To suggest, therefore, that as Christians we should support the state of Israel because it is the fulfilment of prophecy is, in a quite radical way, to cut off the branch on which we are sitting. It is directly analogous to the mistake of the Galatians, who thought that if they were members of Abraham’s family they should go the whole way and get circumcised. It is similar to the mistake of which the Reformers accused the mediaeval Catholics, of supposing that in every Mass they were actually re-crucifying Jesus, when Jesus’ death had been once and for all, never to be repeated, on Calvary. It is a way of saying that in the cross and resurrection God did not actually fulfil his whole saving purpose; that Jesus did not in fact achieve the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy; that his resurrection was not the start of God’s new age; that Acts is wrong, Romans is wrong, Galatians is wrong, the letter to the Hebrews is wrong, Revelation is wrong. Say that if you like, but don’t claim to be Christian in doing so.”
― N.T. Wright, The Way of the Lord: Christian Pilgrimage Today

“Right where we are this moment, in the midst of whatever loneliness we may be facing, God meets us and holds out a hand of friendship. At the heart of the Christian faith lies an extravagant, grace-filled, and mind-blowing offer. God passionately longs to be friends with us.”
― Trevor Hudson, Beyond Loneliness: The Gift of God's Friendship