#form

The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe. ↗

— Criss Jami

#atheism #atheist #beginning #belief #cause

Every day that we're not practicing godliness we're being conformed to the world of ungodliness around us. ↗

— Jerry Bridges

#conformitying #godliness #life #life

It occurred to the man that the biggest problem with this staid world was the overwhelming demand for conformity. Everything was so eerily definitive: assent to the mandates of society would see you on the rise, but dissent was a steady downward path. ↗

— Django Wylie

#life #life-lessons #puns #wordplay #life

Stories were different, though: they came alive in the telling. Without a human voice to read them aloud, or a pair of wide eyes following them by flashlight beneath a blanket, they had no real existence in our world...They could take root in the imagination and transform the reader. Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours. They wanted us to give them life. ↗

— John Connolly

#books #imagination #life #reading #stories

To seek Truth is automatically a calling for the innate dissident and the subversive; how many are willing to give up safety and security for the perilous life of the spiritual revolutionary? How many are willing to truly learn that their own cherished concepts are wrong? Striking provocative or mysterious poses in the safety of Internet [social media] is far easier than taking the risks involved in the hard work of genuine initiation. ↗

— Zeena Schreck

#dissidents #outcasts #revolutionary-spirit #self-examination #spiritual-transformation

The Bible is teh means through which we are introduced to Jesus and invited to follow Him in the life of humility and service. Secured by the knowledge that in Christ, our origin... and destination is God, we will yield the fruit of service to God. This is the "so what" of our Bible reading. Does it shape our spirits in love and humility? Does it lead us more fully into life with God? (Life with God, p. 34-35) ↗

— Richard Foster

#devotions #disciplines #life-with-god #spiritual-formation #life

-I have to admit that ever since I started to rip-up the lawns of rich people I have felt a lot calmer! ↗

— Andrew James Pritchard

#meditation #nonconformity #life

Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of him? ↗

— John Piper

#theology #love

But remember that in order to symbolize everything to everyone, you will be both loved and hated. ↗

— Bonnie Huie

#love

He advocated that all who follow Jesus are priests, not just the official clergy. Much of what he said made sense, as did his kind manner. But why was he here now? Had this persecuted recluse emerged just to speak to me? ↗

— David Holdsworth

#jesus-the-christ #joyfulness #justice #kindness #love-story