Quotes, a Mid-Week Edition

“If what a person wants is his life, he tends to be quiet about wanting anything else.  Once the life begins to seem secure, one feels the freedom to complain.”  - Ann Patchett, Bel Canto, p. 56

“Good arguments will not convince anyone who is not open to being convinced.” – Frank Turek, Correct, Not Politically Correct, p. 8

“I suppose it’s terribly sexist of me assuming that all of the terrorists were male. It’s a modern world, after all. One should suppose a girl can grow up to be a terrorist just as easily as a boy.” – Messner, character in Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, p. 147

“Many have become immune to Christianity by contracting a mild and unbiblical form of it.” – Randy Alcorn, If God is Good, p. 35

“Americans have a bad habit of thinking like Americans.” – Roxanne Coss, character in Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, p. 222

“Anyone who observed us would conclude the purpose of all academic discussion was to provide the grounds for becoming further entrenched in our original positions.” – Richard Russo, Straight Man, p. 201

“You’re young, you’re Black, and you’re on trial. What else do [the jurors] need to know?” – Kathy O’Brien, character in Monster by Walter Dean Myers

“In our reckless pursuit of self-gratification we impose upon ourselves gnawing emptiness rather than the joy and contentment that comes in loving God and others.” Randy Alcorn, If God is Good, p. 64

“If the Bible tells us what life is and how to live it, then biblical literacy isn’t an option. I need it. We all do.” – Rachel Starr Thompson, “What We Don’t Know”

Racial Reconciliation

“…a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” – Colossians 3:11, NASU

My pastor preached an excellent message on this verse yesterday. We’ve been going through Colossians, and he had saved this verse for a sort of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day message, or what he termed “racial reconciliation.”
I’ll admit, the church I go to is primarily white. I’m thankful that my pastors recognize this is not the ideal but is something to overcome. We want to reflect our community, which is more diverse. We want all people to come to know Christ and fellowship in the church, regardless of their background.
Though our church is still primarily white, it is not exclusively so. There are African American families, Asian families, Hispanic families, and multi-racial families. I love this. The more diverse the better!
This Colossians text reminds us that we are all a part of Christ, if we are believers in Him, regardless of racial distinctions, cultural distinctions, social distinctions, or class distinctions.
I long for heaven where I will worship with those of every tribe, tongue, people and nation! In this spirit, happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!