Quotes from Ann Spangler

None of us is so mature that we cannot be influenced. The question is: Who or what do we want to shape our lives? Even the culture around us will try to 'disciple' us if we have not placed ourselves under the transforming influence of Jesus Christ.

Though all these are important, this way of defining discipleship showed that I, like many Westerners, approached the gospel primarily as information." Unfortunately, such an approach tends to produce efforts at evangelism that are thinly disguised power grabs. We try hard to foist our belief system onto others, debating with people until they declare our way the best.

no matter what has happened in the past or what might happen in the future, they are safe in God's keeping.

Just like these sheep, what distinguishes us is not so much the "pen" we inhabit but the shepherd we follow.

the Torah was not an onerous rulebook or a vast catalog of laws as we might think, but a gift from God that taught them how to live.

Accepting Christ" is only the beginning, not the ultimate goal. Likewise, evangelism is vital, but so is discipleship. To go no deeper is to risk being like the seed that fell not on good soil but on rocky ground, sprouting up but bearing little or no fruit. Focusing solely on God's gift of free salvation is focusing on the minimum.

O God, our salvation and our help. Blessed are you, O LORD, your name is good, and to you it is right to give thanks.

Once you catch Jesus's reference, you understand the contrast he is making. He is saying that his followers should be as eager to forgive as Lamech was to take vengeance. Just as Lamech was vowing a punishment that far exceeded the crime, we should let our forgiveness far exceed the wrong done to us. We should be Lamech's polar opposite, making it our goal to forgive as extravagantly and completely as possible. Amazing

I believe that Jesus wants our spiritual vision to be so clear that we can become spiritual contrarians: people who continue to believe when life is at its worst, people who keep faith though everyone around us loses faith, people who continue to obey no matter how high the cost.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. —JOHN 1:16

God's goal isn't simply to fill the world with people who believe the right things. It is to fill the world with people who shine with the brilliance of Christ.

Jesus, in the story of creation, already planning the new creation; Jesus supreme above the ruins of the fall; Jesus in the ark, the rainbow and the dove; Jesus in the sacrifice on Mount Moriah, the ladder of Jacob, and the story of Joseph; Jesus in the Paschal lamb, the desert manna…. The face of Jesus can be traced like water lines in fine paper back of every page, for He is the Alpha and the Omega: the first and the last of this Holy Book.

we are called to be disciples of a Rabbi who is always on the move, one who wants us to go with him, making disciples to the ends of the earth. We need to learn how to recognize his voice, to go where he wants us to go, and to serve and imitate him so that we can share his good news with the world.

But you are not

When you are at your lowest, on your knees before God's judgment, never forget that his grace is still at work. And that is truly amazing.

The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. JOHN 14:27

Jesus's words about being present when two or more are gathered in his name should make us think twice about becoming spiritual Lone Rangers.

Readable, faithful, accurate-what more could you ask for in a modern translation of the Bible? GOD'S WORD Translation is a great version for enhancing your love for God's Word. I recommend it.