Quotes from Ron Hall

For the first time, it struck me that when Denver said he'd be my friend for life, he meant it-for better or for worse. The hell of it was, Mr. Ballantine never wanted a friend, especially a black one. But once Denver committed, he stuck. It reminded me of what Jesus told His disciples 'Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

joined the circle and prayed with these men [homeless] who seemed on the outside to have nothing to give but had been giving, without our knowing it, the most precious gift of all: compassion.

Wounded and nearly blind with fear, I clung to the Scriptures: 'Ask and you shall receive...' 'Pray without ceasing...' 'I will do whatever you ask for in My name...' Grimly, I shut out another verse, this one from the book of Job: 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

All I can do is tell the jagged tale of my own spiritual journey and declare that my life has been the better for having followed Christ.

Life produces some inglorious moments that live forever in your mind.

But it seemed manipulative to me to make the hungry sit like good dogs for their supper. And it did not surprise me that even when Brother Bill split the air with one of his more rousing sermons, not a single soul ever burst through the chapel doors waving their hands and praising Jesus. At least not while we were there.

Terminal* is a harsh word when used in the context of death and not one we'd ever uttered aloud. But according to Webster's, it's also a place people pass through on their way to somewhere else. Deborah knew her "somewhere else" was heaven. She was just hoping the rain was delayed. I scooped a tear off her cheek and tried to slip around her question. "We're all terminal," I said, smiling gently. "None of us makes it out of here alive.

I've since deduced that it's always a trap when you don't get to eat until after you hear the talk.

The tortures occur," he wrote. "If they are unnecessary, then there is no God, or a bad one. If there is a good God, then these tortures are necessary for no even moderately good Being could possibly inflict them if they weren't.

I mourn the mutual wounds inflicted in verbal battles with the "unsaved." In fact, I have chosen to delete that particular term from my vocabulary as I have learned that even with my $500 European-designer bifocals, I cannot see into a person's heart to know his spiritual condition. All I can do is tell the jagged tale of my own spiritual journey and declare that my life has been the better for having followed Christ.

I remembered what C. S. Lewis said of the clash between grief and faith: "The tortures occur," he wrote. "If they are unnecessary, then there is no God, or a bad one. If there is a good God, then these tortures are necessary for no even moderately good Being could possibly inflict or permit them if they weren't.

But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I'll be one. Forever

Just tell em I'm a nobody that's tryin to tell everbody 'bout Somebody that can save anybody. That's all you need to tell em.

But he remained absolutely convinced that his way of life was no worse than mine, only different, pointing out in the process certain inconsistencies: Why, he wondered, did rich people call it sushi while poor people called it bait? I

What Denver had said three weeks earlier haunted me: Those precious to God become important to Satan. Watch your back, Mr. Ron! Somethin bad fixin to happen to Miss Debbie.

was embarrassed that I once thought myself superior to him, stooping to sprinkle my wealth and wisdom into his lowly life.

The way I looked at it, a fair exchange ain't no robbery, and a even swap ain't no swindle. He was gon' protect me in the country club, and I was gon' protect him in the hood. Even swap, straight down the line

That's the good thing 'bout God. Since He can see right through your heart anyway, you can go on and tell Him what you really think.

It wasn't the movies that caused the metamorphosis. It was just the simple act of caring.

When you is precious to God, you become important to Satan. Watch your back, Mr. Ron. Somethin bad gettin ready to happen to Miss Debbie. The thief comes in the night.

Denver had taught me that to love a man enough to help him, you have to forfeit the warm, self-righteous glow that comes from judging.

Sometimes to touch us, God touches someone that's close to us. This is what opens our eyes to the fact there is a higher power than ourselves, whether we call it God or not.

whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless—just workin our way toward home.

he remained absolutely convinced that his way of life was no worse than mine, only different, pointing out in the process certain inconsistencies: Why, he wondered, did rich people call it sushi while poor people called it bait?