Nuggets from Francis Chan

"God is the only Being who is good, and the standards are set by Him."

"The point of your life is to point to Him."  
Will that be the theme of my life?  
When I look at my life now or the synopsis of my years on this earth, 
is it about 
"making much out of God"?

"Jesus began speaking in parables 'so that' those who weren't genuinely listening wouldn't get it. (Luke 8)  ...He just wasn't interested in those who fake it."

"Lukewarm people love others 

but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.  

[They are] typically focused on those who love them in return...

[but not those with] whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable."  

ouch.  

"Lukewarm people are thankful 

for their luxuries and comforts, 

and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor."

"Lukewarm people ask, 

'How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible?' 

instead of 

'I wish I didn't have to go to work so I could sit and read longer.'"

"If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream.  

When we stop swimming, or actively following Him,

we automatically begin to be swept downstream.

Or... we are on a never-ending downward escalator.

In order to grow, we have to turn around and sprint up the escalator,

putting up with perturbed looks

from everyone else who is gradually moving downward."

"We are consumed with safety.  Obsessed with it actually.  [W]e've made safety our highest priority.  We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and the world.  ---  Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God bring me closer to You during this trip whatever it takes..."
"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.  Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain and distress."

"Joy is something we have to choose and then work for."

"Oswald Chambers said, 'Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.'  I would also add, 'Be careful not to turn others lives into the mold for your own.'  Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us.  God is a Creator not a duplicator."

"[Y]ou must learn to listen to and obey God,

especially in a society where it's easy and expected

to do what is most comfortable."

"The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives."

from Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan