Red Letters Cont...

This truly isn't particularly a good book. It isn't that well-written, and none of it strikes me as being overly profound. However, it continues to give me pause to think, pushing me out of my comfort zone and challenging me to love more deeply, give more compassionately, and follow Christ more fully.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from chapters 3-5.


"In Western Kenya standards, I would say my papa was a rich man. We could afford new clothes every Christmas and school fee and three square meals in a day."


"In most societies you'll find groups of people whom others deem untouchable. They go by many names--the unclean, the poor, the cursed, the trash of society. Lepers surely fall into this category. And, whether out of ignorance or embarrassment, many people today would quietly shuffle those suffering from AIDS into that "untouchable" category as well.  From a spiritual perspective, this category isn't the horrible place we might think it to be. Untouchables hold a very special place in the heart of God. He is their rescuer, their defender, and he is the one who takes up their cause.

And that's where we come in We are God's hands. What God cares about , we ought to care about. No matter how poor, no matter how down and out, no matter how untouchable people are, as Christ followers we are to reach out to them with compassion. We are to do the work Jesus commands us to do--feed the hungry, heal the sick, provide shelter for the homeless."


"Picture Jesus walking down the streets of Jerusalem. What moved his heart? Where was his compassion revealed? What received most of his attention? The needs of the poor, the down and out, the handicapped, the orphan, the prostitute, and the widow. Over and over again, this is where Jesus poured out his life. He didn't do this out of duty or requirement. He didn't stop to ask what led the people to their place of pain or need. He reached out because his heart was overflowing with compassion. He made other men and women's sorrows his sorrows and other people's suffering his suffering. We're to follow in his footsteps. "

"Fear is almost as pervasive in our culture as Starbucks or Wal-Mart. We are a culture predicated on fear. But what are we afraid of? Loss. Loss of our jobs, financial loss, the loss of friends, our reputations, and even ourselves." 


"God makes this 'deal' with us in the Bible: 'If you take care of the things that are on my heart, I'll take care of the things on yours.' Not a bad arrangement if you're paying attention to the things that matter to God."

"It pains me to say that we, as a church, have thus far failed to live up to Jesus' hope for our "being" the kingdom of God when it comes ot the crisis in Africa. Don't misunderstand me. There are lots of good people doing great things to make a difference in Africa. But the Samaritans are the people on the frontlines rallying the world's help. Rock stars, high-profile actors, and secular humanitarians have stepped up to the plate with actions to match their words, while the church has been sitting quietly (if uncomfortably) on the sidelines. Thank God for Samaritans." 

"It's not like we black out those sections in our Bibles that speak of Jesus' immense care and concern for the orphan and the widow. We know it. We talk about it. But how well do we live it?"