"Old Testament Israel had very clear laws protecting foreigners living in the land. Solomon, in an inspired prayer, prayed that God would answer all the prayers of foreigners, "so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you" (I Kings 8:43). Aliens were not to be mistreated (Exodus 22:21) or deprived justice (Malachi 3:5); instead, they were to be given land (Ezekial 47:22) and loved (Deuteronomy 10:19). The book of Ruth is about an alien - a Moabitess - who was included in the royal line of David and Jesus.

All this was an imitation of God's love to Israel, who themselves had been aliens (Exodus 22:21, 23:9; Leviticus 19:34). In fact, they were always aliens. "The land is mine," said the Lord, "and you are but aliens and my tenants" (Leviticus 25:33). As aliens who were blessed by God, they treated other people the way God had treated them."

- Edward Welch

Venice is better

"If you read a lot, nothing is as great as you’ve imagined. Venice is - Venice is better." -Fran Lebowitz.

Snipets...

"Any real change implies the break up of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one identity, the end of safety. And at such a moment, unable to see and not daring to imagine what the future will now bring forth, one clings to what one knew, or thought one knew: to what one possessed or dreamed that one possessed. Yet it is only when man is able, without bitterness or self pity, to surrender a dream he has long cherished, or a privilege he has long possessed, that his is set free--that he has set himself free--for higher dreams, for greater privileges." - James Baldwin

"Faith is the heroic effort of your life. You fling yourself in reckless confidence on God. God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us. Now he wants us to venture our all in a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering....Again and again, you will get up to what Jesus Christ wants, and every time, you turn back when it comes to that point until you abandon resolutely....Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold by common sense--and leap into what He says....Christ demands of the man who trust Him the same reckless spirit....that is daring enough to step out of the crowd and bank his faith on the character of God." -- Oswald Chambers

I would say we need to choose our God, choose our redeemer.

The crazy times were fun. But I made a choice. And I KNOW, which is different than saying that I feel, that Jesus offers a way of life that is more fulfilling and satisfying than any other.

Christianity isn't worth it if it's only a religion. It just isn't.
But as a relationship with a Father, a Creator, a best friend, a Lover...it's worth everything. It's worth my entire life.

"There are many problems with trying to market the gospel of Jesus, not the least of which is that, in itself, it is not a cool or fashionable idea. It isn't supposed to be. It is supposed to be revolutionary. It's for people who are tired of trying to be cool, tired of trying to get the world to redeem them......I would say we need to choose our God, choose our redeemer." - D Miller