Four principles

'Wigglesworth's ministry was based on four principles: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third, believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word of God'

From the chapter 'Never the same again' in Johnson's Face to Face with God, p.157

A bit of risk is good for you

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool

To weep is to risk being called sentimental

To reach out is to risk another's involvement

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self

To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss

To love is to risk being loved in return

To live is to risk dying

To try is to risk failure

But risks must be taken

Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing

The people who risk nothing may avoid suffering and sorrow

But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow or really live

Chained by their servitude they are slaves who have forfeited all freedom

Only a person who risks is truly free

William Ward quoted by John Brierley in 'A pilgrims guide to the Camino de Santiago', p.36

The greatest need

'I am convinced that the greatest need of the church is to realise again the activity of the Holy Spirit. You see, we organise- organise meetings, organise campaigns, but that is because very largely we have forgotten this element that I am trying to emphasise to you. When the Sprit comes his evidence is unmistakable and the results are amazing and astounding' 

Joy unspeakable, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, p 120

The death of reading

I really commend reading Philip Yancey's important article  'The death of reading is threatening the soul'. 

The Ultimate Quest

'If our value system places more importance on what God does than who He is- if we are religiously motivated rather than relationally motivated- we will not be drawn to recognise the greater revelation behind God's acts. The sad reality is that some are satisfied with what God can do and have little concern for who God is. Such a preference is costly in the long run. Many have missed out on the purpose for their creation by settling for the acts of God, thus failing to come under the influence of the face of God- the ultimate quest and our ultimate destiny'

Face to Face with God, Bill Johnson, Page 86