Why does a worship-filled, charismatic spirituality thrive on the margins of society? Why do we dance in Holy Ghost conga lines? The answer should be obvious. When life is hard, we must constantly exorcise the demons of despair. And worship, praise, and testimony are how we combat the despair and reach toward hope.

Beck, Richard. Reviving Old Scratch (pp. 131-132). Fortress Press. Kindle Edition.

There’s nothing better than being wise,
Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life.
Wisdom puts light in the eyes,
And gives gentleness to words and manners.

From Tim Keller . . .

The Bible is not primarily a series of stories with a moral, though there are plenty of practical lessons. Rather, it is a record of God’s intervening grace in the lives of people who don’t seek it, who don’t deserve it, who continually resist it, and who don’t appreciate it after they have been saved by it.