Sam > Sam's Quotes

“MELITO OF SARDIS Melito, bishop of Sardis, died around the year A.D. 180. Until recently, few students of church history paid much attention to him. One of the reasons might be that he ended up on the “wrong side” of the ancient debate over how to determine the date of Easter. Only recently a sermon on the Passover was found, penned by Melito. It provides us with a tremendous insight into the theology of the late second century. I reproduce here just one section, which requires no commentary, only a hearty “Amen!”: And so he was lifted up upon a tree and an inscription was attached indicating who was being killed. Who was it? It is a grievous thing to tell, but a most fearful thing to refrain from telling. But listen, as you tremble before him on whose account the earth trembled! He who hung the earth in place is hanged. He who fixed the heavens in place is fixed in place. He who made all things fast is made fast on a tree. The Sovereign is insulted. God is murdered. The King of Israel is destroyed by an Israelite hand. This is the One who made the heavens and the earth, and formed mankind in the beginning, The One proclaimed by the Law and the Prophets, The One enfleshed in a virgin, The One hanged on a tree, The One buried in the earth, The One raised from the dead and who went up into the heights of heaven, The One sitting at the right hand of the Father, The One having all authority to judge and save, Through Whom the Father made the things which exist from the beginning of time. This One is “the Alpha and the Omega,” This One is “the beginning and the end” . . . the beginning indescribable and the end incomprehensible. This One is the Christ. This One is the King. This One is Jesus. This One is the Leader. This One is the Lord. This One is the One who rose from the dead. This One is the One sitting on the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father. “To him be the glory and the power forever. Amen.” The deity of Christ, His two natures, His virgin birth, His being the Creator, His distinction from the Father—all part and parcel of the preaching of the bishop of Sardis near the end of the second century.”
― James R. White, The Forgotten Trinity: Recovering the Heart of Christian Belief

“In the same way, God sometimes turns off the other sources of our pleasure so that we might learn to find all of our delight in him. He must be our desire.”
― William B. Barcley, The Secret of Contentment

“Prayer is thus a means ordained to receive what God has planned to bestow.[22]”
― Joel R. Beeke, Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer

“The penguins don’t want you there,” said Porter.”
― Cassie Beasley, The Bootlace Magician

“Some fight the darkness head-on,” he said. “Others try to create so much light that it cannot take hold in the first place. We need both sorts of people in this world.”
― Cassie Beasley, The Bootlace Magician

“Everyone stop moving!” he bellowed. “Especially you, chickens! CHICKENS, GIVE UP! WE’RE GOING TO EAT YOU! THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! STOP RUNNING AWAY RIGHT NOW!”
― Tui T. Sutherland, Moon Rising

“QA and Acceptance Tests If QA has not already begun to write the automated acceptance tests, they should start as soon as the IPM ends. The tests for stories that are scheduled for early completion should be done early. We don’t want completed stories waiting for acceptance tests to be written.”
― Robert C. Martin, Clean Agile: Back to Basics