Kierkegaard

I've had a book entitled, PROVOCATIONS for several years. It's a collection of passages from the spiritual writings of Soren Kierkegaard, and it is one of the greatest books I own. So I break it out every now and then for some good challenge. This man was amazing!! His thought and dedication toward the Lord challenge me every time I pick it up. Here are a few quotes I made note of. I hope they challenge you as they have me:

"Christ comes to the world as the Example, constantly enjoining: Imitate Me. We humans prefer to adore Him instead."

"When we see someone holding an axe wrong and chopping in such a way that he hits everything but the block of firewood, we do not say, 'What a wrong way to go about it,' but we say, 'That man is not a woodcutter.'
Now for the application. When we see thousands and thousands and millions of Christians whose lives do not resemble in the remotest way what--and this is decisive--the New Testament calls a Christian, is it not tampering with the meaning to talk as one does in no other situation and say, 'What a mediocre way, what a thoroughly inexpressive way these Christians have.' In any other situation would one not say, 'These people are not Christians.' Now be earnest and say: We are not Christians. Let this become ordinary language usage and you will have a world-transformation."

"Christianity is not the doctrine of denying oneself. Christianity is to deny oneself."

"It is a proud thing to dive into danger, and it is a proud thing to battle with untold horrors, but it is also wretched to have an abundance of intentions and a poverty of action, to be rich in truths and poor in virtues."

"It is hard to bear the world's persecution, it is harder still to bear the responsibility for not having acted, to stand ashamed in eternity because you did not win the bold confidence that transforms shame into honor."

"Oh God, teach me so deeply to understand myself that I may understand how utterly impossible it is to be satisfied with the mere fact that I am master of my own destiny, and that there is no satisfaction and joy and happiness for a person except in obedience."

"I will work on with energy and not waste time looking back, not like the man who was caught in quicksand and began calculating how far down he had already sunk, forgetting all the while he was sinking still deeper. I will hurry along the path I have discovered, not looking back as did Lot's wife, but remembering that it is a hill up which we have to struggle."