Inspirational Quotes by Lee Strobel

“Anthropic Principle implies that when we look at the world around us, it would seem, at least at first blush, that the universe was somehow designed to support and nourish human life. This concept, which is very prevalent in the world of secular science and philosophy, didn’t originate with Christian scholars. But the evidence points so overwhelmingly toward this apparent design in the universe that it’s virtually undeniable by experts of every religious and nonreligious stripe. This has sent skeptics scurrying to find some sort of natural explanation for this apparently supernatural phenomenon. Here are a few of the hard facts:         Raise or lower the universe’s rate of expansion by even one part in a million, and it would have ruled out the possibility of life.       If the average distance between stars were any greater, planets like earth would not have been formed; any smaller, the planetary orbits necessary for life would not have occurred.       If the ratio of carbon to oxygen had been slightly different than it is, none of us would have been here to breathe the air.       Change the tilt of the earth’s axis slightly in one direction, and we would freeze. Change it the other direction, and we’d burn up.       Suppose the earth had been a bit closer or further from the sun, or just a little larger or smaller, or if it rotated at a speed any different from the one we’re spinning at right now. Given any of these changes, the resulting temperature variations would be completely fatal.   So the lesson we can draw from the Anthropic Principle is this: someone must have gone to a lot of effort to make things just right so that you and I could be here to enjoy life. In short, modern science points to the fact that we must really matter to God! Being the ever-obedient”

“When people say you can’t argue anyone into the kingdom, they usually have an alternative approach in mind. They might be thinking that a genuine expression of love, kindness, and acceptance coupled with a simple presentation of the gospel is a more biblical approach. If you are tempted to think this way, let me say something that may shock you: you cannot love someone into the kingdom. It can’t be done. Neither is the simple gospel by itself adequate to do that job.”

“I am wholly responsible for my side of the ledger, and God is entirely responsible for his. I focus on being faithful, but I trust God to be effective. Some will respond, and some will not. The results are his concern, not mine. This lifts a tremendous burden from my shoulders.”

“These three skills — knowledge, an accurately informed mind; wisdom, an artful method; and character, an attractive manner — play a part in every effective involvement with a nonbeliever.”

“respond to possible comebacks. If I think of something, I practice”

“Cuando estuve en la India, el apologista cristiano Prakesh Yesudian me comentó una conversación que mantuvo con un hindú sobre Gandhi, alguien a quien se venera allí enormemente. Observa cómo combinó Prakesh a Colombo con la táctica de la rivalidad entre hermanos. —¿Está Gandhi en el cielo? —preguntó el hindú—. El cielo sería un lugar muy pobre si Gandhi no estuviera allí. —Bueno, señor mío —respondió Prakesh—, entonces usted debe al menos creer en el cielo. Y, al parecer, usted le ha dedicado algún tiempo a pensar en qué cualificaría a alguien para ir al cielo. Dígame, ¿qué tipo de personas van al cielo? —Las buenas personas van al cielo —respondió él. —Pero esta idea de lo que es una buena persona no me queda del todo clara. ¿Qué es ser bueno? Él contestó al estilo hindú típico: —Lo bueno y lo malo son conceptos relativos. No existe una definición clara. —Señor, si es verdad que la bondad es relativa y que no se puede definir; ¿cómo es que usted supone que Gandhi es bueno y que debería estar en el cielo? O Gandhi cumple cierto estándar externo de bondad y reúne los requisitos para entrar al cielo, o la bondad es relativa y, por tanto, es un término sin sentido cuando se aplica a cualquiera, incluido Gandhi. Ambas cosas no pueden ser verdad a la vez.”

“Jesus said that when you find yourself as a sheep amidst wolves, be innocent, but shrewd (Matthew 10: 16).”

“These three skills —knowledge, an accurately informed mind; wisdom, an artful method; and character, an attractive manner —play a part in every effective involvement with a nonbeliever. The second skill, tactical wisdom, is the main focus of this book.”

“Even though people have strong opinions, they rarely reflect on their views. Often they’re merely repeating slogans.”

“Tactics are not manipulative tricks or slick ruses. They are not clever ploys to embarrass other people and force them to submit to your point of view. They are not meant to belittle or humiliate those who disagree so you can gain notches in your spiritual belt.”

“If someone’s thinking is flawed, the key to finding the error is to listen carefully to the reasons and then ask if the conclusions follow from the evidence. Point out errors with questions rather than statements.”

“Simply ask yourself, Did he give me an argument, or did he just give me an opinion? If the latter, then say, “Well, that’s an interesting point of view, but what’s your argument? How did you come to that conclusion? Why should I take your point seriously? Please take a moment and give me some of your reasons.” When he answers you, be alert to the differences between what is possible, what is plausible, and what is probable, given his evidence.”

“We should never expect a fair shake or whine when it is not given. We are not to play the victim. That is disloyalty to Christ.”

“I have a general rule: If anyone in the discussion gets angry, you lose.”

“We cannot grasp the authoritative teaching of God’s Word unless we use our minds properly. Therefore the mind, not the Bible, is the very first line of defense God has given us against error.”

“Boy, it sounds like you know a lot more about this than I do, and you’ve raised some interesting points. My problem is that this is all new information for me. I wonder if you could do me a favor. I really want to understand your points, but you need to slow down a bit so I get them right. Would you take a moment to carefully explain your view and also your reasons for it to help me understand better? When you respond this way,2 it buys you valuable time. It also shows that you’re not afraid of the other person and you’re interested in taking his view seriously. So make sure you understand the ideas. Write them down if you need to. When all your questions have been answered, end the conversation by saying these magic words: “Thanks. Now let me think about it. Maybe we can talk more later.” These words—now let me think about it—are like magic because once you say them, you free yourself from any obligation to respond further at the moment. All the pressure is gone, since you’ve already pleaded ignorance. You have no obligation to answer, refute, or reply once you’ve admitted you’re outgunned and need to give the issue more thought.”

“Alan Keyes que he publicado en mi estudio: «No nos toca a nosotros calcular nuestra victoria ni temer nuestra derrota, sino cumplir con nuestro deber y dejar el resto en las manos de Dios». Como embajadores, medimos nuestra legitimidad mediante la fidelidad y la obediencia a Cristo, quien es el único que producirá el crecimiento.”

“Here’s the key principle: Without God’s work, nothing else works; but with God’s work, many things work.”

“Asbab-an-nuzul: A body of Islamic literature purporting to detail the circumstances of specific Quranic revelations”

“Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them”