His rule

We discover the effectiveness of his rule with us precisely in the details of day-to-day existence. Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy - great challenge to my Christian walk. A book worth reading!

perfection

The first thing is always what God wills as Creator; but—even apart from our sin—it is not the last. For he wills to lead the creation out beyond itself, into the perfecting of all things. God does not preserve the world simply in order to preserve it, but in order that he may perfect it. Emil Brunner

the danger of self rejection

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen

prayer

We have a great new book by David Cohen, Why O Lord? (9781842277546: published in March) about praying in difficult circumstances. Have a look at the following article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9953128/Britons-still-believe-in-prayer-and-young-lead-the-way-poll-suggests.html

Justification

He justifies not partially, but freely, so that the sinner can appear in the heavens as if clothed with the purity of Christ - Calvin, Institutes 3.11.11, Yeah, that's it!

The Holy Spirit

He would have us not rest in outward masks, but depend solely on the internal power of the Holy Spirit - John Calvin, Comm. 1 Cor. 4.20

church, again . . .

'Congregation is composed of people, who, upon entering a church, leave behind what people on the street name or call them. A church can never be reduced to a place where goods and services are exchanged. It must never be a place where a person is labeled. It can never be a place where gossip is perpetuated. Before anything else, it is a place where a person is named and greeted, whether implicitly or explicitly, in Jesus' name. A place where dignity is conferred' - Eugene Peterson, The Pastor, 40.