Stephen Altrogge

“Mom was getting really worked up, and tears began to trickle down her cheeks. As I’m sure you know, it’s a really, really bad sign when your mom starts crying. It can’t get much worse than that. Mom tears are one of the most powerful forces in the universe.”

“The carpet was so thick I could have made carpet angels.”

“God didn't save his son one stroke of misery. He won't withhold any good thing from you.”

“Given the right set of circumstances, people could be happy everywhere and all the time. And these people actually do exist. In beer commercials.”

“God doesn't promise you health, wealth and an attractive spouse... but he does promise to satisfy you and there's a massive difference.”

“We need God to give us a holy obsession with bringing him glory and increasing his reputation. I can't manufacture love for God on my own. I love my life too much. I count my life as too precious. I need God to help me love his honor above everything else.”

“Our goal isn't contentment in and of itself. We're not after a mystical state of Zen. Our goal is to be content for the glory and honor of God.”

“Does God love me? Yes, absolutely. But he doesn't exist for me.”

“Our hearts are raging idol factories.”

“This book is not the memoir of a contented man. It's not the poignant reflections of a white-haired guru who has finally figured out the secret to contentment. It's more like sweaty, bloody, hastily scribbled notes from a battlefield. I'm still struggling to escape the sinister fingers on this conspiracy. I'm still waging war against the discontentment that rages in my life. I can see contentment in the distance, like a hazy oasis, but I have to pick my way through a minefield to get there. I'm not the contented man God wants me to be, but I'm fighting to get there. I'm writing this book the hope that you'll join me in the fight.”

“When someone says "just saying" what they really mean is, "You would be a colossal idiot to not take my advice." (on Facebook)”

“Endure because when you gaze upon Jesus’ soul-ravishing beauty you will say it was worth it. You’ll say I would have endured a thousand lifetimes of suffering for this kind of joy and glory.”

“Hypocrisy is saying we believe something, then living as if we didn’t. Hypocrisy is preaching and not practicing. It says do as I say not as I do. It’s insincerity wearing a mask of sincerity.”

“We always have reason to rejoice and never have reason to complain.”