One of my heroes of the faith is Presbyterian pastor Tim Keller. Keller was the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. As a Baptist, I may not agree with everything he said, but I have been richly blessed through his writing and speaking ministry. Sadly, in his later years, a few Christian Conservatives called him liberal and woke because of his views on social justice, tolerance, and politics (He never aligned himself with a political party and made both the right and left angry). Some saw his views as too compromising; I saw them as godly and Christ-like. I, for one, found him refreshing and anything but liberal and woke. Keller died of pancreatic cancer on May 19, 2023. He has been missed.

A week or so ago, I found quotes attributed to Keller. As I close this week, let me offer you a few.[1]

• If the suffering Jesus endured did not make Him give up on us, nothing will.
• Tolerance is not about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.
• Mercy isn’t just the job of the Christian. Mercy is the mark of the Christian.
• If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for God’s mercy.
• The road to the best things is not through the good things but usually through the hard things.
• If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said. If He didn’t, then why worry about what He said? Then, the issue on which everything hangs is not whether you like His teaching, but whether He rose from the dead.
• If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshipping an idealized version of yourself.

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[1] I found these quotes on “Relevantmagazine” on Instagram around May 19^, 2026.

It was hard to believe. Last year, I learned I had congestive heart failure. Thankfully, I have been able to get my ejection fraction number back into the normal range, but still technically considered to be a person with heart failure with improved ejection fraction. Nonetheless, I have decided to train for another half-marathon this fall. I figure I may be the only 61-year-old running with congestive heart failure. I’m not sure I can do it again, but I know I want to try it and see if it’s possible.

              To carry out this goal, I know I’ll need to lose weight before starting my more intense training in August. Knowing how to lose weight is not rocket science. I need to consistently do four things. I need 7-9 hours of sleep per day, don’t ask me how I’m doing in this area. I must eat a well-balanced meal made up of whole foods, high in protein and fiber. Next, I must keep my body moving and, finally, I must be in a caloric deficit.

              My greatest desire is not to run a half-marathon but to be transformed more into the likeness of Jesus. As with a healthy diet, there are steps we must take to grow in Christlikeness, for no one ever drifts toward God. Every day, we must have the intake of Scripture and a posture of prayer. Third, we must gather weekly with the saints, as you will never become a healthy Christian apart from the gathered church. Finally, you must continually put yourself in positions where you do good and bless others.

It’s not hard to know how to be a healthy Christian. Putting it into practice is difficult. Make consistent practice of small, simple daily habits. Read, pray, gather, and bless. You will begin to see yourself transform. Begin today and continue every day. You will begin to see results.