Insights from "The Good and Beautiful Life"

I am in the process of reading the book "The Good and Beautiful Life; putting on the character of Christ" by James Bryan Smith. I am about 1/3 of the way through the book and already I am enjoying it immensely. Smith has taken a familiar subject, "The Sermon on the Mount" and brings out some new insights about the world's greatest message. Here are just a few nuggets I have gleaned so far...

• Most people think repent means to shape up, thus they think Jesus proclamation is a threat, but it is an invitation, pg. 37
• I have moments when I strive and even succeed in living obediently to God and actually practice the principles of the kingdom but I have just as many moments when I run the "kingdom of Jim" pg. 41 - We can all relate to that statement
• In the Kingdom we find comfort because God is in control, God gets the last word, which is heaven. pg. 58
• Anger is a result of our need to control (unmet expectations) and fear, and the sabbath teaches us to trust in God's strength. pg. 81

That is all for now, but if you are looking for a good book to read, I would recommend the "The Good and Beautiful Life".