This image, which Clive drew when he was 6, says it all. The sentences are just glosses.
WHO GOD IS
The Doctrine of the Trinity: My God! God is simply beside himself over us!
The Doctrine of the Father: Impossibly, God is only ever gift—given, giving; that’s why it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
The Doctrine of Christ: Blessed are those who do not shy away from being human; God does not!
The Doctrine of the Spirit: God is so taken by you, child, he cannot catch his breath.
The Doctrine of Revelation: Believe it or not, God just can’t hide how bloody happy he is!
The Doctrine of Scripture: God’s thoughts, honey, are literally not like our thoughts.
WHAT GOD DOES
The Doctrine of Creation: Well, God doesn't want to be everything, that’s why there’s anything at all.
The Doctrine of Angels: Our truest thoughts, and our clearest, like God’s thoughts toward us, are far too bright and much too fast to grasp.
The Doctrine of Human Being: Darling, God loves it when his children get the best of him!
The Doctrine of Providence: God is always surprising himself; his mercies are new for him every morning, too.
The Doctrine of Evil: Nothing, not even nothing, can keep us from God or each other forever.
The Doctrine of Sin: We will do almost anything to distract ourselves from our neighbor’s cries for help, won’t we?
The Doctrine of Atonement: It’s just that God can’t help himself—he’s head over heels in love.
The Doctrine of Justification: Even if the last thing we want is to make our wrongs right, God will talk us into it sooner or later.
The Doctrine of Sanctification: Nothing good ever happens in a hurry, and God is in no hurry to explain himself, obviously.
The Doctrine of Spirit Baptism: God never gives less than everything he has to give—and all he has to give is himself.
The Doctrine of Mission: We are, at best, only ever maids, midwives, or doorkeepers to the work God is doing without us; we should never act like we own the place, much less the people.
The Doctrine of the Church: God has to keep his friends close and his enemies closer, believe me.
The Doctrine of the Sacraments: God trusts us so much he literally puts his life in our hands.
The Doctrine of Last Things: God throws a raucous party—the wildest, really; everyone’s invited and he’s always bringing out better and better wine. Joy unspeakable!
This is marvelous. Want to reread again and again. Thank you.