Thursday, September 23, 2010

“Something has been calling to you all the days of your life. You’ve heard it on the wind and in the music you love, in laughter and in tears, and most especially in the stories that have ever captured your heart. There is a secret written on your heart. A valiant Hero-Lover and his Beloved. An Evil One and a great battle to fight. A Journey and a Quest, more dangerous and more thrilling than you could imagine. A little Fellowship to see you through.  This is the gospel of Christianity.  Now—what is your part? What is your role in the Story?” ---John Eldredge in Epic

" 'Inner' stances are more important than circumstances and we can choose our inner stances.  Our attitudes and convictions determine our actions and reactions.  We can set high standards for our personal behavior.  These convictions become our inward, moral goals for daily living.  Without them we tend to overreact to every jerk we encounter.  And there are jerks everywhere." ---Walter Albritton in Life is Short So Laugh Often, Live Fully and Love Deeply

"Make time to be alone sometimes. It is a mistake always to be in the presence of another. The soul must be still and quiet. There are accents in the voice of God so deep and still, that the breathing of a companion may make them inaudible." ---F. B. Meyer

"In the United States, numbers impress us.  We gauge the success of an event by how many people attend or come forward.  We measure churches by how many members they boast.  We are wowed by big crowds.  Jesus questioned the authenticity of this kind of record keeping.  According to the account in Luke chapter 8, when a crowd started following Him, Jesus began speaking in parables—‘so that’ those who weren’t genuinely listening wouldn’t get it.” ---Francis Chan in Crazy Love