McGill's Miscellaneous Meanderings » Quotes

Quotables by Howard Hendricks

cmcgill — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:18:40 +0000

“If you want them to bleed you have to hemorrhage.”

This quote was in reference to a leader being passionate about something. I resonate with this quote. It stuck with me. We need more people who are bleeding deeply and dangerously. These are the kinds of wounds that depend on a “Great Physician!”

“The secret to concentration is elimination.”

I’ve heard this a couple of times recently and thought it was good. When have we ever stopped to make “to-don’t” lists? We tend to be all about what we have to do. Do we ever consider getting rid of the unnecessary things that we are doing that take up too much of our time?

“Pray long in private, short in public.”

If you’ve ever listened to a long-winded prayer you know what I’m talking about here!!! Need I say more?

Character Quotes

cmcgill — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:08:19 +0000

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Commonly attributed to Frank Law

Character is what you are in the dark.
Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899), American Evangelist

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803-1882)

The best index to a person’s character is (a) how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can’t fight back.
Abigail van Buren (Pauline Esther Friedman), (1918-2002)

The proper time to influence the character of a child is about a hundred years before he’s born.
William R. Inge, American playwright (1913-1973)

Every man has three characters: that which he shows, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has.
Alphonse Karr, French journalist (1808-1890)

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Helen Keller, (1880-1968) American blind and deaf writer/lecturer

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece — by thought, choice, courage and determination.
John Luther

Interesting thoughts

cmcgill — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:02:50 +0000

Check out this thought by Jeff Myers from the book Handoff (ht: Dan Burrell)

“In the 1400s a weakened Christian culture found itself under constant attack by a growing Muslim culture. As Amurath I, rule of the Ottoman Empire, conquered more and more territory, he decided that if one-fifth of the spoils of battle were the Emperor’s share, he should also have a right to one-fifth of the captives.

Amurath instructed his troops to choose the smartest and strongest of the sons of Christian families he had captures. These boys — as young as seven years of age — underwent training in everything from agriculture to statesmanship.

Many Christian parents voluntarily turned their sons over, treating such slavery as a “scholarship” that would guarantee food, supervision, and education to their children. What they didn’t seem to realize — or just ignored — was that the young men were being indoctrinated in a fanatical ideology and shaped into a brutal fighting force. They were called the Janizaries.

Over time, the power of the ottoman Empire grew, while that of eastern Christianity declined. In 1453, hordes of Muslim Ottoman Turks surrounded Constantinople, the seat of the Eastern church. Sultan Mehmet II. a ruthless and shrewd commander just 23 years old, led the siege with 100,000 troops, including 70,000 trained infantry and cavalry, 20,000 skirmishers known for the love of raping and looting, and 10,000 Janizaries.

A mere 7,000 tropps rallied to the defense of Constantinople. They were well trained and desperate to protect their families, but weeks of pounding attacks made Mehmet’s victory inevitable.

Just as the exhausted defenders steeled themselves for Mehmet’s final onslaught, they were frozen by the blood-curdling screas of thousands of young voices: Mehmet had unleashed the elite Janizaries. These young warriors swarmed against the walls, found a breach and charged through, wreaking havoc and slaughter.

The Janizaries had no idea — or didn’t care — that their swords were drenched with the blood of their own families.

Someone will train the next generation. The question is who, and for what purposes. “ (Handoff; Jeff Myers, pages 45-47, Legacy Worldwide, 2008.)

Or how about this one from Mark Batterson’s new book, Wild Goose Chase (ht: thoughts of a student pastor)

What is most lacking in the church of Jesus Christ is not education or resources. Keep learning, but we are educated way beyond the level of our obedience. And keep giving, but we do not lack the resources to alleviate poverty or fight injustice or spread the gospel. We are the most resourced church in the most resourced country the world has ever known. You what is most lacking? Good old-fashioned guts.

The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan. And more often than not, the will of God will involve a decision that seems unsafe or insane. Dare I suggest that the twenty-first century church needs more daring people with daring plans?

In the words of a daring twentieth century missionary, C.T. Studd: “Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”

The church needs more Studds! And you can quote me on that.

I haven’t read either of these books but these short pieces certainly have me thinking. I hope they have you thinking too!

Team Quotes

cmcgill — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:03:34 +0000

T.ogether
E.veryone
A.chieves
M.ore

There is no “I” in team.

T.each
E.nforce
A.dvocate
M.odel

Count the cost…

cmcgill — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:53:39 +0000

I’m reading a great book by Gary Thomas on marriage. It is called Sacred Marriage. In it there are a lot of memorable quotes but I will give you just one for now.

It is actually by C.J. Mahaney.

“What are you doing each day for your wife that costs you something?”

We could also ask that same question about our interaction with a lot of people!

More Quotes

cmcgill — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:27:13 +0000

“The real business of life is the salvation of human souls.” C.S. Lewis

“When I pray coincidences happen. When I don’t they don’t.” Archbishop Temple

“Confidence is the child of experience.” C.H. Spurgeon

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” John Maxwell

“When was the last time you sinned because of a lack of information?” Charles Swindoll

“Always tell the truth, that way you never have to remember what you said.” Bill Henry

“If you stop learning today, you stop leading tomorrow.” Howard Hendricks

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

“And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28

Servant Quotes

cmcgill — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:46:07 +0000

You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you (John Bunyan ).

Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can (John Wesley ).

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one (Mother Teresa).

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
(Martin Luther King, Jr).

God has given us two hands – one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing
(Billy Graham).

Love your neighbor as yourself (Jesus Christ).

Quotes that have caught my attention

cmcgill — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:49:42 +0000

“You can impress people from a distance but you can only impact people up close.”
Howard Hendricks

“When tragedy strikes you must trust in the character of God.”
(I don’t know)

“Sin blinds, while preserving the illusion of seeing.”
David Powlison