Tell the Truth

Could you go one day without lying? How about one month? In the book "To Be Perfectly Honest", author and humorist Phil Calloway relates his experience trying to go one year without lying. Prevarication, half-truths, misdirection, deception, little white lies, exaggerations--all are forms of lying as Calloway found out when he vowed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth for 365 long, long days. On his journey, he realized that in order to tell the truth, he needed to get closer to the One Who is Truth, Jesus Christ. Presented in a form similar to diary entries and sprinkled with humor, Calloway's day-to-day commentary shows a man who is not perfect and who fails many times in his efforts to achieve perfection in truth-telling. But, he also shows that God's grace is great enough to forgive each of us and to help us to grow more like Him.

(Note:I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

"Divine Appointments"

In the book "Divine Appointments" by Charlene Baumbich, we meet Josie Brooks, a successful business consultant whose life is complicated by her OCD tendencies and hot flashes, and by hallucinations involving a mysterious snowglobe. Josie prides herself in being self-sufficient and uncompromising in her decisions. As she helps companies downsize, she has not allowed herself to feel any kind of compassion for the people whose lives are adversely impacted by her decisions. Things begin to change when she starts her consulting work for Diamond Mutual. Although she thinks that the company's boss, Lyle Waters, is too soft on his employees, she starts thinking about him as a real human being, not just a piece of a company. She sees genuine friendships among the employees and begins to see the loneliness that pervades her life. As one after another of her preconceived notions of how the world should be begins to shatter, Josie is shaken to the core of her being--shaken enough to consider that maybe she has just been existing for most of her life and not really living.

Most of the characters in the book are believable if not completely likable. The exception is the character of Marsha who considers herself an author. The portions of her "novel" are annoying to read. Even though the writing is supposed to be a therapeutic anger release mechanism for the character, it is frustrating to any reader who enjoys good writing.

My favorite character was Barb. She is a Christian woman who has been with the company for many years and who provides a sense of stability, wisdom, and calm leadership for the other employees. She is not perfect and struggles with her short-comings, but this makes the reader like her even more. She takes a bad situation and tries to be an encouragement to others rather than wallowing in self-pity and regret. Her actions and attitudes influence more people than she realizes.

"Divine Appointments" is the second book by Baumbich which features a snowglobe with mysterious, almost magical attributes. Though not quite fantasy, the book does has fantasy elements that give it a distinctly unique flavor.

(Note:I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

"Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

Broken relationships, broken hearts, broken families--all abound in Kristen Heitzmann's "Indivisible". In a small town in the Colorado mountains, Police Chief Jonah Westfall must untangle the mystery of mutilated animal remains and seek out the perpetrator before the violence intensifies. He also struggles to untangle his own troubled past which includes alcoholism,family problems and complications in his relationship with childhood friend Tia Manning.

Having read most of Heitzmann's books, I was not surprised to find a tightly written, suspense-filled story. Definitely a page-turner, the story takes many twists and turns before finally reaching its end. For the most part, I enjoyed the story, but I did find the extremes in the characters' problems a bit of a stretch. In fact, it almost seemed like the author found as many psychological traumas as possible and then crammed them into the too-small space of five characters' lives. I did manage to suspend my disbelief most of the time and enjoyed the wild ride.

(Note:I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

I Do Not Have the Power

I do not have the power to defeat sin on my own.
I do not have the power--it belongs to You alone.
When temptations overtake me and I falter in the race,
I find the strength to triumph when I humbly seek Your face.

Book Review- "Tandem" by Tracey Bateman

"Tandom" is the second book in a series by Tracey Bateman. Set in a small Ozark town, the story follows the increasingly difficult and dangerous life of auction house owner Lauryn McBride. Six months previously, the town experienced a series of brutal murders which ended when the perpetrator apparently died in a house fire. Since Lauryn's father and former business partner is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Lauryn struggles to care for him while she also keeps their business afloat.

As the story opens, Lauryn is given the opportunity to go through the contents of the home of the late Markus Chisom, one of the house fire victims, and to ready the items for an estate sale. She is contacted by a woman who claims that certain items in the home belong to her family. The woman comes to town accompanied by her young assistant, and strange deaths of animals soon follow. Lauryn becomes caught in the middle of a dark supernatural mystery with threats on her life. In the midst of murders and intrigue, Lauryn also must deal with the normal--her father's decline, the appearance in town of a former love interest, and the severe illness of a friend.

The author has created interesting characters who struggle to find answers. Lots of twists and turns keep the reader guessing as to the real culprit. The one plot thread that I didn't particularly like, but which is essential to the story deals with vampire activity. I hate to see a Christian author go that direction, capitalizing on the current vampire craze in our society. That being said, "Tandem" is well-written and exciting.

(Note:I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

Book Review- Flight of Shadows

First of all, a tip for readers--read the first book in a series before you read the second. I wish I had realized that the book Flight of Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer is a continuation of the story of Caitlyn Brown, a young lady who has a terrible deformity and a special gift. Because of the lack of knowledge of her backstory which was presented in Brouwer's book, Broken Angel, I found her character shallow and uninteresting for the first hundred pages or so. The only thing that kept me reading was the introduction of the character named Razor. Throughout the book, Razor keeps the reader guessing as to who he really is and whose side he is on. As Razor's character developed, I found myself getting more interested in Caitlyn--Why were so many people intent on capturing her? What made her so valuable even though (or maybe because) she was deformed?

Brouwer takes his audience into a stark and dangerous world of what might be in the not-to-distant future. Wars have broken society into four distinct sectors- the high-ranking and rich Influentials, the slave labor Industrials, the scavenging Illegals and the Invisibles. The world pictured here is bleak and cold. Poverty and violence are widespread. Familiar prosperity icons, SUVs, have been changed into "soovies" that instead of providing transportation for the affluent, are now stripped down to provide below-poverty-level housing. Caitlyn and her friends risk their lives for a chance to be free from the oppression and hopelessness of this society, and in doing so, change the lives and outlooks of others they encounter. Overall, this book is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure recommended for fans of futuristic fiction. (But read the first book first!)

(Note:I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.)

Quotes from Charles Spurgeon

“I suppose every Christian here knows, as a matter of theory, that he is a Christian soldier and that he has been enlisted under the banner of the Cross to fight against the powers of darkness until he wins the victory…We are all soldiers—we know that—but still, too many Christians act as if they could be the friends of the world and the friends of God at the same time.”

“We may pray to God when engaged in any occupation if it is a lawful one. And if it is not, we have no business to be in it. If there is anything we do over which we cannot pray, we ought never to dare to do it again. And if there is any occupation concerning which we have to say, ‘We could not pray while engaged in it,’ it is clear that the occupation is a wrong one.”

“The people of God are here [Isa 51:1] described as those “that follow after righteousness.” That is the direction in which their life generally flows. They are not perfect, but they want to be. They do not love that which is unrighteous, but they desire to be right in all things both before God and before men. They are also said to be those “that seek the Lord,” that is to say, they are those who could not live without seeking the Lord in prayer, or in public or private worship. Their great object in life is to glorify God, to make Him famous among the sons of men—and they desire to devote all their time, talents and powers of every kind to His service and honor.”

“Many have I met with—I may say that I meet with such people every week—who are afraid that they are hypocrites. When I encounter persons troubled with this fear, I cannot help smiling at them, for if they really were hypocrites, they would not be afraid of it and their fear of presumption argues very strongly that they are not living in it!”

“It is very likely that if I had time to explain to you, my Hearer, the fullness of your sin and the utter ruin of your natural state, you would grow angry. You would have no cause to be angry, for all that I could say would fall far short of the truth about your real condition in the sight of God! And it is most solemnly important for you to know that however high you may stand in the ranks of merely moral men, you are a lost soul and a condemned soul, so long as you remain without living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!”

“If it is Christ’s work ‘to make an end of sins,’ we may be quite sure that He will do it and that there will be an end of them for all who believe in Him! Therefore let our hearts dance for joy as His gracious Spirit assures us that our sins are as completely annihilated and put away as if they had never been committed!”

“Those who expect to find the road to Heaven smooth and unobstructed will discover little in the experience of the ancient saints to support the expectation.”

“When the Lord entrusts you with talents, my Brother, you are naturally inclined to be proud. But when you hear of another whom the Lord has honored far more, do not quarrel either with the Lord or with your Brother, but rejoice that there is someone whose Master thinks he may be trusted to a very high degree! And remember that the responsibilities of your own position are quite sufficient for you.”

“Faith is not a Grace of luxury but a Grace of necessity. We must have it and if we had it not, we should not be the people of God at all! The common habit of the Christian, then, is a habit of trusting. The Christian’s walk is faith and his life is faith!”

“If we are truly humble, we shall cast our care upon God and, by that process, our joy will be exalted! We are slow to submit to the hand of God and oftentimes our care is fretful rebellion against our heavenly Father’s will. We determine to carve for ourselves, and so we cut our fingers!”

Speak the Truth

So many times I hear Christians say that they witness to nonbelievers by their lifestyle- by being kind, by doing good works. The prevailing attitude seems to be that witnessing is more about actions and relationship than about speaking words of truth. Now, I do believe that Christians should live exemplary lives of kindness and service to others. But, if we do not distinctly and verbally present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost, our acts of service and kindness are in vain.

Thanks to Vee at Living Journey for sharing the following link to
"They Know I Am A Christian" by Mark Cahill at Mark Cahill Ministries

When Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, He meant that. Tell them the truth about Jesus Christ.

When Romans says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, that means someone heard or read the word of God.

When Philip witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch, he did it with his mouth and not his actions.

When Jesus witnessed to the woman at the well, it was a verbal conversation. You never see Him getting the water for that woman.

Early Christians died for proclaiming their faith. They were not martyred for living lives of kindness and service (which was a fruit of their faith); they died for telling people that they must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. They took Jesus seriously just as Peter said in Acts 10:42,43 (NIV), "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name." The results of Peter's proclamation were immediate. Acts 10:44 (NIV) says, "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." The people that Peter was speaking to did not respond because of acts of kindness; they responded to the words that were spoken. Lost people need to hear the truth of the Gospel. We need to speak the word with boldness which is the ultimate act of kindness to a lost and dying world.

Requesting God's Specialists

In the foreword "Why Revival Tarries" by Leonard Ravenhill, A.W. Tozer wrote:

"Great industrial concerns have in their employ men who are needed only when there is a breakdown somewhere. When something goes wrong with the machinery, these men spring into action to locate and remove the trouble and get the machinery rolling again. For these men a smoothly operating system has no interest. They are specialists concerned with trouble and how to find and correct it.

"In the Kingdom of God things are not too different. God had always had His specialists whose chief concern has been the moral breakdown, the decline in the spiritual health of the nation or the church. Such men were Elijah, Jeremiah, Malachi and others of their kind who appeared at critical moments in history to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in the name of God and righteousness.

"A thousand or ten thousand ordinary Old Testament priests or New Testament pastors and teachers could labor quietly on almost unnoticed while the spiritual life of Israel or the Church was normal. But let the people of God go astray from the paths of truth and immediately the specialist appeared almost out of nowhere. His instinct for trouble brought him to the help of the Lord and of Israel.

"Such a man was likely to be drastic, radical, possibly at times violent, and the curious crowd that gathered to watch him work soon branded him as extreme, fanatical, negative. And in a sense they were right. He was single-minded, severe, fearless, and these were the qualities the circumstances demanded. He shocked some, frightened others and alienated not a few, but he
knew Who had called him and what he was sent to do. His ministry was geared to the emergency, and that fact marked him out as different, a man apart."


Lord, please send specialists to Your Church today---men and women who are not afraid to speak Your Truth no matter the cost.

Children Are Blessings

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD; the fruit of the womb is a reward. - Psalm 127:3

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands. - Anne Frank

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. - Franklin P. Jones

If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much. - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings. - Hodding Carter

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. - Angela Schwindt

There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child. - Frank A. Clark

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. - Phyllis Diller

Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed. - Robert Gallagher

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. - Frederick Douglass

If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others. - Haim Ginott

Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them. - Goethe

The Call

"Not called!" did you say? "Not heard the call," I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world.

--William Booth (April 10, 1829 - August 20, 1912) was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General (1878-1912).

Lukewarm & Loving It

Sermon by Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA from October 1, 2006.

My Soul Yearns For the Courts of the Lord

The nations reject the law of God and throw off restraint, but I rejoice that this world is not my home. How I long to live under the reign of the Righteous King! Come quickly Lord Jesus!

Psalm 84 (NIV)

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah
9 Look upon our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Last Minute Ads Reveal Truth About Obama's Tax and Social Security Plans

This morning on FOX News, political strategist Dick Morris said that anyone wanting to help in a last minute effort to inform voters in swing states of Obama's views on taxes and social security among other issues should consider making a donation to the National Republican Trust PAC at http://nationalrepublicantrust.com/ . The PAC will be airing television ads in crucial swing state areas in these last few days before the election, and every dollar given will help inform voters of Obama's radical views. The ads can be viewed at the website. Please consider making a donation and passing this information on to your friends.

Dick Morris Praises National Republican Trust PAC

One of the nation's leading political strategists, Dick Morris,has praised the National Republican Trust PAC.

Morris says: "The National Republican Trust is a very effective organization that can make a huge difference on election day."

Dick Morris, a columnist, bestselling author, and Fox News analyst, has been widely recognized for his help to Bill Clinton in his comeback victory in the 1996 election. Later, Morris became a fierce critic of the Clintons.

Today, he warns that Barack Obama will be a dangerous pick come election day. Morris says Obama's plan to raise taxes will push the country from recession to depression.

"We are pleased that someone as respected as Dick Morris values our group and strategy," Scott Wheeler, executive director of the National Republican Trust PAC said.

The National Republican Trust PAC was created to inform Americans of the truth about Barack Obama and to keep America true to its foundations: a nation that values free enterprise, a strong national defense and moral values.

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message), by Paul Washer

The latest Paul Washer message from SermonIndex:

"Preached Wednesday, October 22nd at the Revival Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Washer delivers a urgent appeal to the Christians and Churches in North America that many have been believing a false gospel and have false assurance of their salvation. He lists 10 indictments against the modern Church system in America. This is a historical urgent message, tell others and spread the message. We need a reformation and revival of a biblical standard!"

Direct link to mp3 message.

Image Is Everything

For politicians with image problems:

Don't go to all the trouble of really changing your character; just
rent some for a few weeks until the elections are over!

We Are In The Last Days

The signs of the times are all around us. In the following article, Dr. Gary Frazier gives basic evidence for his belief that we are indeed living in the last days.

Reasons I Believe We Are In The Last Days
By Dr. Gary Frazier

Everywhere I go someone asks the question, why do you believe we are living in the last days? I am of the opinion they are right to ask this question. So, why do I believe we are in fact the terminal generation?

I want to share four primary reasons I believe so strongly that the hour of Christ’s coming is so very near.

First is the existence of the nation of Israel. The word of God is replete with promises regarding the re-gathering and return of the Jewish people to their traditional homeland. This tiny strip of land lying between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River surrounded by Muslim countries on the north, south and east belongs to God’s chosen people and no one else! Even a casual look at scripture supports this and serious study of the same validates it beyond question. That is, if one accepts the scriptures as the Word of God.

The very existence of Israel today is a miracle in and of itself. Without a doubt, nothing in history compares with this remarkable fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jewish people that they will return to their land in the last days. May 14, 1948 was the most historic and biblically significant day in world history since the first century and Jesus Christ himself.

I wrote extensively about this miracle in my book, Signs of the Coming of Christ, which may be obtained at my website, http://www.discoveryministries.com/ or at Amazon.com.

The existence of Israel, in their land, is a requirement for the fulfillment of end time bible prophecy.

Second, the return and continuing rise of the ancient Roman Empire known today as the European Union or as former New York Times writer T.R. Reid call it, the United States of Europe.

The ancient prophets foresaw not only the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent scattering of the Jewish people into all the nations of the world. They also saw the break up of the Roman Empire and it’s rebirth in the last days. Daniel chapters 7 and 9 are without a doubt the most accurate source in the Bible for this prophetic key to understanding end time events. An understanding of this prophetic passage in conjunction with a working knowledge of world history will provide any interested inquirer a vivid picture of what to expect from Europe in the last days.

Today we have a revived form of this ancient Roman Empire that is flexing its muscles on the world scene especially with regard to Israel and the Middle East. While there are twenty-five member nations, only the first ten, Holland, Luxemburg, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Finland, Denmark, England and Greece enjoy full member status with the remaining nations as associate members. It is glaringly clear from scripture that the shift of the world focus is back to the lands of the bible and ancient history in the last days. An overlay of the E.U. of today and the Roman Empire reveals an almost exact duplication.

Third, the resurgence of Russia! It was on June 12, 1987 when then President Ronald Reagan challenged communist leader, Mikhail Gorbachev to, tear down this wall. Communism collapsed and the wall did come down in 1989. However, Russia did not die nor did she lose her aspirations for world domination. The leadership started dressing more western. Democracy became a common word in the Russian vocabulary and outward changes seemed to be taking place. However, the heart did not change. Today we are seeing a resurgence of Russian influence and power. Russia is on the move once again and this is no surprise to students of scripture.

Ezekiel chapters 38-39 predict an invasion of Israel in the last days led by Russia and a coalition of Muslim nations. While the Bible uses the ancient names of these geographically locatable nations, we easily identify them by their modern names.

Is it a coincidence that Russia is providing the technology to Iran to build a nuclear bomb which they have vowed to use to wipe Israel off the map? Make no mistake, communism lives in a new suit!

Fourth and last is America. Yes, the land of the free and home of the brave. I believe America is a real indicator of the lateness of the hour for several reasons.

Benjamin Franklin called it, the Great American Experiment. This experiment that allowed humankind to worship as they chose without fear of government intervention. This experiment that fostered creativity and capitalism in a free market economy. This experiment for which our Founding Fathers and millions since have and have been willing to die. This great experiment is under attack from without and more dangerously so, from within!

Communism has failed in almost every country in the world yet flourishes in America today. How can this be? The answer is quiet simple really. We the people have allowed our schools to fill the minds of our youth with Socialism. We have permitted teachers and tenured professors to rail against this great land of ours while promoting the perceived benefits of a Socialist/Communist philosophical lifestyle. We have bought into Darwinism and changed the truth into lies. Now, many years later, the students have become the judges, professional politicians, the media talking heads, the teachers and even presidents who openly propagate these falsities and sadly, most Americans do not even recognize what has happened.

Amazingly, our Founding Fathers saw the potential dangers and sought through our Constitution and Bill of Rights to protect us. These sacred documents however are being twisted, corrupted and interpreted in ways our founders never intended. These very documents meant to grant freedom are being used as weapons against Americans.

While I would not dare to speak for God almighty there are two things I know God has never failed to judge in history.

The first is the murder of alive yet unborn children. We the people have allowed the murder of more than forty million of God’s children upon the alter of convenience under the guise of a woman’s choice!

Second, God have never failed to judge any nation or people that have accepted and promoted homosexuality/lesbianism. While hordes of people try to convince us the Word of God is an irrelevant book, we know better. God has called this unnatural! In addition, He consistently forbids this type of behavior throughout scripture. Will America be the first nation in history to survive this perversion of morals and marriage? I doubt it!

Therefore, the answer to the question, “Why do you believe we are living in the last days?” is partially found in the above reasons. The four reasons I have cited are only the tip of the iceberg and it was the tip that sank the Titanic!

MacArthur on Salvation Apart From Belief

more about "MacArthur on Salvation Apart From Belief", posted with vodpod

You’ve Been Saved HOW MANY TIMES? By Paul Washer

more about "You’ve Been Saved HOW MANY TIMES? By ...", posted with vodpod

Words to the Wise (or Those Who Would Be)

“If you ask me if I believe in the eternal security of the believer, I would say I most certainly do. And I also believe in the insecurity of the make-believer.”
– J. Vernon McGee

“We are playing church. We are so busy trying to be relevant to the world that we have become just like the world….AND the world is not impressed.”
- Nancy Leigh DeMoss

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, “All right, then, have it your way.”
-C. S. Lewis

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
-C. S. Lewis

“I gave in and admitted that God was God.”
- C. S. Lewis

“The safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without any signposts.”
-C. S. Lewis

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”
-Charles Spurgeon

“Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you DAMNED?”
-Leonard Ravenhill

“The Bible is either absolute, or it’s obsolete.”
-Leonard Ravenhill

“Today’s church wants to be raptured from responsibility.”
-Leonard Ravenhill

“If Jesus preached the same message ministers preach today, He would have never been crucified.”
-Leonard Ravenhill

“The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church...grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church. He is disturbed that the corporate prayer of the Church no longer pulls down the strongholds of the devil.”
-Leonard Ravenhill

“Perhaps if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success.”
-Hudson Taylor

“I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep, I dream of them; when I awake, they are the first in my thoughts…no amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic love for human souls.”
-David Brainerd

“We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God.”
-William Gurnall