We all want to feel spiritually vigorous, and we hurt when we don't. This pain is intensified for people who lead church ministries.

I used to run barefoot in my village some time back. Now, I have a branded shoe with my name on it.

Virtue is its own reward, and brings with it the truest and highest pleasure; but if we cultivate it only for pleasure's sake, we are selfish, not religious, and will never gain the pleasure, because we can never have the virtue.

The superior man does not, even for the space of a single meal, act contrary to virtue. In moments of haste, he cleaves to it. In seasons of danger, he cleaves to it.

If you don't make a total commitment to whatever you're doing, then you start looking to bail out the first time the boat starts leaking. It's tough enough getting that boat to shore with everybody rowing, let alone when a guy stands up and starts putting his jacket on.

See, winners embrace hard work.

I follow three rules: Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.

God was very creative with plants and their seeds. But there's one kind of seed He wants you to spread: the seed of kindness. Being kind means more than just smiling and being nice. It takes courage to be kind to that kid everybody else picks on or that person who's different from you. And it takes strength to be kind when you're tired or when others aren't so kind to you. But when you plant a seed of kindness, it grows . . . and spreads!

One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.

A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.

Defeat appears to me preferable to total Inaction.

Christian's attempt to help remedy the perilous condition of these three sleeping pilgrims is met with indifference, indolence, and intolerance. Christian, troubled by the lack of spiritual concern in the religious world, does his best to bring about a change, but all his efforts are scorned and rebuffed. Lesson one for the new Christian-many a careless and indifferent traveler will not survive the pilgrimage. 6.