A musical ear

"If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience."

- John Cage

A good sermon

"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, then having the two as close together as possible."

- George Burns

Administration

"The Spiritual ‘gift of administration’ is the ability to turn God-given vision into reality. The word administration comes from the Latin and literally means ‘to’ (ad) ‘minister’. To administer is to do ministry. This role is so essential that Paul lists it as one of the crucial gifts for building up the church – the Spirit equips us with the ability to make things happen, to get the stuff of church-life done. So let’s not belittle it – it is a hugely important gift and an active part of what the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst."

- Al Gordon

'Yes but'

"When people say, ‘yes but’, no-one hears the ‘yes’."

- John Maxwell - courtesy of Stew!

Changing the world

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

- Leo Tolstoy

Ministry

"Ministry is meeting the needs of the world on the basis of God’s resources, not our own"

- John Wimber

Matters of style and matters of principle

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."

- Thomas Jefferson

Thinking and Living

"We think in generalities, but we live in detail."

- Alfred North Whitehead

Radicals and Conservatives

"The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them"

- Mark Twain

Traditions

"Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening"

- Barbara Tober

Theory and Practice

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; In practice, there is."

- Chuck Reid

Who you care about

"Family isn't about whose blood you have. It's about who you care about."

- Trey Parker and Matt Stone