I am a quote collector. You can’t listen to too many messages without hearing me quote someone because usually other people can say things so much better than I can

I’m going to begin to collect some of these quotes and put them into “quote blogs.” Here are a few that came up in my ministry mentoring small group today.

One of my favorites is Oliver Wendell Holmes: “A mind stretched by a new idea never returns to it’s original shape.” I want my mind to be stretched everyday. I think that is “intellectual stewardship.” That’s really my goal for each message: to stretch people’s minds in new ways. I also want to stretch their faith!

Ashley Montague said, “I want to die young at a ripe old age.” Me too One of my favorite words is “neoteny.” It is retaining childlike qualities into old age. I’ll always be “a kid” is some ways!

C.S. Lewis said, “Every life is comprised of a few themes.” That is so true. I think each of us have a unique spiritual DNA. We’ve got to identify those themes. By the way, I think preachers need to identity these themes because it’s part of finding their voice or niche in the kingdom. But they also have to be careful not to ride the same “hobby horse” each week so they provide a well-balanced diet.

Oswald Chambers said, “Let God be as original with others as he was with you.” That would keep so many people out of trouble! I think this is a great thought for pastors. We don’t need to be who we’re not. Each of us is absolutely unique. We lose some of our originality when we settle for conformity! Sometimes our last experience with God is the greatest obstacle to our next experience with God. We get in a rut that doesn’t allow God to reveal new things in new ways. I think spiritual maturity always results in originality.