“Independence is not an option for us. Remember, God existed without us.”

To rescue people from the natural consequences of their behavior is to render them powerless.

When truth presents itself, the wise person see the light, takes it in, and makes adjustments. The fool tries to adjust the truth so he does not have to adjust to it.

Leave your pride, ego, and narcissism somewhere else. Reactions from those parts of you will reinforce your children’s most primitive fears.

One of the worst things you can die with is potential.

Love can only exist where freedom and responsibility are operating.

You will not grow without attempting to do things you are unable to do.

If your boundary training consists only of words, you are wasting your breath. But if you ‘do’ boundaries with your kids, they internalize the experiences, remember them, digest them, and make them part of how they see reality.

The amount of truth a relationship can handle is proportional to the amount of perceived love that’s present.

In a very real way, ownership is the essence of leadership. When you are ridiculously in charge, then you own whatever happens in a company, school.

The human heart will seek to be known, understood, and connected with above all else. If you do not connect, the ones you care about will find someone who will.

If people are really narcissistic or have a need to be seen as more than they really are, or to be admired as having it all together, then they cannot be followed and trusted by others.

Encourage literally came from “in courage.” The courage is put “into” you from outside. Our character and abilities grow through internalizing from others what we do not possess in ourselves.

For someone’s character to grow, it has to be free from internal attack. Falling down never stopped children from developing. But getting yelled at, criticized, and put down can stop them for life.

Faith goes beyond reason. It goes beyond what you can see. But it is as real as anything you can touch or feel.

To get greater than 100% return on a growth step, give up defensiveness. Defensiveness stifles performance, and destroys relationships.

Marriage is not slavery. It is based on a love relationship deeply rooted in freedom. Each partner is free from the other and therefore free to love the other. Where there is control, or perception of control, there is not love. Love only exists where there is freedom.

No honey for me, if it comes with a bee.

I don’t think I have nerves of steel, far from it, but I can certainly stand up to things. I am not afraid to look suffering straight in the eyes.

The days that are still to come are the wisest witnesses.

There’s a bit of testicle at the bottom of our most sublime feelings and our purest tenderness.

Once in a while it vanishes – in the sense that I become deaf to beauty for a week or two or three.

The whole planet is waiting for someone to do it first.

Time. There is much time left and lots of life seasons. There is much to see, to do, and to be.

I am disappointed with myself. I am disappointed not so much with the particular things I have done as with the aspects of who I have become. I have a nagging sense that all is not as it should be.