quotes of the week #7

I'm bringing "quotes of the week" back with a vengeance! Remember, this isn't stuff I necessarily read or heard this week... these are just the quotes I choose to share this week. Also read the disclaimer HERE!

*I read & learn so much good stuff that I am making it my goal to try & post "quotes of the week" once a week for at least the next 6 weeks. Let me know if you like that idea or not.

[any of my thoughts & commentary on the quotes are in these bracket things]
As always, I start off with the #1 quote of the week:
“God is not glorified when we keep for ourselves (no matter how thankfully) what we ought to be using to alleviate the misery of unevangelized, uneduacated, unmedicated, and unfed millions. The evidence that many professing Christians have been deceived by Western commercialism and materialism is how little we give and how much we own.” – John Piper, pastor & author [some of my thoughts on him HERE. One of the most influential voices in my life over the past 5 years. These words that he speaks with so much passion move me deeply!]

"If you cannot celebrate the success of others it's probably because you are more about you than you are about God." – Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church & author [I love following this guy on Twitter. he brings quotes like this nonstop! His blog is full of awesome stuff too!]

“We’ve allowed the way transitions look from the outside to drive our perception of what they must feel like to those going through them on the inside.” – Jim Collins, from Good to Great [I'm almost finished with this book. It's amazing. Can't believe I haven't already read it! This quote comes from the chapter on the Flywheel & is in the context of the media causing great organizations to look like "Overnight success stories"! So relevant for me to hear this. his website has awesome & endless free resources]

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein (via Jeff Henderson @ Drive 09) [think about that one... pretty awesome thought!]

“Every 7 seconds, somewhere in the world a child under age 5 dies of hunger, while Americans throw away 14% of the food we purchase.” / “If you have always had enough food, it can be hard to understand the shouts of those whose stomachs are grumbling from hunger.” – Rob Bell, pastor @ Mars Hill & author [wow.]

“Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” ~ Charles Spurgeon, old school pastor & author... dead for over 100 years. [I like having "dead mentors." I can't really talk back to them. This quote is hard core!]

**"To Lead Tomorrow, Learn Today"** - John Maxwell, the leadership guru & author [& I desperately want God to use me to be a great leader... therefore I'm learning everyday as much as I can.]

“New prophets are rising up who try to change the FUTURE, not just predict it. There is a movement bubbling up that goes beyond cynicism and celebrates a new way of living, a generation that stops complaining about the church it sees and becomes the church it dreams of.” – Shane Claiborne, author & pimp revolutionary! [we are this generation. let's become the church we're dreaming of!]

“America is simultaneously the most professedly Christian of the developed nations and the least Christian in its behavior.” – Bill McKibben, author & educator [DANG! that's indicting, but I agree.]

“Your vision has not truly captured your heart until it captures your wallet.” – Andy Stanley, lead pastor @ NPCC & author of some of the greatest books [This is so right on! It seems like Jesus said something similar?...]

“Where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die.” - Bono, activist & frontman for the amazing U2 [obviously speaking of the atrocities in Africa. Millions dying simply because they don't have access to clean water. Let's do something about that!]


As always - which quotes do you like & not like?
Which is your favorite quote & why?