“I’m not tense. I’m just terribly alert.” -- Courtesy of the wording on Rita Zerkle's T-shirt, as she described it to me in church on Dec. 12, 2010.  :-)

"Whether you like swashbuckling wizardry, fierce dragon battles, modern military hardware or sword-slashing zombie mayhem, Flank Hawk has it all." -- Terry W. Ervin II, author of "Flank Hawk" and member of St. Paris United Methodist Church.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." -- Habbakuk 3:17-19

"Follow Jesus. The real Jesus. The true Jesus. The resurrected Jesus, and not the Jesus of your imagination." -- Mother Teresa (as quoted by Mike Slaughter in sermon "Potholes," 3-14-2010)

"Oh God, have mercy on the people of Haiti and everyone affected by this catastrophe. We pray for the souls of all those who have lost their lives, and for the unspeakable grief faced by those who have survived. We pray for all the rescue and relief workers, that you would give them courage, strength and hope to carry on. We pray that day by day You will relieve the human suffering in Haiti, and that you will empower us to witness to your love and mercy with our money, our prayers, our hands, and our hearts, as we are able. We pray that out of this colossal tragedy will come a new beginning for the people of Haiti, and that the Light of Christ will overcome this present darkness. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen." -- Dave Kepple, "Prayer for Haiti," Jan. 13, 2010

"Every time you do something for the glory of God, you will know God's peace in your heart and find rest there." -- Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love

The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus? -- Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus