Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin once told a group of young athletes: "It’s not what you’re capable of; it’s what you’re willing to do. I know plenty of people that are capable. I know fewer people that are willing. Will is a powerful thing. Ask yourself, ‘What are you willing to do?’"

Enthusiasm  . . . . . . . . . Henry Ford

"Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hope rise to the stars…the sparkle in your eye… the swing in your gait, the grip in your hand, the irresistible surge of your will, and your energy to execute ideas. Enthusiasts are fighters. They have fortitude. They have the staying qualities."

 "In the open, out-going mode of existence — possessed only by the persons who have been affirmed — we are attentively present to one another, fascinated by what senses, body and spirit, reveal in being our authentic selves. We respectfully listen to what eyes, ears and hands reveal and let these revelations shape our thoughts."

Courtesy  . . . . . . . . . George D. Powers

"Knowledge, ability, experience, are of little avail in reaching high success if courtesy be lacking. Courtesy is the one passport that will be accepted without question in every land, in every office, in every home, in every heart in the world. For nothing commends itself so well as kindness; and courtesy is kindness."

"The correct practice of sport must be accompanied by practicing the virtues of temperance and sacrifice; frequently it also requires a good team spirit, respectful attitudes, the appreciation of the qualities of others, honesty in the game humility to recognize one’s own limitations.…While playing sports, Christians also find help in developing the cardinal virtues — fortitude, temperance, prudence and justice."

"Ray Bradbury says, ‘You never know what potentials you have.’ I’m not saying for a minute that everyone in the world has a fantastic talent, but imagine that you have a fairly good one that you haven’t tested."

"Servant leadership is a good way to describe the coaching role that managers are expected to play today to help their people win. Judging and evaluating people erodes their self-esteem; servant leadership builds self-esteem and encourages individual growth while obtaining the organization’s objectives."

"What must be understood about Francis is the centrality of the Word of God in his life. The Word became flesh, Incarnate. The mystery of the Incarnation engraved itself upon Francis’ heart like a seal pressed into hot wax. This is the defining hallmark of the Franciscan gift to Christian spirituality, namely, that God became one of us.…

Francis’ preaching was effective because he lived the Word. He pondered the Word; he nurtured the Word; he became the embodiment of the Word. And thus when he proclaimed the Word, people saw the Word come to life."

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

The True Measure  . . . . . . . . . Anonymous

"The true measure of a person is the height of one’s ideals, the breadth of one’s sympathy, the depth of one’s convictions, and the length of one’s patience."

"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no person could have dreamed would have come one’s way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!"

Wisdom  . . . . . . . . . Samuel Coleridge

"Common sense in an uncommon degree
is what the world calls wisdom."

Hope  . . . . . . . . . Eugene Kennedy

"Hope never looks spectacular and we might miss it altogether if we search for it in shining and transcendent moments. The problem with the human situation is that even though we might like to have them, most of us must survive without incandescent experiences of the Spirit. Hope is more readily found in the commonplace of everyday at a time of need."

"A failure to read the Bible with a sense of participation and imagination helps to explain the great distance that separates the ideas of the New Testament from the activities of the twentieth-century churches."

Pres. Lincoln felt a great need for wisdom during America’s Civil War. A personal friend of his wrote, "I spent three weeks at the White House as a guest of the President. One night — it was just before the Battle of Bull Run — I was restless and could not sleep. From Lincoln’s bedroom I heard the low-tones of his voice. Looking in the door that was slightly ajar, I saw a sight which I’ve never forgotten. The tall Chief Executive was kneeling before a open Bible. He did not know I could hear his agonizing supplications as he pleaded, ‘O Thou great God who heard Solomon in the night when he prayed and cried for wisdom, hear me. I cannot lead these people. I cannot guide the affairs of this country without Thy help O Lord, hear me and save this nation.’"

One of the materials that a student in an Intro. Chemistry course becomes acquainted with early in the semester is litmus paper. Litmus, a dye extracted from a plant called lichens, is used to detect the presence of acids and bases–alkalies. If blue litmus paper turns red when dipped into a solution, the student knows that the solution contains an acid. Likewise, if red litmus paper turns blue when dipped into a solution, the student knows that the solution is a base–alkaline. It’s a very simple test, and it works every time.

Jesus gave some final instructions to his followers — his students in the Intro. to Discipleship course. He tells them of a test by means of which people will be able to identify his genuine followers. Like the litmus test for acids and alkalies, it’s a very simple test, and it works every time. The litmus test of discipleship is in Jesus’ own words, "By this all will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." (Jn. 13:35).