We begin to forgive by choosing to forgive . . . by deciding, not by feeling. Our feelings don't lead us to forgive. Most times, our feelings lead us the other way. That's why a person has to decide to forgive first. Our feelings always follow along behind our decisions.

A life filled with opportunities and encouragement finds more and more opportunities and encouragement, and success becomes inevitable.

I think a lot of what is involved in finding a noticer is to watch people and see what fruit people have on the tree. You examine that life and see if it has the kind of fruit you want to produce in your life.

When I was 19 years old, both of my parents died in the same year; my mom of cancer and my dad in a car accident. Through the next two or three years and a series of bad decisions - all my own, I might add - I ended up literally homeless, before that was even a word. I even slept occasionally under a pier on the Gulf Coast.

It is not enough to recognize what is right and true. One must control the impulse to do what is wrong and easy.

It's a lot more interesting to learn and discover real-life principles when they are revealed in the form of a story.

When you know that everything matters—that every move counts as much as any other—you will begin living a life of permanent purpose.