Be who you are. But be the very best communicator you can possibly be. To do that you must be willing to sacrifice what's comfortable-what has become part of your style-for the sake of what is effective.

What does it say about us that we are rarely perplexed by the good things that come our way, only the bad?

There is an appropriate way to use your story, not as an excuse but as a testimony to God's ability to free you from the past.

We don't drift into good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there.

Learning never takes place while you're talking.

What percentage should you give? I tell people to start with 10 percent because the Bible writers have a lot to say about the tithe, which means, "tenth." For some people, that's extremely uncomfortable. But so is a colonoscopy, and those save countless lives.

Praying for revival equates to blaming God for the condition of your local church.