“Real religion is a personal relationship.”

“Real religion has at least three elements: heart satisfaction (a personal seeking and finding of God); worship (a personal adoring of God); consecration (a personal giving to God).”

“What have I to give my Lord? Just what the wise men gave. Gold—all the things that are wealth to me: money and health and strength and friends. Frankincense—the first intensity of my heart's love and loyalty. Myrrh—my sorrows, my hurts, my trials—and my power to suffer. When I give Him these, I give Him all. And He is worthy.”

“By the 1980s beauty had come to play in women’s status-seeking the same role as money plays in that of men: a defensive proof to aggressive competitors of womanhood or manhood. Since both value systems are reductive, neither reward is ever enough, and each quickly loses any relationship to real-life values.”

“But any religion would be found lacking if judged solely by its human servants.”

“A person who does not read is no better than one cannot read.”

“Women who love themselves are threatening; but men who love real women, more so.”