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We do not rule, we are ruled. The thing, the world, rules man. Man is a prisoner, a slave of the world, and his rule is illusion. Technology is the power with which the earth grips man and subdues him. And because we rule no more, we lose the ground, and then the earth is [...]

There is no such thing as “righteous” violence, as if brutal actions are somehow transformed by calling them aspects of the struggle for justice. Such manipulation is as offensive in progressive circles as are the more nationalistic versions of justification of violence by using patriotic terms. Both sides only succeed in justifying violence. —Daniel L. [...]

To see him with the heart is not only to believe in him but little by little to become bearers to each other of his healing life until we become finally healed and whole and alive within ourselves. —Frederick Beuchner, “The Seeing Heart” in Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons, 264.

To be homeless the way people like you and me are apt to be homeless is to have homes all over the place but not to be really at home in any of them. —Frederick Beuchner, “The News of the Day” in Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons, 250.

The odd thing about wisdom is the more you use it the more it grows; and the more you share, the more you gain. You’d be amazed how few understand that. —Lloyd Alexander, “The Foundling” in The Fantastic Imagination: An Anthology of High Fantasy, 270.

“I can see your face. It gives out light.” … The fact was, that the moment he began to love Alice, his eyes began to send forth light. What he thought came from Alice’s face, really came from his eyes. —George MacDonald, The Wise Woman and Other Fantasy Stories, 148.

Since it is the Lord who forgives, forgets, and wipes out sins, let us confess our sins to him in order to obtain pardon. He is the physician; therefore, let us lay bare our wounds to him. It is he who is hurt and offended; from him let us seek peace. He is the discerner [...]

If I had it all to do over again … I would reverse my prayer life. I wouldn’t talk to him so much; I would listen more. I still wonder after a lifetime of chatty prayers, if I had not been so noisy in his presence, would he have told me more from his giant [...]

Herein lies my greatest fears for the Emergent Church: in its attempt to start where the culture is, it rarely stops and asks, “Is this where the culture should be?” —Calvin Miller, Life is Mostly Edges, 286.

I had always disliked anonymous gifts. They force you to be nice to everyone, because you just never know. —Calvin Miller, Life is Mostly Edges, 119.