This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
The prophet is engaged in a battle for language in an effort to create a different epistemology out of which another community might emerge.
You may now ask how it can be true that this image of God, which is man’s soul, can be restored to His likeness here in this life; it would seem to be impossible. You must admit you are very far from such a position. If it were restored we would possess sound understanding, clear vision, and pure ardent Love of God and Spiritual things all of the time. Your thoughts, your reason and affections of the soul are so immersed in Earthly things that your have little perception of Spiritual things.
Better | Contemplation | Devotion | Experience | God | Grace | Guidance | Knowledge | Love | Order | Soul | Surrender | Will | Guidance | God | Contemplation |
People notice peacemakers because they dress funny. We know how the people who make war dress - in uniforms and medals, or in computers and clipboards, or in absoluteness, severity, greed, and cynicism. But the peacemaker is dressed in righteousness, justice, and faithfulness - dressed for the work that is to be done.
Darkness | Epiphany | Good | Grace | Light | People | Trust | Will |
There are many who are hypocrites although they think they are not, and there are many who are afraid of being hypocrites although they certainly are not. Which is the one and which is the other God knows, and none but He.
Cause | Desire | Grace | Lord | Means | Prayer | Purpose | Purpose | Receive | Will |
Walt Whitman, fully Walter "Walt" Whitman
Would you hear of an old-time sea-fight? Would you learn who won by the light of the moon and stars? List to the yarn, as my grandmother's father the sailor told it to me.
Walter J. Ong, fully Walter Jackson Ong
Oratory has deep agonistic roots. The development of the vast rhetorical tradition was distinctive of the west and was related, whether as cause or effect or both, to the tendency among the Greeks and their cultural epigoni to maximize oppositions, in the mental as in the extramental world: this by contrast with Indians and Chinese, who programmatically minimized them.
Deeds | Experience | Memory | Nature | Deeds |
A critic is never too severe when he only detects the faults of an author. But he is worse than too severe when, in consequence of this detection, be presumes to place himself on a level with genius.
Temper never mellows with age, and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.
Memory |
In one of his traditional sermons transmitted by his disciples, is the following apologue on the subject of charity: When God created the earth it shook and trembled, until he put mountains upon it, to make it firm. Then the angels asked, ' O God, is there anything of thy creation stronger than these mountains? ' And God replied, ' Iron is stronger than the mountains; for it breaks them.' 'And is there anything of thy creation stronger than iron ? ' 'Yes ; fire is stronger than iron, for it melts it.' 'Is there anything of thy creation stronger than fire?' 'Yes; water, for it quenches fire.' 'O Lord, is there anything of thy creation stronger than water ? ' ' Yes, wind; for it overcomes water and puts it in motion.' 'O, our Sustainer! is there anything of thy creation stronger than wind ? ' ' Yes, a good man giving alms ; if he give with his right hand and conceal it from his left, he overcomes all things.'
The people didn't really want to be saints of self-deprivation and hatred of the world. They knew that the world would sooner or later deprive them of all it had given them, but still they liked it.
Beauty | Despair | Fear | Forethought | Grace | Life | Life | Peace | Rest | Sound | Time | Waiting | World | Beauty |
I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Forethought | Grace | Peace | Rest | Time |