Research Note, Inshining Light sufficiency, Outward Forms, excommunication, I AM

In The Quakers Spiritual Court Proclaimed published in 1669, Nathaniel Smith writes:

... all Sects, Formes, or other Dispensations, it thou please to call them so (or by what Name soever) after they have raised to themselves a considerable number of People, then they go about to set up themselves, and make to themselves Laws, whereby they may Govern, and bear Rule…

2 Timothy 3:5

Jeremiah 31:33

Acts 26:18

2 Corinthians 4:6

Romans 2:29

Romans 10:8

Colossians 1:27

Romans 1:19

Romans 1:16

2 Corinthians 3:6

Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 4:13

1 Corinthians 15:47

Deuteronomy 30:14

2 Corinthians 13:5

2 Corinthians 4:4

1 Thessalonians 5:19

2 Timothy 1:10

Romans 8:2

Colossians 3:10

2 Corinthians 10:4

Joel 2:28

Galatians 1:16

1…

This afternoon we watched a rerun of a retrospective — Oprah Winfrey's Where Are They Now? Oprah interviewed the widowed husband of a young woman who decided to move to Oregon so she could take advantage of the assisted dying legislation there. She was living with inoperable brain tumors.

This evening we watched a documentary on CBC about a young man with cystic fibrosis. He and his friends run a weekly podcast at of Halifax where they discuss the granular minutia of living in this…

In 1669 Nathanial Smith wrote a tract entitled “The Quakers Spiritual Court” wherein he documents the Quaker use of outward ecclesiastical forms and leaders to rule over the conscience of others in the gathering. Smith became a Quaker at 19 years of age and remained so for about fourteen years. It seems he was among those of the first Quakers. Smith calls himself a “Physick.” Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (1792) defines Physick as “originally signifying natural philosophy, has been transferred…

I am working with a document purporting to list the 100 most frequently cited Bible verses in the writings of early Quakers compiled from the Quaker Bible Index. The text below is third on the list. I have provided the AV-1611 (commonly called the KJV)  as that would likely be how Fox and the first Friends heard this passage, and a more modern one (in this case the NRSV). …

It’s a World without Sin, everyone is ok

No need for Grace, from what people say

There’s no Hell to go to, no need to repent

it’s a World without Sin, a world without lent.

It’s a World without sin, the devil’s retired

there’s no one to tempt us, his imps have been fired

There’s no one way to God, Oprah has said

In John 14:6 Jesus was simply misread

It’s a World without Sin, we’re all children of God

we love one another, though sometimes its…

[The following is based upon vocal ministry given at Germantown Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 1 Tenth month 2017.]

In his Journal George Fox spoke of three kinds of dreams:

For there were…

In 1655 a tract was publish entitled “To all that would know the way to the Kingdom, whether they be in forms, Without Forms, or Got above all Forms ...” Authorship was “Given forth by those whom the world in scorn calls Quakers.” This usually means there were multiple people who contributed to the writing of the tract. In 1706 a compilation of some of George Fox’s writings was published under the title “Gospel-Truth Demonstrated, in a Collections Of Doctrinal Books, Given forth by that…

"Truth is not only violated by falsehood;

it may be equally outraged by silence."

-Henri Frederic Amiel, philosopher and writer (27 Sep 1821-1881)

I was asked to swear an oath at a public hearing last week. I declined and pointed out that Vermont law includes affirmation in legal proceedings where testimony is given. The chairperson acquiesced to my demand.

Not swearing oaths to be truthful is directly linked to Quaker history and George Fox. It was a hard won…

Raised Catholic (Elementary and High School and Catholic Fraternity in college and post grad degree at a Catholic college) I recognize the weakness of the hierarchal structure of the Catholic Church.  However, I also recognize the wisdom of those in power.  They are very good at discerning the gifts of their priests and assigning them titles and roles that make the best use of those gifts.  Even when they disenfranchise an entire sex from participation in management, they do a very good job…

I read a comment on FB about the DACA situation that said "everyone that is in this country deserves to be here" and it struck a nerve.  Have we become so filled with a sense of self-worth that we think we actually deserve the things we have?  I was born in the US but I know I am not more deserving to have been born here than anyone else born on that day in India, Thailand, Mexico or Syria.  I am blessed with a great relationship with God through Jesus but I know I don't deserve that…

Identified as a Russian proverb and attributed to various people, this aphorism implies that trust has its limits. Or, at least, trust should not be tempted. One of the most common things I ever heard as a chaplain was: “I didn’t come to jail to make friends.” There are also a lot of cards played in jail to pass the time. I think those who have experienced…

I watched a movie last nite where the main character,  embittered by tragedy, posed that familiar question: "If there's a God why is there so much tragedy in the world?".  After posting an earlier blog on the shedding of blood my mind found itself with thoughts of God who knows all things - past, present and future - contemplating how best to achieve His goal (I will not, at least at this time, presume to know what that goal was or is) and the game of chess came immediately to mind.  In…

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that blood must be shed to purge sin from our lives.  I believe this calls for personal sacrifice and not necessarily the physical shedding of blood.  The same personal sacrifice that is inherent in the divine love that Jesus demonstrated by both His life and His death.  When Jesus was approached to act in a family dispute about the distribution of a family inheritance He made it plain that He had come to change hearts and not financial equality (Luke 12:13-15).  More…

The fellowship of the cross of Christ…is not of man, nor by man; for it is in the everlasting power of God; therefore, no longer do you keep in fellowship, but as you keep in the cross of Christ (Works, 8:67).

“Restoring the Church of the Cross" is the title of the eighth lecture in the series Rediscovering the Teaching of George Fox given by Lewis…

Greetings Friends:

I am interested in knowing what specific works people think of that are expressive of the period of Quaker Quietism.  I am interested in works that were written during the period of Quietism (aka The Second Period of Quaker History).  Personally, I have found the following works of help in accessing the thought of this period:

A Guide to True Peace, Counsel for the Christian Traveler by William Shewen, The Grounds of a Holy Life by Hugh Turford, A Short…

Sometimes prayer is the first thing I resort to when I'm in need.  Other times it's the last.  Urgency has a lot to do with it.  When I think I have plenty of time or the pain isn't that great that it stops me from being able to get from point A to point B, I go it on my own - go to the Doctor, reason with others, do what seems to be necessary at the time.  When I have no time left I pray.  When the pain begins to be immobilizing, I pray.  I pray for others when they ask me or God puts them…

Today is the day of the solar eclipse, and verses from Mark come to mind:

But in those days, after that distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light; the stars will come falling from the sky, the celestial powers will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and he will send out the angels…

Let's imagine you have a tree in your yard that bears rotten fruit.  Every year the fruit kills innocents.  Sometimes squirrels, a feral cat here and there, pets, and eventually a baby.   Are you going to be satisfied with trying to do a better job of disposing of the fruit each year or are you going to do your best to destroy the tree so it can never bear fruit again?