The conscience of people are to be ruled, guided, and governed not by the outward church nor the outward rules of government. The eternal Light that shines in conscience, toward the turning or renewal of the mind, is the true rule and government of people.

From: The Works of George Fox, Volume 3, pg.16

"And as for all churches (so called) and professions and gatherings of people, we beheld you as all in the apostacy and degeneration from the true church, not…

This quote below is a wonderful affirmation of foundation of Quakerism in the words of Edward Burrough.



His affirmation of mind being turned in the Light and of strength to let go of the thoughts of professors and our own thoughts ... no longer bound to reflective thinking. This giving over all reflective thought to intuitive thinking in the Presence is not just the foundation of Quakerism, but that of Christianity. This rejection of abstract thought and outward institutions…

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house. We’ve acquired a tree, but it’s still in the garage waiting our unearthing the stand. A smaller artificial tree is up and now has lights, and there is candle lights in each of the front windows. Ribbons are beginning to festoon light fixtures. And we’ve made our first two batches of Christmas cookies. Much more to come in preparing the house for the season, but we’re well begun.

To prepare my heart for the season, I’ve been…

Isaiah 11 – The coming Messiah will spring from the stock of Jesse [David’s father]. The “Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (11:2). 

He will not judge by appearances. Integrity will be his loincloth and faithfulness the “belt about his hips” (11:5). He will bring the peace of Eden: “In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the…

Jesus starts preaching: The Kingdom is arriving; it is within reach. And then the Sermon on the Mount. Why?

This, properly understood, is how we are supposed to let the Kingdom happen around us.

P. of M.: With due respect for the Court of Quaker Opinion, we have the presence of mind to be directed by the highest faculty of humanity.

P. of S.: The Age of Reason proved itself to be no more enlightened, but yet more barbaric, than the so-called Dark Ages. Indeed, individuals found good arguments and nations promoted good reasons for self-interested policies that swiftly and mercilessly acted against anyone who stood in their way.

P. of M.: Science has established the need…

Isaiah 10 – Those who make terrible laws and issue tyrannical decrees, refusing justice to the unfortunate will be punished. Then what will they do? Assyria is the rod of Yahweh’s anger, but the insolence of Assyria will also be dealt with. The king of Assyria claims that all he has accomplished has come from his own intelligence and strength (10:13), but he is just the “ax,” not really power who has used the ax (10:15).

To teach them, Yahweh will send “a wasting…

Isaiah 10 – Those who make terrible laws and issue tyrannical decrees, refusing justice to the unfortunate will be punished. Then what will they do? Assyria is the rod of Yahweh’s anger, but the insolence of Assyria will also be dealt with. The king of Assyria claims that all he has accomplished has come from his own intelligence and strength (10:13), but he is just the “ax,” not really power who has used the ax (10:15).

To teach them, Yahweh will send “a wasting…

Isaiah 8 – Yahweh tells him to take a seal and scratch a name on it [Maher-shalal-hash-baz] that means “Speedy-spoil-quick-booty” (8:1). He asks Uriah, a priest, and Zechariah – both honest men – to be witnesses to him doing this.

“Then I slept with my wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said, ‘Call him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. For before this child is old enough to say ‘Papa’ or ‘Mama,’ the king of Assyria will carry away both the…

Thanks to an agreement with Earlham’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, residential M. Div. students have the option of selecting teaching as their ministry emphasis and utilizing courses from the MAT program.

Required courses for this emphasis include:

1. ED 520 Foundations in Education (offered in early June)
2. ED 522 Learning Theories (offered in fall…

Isaiah 6 – This chapter tells us the story of Isaiah’s call. It happened c. 740 BC. Isaiah says he “saw the Lord Yahweh seated on a high throne” (6:1). Two “seraphs” stood above him, each with six wings (two covered its face, two its genitals – here called feet – and two for flying). They cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh Sabaoth [the Lord of Heaven’s Armies]” (6:3). “Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke”…

Ultra Vires: We come before the Court of Quaker Opinion with the transcendent authority which strengthens the Meeting in Gospel Order.

Ultra Virus: We welcome any authority that we can question and ultimately undermine from within its established function.

Ultra Vires: The power and life is beyond sabotage except for the Meeting without operational safeguards.

Ultra Virus: Your weighty/gifted leaders are no more an impediment to our purposes than unsupported…

Isaiah 3 – Yahweh will take from Jerusalem and Judah all that supports it. “People will oppress each other – man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable” (3:5).

“They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves” (3:9). The leaders of God’s people mislead them and oppress them. They grind the faces of the poor in the dust. Zion is compared to a beautiful but frivolous…

An Inward and Living Christmas Story

by Job Scott

Edited Into Five Movements by Keith Saylor

Source: Essays on Salvation by Job Scott, Friends' Book Association, 1894

Introduction:

Except we are regenerated and born again ; that is, except another birth and life take place in us, besides our natural birth into, and life in this world and into things natural; except a work, that, strictly…

Introduction to Isaiah: Lawrence Boadt’s Reading the Old Testament, says that Isaiah lived in the kingdom of Judah. Amos and Hosea prophesied in the northern kingdom. He began his ministry around 740 BC and continued at least for 40 years.

Threatened by Assyria, King Hoshea of Samaria wanted to rebel against Assyrian dominance (with the king of Damascus) in 734 BC. They asked Judah’s king Ahaz to join them, but when he refused, they attacked him first –…