I have this obsession with the soul and people keep telling me it's not important.  I keep insisting that it is saying that we are living souls but we act like our physical bodies represent who we really are.  As I was driving around today thinking of this dialogue a thought occurred.  How much time do we spend deciding what to wear and what to eat?  And how much time do we spend on the condition of our soul and what we feed it?  The answer should give us an idea of how we value our physical…

I came across a request from Micah Bales for suggestions he could give someone on the best way to study the Bible.  I took a quick look at some of the suggestions and decided there really wasn't anything I could add as they seemed to be pretty good.  However, this morning the inner voice spoke up and made the following suggestion which probably applies to all of us - Bible scholars, neophytes, and bible illiterates alike.

Before undertaking to study the bible, know the bible and know…

Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Our Hydroponic pepper plants here at South Dr. are looking good. No good soil, just monitored water fed just enough nutrients to replace that which the good soil would have provided. Some of the tomato plants in my little grow bags are also doing well so I guess my home made potting soil is good enough…

When it comes to seed falling on stony ground Jesus said it all when he explained that the seed falling on stony or rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.…

My seeds are sprouting nicely.  Of course they were dropped right in the middle of a "rapid rooter" so no seed were wasted, something that didn't bother Jesus' sower who is more concerned with the soil into which the seed is sown than the seed itself (1 Timothy 2:3 &4: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who…

One of the blessings of living on Long Island are our mild winters.  At least most years.  This winter, as you know, is not a mild winter anywhere and certainly not here on LI.  So to escape the frustration of not being a skier I have taken to sowing seeds.  This year I am going to try hydroponics.  I have already planted 13 varieties of peppers.  A few sweet but most hot.  Unlike the sower in Matthew 13 I spent a lot of time putting each seed in what I think is a good growing medium.  The…

Sometimes you just have to blow up the train.  It's drastic action but sometimes momentum needs to be derailed.  It could be your eating habits, your job, your lifestyle, your church.  When I was a youngster my brother and I had a lionel train set and it went around the Christmas tree.  Year after year.  We did buy some switch tracks that changed the loop but it still went around and around.  We added a milk car one year and a cattle car another.  But it still went around and…

Have you noticed the amount of Jesusphobic behaviour that surfaces this time of year?  there is so much of it that you will find it hard to buy a Christmas card that has the name Jesus on it.  Among Quakers it's common to use the word Light for the Divine or our "Higher" Power but even among those who cling to the Christian nation myth there is a reluctance to say the name Jesus.

Years ago when my dad was still alive he was subjected to listening to one of my songs -Geezers 4 Jesus -…

Looking around the US in the fall I am struck by how the majority of my fellow citizens can be broken down into two camps.  The first camp spends Monday through Saturday talking about the past Sunday's events and what the next Sunday has in store for them.  Some of them do it on the radio, at work, at family gatherings, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  They do it with strangers as well as co-workers, friends and family.  Then on Sunday they gather at places of public assembly or, if they can't…

Gil George has posted a blog that discusses dealing with Quaker testimonies and our attitudes towards them.  One friend in replying to the post points out the all or nothing attitude that can be found about testimonies.  I prefer the term Holiness as I have spent some time in Pentacostal churches that are related to the Holiness movement.

From the time I had my first encounter with Jesus in 1978 I have wanted to be holy.  I still do.  My first encounter resulted in an immediate…

The journey everyone is on, whether they know it or not, is about transformation: from child to adult; from receiver to provider; from stranger to friend.  This is true in the spiritual as well as the natural.  Everyone's journey is different.  Everyone faces obstacles on their journey.  In the natural world these obstacles can determine what kind of life we live; in the spiritual world how we deal with obstacles detemines how much progress we make in our transformation from merely human to…

Back in the day, and I mean way back, I was given a tripod and transit and sent out to do some surveying.  I was never very good at it, at least not as good as I should have been to be a professional surveyor and fortunately for the world of construction I left that field for another.  However my lack of aptitude was a result of my lack of skill and focus and in no way should be laid at the feet of the time tested tripod which even today serves as a practical and reliable means of supporting…

This isn't really a blog but I didn't know where else to put it.  I wanted to let as many of you as possible know that Dennis Rodman has a FB page and it's a simple act to log on and just say Thanks.  I'm not a DR fan.  I don't even think of him unless he's in the news with one of his stunts.  But when a stunt or act of good will, whichever it may actually be, has even the remotest chance of bringing peace to anyone I think a thank you is in order.  So if you agree send DR a thank you. …

As a fundamentalist, bible toting, pentacostal, true believer, Born Again, Quaker, I am always trying to figure out why what the bible says doesn't line up with the life I live.  And I'm happy to say so far I have been able to satisfy myself that there is no contradiction.  Now my lack of success with praying for healing is always a potential stumbling block but the bible does say even Jesus couldn't heal everyone because of their unbelief.  However, I think you can't pin all the blame on…

In chapter 3 of James, verse 8 we read:   But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

For this reason we must watch what we say and how we say it. As Quakers we have always been told to speak out of the silence only what we honestly believe is divinely inspired and not merely speak our opinion, no matter how well thought out.…

I have been reading the book "The Holy Trinity and the law of Three" by Cynthia Bourgeault, a book the computers at Amazon.com said I should read apparently based on the books I have purchased from them in the past.  Not being  familiar with the "law of three" and having my own thoughts on the Holy Trinity I decided to press the button and buy the book.  Imagine my surprise to find the law of three is the basis for Quaker process.  At this point I want to make it clear that the author…

People follow leaders.  They followed Jesus.  They followed Moses.  Mother Theresa didn't seem to have any trouble finding helpers.  They follow leaders because something about the leaders, their personality, their ideas, their actions, resonate with them.  There is an innate sense within that moves us to follow, to head south or north, east or west and not only so moves us but tells us that we are going in the right direction.  Whether it's a Horace Greeley telling us to go West young man,…

The bible speaks of the mind of Christ.  In 1Co_2:16 we read "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."   And again in Rom_7:25 Paul writes "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." where he tells us it is with this "mind" that we follow the law of God.  Slowly but surely I am coming to believe there is a new…

It’s sad but it’s true, his life ended with tears

life’s celebration postponed, because of lost years

his heart was too tender to live with love’s pain

and failed him before he could savor pain’s gain

For like grapes from a vine, that are crushed by a press

our hearts must be squeezed to surrender their best

but too often we run from conflict and pain

and miss the rewards that love’s battles can gain.

For to live is to…

I love the Man of La Mancha score.  I drove my family crazy playing the album over and over.  It's probably ahead of Jesus Christ Superstar and my BJ Thomas christian albums.  My spirit soars as I hear "to fight the unbeatable foe, to strive with your last ounce of courage, to dream the impossible dream!"  I guess you have to be mad to live that kind of life but isn't that what disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, should be doing?  Shouldn't we live and die as lovers, forgiving those…