tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post8421018761275345746..comments2024-03-16T10:05:23.129-07:00Comments on LA Quaker: Prophecy and Quaker discernment: a biblical perspectiveLA Quakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11084465501021443492noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-11425157216081781492014-08-19T07:53:56.968-07:002014-08-19T07:53:56.968-07:00I also look forward to stronger prophetic voices c...I also look forward to stronger prophetic voices coming from Friends, but I don't find that the statements of meetings on political and social issues of the day very prophetic. Nor do they encourage prophetic witness by Friends. <br /><br />It's too easy to labor together to write a finely crafted minute which expresses the minimum we can say in unity, then rest on that. But who will read the minute? Other Friends? Fellow travelers who already agree with us? <br /><br />Don't we meet our political ends more effectively through writing individual letters, making visits and taking other measures to build relationships with legislators and government officials? <br /><br />I'm not inspired by statements from meetings and yearly meetings. Rather than sit in deliberations over them, I tend to retire in prayer or letter writing about the issue. <br /><br />I think a traveling ministry would build awareness and invite concern among Friends more than a minute that we send to each other. <br /><br />If it's *public* awareness we wish to raise, then can't that be done more effectively by actions that portray simple Truth in juxtaposition to complex power? Can these actions be taken by a group of Friends? Would they be? (I think of those who are proclaiming on the streets, "My hands are up! Please don't shoot!") <br /><br />Perhaps we'd be better served by nurturing the prophets and public witnesses among us, recognizing their voices and taking them under the care of our meetings with an encouraging network of elders. <br /><br />There is not a thing wrong with political and social statements from Friends meetings. But I'm not sure we should feel any better when we finish them. Jay T.http://jtblog.lindajohansen.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-20968932300182336222014-08-04T22:11:49.489-07:002014-08-04T22:11:49.489-07:00Thanks for your queries. I have just installed sol...Thanks for your queries. I have just installed solar panels and a grey water system and reduced my lawn watering by half. I became a vegetarian in part to reduce my carbon footprint and ride a bike whenever I can. But I still have a much larger carbon footprint than most inhabitants on this planet because of being a privileged American. I think all of us should do what we can to help prevent further global warming. We owe it to future generations, and to all life on this beautiful planet. Keep asking those prophetic questions!LA Quakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11084465501021443492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-7617259773970185012014-08-01T14:23:37.988-07:002014-08-01T14:23:37.988-07:00Just to ask a few queries:
How do you feel about ...Just to ask a few queries:<br /><br />How do you feel about your personal use of fossil fuels? Do you find yourself avoiding them as much as possible? <br /><br />Should Friends work together to allow each other to get further away from fossil fuels?<br /><br />Should Friends help to resolve climate change?<br /><br />--Paul Klinkman Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-81626133650461960432014-08-01T07:33:49.168-07:002014-08-01T07:33:49.168-07:00And the word is "Prophecy", unless you m...And the word is "Prophecy", unless you meant to make this whole thing about action-verbs, like "prophesy"?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-33611277431848720072014-07-31T08:09:01.640-07:002014-07-31T08:09:01.640-07:00I am not sure what you mean by "true" pr...I am not sure what you mean by "true" prophets, but your definition doesn't fit with the Hebrew prophets, nor with Jesus. The Hebrew prophets spoke to communities and leaders, not to individuals. Their purpose was to change behavior, not simply hearts. And they were often very specific in addressing current political problems. Today's prophets include Martin Luther King, who was concerned with changing hearts and minds, and also policies. But I agree with you that individuals need to change, but that's not the only way to change. The Civil RIghts Act caused a lot of people to change their behavior, and that led to a change of heart. I think we need to be cautious about using words like "the only real way" and the "true" anything. Life is much more complex than you imply.LA Quakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11084465501021443492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-58422469179678577402014-07-31T08:07:46.200-07:002014-07-31T08:07:46.200-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.LA Quakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11084465501021443492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-79575590184966253192014-07-31T05:01:20.358-07:002014-07-31T05:01:20.358-07:00The true prophet speaks to hearts, not issues; and...The true prophet speaks to hearts, not issues; and asks the person to change as the only real way for situations to change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-34812158188241849552014-07-26T08:17:29.021-07:002014-07-26T08:17:29.021-07:00Please feel free to use this or anything else you ...Please feel free to use this or anything else you find on my blog, as long as you credit me. I'm very pleased you want to share this. I am hoping that Jill and I will get to visit Honduras, maybe next spring. Let's stay in touch. Paz and Amistad, AntonioLA Quakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11084465501021443492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3571146151683416940.post-60356220932854831542014-07-24T16:53:47.658-07:002014-07-24T16:53:47.658-07:00Great essay, Anthony. May I copy it ans send to Fr...Great essay, Anthony. May I copy it ans send to Friends not on FB?<br /><br />(written from Honduras) Paz--Val LiveoakVal Liveoakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324376390014784175noreply@blogger.com