Monthly Archives: December 2009

One Take On the Importance of the Quaker Practice of “Open Worship”

Adrian Halverstadt, a Quaker pastor, asks this question on the QuakerQuaker forum boards: I have been thinking a lot about open worship these days. Many of the larger evangelical Friends churches no longer practice open worship in their big venues for many reasons. I guess I am searching for a contemporary definition of open worshipContinue reading “One Take On the Importance of the Quaker Practice of “Open Worship””

Advent Message “Come Be Born in Us” (Luke 1:39-55)

Today we are three weeks into the advent season preparing for Christ’s coming. Christmas, for Christians, is not simply a remembrance and celebration of history (though it is certainly that), it is more importantly a proclamation of reality. The father of Quakerism, George Fox, wrote in his journal of his present and personal experience ofContinue reading “Advent Message “Come Be Born in Us” (Luke 1:39-55)”

A Thought for Quakers on Change

I am preparing my discussion for our Sunday morning meeting for worship and am thinking a lot about what Kester Brewin calls “wombs of the divine,” and creating the necessary space for something new to be born over time (See his book Signs of Emergence) It’s kind of a preference for evolution rather than revolution,Continue reading “A Thought for Quakers on Change”

Favorite Music of 2009

Here’s a list of my favorite, or at least most listened to, albums from this past year. Elvis Perkins In Dearland Elvis Perkins in Dearland’s self-titled, second album arrived this year and it has been in constant rotation on the record player since it’s arrived. It is seriously one of our daughter’s favorite albums, sheContinue reading “Favorite Music of 2009”

Let’s have an Amazon.com-free Christmas this year

Recently on twitter I said something I’m sure lost me a few followers,  “Let’s make it an amazon free Christmas.” (Though I don’t doubt I say plenty of things on any given day that make people wonder why they associate with me!). But in either case, it’s true, let’s boycott Amazon and every other bigContinue reading “Let’s have an Amazon.com-free Christmas this year”

Dowd on (Role) Modeling

I came across this today while I was doing some back reading from this weekend’s newspaper. It struck me as really insightful: After the baseball steroid scandal and the disappointing news that Tiger’s a cheetah, as the New York Post headline put it, it’s time to accept that athletes are not role models. They’re justContinue reading “Dowd on (Role) Modeling”

‘Dont Buy It’ – Slam Poetry from the Climate Camp for OneClimate.net

Came across this today while reading Jarrod McKenna’s post on climate change over at the sojo blog. The poem is really intense and has that prophetic edge we aren’t real comfortable with but I think it’s worth watching and considering. His message also resonates wtih Rev. Billy’s “The Church of Life After Shopping” and soContinue reading “‘Dont Buy It’ – Slam Poetry from the Climate Camp for OneClimate.net”

Our Own Mini Advent: Baby Daniels #2 Arrives!

As most of you know by now, thanks (or no thanks) to my facebook and twitter, we’ve had our baby. In keeping with the trend of announcing big life transitions here I wanted to let you all know that my wife Emily gave birth to our daughter this past Friday. Her name is and weContinue reading “Our Own Mini Advent: Baby Daniels #2 Arrives!”