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A collection of 523 posts

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Let’s Get Bored Together: The Practice of Silence and Resisting the Attention Economy

I am teaching a class this semester at Guilford College called, “The Practice of Silence.” The class is both what it sounds like and a lot more. We are studying the Quaker theology behind the Quaker practice of silence but we’re also studying it from the broader lens of

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Bless this Mess: Beatitudes For Today

What would be a local list of the beatitudes for your community look like if you were to make one? Lia Scholl, pastor of First Friends Meeting here in Greensboro, recently preached on Mt 5 and the Beatitudes. The message was great and she pointed out that in her reading

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Confronting Beastly Economics – An Anti-Imperial Look at Revelation 13

I have a chapter called “Beastly Economics” in the book, We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible With the Poor People’s Campaign. In the chapter, I discuss the concept of the “Mark of the Beast” not as some mark on a person or group in the future, but as a

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Learn as we Lead: Victims of Empire and The Great Multitude in Revelation 7

I was asked to share a little during the season of “Learn as We Lead,” for the Freedom Church of the Poor on the abuses and misuses of the Book of the Revelation.  On Sunday I shared a little on Chapter 7 of Revelation (link to a live video of

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“I Know That I am a thought in God” – Sermon for Advent

This is the message I gave at Deep River Friends Meeting December 16, 2022 based on Luke 1: 46-55: 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

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Grief is Disconnection

A repost from November 16, 2022 Today, I was approached by a member of my workplace about hosting a space for grieving for folks who continue to struggle after painful decisions made in 2019-2020. The desire for this person was to process grief with the hope that we could find

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An Interview About the Quaker World

Robert Bell, from Guilford College, interviewed me and did a really nice write up about the new book Rhiannon Grant and I co-edited. The book is unique in its approach to Quaker Studies for a variety of reasons, including those we invited to write, the chapters covered, and some of

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The Internet is Fun Again (Some of it anyway)

For some reason, as much as I loved Twitter, it began to feel like a chore. Probably in part because: – I follow way too many people there – All the ads and sifting you have to do mentally – How much the algorithm controls what you see and who you interact with

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Margaret Fell – Founder and Leader of the Early Quaker Movement

When discussing early Quakers, too often you will hear the history start with something like “George Fox is the founder of Quakerism.” While George Fox is an essential leader in the early movement, to focus in on and center Fox’s role not only misses out on the necessary roles

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We Are Fireweed

This was the message I shared at our first “All Community Worship” at Guilford College since before the pandemic. I am grateful for this opportunity to building multifaith community on Campus. The Quaker roots of Guilford College allows for and nourishes this rich tapestry of religious identities to thrive at

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2022 Fandoms

I’m someone who loves being a fan and loves fandom. If you know me, you know that when I get into something, I am really into it. I love sharing my love with others. I don’t typically do a review on my fandoms over the year but thought

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Transitions, Clean Breaks, and The Work of Becoming a People – Ex. 14

This was the sermon I preached at First Friends Meeting Greensboro, NC on October 9, 2022. It is from Exodus 14. Trauma and the Red Sea This morning I want to speak on the subject of the Red Sea, trauma, and the importance of transitions in growth. I think the

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What is Born of God? 1 John 5 – A Mother’s Day Sermon

This is a message I gave to First Friends Meeting. I also shared a version of it for Freedom Church of the Poor. > 1 John 5:1-5   Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.

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A Summary of The 5 Interlocking Evils

Reposting this to my blog for safekeeping. Originally published via my “Resisting Empire” newsletter on Oct 30, 2020. How do you name immorality? Do the words sin and evil find their way into your vocabulary or have they been shunned long ago because of the overuse of these words by

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The Problem with (Quaker) Values

Originally published on my “Resisting Empire, Remixing Faith” Newsletter. As you may have seen, there is another flair up in the news about another Quaker school being caught in a debate around Quaker values. This time it is Brooklyn Friends School when the head of school sought to decertify the

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Hope in a time of Empire: The Lynching of Ahmaud Arbery & the Vision of Jesus in Revelation 1

This is a message I prepared for First Friends Meeting where my family and I attend. Rev. 1:12   Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw

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Listen to My Interview On the EasterPod

This past Sunday, I am on a new episode of the EasterPod, a podcast by Corey Easterday. This one is extra special for me because Corey is not only a friend and a great person, leader, and creative entrepreneur, he was also in my youth group when I was first

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Sermon: The Birth of a New, Contrast Community

This is a message I gave at First Friends Meeting in Greensboro on December 22, 2019 following Revelation 12 and Matthew 1:18ff. Here is the recorded version of the message. Rev. 12:1   And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman eclothed with fthe sun, with fthe moon

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The Birth of an Alternative Community

I’m preaching this Sunday at First Friends Meeting here in Greensboro, the meeting my family and I attend. I don’t get to preach all that much any more, so I find it exciting to get the opportunity from time to time. This week is advent but I’ve

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Origin Stories: Celebrating Barberton Friends Church

Recently, Barberton Evangelical Friends Church in Barberton, Ohio – the first church I ever worked in – celebrated their 75th anniversary. As a token of my own love and appreciation for this community and their investment in me, I wanted to share some of my fond memories and role this community played

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Pre-Order the Print Version of “Resisting Empire”

Hi Friends, many of you has asked about a print version of “Resisting Empire” and it is almost here. You can now pre-order it: ORDER RESISTING EMPIRE: THE BOOK OF REVELATION AS RESISTANCE The print version, proudly published by Quaker independent publisher Barclay Press, also has new material that is

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Resisting Empire: The Book of Revelation

Revelation speaks to the reality that we are caught in the fray of cosmic conflict. We are guilty. We’ve already been contaminated. But it’s not too late for us to exit empire and enter the kingdom. We are yet both victim and victimizer. We have healing work to

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Four Key Aspects to Understanding Renewal in Faith Communities

“Kindness eases change Love quiets fear” ― Octavia E. Butler In a lot of my classes and work at Guilford College, I talk about renewal. I think that much of my work is focused around renewal, not because of a failure in the institution but because change is constant, change is

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Becoming Facebook Free

I’ve struggled with Facebook for some time. For about the last 2.5 years, I’ve basically wanted to deactivate my account and have even downloaded all my information from it more than once in preparation but then I chickened out or lost my motivation. So I’ve settled

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End of the Year Reflections

We had some friends over for New Year’s, which was a lot of fun and just the right way to close out the year. Having a variety of people from across various social groups gather and enjoy one another’s company was a very real way for us to