tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.comments2023-09-04T11:22:55.899-04:00Seeker of Truth and RealityTom Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12194918323559385371noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-79252619668057405442015-07-28T13:06:30.637-04:002015-07-28T13:06:30.637-04:00Hope that things are moving forward in the right d...Hope that things are moving forward in the right direction. Keeping you in The Light!Dr. Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00276424665015689356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-80538435513550472772012-10-21T18:42:45.324-04:002012-10-21T18:42:45.324-04:00I find a lot of comfort, oddly, in the Greek image...I find a lot of comfort, oddly, in the Greek image of life as a thread. It's tempting to say "it's all you get" as if that isn't very much, and there's certainly something viscerally scary about thinking of the future... like ratcheting up the first rise of a rollecoaster. But I like to think of that thread as always there, hangin in time, or to use the image from Osron Scott Card's Red Prophet, a cloth made up of enormous numbers of threads. natcasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058664776852941599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-51463249887989932512012-10-10T12:27:51.722-04:002012-10-10T12:27:51.722-04:00Hi Tom,
Yes, much of modern Christian emphasis up...Hi Tom,<br /><br />Yes, much of modern Christian emphasis upon "Heaven" only as a future happening is misleading. Jesus, himself said, "20Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20-"<br /><br />Of course, Jesus also spoke of "Heaven" as future fulfillment as should we.<br /><br />But I agree we need to focus more on "God's actions through us now" before we focus on the conclusion of God's actions in the future.<br /><br />In the Light,<br />DanielDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-61557090931735937262012-01-23T17:27:31.098-05:002012-01-23T17:27:31.098-05:00I partially agree, there is so much missinformatio...I partially agree, there is so much missinformation out today, I must be carefull of what I choose to give energy. I would like to pass on to you. Andrew HarveyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-56841573403328233662012-01-03T12:28:40.238-05:002012-01-03T12:28:40.238-05:00Hi Tom,
Glad to hear you are going to post more. ...Hi Tom,<br /><br />Glad to hear you are going to post more. Sorry to hear of your continuing health problems. Good to know you are an "overcomer."<br /><br />Getting older is ALL about learning to advance, in our receding, for God, is it not? That's probably the hardest part of life though. I so miss the days of my youth and mid adult life when I had so much energy.<br /><br />In the Light,<br /><br />Daniel WilcoxDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-36941175915142569632011-12-22T15:55:06.257-05:002011-12-22T15:55:06.257-05:00Thanks for the Friends communion meditation.
And ...Thanks for the Friends communion meditation.<br /><br />And wasn't your Mennonite friend (;-) mistaken then when he made a special effort to bring orange juice and sweetbread, since the real communion of your small group in the reality of Jesus was taking place each time you shared donuts and coffee?<br /><br />In the Light,<br />Daniel WilcoxDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-76657898842034474572011-10-13T23:29:37.718-04:002011-10-13T23:29:37.718-04:00Hi Tim,
Thanks for the update.
While I was out o...Hi Tim,<br /><br />Thanks for the update.<br /><br />While I was out of town I also got a notice from you, but now don't see it. I'll try and answer when I get things unpacked.<br /><br />In the Light,<br /><br />Daniel WilcoxDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-38523215880503243212011-09-04T04:37:34.630-04:002011-09-04T04:37:34.630-04:00Hi Tom,
Sad to hear about your daunting problems....Hi Tom,<br /><br />Sad to hear about your daunting problems. The last few months I, too, have been discouraged about the direction of Friends. And growing older is so tough for many of us. I am a retired teacher, also.<br /><br />We will hold you and your wife in the Light. <br /><br />Feel free to email me if you would like to talk more with another Friend.<br /><br />Daniel WilcoxDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-76794014890842957902011-08-31T08:35:40.061-04:002011-08-31T08:35:40.061-04:00I am sorry to hear about the neuropathy and financ...I am sorry to hear about the neuropathy and financial issues. You have mentioned to me previously that you have problems in these areas, but I think this is the first time I’ve seen these details. My prayers are with you.<br /><br />I was very pleased to hear from Christine Greenland, a kind, perceptive, and very explicitly Christian and Conservative-leaning Friend, that she feels no “disownment” or distancing of Christian and traditionalist Friends in New England Yearly Meeting. I suppose it may, perhaps, be the only liberal unprogrammed yearly meeting in the U.S. where this is the case, but even if it is, it is surely a good thing.Marshall Massey (Iowa YM [C])http://journal.earthwitness.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-36184344981053153692011-07-18T11:44:21.036-04:002011-07-18T11:44:21.036-04:00Hi Tom,
Powerful reflection.
May I quote from th...Hi Tom,<br /><br />Powerful reflection.<br /><br />May I quote from this reflection with your name, in an article I am writing?<br /><br />In the Light,<br />Daniel WilcoxDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-1108185305763707372011-06-09T21:23:17.065-04:002011-06-09T21:23:17.065-04:00We can't help having intellects... or theologi...We can't help having intellects... or theologies. What matters is beyond these, but we need to get theological to talk about it-- and talking about it, working out how we "understand" it, does matter.<br /><br />I wouldn't have called you "combative," certainly not compared to me!<br /><br />I've been "dry" in terms of writing lately, but feeling God's hand in my life more... & a little less concerned about how people find the Spirit, compared to hoping they seek and find it in whatever form they're ready to know...forresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13861950371962268402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-42814727307793402472011-06-07T23:57:10.060-04:002011-06-07T23:57:10.060-04:00Your concern is why Martin Kelly named QuakerQuake...Your concern is why Martin Kelly named QuakerQuaker what it is -- he wants to be a Quaker-Quaker.Paul Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03483071863453025925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-45461476554909040812010-10-06T11:14:57.273-04:002010-10-06T11:14:57.273-04:00Good testimony! Thank you for sharing it.Good testimony! Thank you for sharing it.Marshall Massey (Iowa YM [C])http://journal.earthwitness.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-41851171433757162592010-08-23T22:23:09.345-04:002010-08-23T22:23:09.345-04:00"The Light" and "Jesus" are bo..."The Light" and "Jesus" are both "God at work" in different contexts. God can and will no doubt provide whatever is needed for a person who's never heard of Jesus-- and wouldn't truly be God, as Jesus describes him, if he didn't.<br /><br />Someone who could find out more about Jesus, but thinks that isn't important, is missing something. Not a 'God will get you for that' sort of something-- just some clues that would need to be searched for pretty hard, otherwise!forresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13861950371962268402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-30636755874647002442010-05-16T07:07:07.820-04:002010-05-16T07:07:07.820-04:00Tom, thank you for sharing this!Tom, thank you for sharing this!Marshall Massey (Iowa YM [C])http://journal.earthwitness.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-39817632795551594032010-04-09T10:32:22.074-04:002010-04-09T10:32:22.074-04:00Glad to hear the dark times are over and look forw...Glad to hear the dark times are over and look forward to hearing your blogging voice more!Martin Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999620933648327663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-69399358665728144802009-08-14T12:31:55.224-04:002009-08-14T12:31:55.224-04:00I love this Tom. Thank you for sharing it. I am ...I love this Tom. Thank you for sharing it. I am so glad I found your little place here as this haiku is a bright spot in my day.Jan Lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642571561383445699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-45096803468196496372009-05-12T14:17:00.000-04:002009-05-12T14:17:00.000-04:00Hello Tom,
Sorry to hear you are going through som...Hello Tom,<br />Sorry to hear you are going through some tough struggles right now. Low times seem to increase as we age. I suppose, beside circumstances, it is also that our physical selves don't function as well.<br /><br />I will hold you in the Light of God today that he might be close to you and give you a blessed day.<br /><br />DanielDaniel Wilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05178375087492786696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-7391193931883247042009-02-08T21:35:00.000-05:002009-02-08T21:35:00.000-05:00Chuck Fager will be my guest on News Talk Online o...Chuck Fager will be my guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com on Thursday February 12 at 5 PM New York time to talk about soldiers who go AWOL as Conscientious Objectors.<BR/><BR/>Please go to http://www.garybaumgarten.com and click on the CHATROOM button to talk to Fager.<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/><BR/>GaryGary Baumgartenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16665260595151901802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-66574189540746472192009-01-19T09:04:00.000-05:002009-01-19T09:04:00.000-05:00You said: I believe the call to take away the occ...You said: I believe the call to take away the occasion for wars is still a valid effort on the part of Friends <BR/><BR/>------<BR/><BR/>While I have so much respect for those who directly with ending war and changing social policy on war and tending to the needs of the victims of war, I don't believe we need war to talk about and "do" peace.<BR/><BR/>cathAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-64470476176501743822009-01-08T17:46:00.000-05:002009-01-08T17:46:00.000-05:00TomI liked your metaphor a lot. I too feel blah a...Tom<BR/><BR/>I liked your metaphor a lot. I too feel blah after Christmas. I think we have big holiday when the weather is dark and cold because we NEED them. But after the hype subsides, it's a lot bleaker. <BR/><BR/>my page-a-day calendar is from "don't sweat the small stuff," and today's thought is this: "Happy people know that regardless of what happened yesterday, last month, years ago-- or what might happen later today, tomorrow, or next year--now is the only place where happiness can actually be found and experienced." <BR/><BR/>I wish you many happy moments.Molly Dovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527144463961666992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-20418501828252880322009-01-05T12:25:00.000-05:002009-01-05T12:25:00.000-05:00Tom,As Dad once said at a pray breakfast in Goldsb...Tom,<BR/>As Dad once said at a pray breakfast in Goldsburo our family has a "Paradox", and then he said both of my sons have PhDs. I remember our parents love and sense of humor with great fondness. <BR/>I know that much is weighing on you but some time just expressing yourself can lead to a different if not better out look.<BR/>Your thoughts on the Society of Friends and our Faith and Practice have always been meaningful to me. We both have a wide view of the Society of Friends and its historic development. An understanding that the "Pecular People" are not just odd but are those who are aware "experimentally" that there is an Inward Teacher that can lead us to a more fufilling life. <BR/>I hope this and the other comments encourage you to continue the experiment. I really like the idea that Fox was aware of Bacon and Newton.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05639374640508817720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-62741370696660222652009-01-04T22:39:00.000-05:002009-01-04T22:39:00.000-05:00Hi Tom! I just found your Blog. Whether or not y...Hi Tom! I just found your Blog. Whether or not you continue to write, it's nice to hear your thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-64280799762246833072009-01-04T15:59:00.000-05:002009-01-04T15:59:00.000-05:00There's certainly no reason that blogging should f...There's certainly no reason that blogging should feel like a burden. I often go in fits and spurts. I'm subscribed to your blog and will happily read whatever you write whenever you write it and hope that the veils of darkness around you lift soon.Martin Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999620933648327663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6553330702346087353.post-80134418173859038222009-01-01T18:32:00.000-05:002009-01-01T18:32:00.000-05:00Marshall,Thanks for your words. I have heard the s...Marshall,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your words. I have heard the same concern of abstractness several times before an since that is the way I seem to come across while I am trying to be as direct as I can, I feel I am not contributing much but distraction or "confusion." At this point in my life, personal, professional, financial, legal, etc. concerns seem almost overwhelming and the ocean of darkness seems very large. I do believe that the ocean of light can overcome, but ... .Tom Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12194918323559385371noreply@blogger.com