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The Quaker revival

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I don't doubt that there are still students and faculty that are biblically sound and take their commitment to Jesus seriously at George Fox U. But, from what I have heard and read regarding the behavior of much of the student body, it appears to me that George Fox is going the way of the world much like other once sound schools like Westmont, Peppermint, Cal Lutheran, etc.

Unfortunately, often times what appears in the student handbooks in these schools regarding expectations of students code of conduct seems more geared towards reassuring parents and prospective donars than anything else (IMHO).

BTW, I believe that the entire state of Oregon is spiritual wasteland and I pray for revival here. There are Bible believing Mennonite and Old Believer communities here, but too often they keep to themselves in an effort to keep their communities unstained from the world. Some of the Mennonites do outreach to the homeless and vets on the street. Some volunteer at our local food pantry and are permitted to share their testimonies as well as sharing produce they grow through the summer. Males the ♥ glad!
IOW… it’s a product, not a business.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I don't doubt that there are still students and faculty that are biblically sound and take their commitment to Jesus seriously at George Fox U. But, from what I have heard and read regarding the behavior of much of the student body, it appears to me that George Fox is going the way of the world much like other once sound schools like Westmont, Peppermint, Cal Lutheran, etc.

Unfortunately, often times what appears in the student handbooks in these schools regarding expectations of students code of conduct seems more geared towards reassuring parents and prospective donars than anything else (IMHO).

BTW, I believe that the entire state of Oregon is spiritual wasteland and I pray for revival here. There are Bible believing Mennonite and Old Believer communities here, but too often they keep to themselves in an effort to keep their communities unstained from the world. Some of the Mennonites do outreach to the homeless and vets on the street. Some volunteer at our local food pantry and are permitted to share their testimonies as well as sharing produce they grow through the summer. Males the ♥ glad!
If what you say about Oregon is true then Im conserned because my son and family are living there in Bend. It appears to be a fairly homogeneous community…but not church orientated. W/O good churches my grandchildren will not have access to biblical discipleship. For that, I much prefer places like Virgina, Tennessee of the Carolinas.

 
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Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I'm in S. Dak. NO Quakers near, but I keep in contact (I went to their seminary at Earlham in Indiana) 1st,) Quakers, like Baptists and Lutherans come in different flavors. Left to Right. Generally, the most liberal are on the East Coast, and the Evangelical branch on the West Coast.
2nd) Charles Spurgeon, a baptist, said he and Geo. Fox (founder of the Quakers) were of one spirit. Read Fox's Journal. (bookfinder.com best source for cheap used books) Fox was thoroughly Christ centered. Just saw an historic painting of him, Bible in hand. Liberal Quakers are far from Fox.
3) There are two types of Quaker meetings (churches) a) on the Evangelical end, meetings have a pastor and a sermon, typical protestant low church worship on Sunday. b) on the liberal end (but there is overlap of this) the classical Quaker meeting (but Fox was not silent) of silence, only broken by someone moved by the s/Spirit.
The type (a) meeting will generally have a period of silence/open worship following the sermon. allowing for others to speak if so moved.

Interesting that England had 3 centuries of real revival: 17th with Quakers and Fox; 18th with John Wesley; 19th with Charles Spurgeon.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I would like to hear more about that revival.
In the NE part of the country, many have tired of traditional evangelical churches… so Friends provides recourse from the “same old same old.” These are very selective areas(location's/ liberal minded).
 

Oseas3

Well-Known Member
Matthew 12:18-21

18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth Judgment unto victory.

Revelation 11;15-18
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 12:7-12

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Be prepared or else get ready - > Matthew 25:6-10
 

Oseas3

Well-Known Member
20 hours ago Les Brewer said:
Focused on God By Katara Patton
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Isaiah 26 begins, “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah” (v. 1). What does “that day” refer to? By looking back at chapter 25, we find that Israel will be singing this song upon the ultimate arrival of her Messiah, declaring, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation” (v. 9 ). The Messiah will then deal with those who oppressed Israel and brought her great suffering (pictured by Moab). This will be fulfilled when Jesus comes to earth the second time and establishes His kingdom. As we await His return, we can also be comforted in the abiding presence of the one who promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Bill Crowder
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yes,"Jesus comes to earth the second time and establishes His Kingdom", but how? Well, it is according
is written in Revelation 11:15-18 combined with 1Thessalonians 4:16, Daniel 12:1-3 and 1Corinthians 15:24-28 and 51-55 combined with the previous verses 22-23, take a look to understand better what will happen on JESUS's coming.

JESUS warned us, saying> Luke 12:40-44

40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

41 Then Peter said unto Him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make RULER over His household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

43 Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that He will make him RULER over all that He hath. -> (Matthew 5:5 and Revelation 5:10)

And Revelation 2:23-29:->It was written in the first century, around year 95AD/65 years after JESUS's ascension.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the END, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall RULE them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.->(Daniel 12:10-12-> 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days).

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. ->(In the 1st century
there were seven Churches->Revelation 1:19-20. -> The Church of Rome was rejected by the Lord JESUS because had been an apostate Church, as said Apostle Paul: -Romans 1:21-32:


21 Because that, when they knew GOD, they glorified him not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their IMAGINATIONS, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible GOD into an image made like to corruptible man, ...


24 Wherefore GOD also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of GOD into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause GOD gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ->(SODOMITES)

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. ->(sodomites)

28 And even as they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge, GOD gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

JESUS warned us, saying: Luke 17:28-30
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven(fire and brimstone from heaven?-> Isaiah 30:33 combined with Revelation 21:8, among many other Scriptures,take a look), and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Matthew 24:44
->Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.


 

Ascetic X

Active Member
I don’t mean that in a rude way, see I just lost my wife to cancer in November and it was a battle attempting to keep her alive. She was a very joyful individual and so I really tried hard to, well you know. All I ever got from the church and many people is that they would hold her in their prayers… but that doesn’t cut the mustard, they didn’t watch her deteriorate no, they didn’t see the pain. So sure, I’m abrupt, I’m in a state of deep grief and I question much of what was done by the medical profession. Religion let me down, time after time I cried out … why my cerebral palsy sister, why my baby, why my father, mother, uncle, cousins , now wife and still no answer even when I begged on my knee’s. Now I want answers.

If you have gone through this then I could well understand crisis. Know that I’m a believer and a child of God and there must be something I’m missing. So I search for answers. I want to know more than just why… I want to know that the compassion is there and that the Lord reaches out in comfort & that’s something that hasn’t been afforded to me.

I see Spinoza as a man hurt by his church, his own people for also seeking answers..

Be well
I had a similar nightmarish experience, watching my beloved, virtuous, thoroughly Christian wife deteriorate from cancer.

I firmly, ferociously believed she would receive a miraculous divine healing. I prayed fervently and issued decrees. I bought every book on Christian healing I could find on Amazon. I paid attention to the healing writings and sermons of TL Osborn, Andrew Murray, EW Kenyon, Lilian Yeomans, John Lake, JA Ringenberg, Ethan O Allen, Michael L Brown, Smith Wigglesworth, Aimee Semple McPherson, Lester Sumrall, Andrew Womack, etc.

Even as she became skinny as a skeleton, and her body started shutting down, unable to eat anything but broth, I was absolutely sure she would be healed. I never told her she was not dying, but I told her she was in recovery and people bounce back from everything. I read Psalms to her as she took her last gasps. On her last breath, and only then, did I relinquish my trust in her healing.

I was so bewildered and devastated. 21 years of happy marriage lulled me into unrealistically imagining that our one flesh togetherness would go on and on forever. It has been 15 months, but my grieving is as strong and pervasive as the day she died. My life revolved around God and being Andrea’s husband companion. My existence now seems pointless, without purpose, bleak, lonely and cold.

But I am stubborn and refuse to abandon my faith. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

Oswald Chambers, in his book about Job, titled Our Ultimate Refuge, said that when we cannot understand why our prayer was not answered, we must maintain a reverential silence. Job never was told why he suffered so much.

Kierkegaard also was hurt by the national church. He had much to say about institutional religion, but he seemed to try to be an independent Christian. The book Kierkegaard the Christian is a great collection of his spiritual comments culled from his books. He did not think Christianity could be spread by lectures alone.

When we go through trials and tribulations, we either fall away in bitter unbelief…or we keep trusting God, living by faith and not sight, not leaning on our own limited understanding.
 
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Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
you should really deep dive into Jesus vs Kierkegaard, Oswald Chambers, Job… I’d start with the Sermon on the Mount as well as His other teachings.

It’s not that I’m unsympathetic, I’ve lost allot of family and was on my knees pleading G-D for their lives… do you know what it’s like to Live with a cerebral palsy sister for 39 years before she died? That in itself is traumatic. Or how bout loosing your father at 12 yo and having to then care for your family? I’m sorry, I can go on & on regarding grief stories … brother, It’s not fun as you’ve testified! And it doesn’t diminish my faith in G-D any one bit, but it does make me question the cost of it all… and death is not even the thing here, its the torture of seeing suffering that you can’t control and it’s the endless praying on your knees without any help or answers. So like you, I’m accustomed to grief & mourning. I continue to tell myself that there is a reason for it all, but Lord I don’t see it. But I will continue to search, and I’m relentless in that pursuit for answers, for truth. Done.
 

Ascetic X

Active Member
you should really deep dive into Jesus vs Kierkegaard, Oswald Chambers, Job… I’d start with the Sermon on the Mount as well as His other teachings.

It’s not that I’m unsympathetic, I’ve lost allot of family and was on my knees pleading G-D for their lives……and death is not even the thing here, its the torture of seeing suffering that you can’t control and it’s the endless praying on your knees without any help or answers. So like you, I’m accustomed to grief & mourning. I continue to tell myself that there is a reason for it all, but Lord I don’t see it. But I will continue to search, and I’m relentless in that pursuit for answers, for truth. Done.
We do seem to have a lot in common, dear brother. I think God is well pleased with your frank honesty — and your exemplary maintaining of sincere faith, in spite of extremely serious and deeply troubling, frustrating questions.

Caring for someone who is disabled or sick, for many years, is a very sad but noble duty that you rose up to and performed in compassionate kindness.

The reasons, the purpose, the costs of such suffering tends to be beyond our human mentality, but that is a chief component of faith. We keep trusting the Lord in spite of troubling questions, contradictory events, and personal problems. It is rather easy to trust God when we have most things in life supposedly all figured out. And faith is easy when life seems to be going smoothly, one victory after another, understanding more and more of the spiritual realm, and rejoicing in God’s Word.

For most of my life, I felt close to God and eternally saved. I thought I understood all the main aspects of biblical truth and Christian living.

But the heretical cult that brainwashed me a few years after I accepted the gospel had turned me into a hypocritical libertine, using grace to enable my self-indulgence and sins that I did not think were really sinful or evil. I grew more worldly as the years went by, until eventually, there was nothing Christian about me. I was not obeying any commands of Jesus, but I mistakenly thought I had nothing to worry about. I felt I had a ticket to heaven in my back pocket.

I still believe the new birth cannot be aborted.

But now my question is how can I verify that I really did get born again as a teenager? My life does not show a good tree producing good fruit, aside from my early teenage years and a few times later, when in a backsliding condition I continued to pray, read my Bible, and witness to unsaved individuals.

So, along with you friend, I struggle with many whys and woes. On top of the puzzling questions about the sufferings of loved ones, I must also grapple with attaining assurance of my own salvation. I never pretended to be a Christian, for there was nothing to gain from faking it — but I assumed I was saved even though after a few years, I obliviously was not acting like a saved godly man. It took decades for me to realize my incredible stupidity.

To forge ahead in faith, with a mind loaded with unanswered theological questions, is certainly a deeply spiritual mode of being, something God probably honors. My questions are important, but I try to place the Word, human and written, Christ and Bible, far above them.

We may never get all the answers we think we so desperately need, but we must keep loving and obeying God in spite of it.
 

easternstar

Active Member
Ascetic X, and EW&F: Thank you so much for your heartfelt posts, and for telling about your experiences. I can relate. I don't have answers, but I'll keep seeking, and trying to maintain faith in God.
 
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