June 2013 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

In Celebration of the Life of Peter Adams Whitney 6.8.2013
by Marilyn Crocker 15 Jun '13

15 Jun '13

Dear OE Colleagues of all generations, Joe and I have just returned from attending the glorious celebration of the completed life of Peter Adams Whitney. The service was held on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at Burke Mountain Academy in East Burke, VT, longtime home of Peter, his wife Carol, and daughters Maya and Joleil. Joining Anna and Dick Stanley, and of course Ken and Clare Whitney, Joe and I represented the OE "first generation." I would like to offer this as an initial reflection, trusting that members of our "second generation" will have much more to share with video and digital photos documenting this amazing event. We didn't know Peter as well as we had, in the past, many of his close OE contemporaries who were participants in the celebration - Keith Boivin, Nancy Griffin, Brad Grow, Brenda Johnson, Andy St. Clair, Denise and Rick Stanley and Pete's bro, Mark. But yes, we came to know him more recently -- probably lots through his parents Ken and Clare, dear friends since the early days of the Movement in New England, who, more recently, often stayed with us in ME en route to their regular visits to East Burke, VT. Nevertheless, I'm guessing all of the 300 or so people gathered at Burke Mountain Academy, like us, learned much more about this unique and unrepeatable bundle of energy, love, commitment, passion and care that is Peter Adams Whitney's continuing gift to life itself. As affirmed by those who eloquently offered words of remembrance in the service, Peter's legacy lives on in the powerful, positive influence of his life on everyone in attendance. We learned Peter's legacy is one that speaks on behalf of justice and civic responsibility in the community, especially in support of ethical practices in the public sector workplace; that advocates for and leads the authentic, creative engagement of youth in sports, arts, drama; that adamantly insists upon consistent loving relationships with family and friends; that rejoices in the beauty of the natural world and urges living gently on planet earth; and that invites profound enjoyment of LIFE itself, just as it is. I am attaching a part of the celebration program - the liturgy Peter Whitney and his childhood friend Peter Johnston, liturgist for the service, created together. May we all give thanks for this well-lived life - Alleluia, alleluia, Amen!! Grace and peace, Marilyn Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D 123 Sanborn Rd West Newfield, ME 04095

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FW: Barbara Alerding obituary
by Lynda Cock 15 Jun '13

15 Jun '13

Thinking of Barbara and her family today. Pat Horgan is Bill's sister. _____ From: Patricia and Denis Horgan [mailto:thehorgans@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 6:13 PM To: Ryan, Bob; Rowan, Jean; Richardson, Clare; McCormick, James; LaFlamme, Erika; Jeffrey, Alayna; Horgan, Timothy; Horgan, Tanya; Horgan, Hillary Wasch; Horgan, Denis; Horgan, Daniel; Webster, Christine; Masters, Patrick; Masters, Dan; Masters, Alyce & Bill; Masters, Louise; Curtis, Mary; Berry, Lorrie; Barning, Terri; Alerding, Steven; Alerding, Philip; Alerding, Lynda & Philip; Alerding, John Cc: Young, Wesley A.; Wilhoite, Jo Ann; Tonikka Terrell; Pam Mckinney; Lynda Cock; joaquina rodriguez Subject: Barbara Alerding obituary Barbara's obituary can be seen at the following link for Crown Hill Funeral Home: http://www.crownhill.org/obits/obituaries.php/obitID/251855 The obituary will also be printed in the Indianapolis Star on June 12. Best wishes to all -- Pat

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Help with a Song
by Joyce Sloan 14 Jun '13

14 Jun '13

Hello Colleagues, I am trying to find the words to the song with the line "It is God who gives every man his life and God who takes his life away" I checked the only songbook I have titled "Songs For Those Who Care" and that song is not in it. Thanks, Joyce

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Re: [Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 15, Issue 17
by David Flowers 14 Jun '13

14 Jun '13

regarding God Song GOD Tune: Blowing in the Wind It is God that is always driving man to care about the coming day. And yet God is the mystery who takes each man's security away. It is God that makes man seek happiness. but does not allow his joy to stay. It is God who gives every man his life, and God who takes his life away. It is God that drives man to search for love, and yet man is constantly pursued. By that force which finally casts each one out into loneliness and solitude. It is God that drives man to knowledge and truth, but always denies him certitude. It is God who drives every man his life, and God who takes his life away. It is God that gives the desire to achieve, and yet death leaves man's work undone. It is God that summons man to do good, and neglect his duty to none. And yet God is the voice that pronounces guilt, for man's war with self is never won. It is God who gives every man his life, and God who takes his life away. On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 12:38 PM, <oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: > Send OE mailing list submissions to > oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > oe-owner(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of OE digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Three Angels Gave Their Gift to History (Jann Barr) > 2. Help with a Song (Joyce Sloan) > 3. Re: Help with a Song (Frank Knutson) > 4. Re: Help with a Song (Joyce Sloan) > 5. Re: Help with a Song (Marge Philbrook) > 6. Re: Help with a Song (Karenbueno) > 7. Re: Help with a Song (Joyce Sloan) > 8. Re: Help with a Song (David Yost) > 9. Re: Help with a Song (Doris Hahn) > 10. Re: Help with a Song (Karenbueno) > 11. Re: Help with a Song (Karenbueno) > 12. Re: Help with a Song (Joyce Sloan) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:07:12 -0500 > From: Jann Barr <jannbarr(a)gmail.com> > To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> > Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Three Angels Gave Their Gift to History > Message-ID: > < > CAODiJUu9RsT-BkN5gQr+mGuD7wFAeKYhBgJDkwRhYO+Mc3p+VQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > These colleagues speak my mind. > > Jann Barr > > > On Wed, Jun 12, 2013 at 9:24 PM, Marilyn Crocker <marilyncrocker(a)juno.com > >wrote: > > > Thank you, dear Wanda ?**** > > > > ** ** > > > > Indeed, Peter, Tony and Georgianna -- as your presence lingers with us in > > robust energy, creative dance, articulate language and much more,,,,**** > > > > ** ** > > > > You are our angels, our meditative council members, our exemplars > indeed. > > **** > > > > ** ** > > > > And yes, we are most blessed having encountered you,**** > > > > ** ** > > > > For this we give abundant thanks,**** > > > > ** ** > > > > Marilyn & Joe on behalf of our OE community **** > > > > ** ** > > > > Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D**** > > > > 123 Sanborn Rd**** > > > > West Newfield, ME 04095**** > > > > ** ** > > > > *From:* oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto: > > oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net] *On Behalf Of *Wanda Holcombe > > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 12, 2013 6:45 PM > > *To:* Listserv OE; Listserve Dialogue ICA > > *Subject:* [Oe List ...] Three Angels Gave Their Gift to History**** > > > > ** ** > > > > Peter, Tony & Georgianna....you are my 3 strange angels & will forever be > > part of my life:**** > > > > DH Lawrence's poem kept going over & over in my brooding over the > > greatness of the these 3 that were part of my life in so many ways & will > > forever be part of my history as well....**** > > > > > > > > **** > > > > Not I, not I, but the wind that blows through me!**** > > > > A fine wind is blowing the new direction of Time.**** > > > > If only I let it bear me, carry me, if only it carry me!**** > > > > If only I am sensitive, subtle, oh, delicate, a winged gift!**** > > > > If only, most lovely of all, I yield myself and am borrowed**** > > > > By the fine, fine, wind that takes its course through the chaos of the > > world**** > > > > Like a fine, an exquisite chisel, a wedge-blade inserted;**** > > > > If only I am keen and hard like the sheer tip of a wedge**** > > > > Driven by invisible blows,**** > > > > The rock will split, we shall come at the wonder, we shall find the > > Hesperides.**** > > > > > > > > **** > > > > Oh, for the wonder that bubbles into my soul,**** > > > > I would be a good fountain, a good well-head,**** > > > > Would blur no whisper, spoil no expression.**** > > > > > > > > **** > > > > What is the knocking?**** > > > > What is the knocking at the door in the night?**** > > > > It is somebody wants to do us harm.**** > > > > > > > > **** > > > > No, no, it is the three strange angels.**** > > > > Admit them, admit them.**** > > > > ....dh Lawrence **** > > > > **** > > > > ** ** > > > > _______________________________________________ > > OE mailing list > > OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net > > http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net > > > > > > > -- > Jann Barr, Scheduler > Live Oak Friends Meeting > ph: 832 863 8705 >

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Re: [Oe List ...] Help with a Song
by Paula Philbrook 14 Jun '13

14 Jun '13

Each of us a life would work Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone ----- Reply message ----- From: "Karenbueno" <karenbueno(a)aol.com> To: <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Subject: [Oe List ...] Help with a Song Date: Fri, Jun 14, 2013 10:01 am To everyone who is re-saving the words to the God song, go with Joyce' suggestion for the last line: "It is God who gives every one a life and God who takes that life away," Karen Bueno -----Original Message----- From: Joyce Sloan <jsloan45(a)gmail.com> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Thu, Jun 13, 2013 9:52 pm Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Help with a Song Karen you must have read my mind. Because I want to share the imagery of this song with someone who is struggling with the loss of a loved one, I had started to work on revisions. Love what you have done! For the last sentence "It is God who gives every one a life and God who takes that life away," works better for me. Try it and see what you think. On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 10:29 PM, Karenbueno <karenbueno(a)aol.com> wrote: I think we could clear up the male gender language by using "us" and "we" and "one's" and "our" and a verb tense. See my revision, and the original, below. Karen Bueno GOD Tune: Blowing in the Wind It is God that is always driving us to care about the coming day. And yet God is the mystery who takes each one's security away. It is God that makes us seek happiness. but does not allow our joy to stay. It is God who gives every one a life, and God who takes our life away. It is God that drives us to search for love, and yet we are constantly pursued. By that force which finally casts each one out into loneliness and solitude. It is God that drives us to knowledge and truth, but always denies us certitude. It is God who drives every one a life, and God who takes our life away. It is God that gives the desire to achieve, and yet death leaves our work undone. It is God that summons us to do good, and neglect our duty to none. And yet God is the voice that pronounces guilt, for our war with self is never won. It is God who gives every one a life, and God who takes our life away. -----Original Message----- From: Marge Philbrook <msphilbrook(a)gmail.com> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Thu, Jun 13, 2013 8:26 pm Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Help with a Song GOD Tune: Blowing in the Wind It is God that is always driving man to care about the coming day. And yet God is the mystery who takes each man's security away. It is God that makes man seek happiness. but does not allow his joy to stay. It is God who gives every man his life, and God who takes his life away. It is God that drives man to search for love, and yet man is constantly pursued. By that force which finally casts each one out into loneliness and solitude. It is God that drives man to knowledge and truth, but always denies him certitude. It is God who drives every man his life, and God who takes his life away. It is God that gives the desire to achieve, and yet death leaves man's work undone. It is God that summons man to do good, and neglect his duty to none. And yet God is the voice that pronounces guilt, for man's war with self is never won. It is God who gives every man his life, and God who takes his life away. On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 7:13 PM, Joyce Sloan <jsloan45(a)gmail.com> wrote: Hello Colleagues, I am trying to find the words to the song with the line "It is God who gives every man his life and God who takes his life away" I checked the only songbook I have titled "Songs For Those Who Care" and that song is not in it. Thanks, Joyce _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE(a)lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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Three Angels Gave Their Gift to History
by Wanda Holcombe 13 Jun '13

13 Jun '13

Peter, Tony & Georgianna....you are my 3 strange angels & will forever be part of my life: DH Lawrence's poem kept going over & over in my brooding over the greatness of the these 3 that were part of my life in so many ways & will forever be part of my history as well.... Not I, not I, but the wind that blows through me! A fine wind is blowing the new direction of Time. If only I let it bear me, carry me, if only it carry me! If only I am sensitive, subtle, oh, delicate, a winged gift! If only, most lovely of all, I yield myself and am borrowed By the fine, fine, wind that takes its course through the chaos of the world Like a fine, an exquisite chisel, a wedge-blade inserted; If only I am keen and hard like the sheer tip of a wedge Driven by invisible blows, The rock will split, we shall come at the wonder, we shall find the Hesperides. Oh, for the wonder that bubbles into my soul, I would be a good fountain, a good well-head, Would blur no whisper, spoil no expression. What is the knocking? What is the knocking at the door in the night? It is somebody wants to do us harm. No, no, it is the three strange angels. Admit them, admit them. ....dh Lawrence

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6/13/13, Spong: The Birth of Jesus, Part XV. The Journey to Bethlehem
by Ellie Stock 13 Jun '13

13 Jun '13

HOMEPAGE MY PROFILE ESSAY ARCHIVE MESSAGE BOARDS CALENDAR The Birth of Jesus, Part XV The Journey to Bethlehem The creators of the birth narratives, Matthew and Luke, used two motifs in interpreting the life of Jesus of Nazareth. First, each was historically aware that Jesus hailed from Galilee, indeed from the village of Nazareth. Too often the gospels report that there was debate about his origins for this not to be true. Galilee was the rustic, poor, non-cultural part of the Jewish nation. Nazareth was an insignificant town in a looked-down-upon region. Yet, they could never escape the fact that Jesus was called “Jesus of Nazareth” and referred to as a Galilean. The claim of Jesus’ disciples that he was the messiah was thus ridiculed because of these historical facts of his origin. “Search the scriptures,” his critics invited the crowds to do, “and nowhere will you find the suggestion that the messiah will come out of Galilee.” It was thought even more impossible for the messiah to grow up in Nazareth. “Nothing good can come out of Nazareth,” they declared. History is sometimes quite inconvenient when myth-making is going on. This was the first motif of the birth narratives. The place of Jesus’ origins seems not to have been an issue for Paul. Mark, the first gospel writer, assumes that Jesus was born in Nazareth and that he grew up there. When his place of origin began to be a problem for those eager to assert the messianic claim, the pressure began to build to locate his place of birth in a more noble setting. That was when the second motif around his birth appeared and had to be served. There were many messianic images in Jewish history, but a major and consistent one was that the messiah had to restore the throne of King David. In time this meant that the messiah himself had to have a claim to be a descendent and thus an heir to the royal line of King David. That throne had been lost to the Jews since 586 BCE. In that year the Babylonian conquerors had destroyed Judah in warfare. In that war’s aftermath the Babylonians rounded up and murdered all the heirs to the final Davidic king, a man named Zedekiah, and they imprisoned him after putting out his eyes. When Zedekiah finally died in prison, the royal throne of the House of David was thus thought to be vacant. That was when the idea of messiah began to grow both in Jewish thought and in Jewish mythology. Messiah was part of the national dream of restoration. The royal line of King David was an important symbol in all the hopes expressed for “the coming kingdom.” One aspect of that hope was that the messiah would reflect his Davidic roots by being born in Bethlehem, the city of David. This hope was read into a text in the prophet Micah that extolled the little town of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Judah’s kings. Slowly, this town with its royal connections and its location in the land of Judah about six miles from Jerusalem, began to rise in the messianic dreams. Messiah must be of the house of David and he must be born in Bethlehem. Matthew was the first to make this claim, but it was easy for him. He assumed that both Mary and Joseph lived in a house in Bethlehem. For this baby to be born there seemed quite natural. Matthew’s problem was that he then had to find a way to deal with history and with the fact that this baby, though born in Bethlehem, would grow up in Nazareth of Galilee. Luke, who accepts Mark’s frame of reference involving Jesus’ Galilean roots, had the opposite problem. How could it be arranged for a couple who lived in Galilee actually to be in Bethlehem when the child was born? Luke hit upon a scheme that probably has some semblance of history to it and he used it to tell his magnificent story that is familiar to most of us today. There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world was to be enrolled. Was this a census? Was it for the purpose of taxation? Periodically we learn from the Old Testament that the Jews wanted to count their citizens. There are historical hints of a census ordered within a decade after the death of King Herod or around 6 to 7 CE. The idea that an empire-wide census, however, was ever undertaken stretches credibility to the breaking point. There were no records, no birth certificates, no marriage certificates, no death certificates. Travel was hard and slow. Records were stored nowhere. Luke, however, needed to have a hook on which to create his story of the Bethlehem birth of a child whose parents were citizens of Nazareth. So he used the presumed census to account for the fact that Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem. This enrollment, Luke said, occurred when Quirinius was governor of Syria. That was an interesting addition. Luke has already related that the births of John the Baptist and Jesus had occurred when “Herod was the King of Judea.” We know from secular records, however, that Herod died in the year 4 BCE. On the other hand, we know that Quirinius did not become governor of Syria until the winter in which the year 6 CE turned into the year 7 CE. So, if Jesus was born when Herod was king, he would have been ten to eleven years old when this enrollment was ordered. The presumed history behind this birth narrative begins to wobble perceptibly. Next we learn that Joseph, because he was of the house and lineage of David, must, as a pre-requisite of this census, return to his ancestral home to be enrolled. This, Luke asserted, was the key that resulted in a Bethlehem birthplace for Jesus.. Does this mean that all the direct heirs of King David had to make the journey to Bethlehem? David, who according to the Bible had many wives and many concubines, reigned in Judah from the year 1000 to 960 BCE. If we count a generation at 20 years, a rather generous number in a world where life expectancy was only in the thirties, there would be about 48 generations between David and Jesus. If David had only 50 children, a rather small number for a king with a large harem, his direct descendants in 48 generations would be well over a billion people! Suppose it was a fact, as Luke asserts, that all of David’s direct heirs had to return to Bethlehem to be enrolled? It is no wonder there was no room at the inn! Historicity is shattered. One final note, Luke tells us that Joseph had to take Mary with him for this enrollment. Why this was necessary is not stated. In that patriarchal era, women were not enrolled, counted or taxed. They were thought of as property, part of the male’s wealth upon which taxes were paid. If this baby is to be born in Bethlehem, however, Mary, Jesus’ mother, must be in Bethlehem. So Luke tells us that Joseph took her with him even though she “was great with child,” to use the beautiful language of King James’ English. “Great with child” surely means near to term so we can assume that she was in her last month of pregnancy. How many of us have ever stopped to realize that Bethlehem was 94 miles from Nazareth? Do we embrace that the two options for transportation open to them in the first century were walking or riding on a donkey? Do we understand that this was a seven to ten day journey that would have to average nine to twelve miles a day? Are we aware that in this era there were no restaurants or hotels along the way? Now ask yourself, what man in his right mind would take his nine-months pregnant wife on a 94 mile journey on a donkey or actually walking, when the literal reason for taking her does not hold any credibility? It was a Roman Catholic lay theologian, Rosemary Ruether, who after reading this birth narrative in Luke, remarked that “only a man who had never had a baby could have written this story.” Religious art portrays this journey to Bethlehem with Mary riding side saddle on a donkey led by a walking Joseph. That is little more than romantic imagination. In the text there is no donkey. That should not surprise us. In Matthew’s story of the Wise Men, there are no camels. In Luke’s story, there is no stable. There are no animals around the Christ Child in the stable because there is no stable. There is only a feeding trough, called a manger. That feeding trough could be out in the fields as easily as it could be inside a structure. Be aware that pageants and human imagination have created images for us that are in fact not biblical. Luke’s story, however, has achieved its agenda. The Nazareth-based family has managed to be located physically in Bethlehem when the child is born. The messianic connection has been established. Mythology has been enhanced. Luke does two more things that I have mentioned earlier in this series. I repeat them here, because we can see them now in context. He takes a text from the Wisdom of Solomon where the richest of all the Jewish kings says: “When I was born I was carefully swaddled, for there is no other way for a king to come to his people.” So Luke says that they wrapped the babe in swaddling cloths and this clue was given to the shepherds to help them find him. Second, he was placed into a manger, an image Luke borrowed from Isaiah 1. This one faithful Jew, unlike the history of his people in the time of Isaiah, would know from the moment of his birth who was his father and what largesse he received from the God he represented. There are many levels on which the stories of the birth of Jesus can be read. Literalism is not one of them. So we will bring this study of the birth narratives to a conclusion next week. This is rich material, but it is not history and our analysis reveals that it was never understood by the authors of both Matthew and Luke to be history. It is a pity that the Gentiles who became both the majority and the dominant strain in the Christian Church after about 150 CE did not know the Jewish Scriptures well enough to understand what the original stories meant. Literalism is not only an expression of biblical ignorance, but it is a distortion of the gospel so dangerous as to be destructive of Christianity itself. ~John Shelby Spong Read the essay online here. Question & Answer Steve Dawson, from Milwaukee asks: Question: The Episcopal Network for Science, Technology and Faith addresses food, climate change, biodiversity and water as important subjects for discussion, but "where's the beef?" Population explosions at the root of most of the problems humanity faces today. Is that topic too sensitive for thinking religious leaders to discuss publicly or are shrinking markets too horrendous to contemplate? Answer: Dear Steve, Just let me say first that it was a pleasure to meet and talk with you when I was recently in Milwaukee. The question of population explosion is the central and critical issue that must be faced in any discussion of world hunger, genetically-mutated food supplies, climate change, biodiversity and water purity. To address population control, one must consider the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church as well as those leaders of business, who base all of their planning on the idea of ever-expanding markets and ever-growing bottom lines. That is a formidable set of foes. The objections of the Roman Catholic Church will be the easiest to overcome as most Roman Catholics, at least in the developed world, have long ago ceased to pay much attention to the pronouncements of their church on either birth control or abortion. The profit motive and the need for expanding markets to keep the economy of the world functioning will be more difficult. It is the affected business enterprises that today fund most of the negativity toward environmental concerns and spread the incredibly false claim that global warming is merely a matter of the earth wobbling on its axis, which, they assert, is a regular and periodic deviation in the history of the earth’s climate and that it is not caused by the human use of fossil fuels over the last 150 years. All of the arguments that this point of view presents are dismissed as nonsense by the scientific world. That fact, however, does not stop corporations from hiring pseudo-scientists to muddy the waters with their pseudo-scientific propaganda. The way the world economy works, the cost of polluting the universe will have to become more expensive than the cost of ending that polluting process. That day seems to be drawing near with a rapid rise in bizarre weather patterns that produce droughts, floods, tornadoes and killer hurricanes. When coastal America is under water, when the subways of New York City are flooded, when drought greatly reduces the corn crop or the wheat crop in America’s heartland and causes the price of food to go up around the world, perhaps the political will to address population explosion will be present. How it is addressed will then be the issue. I am not sure the world could or should follow the Chinese model. I think we accomplish the task of population control, first, by educating women so that they can make better choices for the quality of their lives. Statistics reveal a high correlation between the educational level a woman receives and the number of babies she produces. Second, through the tax structures of the various nations, we ought to begin to offer financial incentives for fewer children. For example, we need to enact a law that prohibits tax deductions for offspring after two children or that provides more financial aid for the first two children of each family to get higher education and no assistance for children after number two. When all of the children after the second one become very expensive to raise and educate, then the population growth rate will begin to come down. When it becomes stable and sustainable, the economic engines of the human enterprise ought to be dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life for all. There was a time when family planning and birth control were considered sinful. I think we have reached the time in history where the lack of family planning and the unwillingness to use birth control must be deemed to be both sinful and irresponsible. ~John Shelby Spong ***IMPORTANT NOTE: The book by Helnut Thielicke, referenced in last week's q and a section, is not entitled Parables as I suggested, but is entitled The Waiting Father. Thanks to a number of my readers for pointing this out. ~JSS Announcements The Latest Book from John Shelby Spong Is Now Available! Order The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic Today! In The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic, John Shelby Spong argues that this last gospel was misinterpreted by the framers of the fourth-century creeds to be a literal account of the life of Jesus. Rescuing John’s Gospel from its creedal captivity, the author provides a unique primer about how to be a Christian in the post-Christian twenty-first century. The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic was designed first to place Jesus into the context of the Jewish scriptures, then to place him into the worship patterns of the synagogue and finally to allow him to be viewed through the lens of a popular form of first-century Jewish mysticism. The result of this intriguing study is not only to recapture the original message of this gospel, but also to provide us today with a radical new dimension to the claim that in the humanity of Jesus the reality of God has been met and engaged. Click here to read the: Preface of The Fourth Gospel- by Bishop Spong “Bishop Spong’s in-depth struggles with and work on the Gospel of John have resulted in a book that challenges dominant assumptions and interpretations. This book will help anyone who cares to think about faith in open, dynamic, hospitable, and inclusive ways.” — Tat-siong Benny Liew, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean; Professor of New Testament Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA “Leave it to Bishop Spong to uncover a message of universal hope that is deeply rooted in Jewish mysticism. Spong’s synthesis of Johannine scholarship will lead both clergy and lay readers to a new appreciation of the surprising origins and message of the Fourth Gospel.” — David Felten & Jeff Procter-Murphy, authors of Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity “Spong invites readers on a stimulating and challenging journey to read the gospel of John afresh and to consider Christianity from a new perspective. This is a must read for every Christian who has tried to make sense of this gospel.” — Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible, The Theological School, Drew University “Spong is always readable and informative, but this book reads like a cross between a detective story and an adventure saga that is founded on excellent scholarship. I could not put it down.” — Fred C. Plumer, President of ProgressiveChristianity.Org (read this whole review here) Any questions or concerns, please contact us at support(a)johnshelbyspong.com or 503-236-3545. Copyright © 2013 ProgressiveChristianity.org, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have a membership at our website. Our mailing address is: ProgressiveChristianity.org 3530 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Unit 1 Portland, OR 97214 Add us to your address book

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Georgianna McBurney Memorial Event
by Milan Hamilton 13 Jun '13

13 Jun '13

The time and place for Georgianna's service is now confirmed. It will be at Malibu City Hall on Saturday, June 15, at 11:00 a.m. (it had to be shifted to this earlier hour due to a schedule conflict with another funeral). Milan and Linda Hamilton Milan Hamilton aka Mellowmilan 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373-8116 Phone: (909) 793-4482 Email: mellowmilan(a)verizon.net Blog: www.mellowmilan.blogspot.com

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Re: [Oe List ...] Georgianna McBurney Memorial Event
by Marilyn Crocker 12 Jun '13

12 Jun '13

Dear Milan and Linda, As many others have already said - especially any of us on the East Coast - Thank you so very much for keeping us updated on our dear colleague, Georgiana! I sent some thoughts from Joe and me to Betty Hill a week or so ago - basically in celebration "Yahoo!!" style for dear upbeat-takin-charge-makin-it-happen- one-terrific-Georgianna!! Joe and I deeply loved and appreciated Georgianna. How blessed we have been to have known such an unrepeatable lady!! Grace and peace to you, dear one, and also to your wonderful extended family. Joe and Marilyn Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D 123 Sanborn Rd West Newfield, ME 04095 From: oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Milan Hamilton Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 7:30 PM To: ORDER LISTSERVE; ORDER LISTSERVE Cc: 'Jana McBurney-Lin'; John E. McBurney; Holly McBurney Subject: [Oe List ...] Georgianna McBurney Memorial Event The time and place for Georgianna's service is now confirmed. It will be at Malibu City Hall on Saturday, June 15, at 11:00 a.m. (it had to be shifted to this earlier hour due to a schedule conflict with another funeral). Milan and Linda Hamilton Milan Hamilton aka Mellowmilan 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373-8116 Phone: (909) 793-4482 Email: mellowmilan(a)verizon.net Blog: www.mellowmilan.blogspot.com

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Re: [Oe List ...] Georgianna McBurney Journey Completed!
by Sherwood Shankland 12 Jun '13

12 Jun '13

Lub-dub; Lub-dub....Lub...dub... ahhhh, enough. "That's it folks, I'm out-a here...on to new vistas beyond the vale...running free...see ya later!" So Soar, Georgianna...now soar with Tony and Barbara and so many other spirit colleagues we treasure...Bon voyage, Cheerio just now, 'Later gator', Selamat jalan, and Thanks for all the good times! Grace and Peace from all of us. / Sherwood and Eunice From: oe-bounces(a)lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Milan Hamilton Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 9:40 AM To: ORDER LISTSERVE; ORDER LISTSERVE Cc: 'Jana McBurney-Lin'; John E. McBurney; Holly McBurney Subject: [Oe List ...] Georgianna McBurney Journey Completed! Georgianna's strong heart finally gave up last night. Jana just phoned to say some friends were with them last evening showing photos of a trip they had taken and when they left "Mom left with them." Plans are underway for a memorial service to be held at Malibu City Hall at 1:00 p.m. (still tentative but that is the intention). We will confirm time and location as soon as we receive it. Georgianna for her latest project was very active in Malibu politics and supporting good people in City elections. We celebrate a wondrous woman who enriched our lives and the lives of countless others through a life of dedicated, compassionate service. Fierce defender of family, friends, and the future of the human enterprise on the planet. It has been a privilege to walk part of the way with her. Milan and Linda Hamilton Milan Hamilton aka Mellowmilan 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373-8116 Phone: (909) 793-4482 Email: mellowmilan(a)verizon.net Blog: www.mellowmilan.blogspot.com

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