Quaker Life
April 2005

Valiant for Truth Contents

By Patricia Edwards-Konic

As I write this, the relief efforts for the tsunami survivorsare going full blast. Floods and ice storms are causing major losses in the United States. And the never-ending appeals for my money bombard me in the mail and on TV — I’m beginning to have compassion fatigue.

We, who have so much by the world’s standards, are being asked for much. But determining stewardship priorities for my money and time seems a bit daunting right now.

Donne Hayden led a Right Sharing workshop at the USFWI Triennial last summer, which many Kenyan women attended. She stated, “I focused on how American Friends need to become conscious of the ramifi cations of our lifestyle choices and the spiritual cost of the “unexamined life” of consumption. I talked about having too much stuff, too much food, not enough time, not enough community. I watched the faces of my Kenyan sisters and I sensed they understood — in the midst of what we call their poverty, their lives have riches we can’t imagine, while in the midst of our “fi lled-up” lives, we often experience emptiness and spiritual hunger.

“Later a U.S. Friend told me that one of the Kenyan women who had been at the Right Sharing presentation said she felt sorry for Americans — they have so much to think about and worry about.” (The Advocate, January-February 2005, pages 12-13.)

When Jesus was overwhelmed by the need to feed so many with limited resources, He looked up to heaven and saw things from God’s perspective. And taking the fi ve loaves and the two fi sh Jesus looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fi sh among them all. (Mark 6:41)

Had Jesus continued to view the situation from an earthly perspective, no miracle would have happened.

The matter of stewardship hits us in the face when what looks like impossible obstacles confront us. Right at fi rst we view our situation from a worldly perspective and not from God’s view. We can feel so overwhelmed we shut down and do nothing.

Sometimes earthly problems have no earthly solutions but often we have several good choices we can make. Should I spend my money and/or time here? Or there? Then we need to see ourselves as God sees us. God always has the answers if we look to him in faith with the eyes of our heart.

Blessings in Christ,

Trish

7 30 Years of Pastoral Ministry
Kerensa Edinger
It’s not amazing that Dave Phillips has been in pastoral ministry for 30 plus years. What is amazing is that 30 of those years have been spent at one meeting, Wabash Friends Church, Indiana.

9 Clyde Johnson: A Ministry of Hospitality
Kerensa Edinger
In 1973, Clyde Johnson began his ministry to college students in Richmond, Indiana. Ichthys House has faithfully reached out in love to all who enter.

10 An Invitation to a Place of Response
Alan Weinacht
The altar as a place of invitation and response has been used among Friends. What elements of faith need to remain apart of our experience whether we use the altar or not? Read the “Three Questions” posed and shape your response.

12 A Call to Forgiveness and Restoration
Pam Ferguson
A break in and auto theft caused Pam Ferguson to learn experientially what her response to the young man and the justice system would be. Grow in faith as she shares her story of mourning, forgiveness and restoration.

16 Open Letter to Churches
Amy Clark
As the time of year for pastoral searches begin once again this year, may those meetings seeking pastors contemplate these words. Also required reading for those who have pastors or ministers in their midst.

FEATURES

4 Commitments
Retha McCutchen

4 News from Friends United Meeting

8 Salt and Light
Publishers of Truth
Jack Kirk

14 Turning Points
I Was a Witch
Spencer Thury

15 Soul Food
God’s Garden
Virginia Schurman

17 Reviews
18 Peace Notes
19 News
26 Passages
28 Classifieds
30 Meeting Directory
33 Friends United Meeting Member Yearly Meetings
34 Viewpoints

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