How Do We Save Quakerism?
Are your Meeting’s numbers dwindling? Do you worry that there won’t be a “next” generation to pass Quakerism on to?
Can Self-Promotion Be Spirit-Led?
When I first received the call to do this work, my core values were offended. Hadn’t I already rejected the part of myself that strives for public attention? I was so attached to my humbleness that I refused to “self-promote”. Ironically, it was my pride and self-will that got in the way of my calling to publicize this ministry.
12 Pieces of Advice for Quakers on the Internet
I recently said in an interview with Friends Journal that I would like to challenge Friends to get clear about our relationship with the internet. Getting clear would look like one of these two things: A. We…
Why You Should Listen to Eyedea
In the year 2000, when I was first getting into underground hip hop, I came across this rapper from Minneapolis who blew my mind. Edit 12.12: Eyedea was from St. Paul Eyedea was a musical prodigy, beginning…
We Don’t Need A Holiday To Give Thanks!
As Quakers, we traditionally do not honor traditions such as Christmas, Halloween, the naming of weeks and months, swearing on the Bible. Wait… what? Does anybody actually do this anymore? Nobody that I know. The Quakers I…
What is a Quaker Ministry? (What Isn’t?)
In 2006 I chose to turn to the model of Quaker ministry to inform my making music. Getting low. Being humble. Only writing songs that felt like a message from the Spirit. Knowing that the message is not my own. Attempting to be a vessel. Releasing my agenda, knowing my limited perspective. Letting go and letting God.
Support a Minister. Sell Your Meetinghouse.
Vital ministry is essential to vitality. Vital ministry breaks us open, stirs us up, inspires conversations, exposes us, makes us uncomfortable, puts us through the refiners fire. Ministers activate people. In short, without vital ministry, we are lost.
Is it Time to Strip Quakerism Naked?
Our spiritual forefathers and mothers spoke of a “Light” that was an intense spotlight, something distinctly uncomfortable, that would shine on the the dark places inside of ourselves and reveal the things that we are trying to hide. This “Light”, honestly, sounds horrifying. It is no wonder they also called it the “refiner’s fire”.
Stop Robbing Us of Your Gifts.
But here is my point: we spend too much of our lives feeling insignificant, feeling not-powerful, waiting for someone to tell us that its okay to use our voice now.
Stop waiting for cultural credentials to write your book. Write it now. Stop holding back from singing in the streets. Stop waiting for an “appropriate” message to stand up with in Meeting for Worship. Stop robbing us of your gifts.
Why Being Told I Wasn’t a Quaker Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
Yesterday my co-minister and partner in crime Maggie posted a blog entry entitled “YOU’RE NOT A QUAKER (so please stop calling yourself one)” The post has provoked some great discussion and obviously real feelings from some of…
The Story of James Naylor, The Most Controversial Quaker
During the time of George Fox, Quaker — and the Valiant Sixty — James Nayler (or Naylor) was a powerful and respected Quaker preacher, who, at the beginning of the formation of the Religious Society of Friends, traveled extensively preaching the Quaker message and writing prolifically.
How to Heal from 9/11
“What’s important is not your emotional reaction to something, but how you hold and interact with that emotion” It will continue to become clear that 9/11 was a turning point for our country. Not because we were…
How My Ministry Ministers to Me (Or… How I’ve Been Called Into Nakedness)
Sometimes Friends approach me after performances, on the internet, after a Meeting for Worship, and praise me, noting how deeply my ministry affects them. With all due respect (and thank you, truly), we might be going about…
Where My Great Passion Meets the World’s Great Need, Or, How Music Became My Ministry
I couldn’t see devoting myself to an extremely risky line of work for the sake of nothing but my faith in my own talent. My studies at Guilford pinballed my professional future between subjects in which I have a peripheral interest: psychology, sociology, restorative justice, philosophy. Then I discovered Quakerism. I should say, I re-discovered Quakerism.
Photoshoot #1 With Marina
Marina and I got together briefly with photographer Natasha Smith and took some quick shots outside of my apartment in West Philly.
Bicycling into New York City part II: Biking into Manhattan on the George Washington Bridge
This is the second in a 3 part series on biking into Manhattan. read Part One Richmond to Boston on a bicycle I recently completed a 1,000 mile bike tour in which I lugged all of my…
Xtracycle Radish Tour Vlog
For the past three months I have been touring on an Xtracycle Radish. Every week for ten weeks, I recorded and uploaded a vlog. Now, for the first time, each of those vlogs is combined into one window. You can watch all the way through or find the most interesting episodes, all from here!
Bicycling into New York City Part I: How (not) to Bike into Manhattan
This is the first in a 3 part series on biking into Manhattan. read Part Two Richmond to Boston on a Bike When I first announced that I was going to ride my bike from Richmond to…
How to Carry a Guitar on a Bike
Trailer vs. Cargo Bike When I first had the idea of doing my East Coast tour on bicycle, I looked into bike trailers. I couldn’t imagine any way to fit my guitar and amplifier onto the back…
How to get through Quantico Military Base on Your Bike
This week I started out a bike trip from Richmond to Boston with my guitar and equipment all packed up. I had done minimal training so my first day was really slow going… I didn’t even make…