Program: Quaker Thought
By Ojai Friends Worship Group;
Val Schorre
Quaker thought is intended to acquaint people with that large body of literature written by Quakers. A new episode is produced weekly by the Ojai Friends Worship, which is under the care of the Santa Barbara Friends Meeting. The idea for this series came from W. Norman Cooper who was a regular attender of our Worship Group and a member of the Santa Barbara Meeting. Back in the 1980's, Dial-a-Prayers were in vogue. People would phone to hear a prayer played by an answering machine. Cooper changed this to Dial-an-Inspiration and recorded a phone message every day for several years under the auspices of Truth Center, an organization that he founded. He published these messages, one message for each day of the year, in a book entitled Seize the Day. A few years later, Cooper learned about the Quakers and when he moved from Hollywood to Ojai in 1989, he became a regular attender of the Ojai Friends Worship Group. To help the public become aware of the large body of Quaker Literature, he suggested that the group sponsor a weekly telephone message consisting of a quotation from some Quaker writer. After a while this audio message was added to the website of the Ojai Friends Worship Group, then it was made available as a podcast and now it is also available on the Speaking Truth website. Most of the messages were recorded by W. Norman Cooper. The sources of his quotations include the Friends Journal, the Friends Bulletin, Faith and Practice of the Pacific Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice of the Yearly Meeting in Britain and a number of collected writings such as Daily Readings from Quaker Writings Ancient and Modern by Linda Hill Renfer, Daily Readings from Quaker Spirituality by Edward Cell, Quaker Quotations on Faith and Practice by Leonard S. Kenworthy. Stephen Travis Pope of the Santa Barbara Friends meeting recorded a message about once a month. Although he sometimes quotes other Quakers, his messages are usually based upon vocal ministry he has given at meeting. Martha Churchyard has recorded messages about once a month from books of Quaker quotations. A biography of W. Norman Cooper is available from the website of the Santa Barbara Friends Meeting. Postings
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Read by W. Norman Cooper from his book Seize the Day 01-08
Theodore Roosevelt used to talk about speaking softly and carrying a big stick. I prefer the truth in an... |
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Read and written by Stephen Travis Pope
In his book "Encounter with Silence: Reflections From the Quaker Tradition," John Punshon writes the following: "It was the Testimonies that first attracted me... |
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Read by Martha Churchyard
My dear Friends, be not carried away by good words and fair speeches, but everyone have hold of the Truth in yourselves by which you may be... |
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Read by W. Norman Cooper from his book, SEIZE THE DAY 01-05
Genuine, God-given freedom is living at peace in God's universe so that we may be of service to others... |
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Read by W. Norman Cooper from is book, Seize the Day 01-07
in his Table Talk, Martin Luther wrote: "War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity. It destroys religion,... |
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Read by Martha Churchyard from Letters of George Fox 227
Dear Friends, who suffer for your testimony and to all the rest in your county, I am glad to hear of... |
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Read by Stephen Travis Pope
When a War Begins, the Peace Witness Does not End The following is taken largely from an article called "When War Begins, the Peace Witness Does not... |
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W. Norman Cooper reads from Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
A life centered in God will be characterized by integrity, sincerity, and simplicity. Simplicity is best approached through a... |
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Read and written by W. Norman Cooper, Seize The Day, p 26
All genuine religion teaches that love--and love alone--is the fulfilling of the law; and selfless love which finds... |
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Read by W. Norman Cooper from his book, Seize the Day, p 262
Through whom does God carry on His holy work? He carries on His holy work through you.... |
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Read by Martha Churchyard
He is the living God, that clothes the earth with grass and herbs, causes the trees to grow and bring forth food for you, and makes the... |
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read and written by W. Norman Cooper from Seize the Day p 254
Everyone wishes to live a calm and unhurried life. Where then is calmness to be found? Certainly not... |
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Stephen Travis Pope reads Rufus Jones
In the Bible, Jesus never promised that the door to the things we most desire is an open door. The policy of the open door... |
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read and written by W. Norman Cooper, from "Seize the Day" p 227
Words used in religion can be helpful in your search for God because religious truth can hint... |
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Read by Martha Churchyard from the Letters of George Fox 380
And now dear Friends, in all your words, in all your business and employments, have a care of breaking your... |
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Read by: W. Norman Cooper From his book, "Sieze the Day" p 216
Have you discovered the grandeur of stillness? In this world of discordant sounds, how refreshing is a period... |
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read by Stephen Travis Pope
The following is based on a note written in 1933 by Rufus Jones. In Psalm 1 there is the phrase "He shall be like a tree planted... |
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from Sieze the Day by W. Norman Cooper
There is a saying that "talk is cheap." But actually unnecessary talk is very costly. To talk when we should be silent often... |
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from Sieze the Day p 203 by W. Norman Cooper read by Val Schorre Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is within. The kingdom is within and must...
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read by Stephen Pope
The following note is based on a message by Rufus Jones. The world peculiarly needs today the constructive and prophetic service of religion. When it's vital and creative,... |
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In any situation which you may be called upon to face, you can safely and patiently wait for divine Love's guidance. This is so because the patient waiter is the...
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The author, Thomas Carlyle, wrote something to the effect that if you look deep enough you will find harmony. Why not make this day a day in which you look...
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The author, Thomas Carlyle, wrote something to the effect that if you look deep enough you will find harmony. Why not make this day a day in which you look deep enough. Why not make this a day in which you plunge beneath the surface of the contradictions that seem all around you--contradictions such as love and hatred, health and sickness, selflessness and selfishness.
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read by W. Norman Cooper--John Andrew Gallery wrote in the Pendle Hill Pamphlet #358:
St. Francis said he was going to the village to preach and asked a young monk to... |
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read by W. Norman Cooper--We need to tell each other our experiences of the Divine. We need to hear each other's stories, each other's fumbling words, images, and metaphors. Gradually,...
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How can our beloved nation solve its many, present-day problems, including the threat of war and war itself? Economic and other changes may be necessary, but these changes of themselves...
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read by Stephen travis Pope--I remember clearly a personal letter I received that spoke of "the insensitive and righteous glory with which Christians seem able to bask in the message...
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W. Norman Cooper-- Joy is one of the keys which opens the door to all that is of real value--especially the joy that rejoices in other's successes. You can find...
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read by Martha Churchyard. My little children in the Lord God Almighty, this is my joy that you all be ordered and guided by the mighty power of God. Know...
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by Stephen Travis Pope. 
The idea that God talks to each of us, that we are each capable of being lead by deep divine inspiration, this concept of a continuing...
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It seems so easy to despise that which we should respect or to refuse to hear the words of God-given wisdom. Today, we build greater and greater weapons of destruction,...
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