The GMC Incites Deaths in Nigeria

Really? I guess this constitutes the first set of “GMC incited” deaths. Three United Methodists were killed in Nigeria as a result of GMC violence.

“We further urge GMC members, at all levels, to put an immediate end to the violence and refrain from disseminating misinformation that fuels fear and disdain that can lead to violence. Likewise, we call our United Methodist members to be guided by integrity and respectful while working towards maintaining peace.”

“The Global Methodist Church leaders are concerned about their future as The United Methodist Church in Nigeria continues to make steady progress. He noted that the majority of United Methodist laity and clergy stayed with the denomination.”

To read about it, see this ARTICLE.

I have always, I remain, and I will always STAY UMC.

Book Available for Discount

Looking for a thoughtful Christmas gift for a faithful United Methodist?

To mark its second anniversary, I offer my book for a discount (only $18 including free shipping in the US). Simply message me with your shipping address and number of copies. I'll ship immediately in time for the holidays and include an invoice for payment by check, Venmo, or PayPal. 

Check out book reviews and endorsements by Will Willimon, Steve Harper, Roger Owens, Lovett Weems HERE. 

Steve Harper, well known author and former seminary professor, wrote: "For some time, I have believed that the increase of divisiveness in The United Methodist Church (and the larger Christian community) is, in part, due to a decrease in our theology and practice of Holy Communion. When we stop coming to the Table together, we open the door to separatism that can too easily turn toxic.

"And worse, when some divide so severely that they are willing to speak and write about excluding people from the Table, they have reversed the intention of Jesus for the holy meal to bring us together, counterfitting Communion, making it exclusionary, and using it to legitimize and widen the divide. 

"Conversely, I also believe that the renewal of the United Methodist Church (and the larger Christian community) must include a recovered theology of the Lord's Supper and a revived partaking of it. I believe the new awakening is eucharistic.

"What I have only discovered recently is that Steve West not only believes this, he has written a book about it--a book which weaves together multiple threads of sacramental theology to offer us a eucharistic coat of many colors, complete with a winsome invitation to put it on. I have not seen a book that combines the various elements of sacramental theology the way his does.

"Rooted in the Bible and in the Wesleys' words and hymns, West offers insights as ancient as Macarius the Egyptian and modern as John Pavlovitz. Along the way, his own pastoral experience with the sacrament puts flesh on the conceptual bones, sometimes in surprising and moving ways--the first story in the book serving that purpose in spades.

"West's title, 'Something Happens Here' sums it up. And after you read his book, you will find yourself saying, 'It is something that needs to happen again, here and now.' And more, you will find yourself drawn into a mission to make it so."

The “Cherry-Picking” of the White Church

This potent quote is from “The Crucible of Racism: Ignatian Spirituality and the Power of Hope” by Patrick Saint-Jean, SA.

“The white church has often cherry-picked its way through the Bible, ignoring scripture’s clear and consistent support of those whom society has marginalized. Meanwhile, the actual message of the Hebrew Scriptures and the message of Christ in the Gospels and throughout the rest of the Christian scriptures challenge us to build a world based on justice, equality, and love.”

Nationalism, Religious Squabbles, and Racism

I was privileged to do the “Read Together” podcast this week. 

The introduction reads “Rev. Steve West identifies three core values of the early church that the world found offensive and encourages us to relentlessly live into them.”

Those three values are:

- The lordship of Christ (which messed with their nationalism)

- The resurrection of Christ (which messed with their religious squabbles)

- The radical inclusion of the church (which messed with their racism)

Have a listen. It can be found HERE.

Thoughts on the Day after the Election

Some of us grieving today and others are quietly celebrating. We’ve had a presidential election. We are a diverse nation and even a diverse Church, and there must be a variety of feelings out there today. We acknowledge them.

Yet in God's church, we proclaim today that we are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord.

Our bishop, Bishop Holston, wrote a powerful letter, day after. I encourage you to read it as we move forward with grace and love for one another.

You can find the complete text HERE.

Here are some portions I'd like to share.

He begins with a quote from 1 Peter 3 in The Message paraphrase: “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that’s your job, to bless.”

Bishop Holston then began, “After so many months of disharmony, dissonance and discord – thanks to the non-stop campaigning, constant political advertisements, and flurry of divisive social media posts leading up to election day 2024 – this Biblical instruction may sound like a tall order. And it is.

“We know accepting the grace and love that God offers so freely is simple. Actually living as followers of Christ in a world that often seems like it’s going in the other direction – that takes hard work and persistence.

“Election day has passed. We’ve all prayed and we’ve had the opportunity to vote, not just as an obligation but as an opportunity to witness to our faith. Now it is time to continue our witness and move forward together with love as our biblical foundation – setting aside our differences and looking honestly and forthrightly for ways to work together for the betterment of our communities, our state, our nation and all of God’s creation.”

He suggests our next faithful steps …

    1) remain grounded and steadfast in our faith

    2) remain vigilant in responding to needs around us

    3) encourage building up, not tearing down

    4) be “agreeable” – not necessarily of one mind, but having empathy with those don’t agree with

He then closes with this:

"Please join me in prayer for the women and men who will lead … our state and our nation forward. Continue to pray for the healing of our fractured nation and that we will engage one another with honor and respect, always living with a purpose bigger than ourselves. Pray that we center our lives on faithful action more than words. And pray that we remain committed to serving as Christ served – by loving all. May we always balance our prayers and support for our elected leaders with our obligation to work for social, economic and restorative justice for all of God’s children.”

Thank you, Bishop Holston!

Charlie is Born!

Welcome to the world, Charlie!

You are the most beautiful granddaughter a Pops could dream of!

Anticipation

.

Anticipation.

Anticipation. It's making me wait.

As you probably know (since I've mentioned it, oh ... dozens of times), Sandy and I are eagerly awaiting a new granddaughter. As I write, the due date is just two weeks from now. On top of that, our daughter Deborah seems more than ready.

I saw the director of the local Wesley Foundation at a meeting this week, and I asked him if he's going to be around the next two or three weeks. Who knows. I might be calling him one Saturday night when we are en route to the hospital. I don't know if I've ever, EVER felt such anticipation.

Whenever I think of the subject (and this dates me, I'm afraid), my mind goes to the old Carly Simon song. It came out when I was a child and I remember hearing it on the radio all the time. Some of the words are: 

We can never know about the days to come,

But we think about them anyway.

And I wonder if I'm really with you now

Or just chasing after some finer day.

Anticipation, anticipation is making me wait,

is keeping me waiting.

And tomorrow we might not be together.

I'm no prophet.

Lord, I don't know nature's way,

so I'll try to see into your eyes right now,

And stay right here.

'Cause these are the good old days.

Anticipation is such a complex emotion.

What will our dear baby look like? How pudgy will her cheeks be? What color will her hair be? Will she even have hair? And if she has hair, will she lose it?

It's not just things like that. What kind of person will she be? What type of God-given personality will she have? What gifts and talents will she offer to make the world a better place? What pain and suffering will she know? What will give her joy?

I have so many questions. And alas, there are no answers right now. Regardless of that, it's all capturing my imagination.

I've been thinking about anticipation in the spiritual life. What kind of anticipation are you feeling about life right now? Is it about a family matter, or something at work, or discernment about something related to your future? How do you deal with the anticipation?

My encouragement for you today is just to live in it. Lean into it. These aren't useless questions just because you don't have the answers yet. So much of life is living the questions.

I pray that in your relationship with God, faith might become less about knowing all the answers (which nobody does, especially if they think they do) and more about living the questions. It's really a good place to be.

I believe Christian faith is about beholding mystery and embracing uncertainty. Why else would Jesus boil down faith to the phrase "follow me?" We have no idea where he's going to take us. And it becomes the adventure of a lifetime.