Monday, March 11, 2024

"Where's the Fire?" Homily Shared at the Academy for Spiritual Formation


This is my homily that was shared at a recent Academy for Spiritual Formation at the Warren Willis camp, a United Methodist retreat center in central Florida. Reflecting on Macarius of Egypt as well as the story of my own grandfather, it's about discovering the fire within us, fueled by the fire of the Holy Spirit.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”)

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-8 (the transfiguration)

Sometimes I identify with Peter, not so much when he is doing well but when he is doing poorly. He starts his little speech with “It is good for us to be here,” which is what I catch myself saying when I have no idea how to start. It does say in Mark, “he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.”

So instead, let me start by telling you a story about my mother. She was an amazing person of faith. She was the daughter, sister, niece, wife, mother, and mother-in-law of Methodist pastors (the last one is because I married one). But SHE was the spiritual leader of our family.

I was one of four boys, and one of my early memories is of how she took my brothers to school,  then she sat in a particular rocking chair in the kitchen with her morning coffee for about 45 minutes. She called it her “quiet time.” We were not to bother her during her quiet time! I vividly remember sitting on the couch, listening to her coffee cup click and click on the saucer, wondering when she was going to be finished.

I didn’t know it yet, but she was instilling a longing for God in me.

She was also the kind of person who planned for anything, and that’s where my story comes in. She had a funny habit; when staying at a hotel, the first thing she would do was make sure she knew where fire escape was. Know the type?

One time she and Dad went overseas, and they checked into a hotel. She couldn’t figure out where the fire escape was (there were unfamiliar markings in another language), so she started checking doors. She walked in on a fellow who was in a small restroom. “Oh, I’m sorry, I was just looking for the fire escape.” She quickly closed the door and kept looking.

A minute later, here came that fellow running down the hall, hurriedly pulling his pants up. He was yelling, “Where’s the fire? Where’s the fire?!”

Over the last few years, I’ve been asking myself that same question. Where’s the fire?

After a long Covid shutdown followed by an anti-science blowback, I was left asking, “where’s the fire?” After an uptick of racial tensions followed by extremist insurrection against our capital, and then after a rancor-filled season of division in my denomination, so many things have left me asking “Where’s the fire?”

I didn’t have to ask “where’s the dumpster fire?” We’ve seen plenty of those.

Where’s the fire that burns in the heart, the fire that changes the world?

I had no idea Dwight would teach us about Teilhard de Chardin saying, “Someday … we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, [humanity] will have discovered fire.”

THERE’S the fire. THAT’S the fire my soul longs for.

The word for the day is ENCOUNTERING. I want to introduce you to my friend here. These are icons of Macarius the Egyptian. These particular versions of the Macarius icon look less like Lew than the one I brought here a few years ago … these have more hair! But I chose these particular versions because of a common motif in Macarius icons … his HANDS are held up in the GLOW of God who is all light, all flame, and who illumines the soul.

Macarius was a 4th century monk, one of John Wesley’s favorite spiritual ancestors. We know this because Macarius’ book of fifty sermons were required reading for Wesley’s class leaders, and Wesley himself quoted him in his sermon “The Way of Salvation” when he describes “sanctifying grace.”

I read the sermons of Macarius. It changed my life.

This is partly because I discovered Macarius was the original source of Wesley’s theology of how grace comingles with our free will, and of what BOTH of them called Christian perfection (not flawlessness, but a journey of being perfected by the holiness of love). 

Reading his sermons also changed my life because while Wesley used very exacting language (like “prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace”), Macarius used the most wonderful metaphorical language I ever heard, like our SOUL is a ship, or a moving throne, or a chariot with Christ as the charioteer, or a castle (yes, Teresa of Avila picked this up from Macarius and ran with it 12 centuries later).

Do you know what Macarius said about spiritual formation? We are all gathered around a FIRE. I invite you to hold your HANDS UP like Macarius, and hear his words:

“As many lights and burning lamps are lighted from fire, but the lamps and lights are lighted and shine from one nature, so also  Christians are enkindled and shine from one nature, the divine fire, the Son of God, and they have their lamps burning in their hearts.”

Do you know what else he said about that lamp burning in each of our hearts, lit from the one fire? He said our SOUL is like a BRONZE vessel you put burning fuel under so the INSIDES are made warm. He adds, “So also grace, the heavenly fire, is also within you.”

The FIRE of the Holy Spirit burning under us becomes a heavenly fire that burns WITHIN us.

So … “where’s the fire?”

The word of the day is “encountering” and part of us LONGS for that kind of encounter with God - an encounter like Peter, James, and John on the mountain, or like Moses whose face was glowing from a personal encounter with GLOW of the great fire.

Let me tell you a personal story about finding that fire.

After a grueling few years of defending my annual conference from harm (some of you know my journey with the “Stay UMC” movement), one day I got out my Grandpa’s Bible.

I didn’t bring it today (it’s too fragile and priceless) but I keep in on my shelf. If I had time, I would tell you a story of Grandpa Hamby (he led a revival in the 1920’s, and brought pistols to the pulpit to defend the church against bootleggers who were trying to shut it down). It’s a colorful story … after all, I am from Alabama.

So I have his preaching Bible. (My uncle gave it to me when I was ordained). One day recently I got it out, and something dawned on me after all the pain of the last few years. I realized it was probably the SAME Bible that sat on that pulpit between those two pistols. But I had never gone through his sermon notes that were folded within its pages.

Well, a few weeks ago, I did. I found a particular one … it was entitled “Why I Love the Church.” Grandpa wrote:

“With all its admitted frailties and human weaknesses, we dare to join with David. Why did David so love the house of God? …

He shared a few thoughts, followed by this: “We love the Church because of what it cost.  The Church is a costly institution. Its history is a story of divine and human sacrifice. Divine. Human. (He underlined these two words)

“Last of all, we love the Church because of its future. We are not manning a sinking ship. We are not fighting a losing battle.”

I then had one of those mystical experiences when I wondered if that was the very sermon he was preaching that day with two pistols on his pulpit to protect his church from getting shut down by those bootleggers. Was it his sermon on “why I love the church?” 

What do you know. I would never take guns to church, but maybe it’s part of my spiritual DNA to “stick to my guns.”

What you also need to know is my Granny’s poem is in front of that Bible, written to my uncle on the eve of HIS ordination. I brought a picture so you can see. It’s entitled “Don’t Forget the Glow.”

This poem has always been dear to me, but now it’s taking on new life:


“I stood beside him proudly,

So much he’d learned to know.

And yet I dared to whisper,

‘Son, don’t forget the glow’.”


“The glow that feeds the hunger

In restless human breasts,

The glow that gives the answer

To life’s long, ceaseless quests.


“The glow that’s so rewarding,

When through the preach’d word

They breathe a prayer of ‘thanks, Sir’

For the wondrous things they’ve heard.


“Always put it in your message. 

Hungry hearts, of God’s lost sheep,

Reaching out for strength and courage,

Need soul-food to climb the steep.


“The glow by which your father

Led countless souls to see

The ‘glow-ry’ of the gospel

As it’s surely meant to be.


“A diamond studded highway

Whose end is sure reward.

So keep it bright and shining,

The glory of his Word.”


Are you asking yourself “where’s the fire?” Are you longing for an ENCOUNTER with God?

There’s already a FIRE that burns beneath your “bronze vessel.” It’s the fire of God’s love. Our part is to fuel it with spiritual practices.

We didn’t START the fire. But if we keep the fuel coming, the holy fire grows hot. After simmering a while, we may find that the heat starts coming from within, too. 

And when it does, well, don’t forget the glow.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


Monday, January 22, 2024

Why Grandpa Hamby loved the Church



Here’s an inspiring word from the preaching Bible that belonged to my Grandpa C. P. Hamby. This is probably the very Bible he laid on the pulpit with two pistols nearby to ward off the bootleggers who were trying to shut down the Church in the 1920’s.

I wonder if this is the very sermon he was preaching. The sermon is entitled “Why I Love the Church.” Grandpa wrote:

“With all its admitted frailties and human weaknesses, we dare to join with David. Why did David so love the house of God? …

“We love the Church because of what it cost.  The Church is a costly institution. Its history is a story of divine and human sacrifice. Divine. Human.

“Last of all, we love the Church because of its future. We are not manning a sinking ship. We are not fighting a losing battle.”

#StayUMC
#BeUMC




Thursday, January 18, 2024

Special Lenten Offer

 SPECIAL LENTEN OFFER - Author Discount!



Lent begins in a month, and it's a great time to plan an in-depth study for your church, small group, or personal devotions.

If you are staying in the United Methodist Church and looking for ways to take a plunge into the depths of what truly unites our hearts, this study might be perfect for you. The book seeks to reclaim the distinctiveness of Wesley's communion theology for our times of divisiveness.

I created a FREE LENTEN STUDY GUIDE which you can download from the website below. You can also look over endorsements, reviews, interviews, excerpts, and Amazon "sample pages."

I am offering an AUTHOR'S DISCOUNT for personal, small group, or church-wide use during Lent. While it lists for $25 on Amazon and Wipf & Stock, I have copies I'll be glad to send for only $20 EACH INCLUDING SHIPPING.

Just “private message” me with your address and the number of copies. I'll ship them immediately and invoice you.

Let's all come back to the table in order to move forward.

Saturday, January 6, 2024

“This Gospel” of Radical Inclusion




Happy day of Epiphany!

Here’s a snapshot of Sandy when we were enjoying the Christmas lights at Calloway Gardens.

May the light shine and unfold for you the mystery of the ages, hidden in Christ and now revealed. Paul describes “this gospel” as one of radical inclusion (not just personal salvation) in Ephesians 3:5-10:

“In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

My Thoughts on the Regionalization Plan

I was on an online forum where someone asked if the plans for regionalization “only affects Africa.” I thought I should share my response here.

“No, regionalization would affect everything. Right now, there is some level of Contextualization allowed for central conferences outside the US, but NONE is allowed within the US. Regionalization would allow all areas of the world to have Contextualization over agreed-upon general areas. This would be a peaceful and unifying resolution to our current crisis, because the African church, for example, would not be pulled into voting on matters that only affect the US. It makes sense. Then the US delegates could find a way forward with something like the ‘one church plan.’

“Frankly, in my opinion the WCA has used manipulation tactics to use African delegates for their votes in a way that resembles colonialism, and it’s now become evident by the WCA’s own schismatic actions. They never intended the ‘traditional plan’ passed in 2019 for unity. It is now evident that their agenda was to force their opponents to leave, and if they could not do so, then to rise up and leave themselves. We know it’s true because that’s exactly what they did. The ‘traditional plan’ that the WCA pushed was not devised for unity but for schism.

“My sense from the African church is that they by and large voted for the traditional plan with the understanding that it would bring unity, not division. The truth has now made itself evident. Many African pastors I know of are in favor of regionalization, so they will no longer be pulled into conflicts that do not concern them.

“I mean no offense, but that’s the way I see it.”

For official information on the regionalization plan, click here.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Podcast on "Praying on the Incarnation"


Have a listen to my Advent devotion for the “Pray Together” podcast from the NAL Conference.

It’s on the legend of St. Nicholas (e.g. “Santa Claus”) striking Arius the heretic, on Athanasius, and on five ways of praying through the mystery of the incarnation!

You can listen here.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Article in Al.Com

Here is an article by Greg Garrison that appeared in Al.Com, the Anniston Star, and other publications on November 30, 2023.

United Methodist split: changing signs reflect upheaval



The Rev. Carol Gullatt, pastor of the Abundant Grace church plant for United Methodists in Albertville, accepts a United Methodist cross and flame logo sign from the Rev. Steve West. The sign formerly belonged to Morningstar Methodist Church, which disaffiliated from the United Methodist denomination. (Photo courtesy of Steve West)

More than half of the United Methodist churches across Alabama have disaffiliated from the denomination, and the signs are becoming obvious – churches are literally changing their signs, reflecting the upheaval that’s happened.

It started in many cases with a swoosh of black paint covering up the “United,” leaving behind “Methodist Church.” Some have since ordered new signs. The signs represent decades of pent-up infighting over theology, bureaucracy and human sexuality that finally brought the split to a climax this year with churches facing an end of the year deadline to seize an opportunity to leave and take their property with them.

It’s happening across America, as more than 7,200 congregations voted to leave, about 24 percent of the congregations in the denomination. It’s more obvious in the South. In the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, 348 churches left. In South Alabama and the Florida panhandle, 248 churches left and 45 filed a lawsuit saying they were prevented from leaving by the end of the year. Both North Alabama and the Alabama-West Florida Conference previously had more than 600 churches each.

Many towns across Alabama now have two Methodist churches instead of one. Many of those that left had to get rid of their old signs featuring the United Methodist cross and flame logos. “The cross and flame logo is a trademark of the United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Steve West, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville. West was the founding pastor from 1995-2004 of Morningstar Methodist Church in Chelsea, which left the denomination this year.

“I didn’t meddle in their decision,” West said. “I was personally sad.”

When the church got rid of its red and black metal cross and flame signs, it offered them to West, whose church remained in the denomination. I took them up on it,” West said.

Gift of a cross and flame


He gave one metal cross and flame logo to a new church start called Abundant Grace in Albertville, where people from several congregations who wanted to remain United Methodist started a new fellowship after the Albertville First Methodist Church disaffiliated.

“We don’t have it up yet,” said the Rev. Carol Gullatt, pastor of Abundant Grace. “We’re meeting at the Chamber of Commerce right now.”

That group of about 20 people also has a Wednesday night Bible study at an Albertville bakery, Gullatt said. “It’s been going slow, but it’s been a wonderful time of having meaningful conversations that help us name our values,” she said.

So far, there’s no building to put the cross and flame logo on, but there could be one day. “We haven’t done our mission church application, but we are functioning as a United Methodist church,” Gullatt said.

West gave another cross and flame logo to Pell City First United Methodist Church, where the dynamics of the split were as dramatic as anywhere. The 800-member church, with nearly 300 attending a church meeting a year ago, voted 65 percent to leave the denomination, but fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to disaffiliate.

“That added to the turmoil of the whole process,” said the Rev. Rachel Gonia, who remains as senior pastor of Pell City First United Methodist. “People knew it was a majority that wanted to disaffiliate. There were rumors in town that something nefarious happened. Some people didn’t understand that it required a two-thirds majority.”

About 200 people left and began a new congregation, called New Life, with the Rev. Wes Savage, the former associate minister at Pell City First, as pastor. That group, which has not yet affiliated with another denomination, has already bought property on U.S. 231 with plans for a future church, Gonia said.

The disaffiliation vote not only split the church, it split up some couples on Sunday mornings. “We have some wives in this church, but the husbands in that church,” Gonia said.


The Rev. Steve West presents a cross and flame logo to the Rev. Rachel Gonia, pastor of Pell City First United Methodist Church. The cross and flame formerly belonged to Morningstar Methodist in Chelsea, which has disaffiliated from the denomination. (Photo courtesy of Steve West)


Pell City First previously had two services on Sunday mornings, a traditional and contemporary. It now alternates between those two worship styles on Sunday mornings and just has one service to bring everyone together.

“That’s been well-received,” Gonia said. “It’s kept our congregation as one body. Before, people didn’t know each other as well. Now, they’re all together.”

LGBTQ activists in the denomination have been pushing for greater inclusion since 1972, when the General Conference adopted a phrase in the Book of Discipline taking the stance that the church “does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”

While the “presenting issue” of the disaffiliations has been over whether the United Methodist Church will lift its ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of openly gay clergy, it also involves complex theological and church bureaucracy issues.

“There were lots of other reasons people left,” Gonia said. “For many of the people who voted to stay, it was not so much about that issue.”

Many conservatives decided the denomination had become too liberal, so it was better to leave. Others had gripes with the way pastoral appointments are controlled by the bishop’s office, some wanted to have clear ownership of the church property, some wanted to keep their pastors, Gonia said.

“We’re just focused now on being welcoming, and being able to disagree,” she said.

New sign in Trussville


In Trussville, there’s a brand new sign out in front of Trussville First Methodist Church, replacing the one where the “United” was painted over for awhile. The new sign cost several thousand dollars and overall, the church spent more than $100,000 to make its transition to a new denomination, with much of that going to pay off its obligations to the North Alabama Conference to buy the property and pay off annual dues called apportionments, plus paying for pensions for previous pastors.

“What we didn’t take into consideration is how many things have a cross and flame on it,” said the Rev. Steve Strange, pastor of First Methodist Trussville, which is now affiliated with the Global Methodist Church, a new conservative-leaning denomination. “We changed the back awning, all the lettering on all the buses. We had to file for a new tax exemption, re-write bylaws and re-file those. We also had to change out our hymnals. We did go to a hymnal that returns to our roots.”

More than 3,800 churches have affiliated with the Global Methodist Church since it launched last year, including most but not all of the churches that disaffiliated in Alabama, Strange said. Many have remained independent or joined the Free Methodist Church or the Foundry network of churches.

The new sign at Trussville First features the words, “A Global Congregation,” to indicate its new affiliation, but that part of the sign is an easily removable piece, just in case. “I think we’ll stay Global,” Strange said. “You just never know down the road.”

Even road signs that say, “United Methodist Church two miles ahead,” had to be changed, Strange said.

Church linens that line the altar and robes worn by clergy had to be given away to United Methodist clergy and churches, he said. “Half of ours had cross and flame on them,” Strange said.

Strange said that 83 people left the congregation after the disaffiliation vote. They took on the name All Saints’ United Methodist and moved east on U.S. 11, with services at an Episcopal church, Church of the Holy Cross, led by the Rev. David Teel, former associate at Trussville First.

But Trussville First Methodist has also attracted new members from other congregations that didn’t disaffiliate and wanted to be part of the Global Methodist Church, so attendance has remained at about 300, Strange said.

“We’re probably 50 members less out of 400,” said Strange, who was previously pastor at Riverchase United Methodist Church for nine years. Riverchase fell seven votes short of disaffiliation in its vote, so some who wanted to leave now attend Trussville, he said.

We’ve picked people up from Riverchase, and Asbury, Huffman, Trinity, a lot of churches that didn’t vote,” Strange said.

Calm after storm?


At First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, which avoided a disaffiliation vote, a calm has settled in, West said. Several families left anyway and started a new church that meets at the Hampton Inn in Jacksonville on Sunday evenings.

“The people who remained are having a fresh start and finding renewal, because the decision’s over,” West said. “A lot of churches are experiencing renewal and a refreshing openness. It’s painful, but then you move forward, and there’s renewal and refreshment.”

The signs now point to the future.

“I have a lot of hope,” West said. “These can become times of refreshing when you get back to basics. We’ll move forward.”



First Methodist Church of Trussville, now associated with the Global Methodist Church, has a new sign. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)