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!