tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26452104987793978842024-03-12T21:49:41.594-07:00Musings of a Musical PreacherWritings and reflections by Steve Westmusicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comBlogger576125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-45394389859364959352024-03-11T13:34:00.000-07:002024-03-11T13:41:42.892-07:00"Where's the Fire?" Homily Shared at the Academy for Spiritual Formation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLeGwKbQHVJLLVheq9NS50mj0uKM8-ZI1QAO-042UEUIDP3dCFc-5jQN0QYLMxK-HRz_f0hkJrceq5jtSi0QaPH8XV-ap-mjT6v1WLZmy_e4zgSARvysfp7-Y54MUyh1wyzIFd0bzME2tCnCGW434tXPLloNSxBOhnXDTkhy_LJGU5UnRVEIdf616MMg/s4032/Don't%20Forget%20the%20Glow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLeGwKbQHVJLLVheq9NS50mj0uKM8-ZI1QAO-042UEUIDP3dCFc-5jQN0QYLMxK-HRz_f0hkJrceq5jtSi0QaPH8XV-ap-mjT6v1WLZmy_e4zgSARvysfp7-Y54MUyh1wyzIFd0bzME2tCnCGW434tXPLloNSxBOhnXDTkhy_LJGU5UnRVEIdf616MMg/s320/Don't%20Forget%20the%20Glow.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />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.<p></p><p><i>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.”)</i></p><p><i>Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-8 (the transfiguration)</i></p><p>—</p><p>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.”</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>I didn’t know it yet, but she was instilling a longing for God in me.</p><p>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?</p><p>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.</p><p>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?!”</p><p>Over the last few years, I’ve been asking myself that same question. Where’s the fire?</p><p>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?”</p><p>I didn’t have to ask “where’s the dumpster fire?” We’ve seen plenty of those.</p><p>Where’s the fire that burns in the heart, the fire that changes the world?</p><p>I had no idea Dwight would teach us about Teilhard de Chardin saying, <b><i>“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.”</i></b></p><p>THERE’S the fire. THAT’S the fire my soul longs for.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.”</p><p>I read the sermons of Macarius. It changed my life.</p><p>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). </p><p>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).</p><p>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:</p><p><b><i>“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.”</i></b></p><p>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, <b><i>“So also grace, the heavenly fire, is also within you.”</i></b></p><p>The FIRE of the Holy Spirit burning under us becomes a heavenly fire that burns WITHIN us.</p><p>So … “where’s the fire?”</p><p>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.</p><p>Let me tell you a personal story about finding that fire.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Well, a few weeks ago, I did. I found a particular one … it was entitled “Why I Love the Church.” Grandpa wrote:</p><p><b><i>“With all its admitted frailties and human weaknesses, we dare to join with David. Why did David so love the house of God? …</i></b></p><p>He shared a few thoughts, followed by this: <b><i>“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. <u>Divine</u>. <u>Human</u>. (He underlined these two words)</i></b></p><p><b><i>“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></b></p><p>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?” </p><p>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.”</p><p>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.”</p><p>This poem has always been dear to me, but now it’s taking on new life:</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>“I stood beside him proudly,</i></b></p><p><b><i>So much he’d learned to know.</i></b></p><p><b><i>And yet I dared to whisper,</i></b></p><p><b><i>‘Son, don’t forget the glow’.”</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i>“The glow that feeds the hunger</i></b></p><p><b><i>In restless human breasts,</i></b></p><p><b><i>The glow that gives the answer</i></b></p><p><b><i>To life’s long, ceaseless quests.</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i>“The glow that’s so rewarding,</i></b></p><p><b><i>When through the preach’d word</i></b></p><p><b><i>They breathe a prayer of ‘thanks, Sir’</i></b></p><p><b><i>For the wondrous things they’ve heard.</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i>“Always put it in your message. </i></b></p><p><b><i>Hungry hearts, of God’s lost sheep,</i></b></p><p><b><i>Reaching out for strength and courage,</i></b></p><p><b><i>Need soul-food to climb the steep.</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i>“The glow by which your father</i></b></p><p><b><i>Led countless souls to see</i></b></p><p><b><i>The ‘glow-ry’ of the gospel</i></b></p><p><b><i>As it’s surely meant to be.</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i>“A diamond studded highway</i></b></p><p><b><i>Whose end is sure reward.</i></b></p><p><b><i>So keep it bright and shining,</i></b></p><p><b><i>The glory of his Word.”</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p>Are you asking yourself “where’s the fire?” Are you longing for an ENCOUNTER with God?</p><p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>And when it does, well, don’t forget the glow.</p><p>In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.</p><div><br /></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-27569828133184125402024-01-22T08:08:00.001-08:002024-01-22T08:08:58.493-08:00Why Grandpa Hamby loved the Church<img id="id_b742_2cb6_51b4_200a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/189zOIeoSTekSX75eIo3i4ywA4wcW-8bi" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>I wonder if this is the very sermon he was preaching. The sermon is entitled “Why I Love the Church.” Grandpa wrote:</div><div><br></div><div>“With all its admitted frailties and human weaknesses, we dare to join with David. Why did David so love the house of God? …</div><div><br></div><div>“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.</div><div><br></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br></div><div>#StayUMC</div><div>#BeUMC</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7b86_b1ff_5875_f57e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1fjaAbAkPR-khQFvFGwtCTlkLckmkBEzw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-46033512534622779902024-01-18T14:53:00.000-08:002024-01-18T14:55:32.170-08:00Special Lenten Offer<p> SPECIAL LENTEN OFFER - Author Discount!</p><img id="id_34f0_fdaf_2785_2d7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSetSovl56Vl81MBA7c4m3RQuQ0iYBSq4tCB2sx0hcHt9qHUg7Us0apWVCKPk1Moy5KL_GALr_qfoMZGuI3iSHCPUyveA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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."</p><p>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.</p><p>Just “private message” me with your address and the number of copies. I'll ship them immediately and invoice you.</p><p>Let's all come back to the table in order to move forward.</p>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-76317823243995326872024-01-06T07:41:00.001-08:002024-01-06T07:41:55.811-08:00“This Gospel” of Radical Inclusion<div><img id="id_55f2_7a04_6b9b_1c3b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSDC8H8TqmbEU8gUf4TrKx1RmCt-Mw3pYQdN2_SbpHu4VehOIhtsZcYU_ALVoD-eP9F_I0kNWISNwRK0xZM7phjDFQcTw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Happy day of Epiphany!</div><div><br></div><div>Here’s a snapshot of Sandy when we were enjoying the Christmas lights at Calloway Gardens.</div><div><br></div><div>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:</div><div><br></div><div>“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.”</div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-16083919908407202392023-12-20T08:12:00.000-08:002023-12-20T08:12:01.354-08:00My Thoughts on the Regionalization Plan<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>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.</i></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“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.’</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“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.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“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.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“I mean no offense, but that’s the way I see it.”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">For official information on the regionalization plan, click <a href="https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/regionalization-legislation-petitions-submitted-to-general-conference#:~:text=The%20regionalization%20legislation%20aims%20to%20provide%20equity%20throughout,for%20contextualized%20ministry%20and%20mission%20throughout%20the%20church.">here</a>.</span></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-42588958522997622023-12-18T14:53:00.000-08:002023-12-18T14:53:01.698-08:00Podcast on "Praying on the Incarnation"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK4dEuQjn8iSQTEdCIl15tUgW9Nfo8c0h8NyLBpwhNM-FcAKaBzy19VDKr0XXBs-NnpGQFwK1eajaGsKQoXJ_CY3-ABROqHQ3aSVWNH5LNTp71FzFWg_SyzbchPee4UMx-Ni0iV1gp86GsIM4tpG79l8hNt6jnTAHMEUhszuIOU2WmAFAvUNab8V_6PE/s1400/Pray%20Together.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK4dEuQjn8iSQTEdCIl15tUgW9Nfo8c0h8NyLBpwhNM-FcAKaBzy19VDKr0XXBs-NnpGQFwK1eajaGsKQoXJ_CY3-ABROqHQ3aSVWNH5LNTp71FzFWg_SyzbchPee4UMx-Ni0iV1gp86GsIM4tpG79l8hNt6jnTAHMEUhszuIOU2WmAFAvUNab8V_6PE/s320/Pray%20Together.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Have a listen to my Advent devotion for the “Pray Together” podcast from the NAL Conference.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">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!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You can listen <a href="https://prayingtogether.podbean.com/e/2023-advent-prayer-week-3/?fbclid=IwAR2mFTOetYapgismxVfIqc286848-TEbCuirCCvWIKvrSyi8vOaEA_sVBmw">here</a>.</span></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-22543593157301314182023-12-07T18:01:00.001-08:002023-12-07T18:49:17.526-08:00Article in Al.Com<i>Here is an article by Greg Garrison that appeared in Al.Com, the Anniston Star, and other publications on November 30, 2023.</i><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>United Methodist split: changing signs reflect upheaval</b></h1><div><img alt="" id="id_e954_d0ba_1350_c765" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaAmxJ-S5OvifcfebYn2EOlP7XIUw8pEM8Rmgso2wqEoMqFrrm53XPKSEPUx_9qwPDVx0yzpxFQ2oq9VoguWw8BnU6__bw" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><i>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)</i></div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“I didn’t meddle in their decision,” West said. “I was personally sad.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Gift of a cross and flame</h3><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_6005_c39_6211_1844" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaAf1E29cY0bFmXgPEHWOjoQNZaFFsRsu0J16R7D9xD-4XtDca9X9cJNSXqTjzxhwcv8dJgqFuskjQQ8c62XEzKSSP_S" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">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)</i></h4><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“We’re just focused now on being welcoming, and being able to disagree,” she said.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">New sign in Trussville</h3><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Even road signs that say, “United Methodist Church two miles ahead,” had to be changed, Strange said.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.</div><div><br /></div><div>We’ve picked people up from Riverchase, and Asbury, Huffman, Trinity, a lot of churches that didn’t vote,” Strange said.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Calm after storm?</h3><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>“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.”</div><div><br /></div><div>The signs now point to the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>“I have a lot of hope,” West said. “These can become times of refreshing when you get back to basics. We’ll move forward.”</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_c29f_1490_1f8a_6166" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaBaSebdAEhy-VH5UkJuXTgknQqDYBpnjNlwTqQPGlibKX8GVXKeLJ7KZg4Da1e0GlYgAVSukENVl33Hm8ZRw8FgXKeJrQ" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><i>First Methodist Church of Trussville, now associated with the Global Methodist Church, has a new sign. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)</i></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-52524790738369738142023-11-21T02:03:00.001-08:002023-11-21T02:05:31.511-08:00Review of My Book in Academic Journal<div>I’m incredibly honored that an academic journal based in London, <i>Wesley and Methodist Studies</i>, carried a solid review of my new book by Adam Ployd, formerly Vice Principal of Wesley House in Cambridge, UK and now Dean of the Davenport College at Yale.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is a copy.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8e39_f8e7_ee69_58c0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaCIEa2RMYDNhgFWXu-JK19aja6gy0KTrbsaAFbKwu2WU2jGs-LYKB3Vy5lM8G1aTF-b8ocPhryf_Qp_l0PrH1t5wSoEWg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_7170_d23c_fae4_1281" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaB0MisrPdjmnjSiSVL6l5iazfS_AuCP8d-KaxiHu1li2hzxp2QG1gguQpBLThmiUNRHz9DxEd_EDmKylAzqOPcDrXPAQA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4812_8119_d21f_a973" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaB6oFT9NHTgIEha5PLyMUGKA3-Z4-zwXRUWaksiOVZHAVfe7xCMuYZRLco1r5fQ2V2tG18gv-Y-veIYxzXDiBOb5w8stA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-41882426025523262342023-11-08T07:29:00.001-08:002023-11-08T07:29:36.116-08:00Jesus in the Morning<div>This might be a record.</div><div><br></div><div>I got nineteen minutes (count them, 19!) of their undivided attention at chapel for Kids 1st Academy today. And the best part is I got to answer the question one of them asked me last week after chapel, “who is Jesus?”</div><div><br></div><div>We learned the song “Jesus in the Morning,” so I just had to post my favorite picture of Jesus for all time (unless I’m mistaken it originated from Sally Allocca’s mother). We learned the Bible verse “For God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son.”</div><div><br></div><div>I got to introduce some people to Jesus today. What can be better than that?</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_eb33_c223_9776_216d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaApGwZyGaLgvBe15Szos_hb_7xuGYtqqmyOxn-_SUdMMdrbhrIpbZnXcTJWOUBd7TdpqwW3geuPk6AzEsrhpP7aol4bOQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-26811934749001654972023-10-12T08:41:00.001-07:002023-11-21T01:59:30.506-08:00A Word of Grace for Those Committed to the UMC<div><img id="id_f88b_101c_b099_1814" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaA-v0_az0-Do64pldHnGWNYqN-NnEfhEsN8xIYzCjJc2bm9luZLhQDhch73ZVF5g1b8ewtiPK38KQlOCJ65twVXk6x03g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>Here is a word of grace for those of us committed to staying in the UMC and responding to continued attacks. At the end of Philippians chapter 1, Paul says:</div><div><br></div><div>“Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that … I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”</div><div><br></div><div>Immediately preceding this, Paul talked at length about his journey letting go of other preachers that were actively opposing him in such a way as to “increase his suffering” while in prison. Imagine other preachers literally preaching against him. </div><div><br></div><div>Immediately after these verses, he goes into the beautiful hymn on regarding others as better than ourselves, taking the mind of Christ, who in humility emptied himself and took the form of a servant.</div><div><br></div><div>May we, too, live our lives in a way that reflects the gospel. May we stand firm in one spirit, striving side by side in unity. May we know that when we meet opposition we are suffering for Christ, who prayed fervently for unity in his church. May we empty ourselves and be servants of God, knowing Christianity is a WAY to be lived, not just an institution to be protected or propagated.</div><div><br></div><div>Take heart, my friends. “All will be well and all manner of things shall be well.”</div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-9830770971287778982023-09-30T19:11:00.001-07:002023-11-21T02:00:51.406-08:00Memorial for the Grissom High School Class of 1983<img id="id_72e_b399_615b_368a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaD_ZmqWjf8ikTfL2SpuGZWfB37dOzRX6iaGZXWuROI5FIQ_Gp3fzUVlMClIqMWJ6tGYkj3xlBusy9TaTNxVg2t7z1Feyg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">These were my remarks at the brief memorial service I was honored to lead for our 40th high school reunion on September 30, 2023. We met in the entrance lobby of the new Grissom High School after getting a tour from the new principal. We gathered around a small table with a cloth, a candle, and a bell.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Since we all need little reminders, my name is Steve West, and I am of course part of the class of ‘83.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We graduated from Grissom in the year 1983. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was #1 in the charts, and Motorola released the first mobile phone. Mario Brothers were unleashed by Nintendo, and the final episode of M.A.S.H. was watched by 125 million viewers.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It was a long time ago, and like you, I had a lot of things on my mind. But the last thing I could have imagined back then was being asked to say a few words to remember our lost classmates 40 years later. I’m deeply honored.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We stand here and light this candle to remember them. I count 39 of them, and as strange as it seems, that averages about 1 per year. We light a candle because they are like “shining stars that burned out too soon.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I can remember exactly where I was, and what I was doing, when I first heard of the death of someone from our class I knew pretty well. I was doing summer camp registration, and a friend bounded up to me to tell me of the death of Todd Walker, lost in an accident at the Space Center. Todd sat by me in Mrs. Ward’s home room every year. He was always fun, always sharp witted, played sax in the band, and went to church with some of my friends.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">If I asked you, you might remember the first time you heard about the death of someone you knew.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But I can’t say I knew everyone on this list. I went through the media presentation some of you graciously put together, some had obituaries attached. Some I was acquainted with, others were less familiar. But all of them were important … to somebody. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So what do we say about them today?</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I think of a quote from Scottish poet Thomas Campbell, which my mother found in my grandmother’s journal. “To live in the hearts of those we left behind is not to die.” </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Today we honor their memory, because they live on in us. We are grateful.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’d like us to be honest about a couple of things. When there are between five and six hundred in your class, we just can’t know everybody. Whether you went to Whitesburg or Mountain Gap, or like me moved to Huntsville to go to high school, we just don’t have the bandwidth.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">You may have regrets that you didn’t know some of them better. Or you might have regrets about the interactions you do remember with some of them. I want you to know it’s natural to feel that way.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But we are now experienced enough to know people aren’t perfect, and wise enough to let go of the expectation that we should be. Kelly Caldwell Kazek posted some delightful “Reasons You Really Should Go to Your 40th Reunion.” I thought the most insightful one was </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">“We’ve all had ups and downs since high school. We measure success in different ways. The important thing to know is these are some of your oldest friends.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Do you know what helps me when I have regrets about someone I have lost? Whatever we may believe about the afterlife, I’m sure of one thing. If they are looking down on us now, they are doing so with perfect love and understanding eyes. We were teenagers back then, and none of us were particularly wise. We can put the past behind us knowing that the people we honor today have a more complete perspective.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Returning to the idea that they are like “shining stars that burned out too soon,” we know that some stars twinkle brightly, some are in interesting patterns that we assign meaning to, others are dim or slightly red. We may know some stars better than we know the others. But together, the stars light the night sky, and that’s what matters. There’s a bigger picture we are a part of.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I have an altar bell from an old church. I’d like to first light the candle, then read the names. Then I’ll ring the bell to call us to one minute of silence. Then I’ll close with a poem. Let us begin.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">The candle is lit and these names are read:</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><ul class="ul1" style="list-style-type: "— "; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Carl Behr</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Chris Hallum</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jim Pemberton</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Neil Stanley</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">John Burgoyne</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Allisen Brooks Cox</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Kerry Edwin Vaughn</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Forrest Splinter Spann</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Chris Atkins</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Christian Sloan</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Tim Leduc</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Stacy Abeyta Tucker</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eric Pickett</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lisa Holloway Roop</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Pat Ferrell</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Del Hilbert</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Craig Hoke</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Michael Sean Gregg</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jennifer Kirkpatrick Habblett Goodridge</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Tim Byrne</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mark Lunsford</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Donny Featherston</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Peter Operacz</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Burt Cogburn</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">David Scott Forgie</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Peter Sapp</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Phyllis Pope</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Anne Deletang</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Todd Walker</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Michelle Ballard</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Gregory Scott Canter</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">James "Jim" Wise</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Stephen Francis Horan</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Scott Terrell</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sharon Guinn</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mark Magnant</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Desiree “Dee” McGlone Tumas</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Steven C Smith</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mary Terrance “Terri” Newsome</span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">I rang the bell and invited us to take a minute of silence. Then this poem was read:</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“So many things have happened<br>Since they were called away.<br>So many things to share with them<br>Had they been left to stay.<br>And now on this reunion day,<br>Memories do come our way.<br>Though absent, they are ever near,<br>Still missed, remembered, always dear.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 29px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">As time permitted, I asked people if they’d like to say a brief sentence or two about someone we remembered.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;"><img id="id_b17f_8f66_39f0_e5a6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AK7aPaBXZMDFsOr8sM2l2tTP2SxERGUe7HwEGuwdnzxokgO1jyzUOCkgfyr6C9UcwooGrvDSWZgGnK43Ih-F7AYvKmlXC76HOw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></span><br></p> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-84120069862888996352023-07-27T20:33:00.001-07:002023-11-21T02:01:32.013-08:00On the phrase “Love the sinner, hate the sin”<br><div>I have grown to detest this phrase.</div><div><br></div><div>It carries the pretense of being loving, with the undergirding reality that we assume we are “holier than thou.” I imagine it sounds so different to the one being judged than the one doing the judging. Yes, it’s judgment … because we are attempting to identify what another person’s sin is.</div><div><br></div><div>Not only that, let’s be honest. Folks who use this phrase are almost always talking about one thing. Nobody uses it when we talk about people’s addiction, or lying, or cheating on their taxes.</div><div><br></div><div>Here’s the thing. The only things the Lord “hates,” according to scripture, are “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Look it up.</div><div><br></div><div>I wonder if people who presume to righteously hate other people’s sin realize that it may be their own sin the Lord truly hates.</div><div><br></div><div>Our calling is to love God and neighbor, my friends.</div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-44831104067464306192023-07-05T04:00:00.031-07:002023-07-05T04:00:00.166-07:00Presentation on Staying in the UMC<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: auto;">I have been a spokesperson for staying UMC in this season when some have been discerning whether to secede from our denomination or remain in the main body. Each presentation has been tailored to a local situation.</span></p><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">Now that I have finished the last speaking engagement on my calendar, I feel compelled to share my most recent presentation with you here.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" id="id_b256_27d7_3f47_e803" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MgCCb9PmIfc" width="320" youtube-src-id="MgCCb9PmIfc"></iframe></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">I’m passionate about the future of the UMC and believe we have gre</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">at days ahead, pulling together and focusing on making disciples of Christ after this schism. I stand firmly against the wealth of misinformation that has been spread by separatists, and this presentation includes some of my </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: large;">“Methodist mythbusting.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">If all you’ve heard is a separatist presentation, you have not opened yourself to a complete picture. Factual information from your pastor, conference, and bishop isn’t the “other side” but the common ground from which multiple sides should be considered.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 29px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">I hope this offers a clear, compelling alternative to the separatist point of view. Some highlights are:</span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; list-style-type: "— "; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">The distinction between traditional “compatibalists” and “incompatibalists”</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">Essential Wesleyan spirituality</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">Addressing MYTHS such as the ideas that UMC beliefs are going to dramatically change, extreme examples represent the whole, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>we are all going to take a “hard left,” and that leaving is a “good business deal.”</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">A vision for being a traditional church in a diverse denomination</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">Choosing unity over conformity and uniformity</span></li></ul><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: medium;">Feel free to share it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-82180330575578269982023-07-03T12:04:00.019-07:002023-07-03T12:40:23.292-07:00Balancing Resources (latest version)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmW76wdc9ad_UGh0ROT1vgA7cSorWQbxjuQB2wLZBA-OTAS2-Ammq1oNYTx3lIpf3CUX3PyG5hOHdm04Vl0wyOZiHoz3p3cP_dIh7dbqBfxw-B9tWvbhcpJSDdV6iv0jE7aenTaTKBI8YUeOjpRuxJEMqWAxq0PZ18tSYl4hpWC8u7vVnMQy2o2EH5nko/s640/Additional-Resources-Pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="640" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmW76wdc9ad_UGh0ROT1vgA7cSorWQbxjuQB2wLZBA-OTAS2-Ammq1oNYTx3lIpf3CUX3PyG5hOHdm04Vl0wyOZiHoz3p3cP_dIh7dbqBfxw-B9tWvbhcpJSDdV6iv0jE7aenTaTKBI8YUeOjpRuxJEMqWAxq0PZ18tSYl4hpWC8u7vVnMQy2o2EH5nko/w200-h129/Additional-Resources-Pic.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There is plenty of biased and misleading information available on the internet to promote the separatist narrative for leaving the UMC. I offer these balancing resources.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-series-is-the-umc-really">Is the United Methodist Church Really …?</a> – Mythbusting by “Ask the UMC” from United Methodist Communications (parts 1-11 so far)</div><div><br /></div><div>"<a href="https://proudtobeumc.com/">Proud to Be UMC</a>"</div><div><br /></div><div>Bishop Bickerton’s <a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/reclaim-revive-renew-the-necessity-of-union-amongus?fbclid=IwAR1b8mz8gSfIGC3UMS5pKR8WUbyitvFO6kiReG5powgGVAZG7i2VOHojm80">“Mid-State of the UMC”</a> Address</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/files/websites/www/a+narrative+for+the+continuing+united+methodist+church...._.pdf">Council of Bishop’s Narrative</a> for the Continuing UMC</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://vimeo.com/722681837?fbclid=IwAR3kb9hjMCpvL6MM9JR-jlNUSf-P93sfH3oiLm5zYoRZ7ANEzDz8Ha6OO0">Celebrate the UMC Event</a> in Montgomery - Featuring Tom Berlin</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ9ImE1EUYQ&feature=youtu.be 2">Sermon by John Robbins</a> of Pulaski Heights UMC on Staying in the UMC</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62qtzyBVCv8">Adam Hamilton Responds</a> to Maligning and Misleading Videos of Rob Renfroe</div><div><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-push-back-against-recruitment-tactics"><br /></a></div><div><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-push-back-against-recruitment-tactics">Bishops Push Back</a> Against Recruitment Tactics of WCA</div><div><br /></div><div>African Bishops <a href="https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/african-bishops-condemn-africa-initiative-and-wca-17013149">Condemn the WCA</a> and refuse to go into the GMC</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/what-we-believe">What We Believe</a> – The United Methodist Church</div><div><br /></div><div>United Methodist <a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-nurturing-community">Social Principles</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/tuesdays-at-the-table-10-05-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go">“Should I Stay or Should I Go”</a> series by United Methodist Communications</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.stayumc.org">Stay UMC</a> - Grassroots coalition of North Alabama United Methodists</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/why-im-not-leaving-the-united-methodist-church">“Why I’m Not Leaving the United Methodist Church”</a> -Letter by Steve West that went viral after first Clear Branch event promoting leaving the UMC</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://stevewestsmusings.blogspot.com/2021/07/an-open-letter-to-chris-ritter.html">“Open Letter to Chris Ritter”</a> - Letter by Steve West that went viral in response to biased sideby-side comparison distributed by the WCA</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://oboedire.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/new-umc-we-believe/?fbclid=IwAR3nJ8o6Dh6- L9K8GENTUflElt89CGSqY3BwsJgOXTV9EGWUcyE3d5Vsydw">“We Believe!”</a> - Steve Harper dispels myths about future beliefs</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://twmbo.org/">“That We May Be One”</a> – Texas Conference</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.abidesga.com/?fbclid=IwAR2i8ji8H9epL9lZQgLHcqNW3XpwRDocc2brZK4IAEmaT V4eRwhP5vHLBQw">“Abide”</a> - South Georgia Conference</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en">United Methodist News Service</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://um-insight.net/">“United Methodist Insight”</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2022/12/15/17/27/beginning-again-digital-guide-for-remaining-umc.ashx?la=en">"Beginning Again"</a> - Guide for Remaining United Methodist </div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-91551204378944330072023-06-30T11:32:00.001-07:002023-11-21T02:02:03.898-08:00Letter Responding to my Stay UMC Presentation<br><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">This is a letter I was honored to receive after a recent presentation. I share it with you (edited to remove identifying information) because it beautifully and succinctly states, from a layperson’s point of view, why the vast majority of traditional United Methodists feel compelled to stay UMC.</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;"><br></span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">—</div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;"><br></span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">Dr. West, </span><br></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">I hope this isn't an imposition. I was in the audience at {my local UMC}on Wednesday night. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span data-originalfontsize="12pt" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">I wanted to speak to you after, not least to ask how you're enjoying "Strange New Worlds," but you had a number of folks waiting and we knew you had a long drive home ahead of you.</span> <br></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></div><div data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1rem;">First, I want to </span>thank you<span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1rem;">. It's obvious that this is a subject you're passionate about, and I truly appreciate you giving of your time</span><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1rem;">. </span><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1rem;"> I also have something that I simply can't get my head around. My brilliant wife and I have talked about the matter extensively. I've spoken with {our pastor} at length, done a lot of reading, and watched what feels like hours of video (including more than one iteration of Rev. Stafford's informational session). We have a 10-year-old son, and as I helped him with his Reading Fair project on Sherlock Holmes this past school year, we talked about the idea of "Qui bene?" that Holmes comes back to when he's stuck on a problem. Believe it or not, that's what is really confusing to me about the present situation. It may be that I'm not sophisticated enough or just not well-versed enough in the complexities of the thing, but I'm having a really hard time understanding how the traditionalists benefit from this. I understand that they want a church that more closely reflects their social ideology, and that may be the answer, but I don't understand why the UMC has to be shattered to accomplish that. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1rem;">Beyond that, I find the GMC's references to Paul and Barnabas as a touchstone somewhat disingenuous. Those two parted ways over a personal disagreement as far as I can tell, not any theological divide. It also bugs me that the whole premise of Rev. Stafford's presentation appears to be internally inconsistent, first stating that declaring Jesus as Savior is all that is required for salvation, regardless of doctrine or <i data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">rules </i>(emphasis mine), and then lamenting breaches of the Book of Discipline in nearly the next breath. His appeal to probability, saying that because there are more and more "liberal" pastors being ordained in the UMC that even if you're a predominantly "traditional" UMC congregation, you're probably going to get a liberal pastor that doesn't align with your views, strikes me as a shabby trick more appropriate to Harold Hill. Those, however, are my own gripes and not likely to have much of an impact on anyone else.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">Sir, I know you're incredibly busy, and I understand completely if you're not able to respond. Part of writing this was just to sort out what's been banging around in my head on this for a long while. I'm going to vote to stay, if it comes to a vote at {my church}. Like you, I'm sure, people I love and respect are on the other side. If our church disaffiliates, I have no doubt we'll be able to find another church home. What it comes down to for me, really, is that I can't see myself being part of a church that says to anyone, "You can attend worship here. You can sit in the pew if you want. But you can't fully be part of this church because of who you are." It seems to me it's the same as saying, "Jesus does not want you here."</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></div><div data-originalfontsize="12pt" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Thank you<span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">, sir, again, for your time and your passion and for letting me get all this out. I'm not sure if any of it makes sense. If I can be of any help to you, please don't hesitate to ask.</span><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div style="font-size: 12pt; word-spacing: 1px; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><br></div><div id="m_-5678586005839387839Signature" style="caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><div style="font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue";"></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 1rem;">Very Respectfully,</span></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman"><span data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" style="font-size: 1rem;">{name}</span></font></div></div></div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-33319212236265700402023-06-06T14:52:00.007-07:002023-06-06T14:53:33.837-07:00Addressing the Misinformation about our Core Doctrines<i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h1><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvx90bi17VAsWw1vpYv4NzgstE8mrheve_aq235UD9c2nt-IeAnmleADMLWkyROmxpgOt8FBxVNVfDGjluzL4adx_fbG0eriT5feXrqYIQ83nWVaetz848fSmD472CDqVQbHUf3SdlTP8lHgF30vvO1DdM6Ff56SUJH3AQzWG3LkBOKPJJ6EqfWU3/s1280/holy-914891_1280.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1280" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvx90bi17VAsWw1vpYv4NzgstE8mrheve_aq235UD9c2nt-IeAnmleADMLWkyROmxpgOt8FBxVNVfDGjluzL4adx_fbG0eriT5feXrqYIQ83nWVaetz848fSmD472CDqVQbHUf3SdlTP8lHgF30vvO1DdM6Ff56SUJH3AQzWG3LkBOKPJJ6EqfWU3/w320-h314/holy-914891_1280.png" width="320" /></a></h1></div></i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I've had several thoughtful and positive comments on my sermon on Trinity Sunday, so I thought I'd share a portion of it here. It's important!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i>I'm excited about being part of God's church because of who God is and what God is doing in us. No church is perfect. Last time I checked, it's full of people. And no denomination is perfect. All of them are struggling, but the church is the gift that God gave us, a gift of not only witness for God but for the "with-ness" of God.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />And as we talk about the Trinity, I think it's important to address some misinformation that you will find out there in the world.
Some opponents of the United Methodist Church say that the UMC is going to somehow abandon core doctrines like the authority of the Bible, or the resurrection, or the virgin birth, or the lordship of Christ, or the Trinity. You name it, I've heard it.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and I'm going to tell you a couple of reasons why.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />First of all, one method of rhetoric is to take outlying examples - something somebody said, somewhere, in a 12.5 million person denomination - and then you exaggerate it, take it out of context, wrap it into a narrative of the infidelity of the whole, and use it as justification for leaving.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a method of rhetoric. But it's an untruth, because second, our core doctrines of the United Methodist Church can not be changed. They're part of something called the Articles of Religion. They are in a constitutional section of our Discipline and were written by Wesley's very own hand, as he adapted them from the Church of England. It would take a 3/4 vote of all lay and clergy members of all annual conferences everywhere, throughout the entire world, to change those core constitutional doctrines.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the very first one reads like this:<br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Article I — Of Faith in the Holy Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.<br /></b><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can not be more clear, and that's "A Number One."</span></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-25946994959388588922023-05-22T08:39:00.002-07:002023-05-22T08:43:17.378-07:00In Memory of Harry Sims Protecting the Freedom Riders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5mkPVclbYrbAmOIK0jqo2bqy5UkYHBdHa4IIr93-Emm7wZTxPpUbF3SmFmO4d8UcAHJd7U2s3zd0E-EvRHXcTzvaH7qd6_vtH38MP2MAr5ij9cWEY5-L2oxgw1LnC2kS1H-wXucIb1x46_RocRyagb3pFUiCfF9I8vq4q0lhBWFjPOzBtgNiLH67/s1024/Bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5mkPVclbYrbAmOIK0jqo2bqy5UkYHBdHa4IIr93-Emm7wZTxPpUbF3SmFmO4d8UcAHJd7U2s3zd0E-EvRHXcTzvaH7qd6_vtH38MP2MAr5ij9cWEY5-L2oxgw1LnC2kS1H-wXucIb1x46_RocRyagb3pFUiCfF9I8vq4q0lhBWFjPOzBtgNiLH67/s320/Bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I had a moving experience this past Saturday. I attended the Freedom Riders Anniversary Event on Gurney Avenue in Anniston, coordinated by a friend and parishioner named Pete Conroy. There was a book signing and presentation by Charles Person, one of two living original Freedom Riders who came through town in 1961 to protest continued segregation in Alabama, after it was outlawed by the Supreme Court.<div><br /></div><div>At the time their "mixed riding" was met with hostility from mobs of Ku Klux Klansmen, Person was 18 years old.
I had heard the basic story, of course, but I mentioned on Sunday that I didn't realize it happened on Mother's Day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards, one of our church members told me that a parishioner of our church, Harry Sims, was on that bus. In his blessed memory, and in honor of all those who are part of the fiber of our great church, I decided to learn more about what Harry did.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the time of the Freedom Riders, Harry was a plainclothes state trooper who was on the Greyhound bus. He was on duty, not only keeping an eye on things with his partner (who was recording the whole thing), but ended up protecting the Riders from violence.</div><div><br /></div><div>You probably know some of the main story. Two buses left Atlanta, bound for Birmingham, and the Greyhound stopped for a rest stop in Anniston. As soon as they left Atlanta, "beefy" Klansmen on the bus started taunting Person and the other black and white Freedom Riders. Harry and his partner were sitting in the back. Once stopped on Gurney Avenue in Anniston, out of nowhere, the Freedom Riders were met by a Ku Klux Klan mob who blocked the bus, slashed the tires, broke the windows, and beat it with baseball bats.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the bus was able to pull out, just a few miles out of town the bus had to stop on the side of the road. Having been chased by cars driven by the same angry mob, the infamous scene was set.</div><div><br /></div><div>Harry and his partner blocked the doors to keep the mob from attacking the Riders. One of the KKK threw a fire bomb through a broken window, and the Riders had to get out to escape further injury from smoke inhalation. Harry drew his weapon to protect them from the mob, which then began to disperse.
When the ambulance arrived, the driver refused to take the black Freedom Riders to the hospital, and the white Riders insisted that they would not leave their black friends behind.</div><div><br /></div><div>After some stern words from Harry's partner, the driver relented and they ended up all going. Harry and his partner accompanied them to the Anniston Memorial Hospital, where there was continued agitation. After the hospital administrator told them to evacuate because of threats of burning down the building, Harry and his partner could not provide transportation or an escort. So Fred Shuttlesworth, Civil Rights leader, ended up sending cars for them from Birmingham.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wish I had met Harry Sims and heard his version. Those were difficult times. But he was there for all that, and he protected them, and in his own way, he stood for what was right. I tip my hat to Harry Sims.
For more information on the Freedom Riders, the incident near Anniston, and Harry Sims, see the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2006/01/12/5149667/get-on-the-bus-the-freedom-riders-of-1961">NPR news article</a> on the subject.</div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-50280216729282103452023-05-05T21:16:00.001-07:002023-05-05T21:16:08.623-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fyOMJOz5kkw" width="320" youtube-src-id="fyOMJOz5kkw"></iframe></div><br />musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-23838254639052930052023-05-01T12:45:00.005-07:002023-05-05T21:14:16.683-07:00Better Recording of "I'll Be On My Way" by Shawn Kirchner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9kL_h8XpOHOAu15QJcEbjJ5xh_OSF63UD-jfb0XXTJCACs0ilN6XBoFFMagYRj3rZSkl-LUD1eTy9u3vckw4o_y9Hdzfvd3paHsjzzQk5qDHW9nCb0OBC9W4gyU9JNdxhAlhNhWa-aKdEJRrL_jbm_669QZWIldHSWFKCfDxbuyizDpfJAOFOhI4/s300/Illbeonmyway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="300" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9kL_h8XpOHOAu15QJcEbjJ5xh_OSF63UD-jfb0XXTJCACs0ilN6XBoFFMagYRj3rZSkl-LUD1eTy9u3vckw4o_y9Hdzfvd3paHsjzzQk5qDHW9nCb0OBC9W4gyU9JNdxhAlhNhWa-aKdEJRrL_jbm_669QZWIldHSWFKCfDxbuyizDpfJAOFOhI4/s1600/Illbeonmyway.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Some have asked to hear the most recent performance of my solo work with the Calhoun County Civic Chorale. It was a professional recording made in the recital hall at Mason Hall at JSU.</p><p>This is the spring performance of the Calhoun County Civic Chorale, doing "Ill Be On My Way" by Shawn Kirchner.</p><p>It features myself as the baritone soloist. The director is Dr. Eliezer Yansen, Jr. of Jacksonville State University.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/16FK9VNpjzU?feature=share&t=2113">YOU MAY VIEW THE PERFORMANCE BY CLICKING HERE</a>.</p><p><br /></p>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-15789784347556670892023-01-29T20:27:00.001-08:002023-01-29T20:29:29.069-08:00 “I’ll Be On My Way” by Shawn Kirchner Some have asked me to share the audio recording my wife made of “I’ll Be On My Way” by Shawn Kirchner, performed by the Calhoun County Civic Chorale directed by JSU faculty member Dr. Eliezer Yansen, Jr.<div><br></div><div>I am the baritone soloist featured in the piece. <br><div><br></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqD3s1NUgig" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_f381_f8c7_4b65_fd92" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-1464936543735758082022-12-14T22:11:00.008-08:002022-12-14T22:15:18.504-08:00Charles Wesley's Words Against Separation<div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMWl5BzZFaGREXH6Oe6B6VL7u3U61GFJ_DNJ_bEtmjqkbc8m-VUfv8Z_gNSfME2QpftzifnoEJGu0bfplSgrqYc37JexqLzo78G3YvBWSssEBc229UweNtIx5jPxy-4SghecYV8rETl6ivJ3OYV2DhhLa-tkxkBKFnb6WxMGGhXznvV_IQWMiIl_5/s435/Charles_Wesley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="330" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMWl5BzZFaGREXH6Oe6B6VL7u3U61GFJ_DNJ_bEtmjqkbc8m-VUfv8Z_gNSfME2QpftzifnoEJGu0bfplSgrqYc37JexqLzo78G3YvBWSssEBc229UweNtIx5jPxy-4SghecYV8rETl6ivJ3OYV2DhhLa-tkxkBKFnb6WxMGGhXznvV_IQWMiIl_5/w304-h400/Charles_Wesley.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div>This article was shared with me by S T Kimbrough, Jr.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>A key sentences reads <i>"</i></b><b><i>Regardless of current opinions in the church, remembering the posture of our founders is essential if we would bear the name Methodist."</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><div><b>Kimbrough is a retired NAC member of the North Alabama Conference and serves as a Research Fellow in the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition at Duke Divinity School</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At the conclusion of John Wesley’s treatise <i>Reasons Against Separation from the Church of </i><i>England</i> (1758) there is a rarely quoted paragraph written by his brother Charles Wesley. As one carefully considers issues related to dividing The United Methodist Church it behooves us to hear these words of one of the founders of the Methodist movement.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span>“I think myself bound in duty, to add my testimony to my brother’s.</div><div><span> </span>His twelve reasons against our ever Separating from the Church of England,</div><div><span> </span>are mine also. I subscribe to them with all my heart. Only with regard to the</div><div><span> </span>first, I am quite clear, that it is neither expedient, nor lawful for me to</div><div><span> </span>separate: and I never had the least inclination or temptation so to do. My</div><div><span> </span>affection for the Church is as strong as ever; and I clearly see my calling;</div><div><span> </span>which is, to live and to die in her communion. This therefore, I am determined</div><div><span> </span>to do, the Lord being my helper.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span>I have subjoined the Hymns for the Lay-Preachers; still farther to secure</div><div><span> </span>this end, to cut off all jealously and suspicion from our friends, or hope from</div><div><span> </span>our enemies, of our having any design of ever separating from the Church.</div><div><span> </span>I have no secret reserve, or distant thought of it. I never had. Would to God</div><div><span> </span>all the Methodist preachers were, in this respect, like minded with</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>CHARLES WESLEY.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Following this statement Charles included a series of hymns and poems pertinent to this theme. I quote only one of them here. Regardless of current opinions in the church, remembering the posture of our founders is essential if we would bear the name Methodist. As “God is love,” the Wesleys remind us that this is the central force of individual and corporate life together. Charles reminds us that God transcends the opinions of our hearts: <i>thou art greater than our heart</i>. And humble love is to be our ongoing mark as followers of Jesus. In the current turmoil in United Methodism the deep sense of humble love in the spirit of Charles Wesley’s text below, <i>alone </i>is worthy of the people called Methodists who claim to be followers of Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>O Lord, our strength and righteousness,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Our base, and head, and corner-stone,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Our peace with God, our mutual peace,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Unite, and keep thy servants one,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>That while we speak in Jesus’ name,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>We all may speak, and think the same.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span><i>That spirit of love to each impart,</i></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>That fervent mind, which was in thee,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>So shall we all our strength exert,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span>In heart, and word, and deed agree</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>T’ advance the kingdom of thy grace,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>And spread thine everlasting praise.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>O never may the Fiend steal in,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Or one unstable soul deceive:</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Assailed by our besetting sin,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>And tempted ’fore the work to leave,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Preserve us, Lord, from self and pride,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>And let nor life, nor death divide.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Pride, only pride, can cause divorce,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Can separate ’twixt our souls and thee:</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Pride, only pride, is discord’s source,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The bane of peace and charity;</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>But us it never more shall part,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><i><span> </span>For thou art greater than our heart.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Wherefore to thine almighty hand</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The keeping of our hearts we give,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Firm in one mind and spirit stand,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>To thee, and to each other cleave,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Fixed on the Rock which cannot move,</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>And meekly safe in <i>humble love</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>S T Kimbrough, Jr., retired NAC member</div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-76497980982719082322022-11-16T09:03:00.001-08:002022-11-16T09:05:14.102-08:00Interview with Paul Chilcote, Don Saliers, and Steve Harper<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was honored with a conversation on my new book with three people I look up to, Paul Chilcote, Don Saliers, and Steve Harper. This is segment #3 of UMsConnected, a new resource for those of us moving forward together as part of the United Methodist Church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BCvHxaBGekw" width="320" youtube-src-id="BCvHxaBGekw"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-10089968127823305412022-11-04T17:44:00.001-07:002022-11-04T17:44:14.154-07:00What if Someone Says Something I Don’t Like?<div>I get tired of having the same conversation over and over (haha). Somebody tagged me in a post about something an episcopal candidate in another Jurisdiction said, taken out of context to conclude that she didn’t believe in the divinity of Christ (which of course is not what she said).</div><div><br></div><div>First, I untagged myself from the post. Second, I wrote this. I share it with you, friends.</div><div><br></div><div>—</div><div><br></div><div>I don’t know her and she’s not a bishop, but here’s my comment. Every denomination has outliers and envelope pushers and extremists. If you leave the UMC, you are not leaving the outliers and extremists. You are leaving the main body of a wonderful denomination, for another denomination that will also have outliers and extremists. It’s human nature. If you shake a religious tree in America, a nut will fall out. In a 12.5 million person denomination, somebody somewhere is going to say something I don’t agree with. So?</div><div><br></div><div>It’s not new, and we work it out in the messiness of Christian community. It doesn’t bother me that somebody I don’t know somewhere believes something differently than me. Unless I’m willing to go have coffee with her, I let it go. Since this was given to me third hand and out if context, I do not fall prey to the hysteria. </div><div><br></div><div>It bothers me that these little anecdotes and sound bites and half-truths get spread around the internet used as justification when the real reason people are leaving is over their fundamental intolerance of our differences. It’s nothing more that witch hunting. I choose love.</div><div><br></div><div>You asked, so I answered.</div><div><br></div><div>This is an excellent example of the method of rhetoric that involves taking an extreme example, spreading it as a anecdote out of context and perhaps even exaggerating it, wrapping it into a narrative of the infidelity of the whole, and using it to justify leaving. I’d rather just focus on making disciples.</div> musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-81658489517245646742022-10-27T16:40:00.003-07:002022-10-27T16:40:59.817-07:00Birmingham Area Book Signings<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrupN_KtLSU4TcPyWTdGVir4wjyjbi_KUbjFwIyQIPM_HZym8qfxazSikz4kSPI51krv-U9oU7eUruv3fk_NBCbSSkNJtUe4DWuaIOV7OMkawq814hnFyJw_7JLKrO1ouFBvKOR0qfKtvwAYDYYhyRf5kvZkNTkcXkIcoPuwlzYLzoLw532g2tHSgf/s1280/BOOK%20SIGNINGS%20-%20Birmingham.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrupN_KtLSU4TcPyWTdGVir4wjyjbi_KUbjFwIyQIPM_HZym8qfxazSikz4kSPI51krv-U9oU7eUruv3fk_NBCbSSkNJtUe4DWuaIOV7OMkawq814hnFyJw_7JLKrO1ouFBvKOR0qfKtvwAYDYYhyRf5kvZkNTkcXkIcoPuwlzYLzoLw532g2tHSgf/w400-h225/BOOK%20SIGNINGS%20-%20Birmingham.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Live in the Birmingham area? I'd love to see you. Join me on Nov. 9 at 10 am at Bluff Park UMC or on Nov. 13 anytime between 5:30-7:00 pm at Trinity UMC West Campus.</div><br /> <p></p>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2645210498779397884.post-40742951301714996712022-10-06T14:17:00.008-07:002022-11-22T14:51:35.526-08:00Balancing Resources<div>There is misinformation being spread by some to actively recruit churches to leave our denomination. Much of it consists of either strawman arguments or exaggerated, extreme examples that do not represent the whole.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have nothing against those that are leaving. I just believe in telling the truth, and that laity deserve to have balanced and accurate information.</div><div><br /></div><div>I offer these balancing resources.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/discerning-our-future-faqs-now-available-17047061?fbclid=IwAR3aPLoByKSKRqJqLQEiYla67Si0VmCKO2bLBq7Lng_fUCIKGJmH2Z8_YmA">North Alabama Conference Releases Excellent Set of FAQ’s in October of 2022</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://proudtobeumc.com/">Adam Hamilton Responds to Maligning and Misleading Videos by Rob Renfroe</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-push-back-against-recruitment-tactics" id="id_e0ca_a5ba_22c7_dc29">Bishops Push Back Against Recruitment Tactics</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/african-bishops-condemn-africa-initiative-and-wca-17013149?fbclid=IwAR0y8DHpX1fLrQvth8GALxN8NIzwSQ3Hu615kLtY7NMQJTJZt68a-x2EwgA">African Bishops Condemn the WCA and refuse to go into the GMC</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://youtu.be/QOEG4LK-J5c">What’s Next for the UMC?</a></b> - <i>An older but still relevant video by Lovett Weems</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/people-of-god-campaign-new/bishops-narrative" id="id_1dc5_f2f_c125_b3fe">Council of Bishop’s Narrative for the Continuing UMC</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.stayumc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CalltoPrayerandDiscernmentFINAL.pdf">Requirements for the Discernment Process</a></b> - <i>North Alabama Conference of the UMC</i></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.stayumc.org"><b>StayUMC</b> </a>– <i>Grassroots coalition of North Alabama <font>United Methodists</font></i></div><div><font><br /></font></div><div><font><b><a href="https://vimeo.com/722681837?fbclid=IwAR3kb9hjMCpvL6MM9JR-jlNUSf-P93sfH-3oiLm5zYoRZ7ANEzDz8Ha6OO0">Celebrate the UMC Event in Montgomery</a> </b>- <i>Featuring Tom Berlin …</i> <b>*BEST VIDEO TO SEE*</b></font></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ9ImE1EUYQ&feature=youtu.be">Sermon by John Robbins of Pulaski Heights UMC</a></b> on Staying in the UMC</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Messages from the NAC3 Team</b></div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/16513389">June 2 message</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><a href="https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/message-from-bishop-wallace-padgett-seven-impressions-from-the-2022-north-alabama-annual-conference-16552586?fbclid=IwAR0bSic7RBD6lgzp_y1lo7CxCzZLDjqVVvb6WKn-MFKoE4eMv2a_IGRrkSY">July 6 message</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><a href="https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/16586686">July 28 message</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><a href="https://na-email.brtapp.com/viewinsite/a5d89ae5e78c032fe983b830973b029e?fbclid=IwAR3ICUO4VwD4pbaQ_FgvHWvlFohwomFKGNtSHnMlujc5lo4mOpm4HDJbHw4">August 25 message</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><a href="https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/message-from-nac3-team-values-that-guide-our-work-17146688">November 16 message</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/our-people/beumc">#BeUMC</a> </b>- <i>United Methodist Communications</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/what-we-believe">What We Believe</a></b> – <i>The United Methodist Church</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Is the United Methodist Church Really …?</b> - <i>Myth busting by “Ask the UMC”</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-1">Part 1</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-2">Part 2</a><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span> <a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-3">Part 3</a><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-4">Part 4</a><br /></div><div><span> </span> </div><div> <a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-is-the-umc-really-part-5">Part 5</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/social-principles-the-nurturing-community">United Methodist Social Principles</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/why-im-not-leaving-the-united-methodist-church">“Why I’m Not Leaving the United Methodist Church”</a></b></div><div><i>Letter by Steve West that went viral after first Clear Branch event promoting leaving the UMC</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://stevewestsmusings.blogspot.com/2021/07/an-open-letter-to-chris-ritter.html">Open Letter to Chris Ritter</a></b> - <i>Letter by Steve West that went viral in response to biased side-by-side comparison distributed by the WCA</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.txcumc.org/files/navigating+the+waters/fdtf/umc-gmc+comparison+chart.pdf">More Accurate Side-by-side Comparison of the UMC and GMC</a></b> - <i>North Texas AC</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PastorAdamHamilton/videos/3167714880107584">Adam Hamilton on Why Stay in the UMC</a></b> - <i>Video of Church Council meeting</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Qe50xPsH0">Adam Hamilton visits Asbury UMC Birmingham</a></b> - <i>Cosponsored by Stay UMC</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://oboedire.wordpress.com/2022/06/15/new-umc-we-believe/?fbclid=IwAR3nJ8o6Dh6-L9K8GENTUflElt89CGSqY3BwsJgOXTV9EGWUcyE3d5Vsydw">Addressing Myths about the Future UMC</a></b> - <i>Steve Harper dispels myths about future beliefs</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://twmbo.org/">“That We May Be One”</a></b> – <i>Texas </i></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.abidesga.com/?"><b>“Abide”</b></a> - <i>South Georgia </i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.umnews.org/en">United Methodist News Service</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://um-insight.net/">“United Methodist Insight”</a></b></div><div><br /></div>musicalpreacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737652149587871011noreply@blogger.com