Methodist Blogger Profile: David Hallam

David Hallam of Methodist Preacher
Why do you blog?
I started during Lent 2007, I wanted to try this new media. Part of me wanted to use it for my unpaid, part time work as a local preacher, part of me needed to be up to scratch in my work as a public relations and communications manager. Blogs are growing in influence and I have been delighted with the number of hits. My main concern though is that whilst a lot of Americans access my site (and please continue), I’m really after creating a dialogue within the British Methodist Church and crucially a place where I can discuss religion with people local to me here in Birmingham and the Black Country.

What has been your best blogging experience?
Getting a lot of positive feedback and even breaking a few stories that have been taken up by the mainstream media.

It has been great to become part of a world wide network

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
I am still a novice myself. Be careful of the search engines. One or two are now giving me far more prominence than I expected and I am a little afraid it may interfere with my commercial work and professional life. By using sitemeter I’ve learnt a lot about the searches that lead to a landing.

Put nothing on a blog that you would not want your kids or employer to see. It may seem funny at the time, but down the line can look very silly. At first I experimented with a mythical Methodist Church that summed up all that was wrong with Methodism in the UK. It was great fun and wonderful when shared among a few well chosen friends, but not right for external consumprtion.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
If time is that short I should be reading the Scriptures!

My favourite (note to editor – this is the correct spelling, don’t Americanise it!) blog has always been my local councilor www.bobpiper.co.uk . Bob started three years ago and I have seen his develop over the years. Bob is on the left of the Labour Party, a vegetarian and an atheist but has always been a great political support. One day I will get him into church.

Who are your spiritual heroes?
The people I knew fifty years ago at a tiny Brethren chapel in East London called Paragon Hall. They were the first to share the Word with me, though there have been many others since.

What are you reading at the moment?
Sadly I rarely sit down and read a book except on holiday or on retreat. Earlier this year I read A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. From a British perspective it hits a lot of buttons about our relationship with the former communist countries, the recent influx of Eastern Europeans and the dark memories of the impact that the Second World War had, and still has on thousands of lives. I don’t know how it would go down in the USA, but it is very funny and then suddenly, very moving.

Of course regular readers of my blog will know that I recently reviewed Terry Wynn’s excellent book “Where are the Prophets?”. Terry is a local preacher and former MEP as well so we have much in common.

What is your favorite hymn and why?
And can it be? The phrase “My chains fell off, my heart was free” summarises my conversion exactly

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?
When I became a Christian at the age of 18 my entire universe changed. I moved to the political and moral left.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
Racism, in all its many forms. From the obvious and the most unpleasant to the slightly more civilized versions that blight millions of lives in practically very country on earth.

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
I’d elect a Labour government, led by a Christian Socialist. (and that leader would not be Tony Blair!)

If you could effect one major policy change in the Methodist Church, what would it be?
Mainly that we again became an active Evangelical Church. There is too much domination by “cradle Methodists” going through some sort of adolescent rebellion – terrified of being “fuddy duddy”. I’m a first generation Methodist and know just Jesus has done for me. I want our Church to tell people what a wonderful Saviour we have and I want them to have the same wonderful experience that I have had.

In the UK I would want to see us roll back our embrace of “responsible gambling”, something that I wasn’t entirely aware of until I started blogging. Across the world I would like to see us hunger for souls rather respectability.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
I have three teenage children so I try to give advice by example. Get on with it, there’s so much to do

What, if anything, do you worry about?
Our daily bread and I know I shouldn’t. I work hard running my own business but haven’t yet learnt to put many things into God’s hands. I sometimes don’t think the Church’s full time workers understand this pressure on working long hours.

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
No problem answering that. Had I accepted my first invitation to go to City Road Methodist Church, I would have met Claire my wife ten years earlier. It was amazing how tantalizingly close we came to meeting, having many friends in common. When I finally made it Claire was on the mission field with YWAM so we had yet another delay. Just think my children could be ten years older now and I wouldn’t be running a bespoke taxi service every night of the week. I’d have more time for blogging!

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
When I retire I am hoping we can afford a narrow boat. I would spend each summer traveling round the now deserted industrial heartland of England. Each evening we’d draw up within walking distance of a canal side pub, sip a quiet pint and enjoy the peace and quiet of God’s own country at its best.

What do you like doing in your spare time?
I rarely have spare time. Its work, church, writing, politics. I enjoy the occasional walk in the countryside and I love taking my children to a motorcycle speedway match. Holidays are always spent in Plymouth on a static caravan site overlooking the Sound.

What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t think I actually have one that is tangible. My faith and my enthusiasm is what I value most. I’d hate to lose my enthusiasm.

What talent would you most like to have?
The gift of tongues. I am so bad at learning languages it is painful. Anglo Saxons (Americans are no different) seem to take pride in making the rest of the world learn English. I would love to be fluent in at least one other language.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?
Francis Asbury must be one. He was born not far from here and I wrote a book about his mother. Also Clem Beckett the motorcycle speedway rider who was murdered by the Fascists in the Spanish Civil War when fighting for the International Brigade. I am hoping to write a book about him too, but there are quite a few gaps in my research. Finally, well I’m a great believer in always working on the basis that there should be a spare place for whoever turns up. So let’s wait and see who does.

Observations on a new life

Our daughter, Maria Ellen, will turn one week old in a little more than 12 hours, and for the last seven days my wife Jessica and I have been carefully observing her - we admit it, we have a hard time not watching her every second! Here are some of the little things I love about her already: I love how her whole body starts shaking before she sneezes. I love the blue-gray color of her eyes and how they dart around. I love how she cries only when she really needs something - food, comfort, to be cleaned. I love the small hands and feet with the long fingers and toes. I love her soft brown hair. I love hew her bottom lip kind of quivers and I think she about to cry, and then she doesn't.

Most of all I love how she gives me a better idea of unconditional love and grace. She is incapable of doing anything to earn my love; it is as natural as breathing for me to love her. Does God really just delight in me the same way? Somehow it is truth that I cannot imagine to be true, because of how deeply-rooted my own struggle with the absolute grace of God is. Something within me wants desperately to establish my own worth, on my own terms and in my own way. Yet before God, I can do none of that. I am simply worthy because He has formed me (and my daughter) in His image. I think now I understand that a little better.

John, thank-you for posting the announcement for me last week.

What Would Freud Say?

Theresa Coleman had a dream about me last night:

I dreamt last night that John the Methodist came to GC2008 [ed.--United Methodist General Conference 2008] and brought several rabbits -- one for each of the Methobloggers. What on earth could this dream mean?

Homelessness, Begging, and the Church

Michael Spencer has a long, thoughtful post about how Christians should respond to panhandlers, including a list of Biblical passages addressing the subject. He also notes this about church Good Samaritan Funds:

Dave Ramsey tells the story of working with his church’s benevolence ministry. They put three guidelines into place for all people asking for financial or food assistance. 1) Work an hour or two at the church. 2) Meet with a member of the church to make out a budget. 3) Attend one church service. Ramsey says that over 95% of persons asking for financial help did not return when these guidelines were given to them. This is a good indicator of the actual makeup of most benevolence requests.

It's not a bad idea, but most of the people that I've worked with who knock on the church door asking for money are generally on the last day that they can pay a bill before being evicted, or losing their car, etc.

Still, every church needs to think through what its ministry toward such encounters should be. What does your church do?

Why Country Music Is Popular

Jeff Foxworthy gets serious and explains why country music is popular and important.



Hat tip to Hot Air via Joe Carter.

Indeed. My favorite country singer is Alan Jackson. There used to be love ballads, but now we live in an age where one hears songs with detailed, graphic depictions of casual sex -- not about love. Country music is different, as this wonderfully romantic song demonstrates:

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

The WINNER is Mark Winter, for not only his caption, but for writing it in Klingon:

buy' ngop!

Heresy in the UMC

I think that this comment thread shows how much the UMC has utterly failed to maintain doctrinal standards as they are understood by the Bible, the historic Church, and The Book of Discipline. How elders in full connection can dare to so brazenly espouse views that are not only contrary to Christian teaching, but disgusting, is beyond me. Thankfully, Mark Winter is taking a stand against such nonsense.

Methodist Blogger Profile: Stacie Ruch

Stacie Ruch of Supergirl's Musings

My name is Stacie Tipps-Ruch. I live in the same small town in Tennessee where I was born and raised. I am married to the most wonderful husband in the world, Art Ruch, and we have two children, Shelby, age 12 going on 20, and Tad, age 9. Those two really keep me on my toes. I am a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and still attend the same rural church I grew up in, Harris Chapel UMC. Currently, I hold a couple of positions in my church, those being Pianist, Choir Director, Children's Ministries Director, and I serve as HCUMC's Lay Delegate to Annual Conference. I also work full time in the financial industry.

Why do you blog?

I got started blogging because my dear husband nagged me into it. Well, actually he gently encouraged me to share my thoughts, ideas, and opinions with others and I'm glad he did. It has actually been a great experience for me as I have met wonderful, supportive friends. I thank God for each and every one of them.

What has been your best blogging experience?

The outpouring of love, care, and concern for myself and my family during my father's illness and subsequent death. It was truly a blessing to feel such support from people that I have never physically met.

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?

Start slowly. Don't feel you have to blog everyday just because a lot of other folks do.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?

Of course I must pick " Art's Strange World" for the obvious reason but I would also choose "Words and Cats " and "Susan as Herself".

Who are your spiritual heroes?

Well, Jesus Christ is the obvious answer here, but I must add Rev. Nan Zoller and Rev. Jack Gilbert. Two people who have enlightened me, encouraged me, taught me and inspired me. And I would be remiss for not adding my late parents without whom I would not have my faith. God blessed me with parents who loved Him and His church and took seriously their responsibility to raise their children in the church.

What are you reading at the moment?

Unfortunately all I'm reading now is my Sunday School book "Building Better Relationships" by Susan Nikaido. I highly recomend it. I have gained new insights about how interpersonal relationships correlate to our personal realtionship with God.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

I love the entire United Methodist Hymnal, so I cannot pick one favorite. Here's a few on my list of favorites: "You are the Seed", "Lord You Have Come to the Lakeshore", "Spirit Song", "In the Bleak Midwinter", "Sweet Sweet Spirit", "The Hymn of Promise", and "Praise Him Praise Him", which technically is not in the UM Hymnal, but is in the old Cokesbury Hymnal.

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?

Practically the entire Bible. At one point in my life, my understanding of the BIble was very literal. But to choose one, I would say the role of women in the ministry. I was raised to believe that women were to be silent in the church. After completing Disciple Bible Study, I learned not to take scripture out of context but to view the scriptures while keeping in mind the times in which they were written and to whom they were written.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?

Narrowing down to just one is difficult for me, but I think it's vitally important to learn to view all people as a child of God and as our brother or sister. Does this include Muslims? YES! Buddhists? YES! Hindus? YES! Jews? YES! For we are all brothers and sisters under the fatherhood of God. God is the creator and we are his creation. Until we can look at another and view them as our brother or sister and see them as a person for whom Christ came and died, we are in darkness. If we could truly and honestly look at each person we see as our brother or sister, would there be so much violence in our world? Or hunger? Or poverty? Or homelessness?

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?

I would like to see true, sincere, long lasting campagin reform. I fear that the days when a Mr./Mrs. Smith could get elected to any political post are long gone. Why does it take millions of dollars to win an election in this country and how can we make sure that our politicians are doing what's in our best interest and not what's in the best interest of the companies and individuals that bought them? We can't! That's why we need campaign reform so that Joe Schmoe, who cares for his country and wants to serve his fellowman, has a real chance in this system.

If you could effect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?

It's not necessarily a policy change that I would make, but I would like to see the total inclusion of women in ministry. While a large percentage of UMC'ers may think this is a non-issue, there are in fact places where a woman would not be totally welcome in the pulpit. My own congregation has faced this very issue within the last 10 yrs. We were reluctant to accept a female pastor, we did and we were all radically changed for the better. There are so many small membership, rural churches within our denomination that would not accept a female pastor. We must work to teach and to love these folks into total inclusion.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?

See every person as a child of God and love them. Make sure that your loved ones know you love them because you never know when your last day on earth will come. I am so thankful that the last words I said to my father were "I Love You".

What, if anything, do you worry about?

To be honest, I don't worry about anything. I take life as it comes, see the glass as half full, and let the chips fall where they will. Worrying about a problem or issue will not effect a change, so what's the point?

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?

I'd live most all of my life the same, except maybe I would have applied myself more in college and stayed until I finished a degree.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?

Anywhere along the Gulf Coast.... somewhere around the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, AL area.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Spare time? What little of it I have is spent playing the piano, surfing the net, reading, and spending time with my family.

What is your most treasured possession?

I'm not crazy about the term "treasured possession" because, for me, it conjures up images of idolatry. That being said, I don't think I have any "treasured" possessions, but I am thankful that I own my mother's piano and my father's Masonic jewelry. These things are very special to me because they are the only things I have that belonged to my deceased parents.

What talent would you most like to have?

The ability to hear a piece of music and immediately play it on the piano.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?

Since I am musically inclined, I would choose Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, and Jimmy Buffett. Ray could teach me a lick or two on the piano, while Elvis and I sang and Jimmy could mix the margaritas.

Good Blog Names

If I had it to do all over again, I probably would have named my blog Strangely Warmed. It is, alas, too late. Some other blogs that I think were particularly cleverly named are Freeway to Serfdom and Occam's Toothbush ("Brushing Off Intellectual Plaque!"). And now I must add a third to that list: Piggy Has the Conch. Very smart, very funny name.

Student Pastorate Advice

I got a phone call last week from my District Superintendent informing me that Bishop Whitaker has approved for me to start at my first appointment on May 1, to be announced at that church last Sunday morning. I am, of course, thrilled at this new opportunity, and I shall bear in mind the wise advice that my colleagues gave to me a couple of weeks ago on the subject.

One of the challenges may be the lofty title of Pastor's Wife. Churches sometimes see this as a formal office with particular responsibilities, such as the automatic presidency of the congregation's chapter of United Methodist Women. Katherine, largely involved in homeless ministries, does not readily fit into this traditional role. And as I have told her, there is no legitimate demand that she do so.

But a greater concern is Hyzenthlay. As you know, many traditionally-oriented churches have predefined concepts of the role of Pastor's Rabbit. A pastor's bunny may feel great strain to engage in all of the ministries that the previous pastor's rabbit engaged in, and with the same excellence. Verily, it can be a great burden to live in public, always under the watchful eyes of the congregation as the Pastor's Rabbit.

What advice would you like to pass on to Hyzenthlay as she makes this transition?

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNER: Matt Adkins:

Consumer testing of Huggie's Asbestos diapers...

The Bible, Politics, and Pseudoprophecy

I wrote previously that if you accept political speechifying that you agree with in the name of God, then you have to accept it when such phony 'prophecy' is contrary to your own political views. Jonathan Marlowe responded:

However, it would at least be the right kind of discussion to have.

In other words, arguments over faithful biblical interpretation are more interesting and important than the Enlightenment's argument about the separation of faith and politics.

Let's have arguments over what is biblical and what is not - rather than what is political and what is private.

I tend to be generous about the politics of other Christians. That is, I don't think that a person ceases to be a faithful Christian if s/he has political opinions that are liberal or conservative.

Why? Well, in my life I've been all over the political spectrum. There aren't many subjects that I haven't changed my mind on over the years. And because I've had a lot of political movement in my own views, I don't think that I have reached my final position on what is a correct understanding of public policy. Nor am I inclined to think that someone is necessarily evil because they hold political views other than my own. If I did, I'd have to condemn myself. For example, I once supported campaign finance reform (e.g. McCain-Feingold). Eventually I came to my senses, but I don't think that I was wicked or damned to Hell because I once thought that McCain-Feingold was a pretty good idea. People can disagree on political issues and still be faithful believers in Christ.

I say this because although the Bible has an enormous amount of information about who God is, and a lot to say on ethics, it has virtually nothing to say on public policy. Nor, I would add, does it have much to say on auto mechanics, but that doesn't make it a diminished book. The Bible, contrary to the fantasies of Jim Winkler, doesn't say which Senate Resolutions should be passed and which should be voted down. God left it up to us how to govern our nation and replace our motor mounts.

So it is completely appropriate for Christians to espouse a wide variety of public policy positions. But it is inappropriate for Christians to say "God wants us to support this bill to ban gay marriage/confiscate handguns/mandate prayer in schools/fund Social Security." It's inappropriate because the Bible never says these things.

And therefore it is wholly improper for the institutional Church to state that one position on a public policy issue is the only legitimate view for Christians to hold, or for pastors to give political speeches from the pulpit, as though they were reading the Word of God. Let individual Christians express any political view that they wish, but let them not claim that they have the same authority as the actual prophets of the Bible, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah.

UPDATE: Henry Neufeld has an excellent response to this post. Go read it.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup # 112

...is up.

Code Guardian

A Disgusting Taste of 'Prophetic' Ministry

Last November, I wrote about how the term 'prophetic' ministry was misappropriated by those who want to give political speeches in the name of God.

That's what this disturbed and depraved video is:


Many of my commentors rejected my objection that people not called of God to be prophets were claiming to speak prophetically. Well, that's what this piece of trash is: prophetic ministry.

Tomorrow, Whit Johnstone plans on giving a 'prophetic sermon' calling for gun control. If that's prophetic ministry, then so is this video.

Still like the idea?

Hat tip to Gavin Richardson, who is also disgusted by this video.

Zombie Politics

Caption Contest

Previous contest winners

WINNER: Tom Jackson:

Dr. Atkins' last dessert.

Art Blogging: Colin Johnson

Colin Johnson is an American commercial illustrator. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art and has been featured widely in print magazines. Johnson lives and works in Minneapolis. It is hard to get any solid biographical data on him. I sense that he has spun a sort of mythical biography about himself. That, or he had an unbelievably adventurous youth. Anyway, here is an interesting statement that he made about the divide between the fine and commercial arts:

Certainly in this day and age many illustrators are also painters. Meaning, I suppose, that as illustrators they work on commissioned commercial projects and as painters they do their own work for the purpose of gallery sale or exhibition. In my opinion the divide in these two worlds today comes from the top of the painting world. Meaning that the critics at the top of the fine arts/gallery scene still make distinctions about who they're willing to accept into their "art society" and who they're not. Or more importantly who should be counted in the context of modern art history and who should not.

I agree. It is an artificial, elitist-driven division.

Vision Quest.

Pollination Factor.

Joseph Stubeck Doesn't Like You.

Methobaby

My co-blogger Larry Saunders, pastor of Demotte UMC in Demotte, IN, just called me. His wife just gave birth to an adorable baby girl named Maria Ellen. Congratulations, Larry!

Which Methoblogger Are You?

You scored as Jonathon Norman. You are Jonathon Norman! You are so emergent that Brian McLaren follows you around just to smell your aroma. Jonathon Norman 100% Gavin Richardson 92% Keith McIlwain 75% Lorna Koskela 67% Art Ruch 58% John the Methodist 58% Allan Bevere 42% Theresa Coleman 42% Abi Carlisle-Wilke 25% Which Methoblogger Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Question of the Day

You don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?

The Moral Scandal of Prison Rape

Surely one of the blackest eyes on the American national character is our society's willingness to not only tolerate, but approve of and joke about rape -- that is, the rape that goes on inside prison walls. Cathy Young:

At present, it is very difficult—virtually impossible in some states—for inmates who have been raped to collect damages from the prison system. Guards who neglect or even condone inmate-on-inmate assaults run virtually no risk of punishment. Other serious measures to combat prison rape would include both “conservative” solutions (stricter prisoner supervision) and “liberal” ones (less overcrowding).

Even lower-end estimates given by correctional organizations suggest that 20,000 to 40,000 inmates are sexually assaulted in American prisons every year. Those are figures no civilized society should accept.

Amen. Hat tip to Glenn Reynolds.

Man Is As Vast As He Acts

Jockeystreet has a marvelous strory about the challenge of living up to one's principles when a group of homeless men crash his community potluck dinner:

Throughout the night, that tea bag had me conflicted. Because I couldn't deny the fact that this wasn't how I wanted my evening to go. And I couldn't deny the fact that those feelings were selfish, that, on some level at least, I was showing an eagerness to fight for ideals that I wasn't so willing to live.

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNERS:

TrueVyne: Scene from the Emergent nursery...

Mark Winter: Mr. T's love child

Art Blogging: Kirsten Ulve

Kirsten Ulve is an American graphic designer. She studied at the University of Iowa and works in editorial, fashion, and children's illustration, as well as animation. Her works are composites of hand-drawings which are then scanned digitally and refined with graphic software. Ulve lives in New York City.

Christmas Skater.

Children Are the Future.

Herons.

Methodist Blogger Profile: Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons of Adventures in Revland

I am an almost 30 something ordained elder of the United Methodist Church. More importantly, I am a husband to my wife Alycia and father to my son Dean. I am currently the associate pastor at Hawthorne Lane UMC in Charlotte, NC. Before taking this appointment I served three churches in the Ashton-under-Lyne Circuit near Manchester, England. Before that I did my MDiv at Duke Divinity School and my undergrad at Montreat College.

Why do you blog?
I started to blog this Lent. It was my Lenten Discipline. Instead of taking something away I decided to add journaling. I have attempted to blog before but I committed to these last 40 days. Blogging has grown on me and I have enjoyed the growing community out there which uses blogs. So currently (now being on the other side of Easter) I blog to participate in that community and to continue a fruitful spiritual discipline I have started to love.

What has been your best blogging experience?
Since this is my first blogging experience this has been the best, but truthfully it has been receiving comments. It was fun to realize that people actually read the stuff I have written. People I don’t know from all over the world have visited this blog. It has enabled me to think and write a little more like I did when I was in seminary, which is refreshing to say the least.

What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
Commit. As I have read other people’s blogs it has been interesting those who write daily or weekly. My suggestion is commit for a period of time, Advent or Lent and give it a shot.

If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
Ohh, my blog list is growing but I would say A Peculiar Preacher, Only Wonder Understands and Locusts and Honey.

Who are your spiritual heroes?
John Wesley, Peter Storey, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

What are you reading at the moment?
Goodnight Moon, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish, The Giving Tree, and The Velveteen Rabbit. With an 8 month old it is great to find the wonderful theology in children’s books as he drools on them. And when I have time Velvet Elvis and Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince

What is your favorite hymn and why?
“Here I am Lord”, a wonderful hymn that speaks to my soul about being called by God into ministry. My body shivers any time it is sung. I love the fact that the verses are in unison (God’s questions sung as one voice) and the response or chorus is harmonized (all God’s children answering the call).

Can you name a major moral, political, or intellectual issue on which you've changed your mind?
I have changed my mind on many of them as I have grown in my faith and education. One major one though would have to be morality in general. Early on in my faith, in high school and undergrad, I liked to see the world as black and white. To me morality that was black and white was easy to understand and made it easier to judge. My heart changed though as I realized this was not the teaching of Jesus. Jesus knew that the world was gray and slowly I started to see his point.

What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
Currently I think the idea that being an American and a Christian are the same thing is something that we desperately need to talk more about. Yet one has to be careful extending their neck with this subject because many people will like to cut it off.

If you could effect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
I would make my vote count and make the popular vote the one that elects a president. The whole

If you could effect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?
When I was a minister in England for a year I learned a lot about another Methodist system. Over there all ministers are paid the same. The Circuit Superintendent got a little bit more pay due to a little heavier work load. I think some kind of pay scale adjustment might be a good possibility for the UMC system. It seems that money plays a huge role in the appointment process and promotes competition between ministers and churches. There is something about that fact that bugs me. It reminds me of money changers in the temple.

What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
The most important piece of advice about life I have is one my father gave me a couple of years ago, that a co-worker gave him. He told me “it is all about relationships.” I absolutely agree. It is the relationships you have with your staff, your other ministers, your parishioners, and God that makes all the difference in the world. If people have a relationship with you they are more likely going to listen and allow you to lead them where God wants. It is all about relationships.

What, if anything, do you worry about?
I worry about my son, Dean, and how he will grow up. As a Preacher’s Kid will he rebel against God and the church? Will he hate the church because it takes me away from him? Will he think I tend more to the church family than my own?

If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
At this point in life I don’t really have many regrets or nothing that seems to be big do-over. I am happy with where I am in life.

Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
I would love to live in England once again. Manchester is such a cool city and the UK is wonderful. The people, the history, the character, it is all great (except for the rain of course)

What do you like doing in your spare time?
I love playing guitar, playing with Dean, watching TV and movies, surfing the web. I also enjoy getting frustrated with my golf swing and Duke basketball.

What is your most treasured possession?
My Martin (but it probably should be my wedding ring!)

What talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be able to hear a piece of music and be able to play it without thinking or trying.

If you could have any three guests, past or present to dinner, who would they be?
John Wesley, Mike Krzyzewski, and Peter.

A Prayer for the Dead at Virginia Tech

All merciful God, we lift up before you those slaughtered at Virginia Tech. We plead with you to have mercy upon their souls and bear them up to your place of eternal refuge. And we bring before you their families and friends, whose joys were so suddenly and violently cut short by the forces of evil. O Great Physician, heal their wounded spirits, and bring them to the wholeness that can only be found through you. We ask this confident in your lovingkindness to your beloved creation, and thank you for your healing power already at work in the Virginia Tech community. Amen.

Iraq Holding First Gaming Convention

It's called Ziggurat Con and will be held at Camp Adder/Tallil Airbase on June 9. One major problem for the participants is the lack of supplies:

The largest problem with running a Con in Iraq, of course, is that there are no local stores or game publishers, and few game books on the post. Even dice are in short supply, with many soldiers breaking the unwritten taboo held by many gamers and (gasp!) sharing dice. Thankfully, many game publishers have also lent their support, and have agreed to supply game products to help the Con along. aethereal FORGE, Sovereign Press, Final Redoubt Press, Goodman Games, Paizo Publishing and Steve Jackson Games are among those that have thrown in their support for the convention.

Hat tip to Ace who adds:

Is your wife embarrassed by your refusal to throw out your six hundred Rifts rulebooks?

And he provides an address to send them so that they can get in the hands of American troops. That's a pretty good idea. Mine are just stacked away in a box, collecting dust.

The Asbury Bloggers' Blogroll and Blogrolling as a Communtarian Activity

I started a syndicated blogroll for Asbury people a year and a half ago. It currently stands at thirteen people. I had hoped that it would grow faster, but it has been about this number for several months.

The difficulty, I find, is that many Asbury bloggers would like to be listed on this blogroll, but balk at the idea of linking to other bloggers in return. The only rule of the blogroll is that members must have at least five other members listed in their own blogrolls. This, apparently, is too demanding a requirement.

It is a perspective that I cannot understand.

What is bothersome about this effort is that several bloggers have agreed to join, but then won't add the five member blogs to their own blogrolls. I have sent reminders, which are either ignored, or are met with promises to get around to the task. After a few weeks of sponging off this free traffic, I have deleted these members -- all because they wouldn't list other members in their own blogrolls. Rinse, lather, repeat.

This is not a problem among the Florida Campus members, nor the alumni, but exclusively Wilmore-based Asbury bloggers. I had hoped that after student Chad Brooks launched an initiative to promote blogging at the seminary that this would change, but ironically, I had to delete him as well when he would not add a mere three more blogs to his blogroll for the required number of five.

There are bloggers who do not read other blogs, do not leave comments elsewhere, do not link to other blogs, nor maintain a blogroll. They fundamentally fail to understand the communitarian nature of blogging, and consequently never succeed. It is, I suspect, this attitude which is responsible for the languishing of blogging at Asbury in general, and the Asbury Bloggers' Blogroll in particular.

UPDATE: Matt comments:

I'm an Asbury alumni (Wilmore) and a blogger. I have seen this blogroll on your site, but hadn't known how to get on it or the history behind it.

An unfortunate oversight on my part. I have now added a link in my sidebar below the Asbury Blogroll to the information post.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup # 111

...is up.

Cat Takes Bus

A cat in London has been regularly getting on buses by himself, getting on and off at the same stops.

Hat tip: The Corner

Zombies on The Simpsons

Two Cheers for Humanism!

I have previously described myself as a recovering humanist. American society is strongly humanist, and I drank deep from that well, particularly during my years in atheism. American humanism is not a new phenomenon, but is intrinsic to its national character.

Yet humanism, it is pure form, is incompatible with Christianity. Humanism has a very high moral view of humanity, in contrast to Total Depravity. The American church, both Right and Left tends to feel icky about the notion that humans, though made in God's image, have somehow brutally effaced that image to the point where we cannot repair it on our own, but must rely on God's unmerited grace to be saved. We like being self-reliant, not other-reliant, and our popular heroes reflect this tendency.

I reflexively rejected this as a new Christian, but through formal instruction (Asbury made me Totally Depraved) and God's convicting grace in prayer, I came to understand that I was hopelessly lost, not simply from the tribulations of this earthly life, but from the spiritual forces in my corrupted soul.

But before I became a Christian, I was a libertarian, and I still am now. And libertarianism, or any political philosophy which supports limited and representative government, is predicated upon the belief that humans are basically decent creatures who deserve to rule their own lives. The notion of human rights presupposes that people deserve certain things simply by being born human.

From the beginning, this humanistic concept was written into the fabric of America's self-definition. For example:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

My studies of libertarian political philosophers, such as the Founding Fathers, Friedrich Hayek, and Ayn Rand led me to place high value to the word "individualism". The concept of the individual is the essential foundation of all limited-government political philosophies. Ayn Rand wrote:

The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.

These rights are, when summarised in Lockean fashion, life, liberty, and property. Limited-government political philosophies hold that there are certain things that the government may not do. The founders of the American republic strongly believed this premise, and hence provided for a Bill of Rights.

But if individualism is wrong and misguided, then the ideas built upon that foundation stone must collapse. If individualism is in total error, then there should not be limited government.

As I said, I traditionally attached positive, not negative value, to individualism. My first encounter with widespread rejection of this notion was in the Methodist Blogger Profile Series. One of the questions that I ask is "What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?" Many, many people responded that it was individualism. A simple word search for 'individualism' in my blog's archives show how prevalent this view is. I was initially shocked by this response, especially since my response for my Methodist Blogger Profile was 'collectivism' -- the exact opposite of individualism.

But I was thinking of these terms politically, whereas my colleagues were thinking theologically. Many of them hold that American Christianity has a privatized faith, where there is a separation between public and private lives, as well as a rejection of the need for a rigorous community life. Postmodernism, which holds that truth is not objective, but subjective to the individual, is contributing to the development of this individualized Christianity.

All well and good. I happen to agree that people can excessively privatize their faith and create a false dichotomy between how they live and private and how they worship in public. But theological premises have political consequences, which is why my libertarian spidey-senses get inflamed when I hear Christians attack individualism.

No society predicated on individualism has ever built a death camp. But other societies, such as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union, have determined, as an official concept of national self-definition, that the collective is more important than the individual. A death camp is a political statement to the effect "For the good of the collective, this individual must die."

Now this is not to say that those who raise concerns about individualism in American Christianity would to build death camps or destroy democracy. They are thinking of these terms as theological, not political assertions. But as I said, theological premises have political applications. The road that begins with "The individual is less important than the collective" ends at the gates of Auschwitz.

So having been attentive to politics since the age of twelve, I tend to reflexively contemplate how different ideas, theological and philosophical, could be used or abused in a political dimension. In this manner, arguments that the individual is unimportant or that human beings are helpless and incapable of directing their own lives set off all sorts of political alarms in my head.

Limited and representative government cannot exist without the acceptance of certain humanistic beliefs. Yet humanism is contrary to the Gospel. Humanism is responsible for distorting true Christian belief and the full confrontation of our sinful nature. Nevertheless, humanism is useful. In fact, it's essential if we wish to live in anything remotely resembling a free society. And I think that the proper measure of an idea is how it effects people's lives when it is carried out.

American democracy, although imperfect, has proven that humanism has some real advantages. Americans may prefer to think of their political philosophy as somehow Christian, but even cursory study overthrows this notion. Again, the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Here, the Founding Fathers make a traditional nod to Christianity as the essential presupposition of their new society. But Biblically speaking, their claim is nonsensical (hence why they do not quote any passage of Scripture). Although one may proof-text Biblical passages to support democracy, historically, democracy came from humanism, not Christianity.

So what is the impact of humanism? It has simultaneously undermined the Gospel and made human existence far more livable. So I cannot proclaim "Three cheers for humanism!" But I can manage two.*

*Line paraphrased from What's So Great About America? by Dinesh D'Souza.

Caption Contest

Picture via Garfield Ridge.
Previous contest winner.

John Carney has nominated for blogospheric award, but with an ulterior motive:

This is just a shameless attempt to get picked more often as the winner of John’s regular caption contests.

Then just do what Jeff the Baptist does: pay me ten bucks a contest.

WINNER: Mark Winter:

One Secret Service agent takes "Casual Fridays" a little too far

Calling Out Evil

John Podhoretz on the woman responsible for the Duke non-rape case nightmare:

Her name is Crystal Gail Mangum.

She is the woman who falsely accused three Duke University students of rape. Yesterday, the attorney general of North Carolina came forward and flatly declared the three young men "innocent of these charges."

That means their accuser is a liar.

Her name is Crystal Gail Mangum.

It is the policy of the news media not to publish the names of rape accusers on the grounds that they should not have to fear public shame for coming forward with word of a horrifying personal violation.

That is a noble policy. But it needs a codicil. The codicil is that if a rape accuser is revealed as a liar, her name should be spoken loudly and often - as loudly and often as the names of those whom she falsely accused have been over the past year.

Her name is Crystal Gail Mangum.

She must be denied anonymity because she makes a mockery of the very policy of granting anonymity to rape accusers. We do not publish their names so that they will not fear public exposure. But people who are tempted to do the monstrous thing Mangum did should fear public exposure.

They should be terrified of it.

They should have nightmares about it.

They should be given no encouragement whatsoever to believe they can launch a nuclear weapon at someone's reputation and escape unscathed.

Her name is Crystal Gail Mangum, and she should not escape the world's scorn because she is poor, or because she is black, or because her life circumstances led her to work as a "stripper."

Her name is Crystal Gail Mangum, and she does not deserve to lick the underside of the shoes of hardworking and honest people of color and modest means who somehow manage to get through life without attempting to destroy and defile the lives of others.

Amen. Let Crystal Gail Magnum, who unfortunately will not be facing criminal charges for her evil, never escape the infamy of her depraved crimes against these boys.

Hat tip: Ace

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNER: Scotte Hodel:

No more, please, I'm feline just fine.

The Best Episode of Samurai Jack Ever

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

Star Wars Theme Played on Bagpipes

The Newest Trend in Ministry: Webcasting the Pastor's Daily Life

Too much information:

LEWISTON, Maine — Recently, several hundred members of Holy Trinity Church watched pastor Jeremy Woods eat breakfast, work on his sermon and make a Starbucks run. Woods had just joined a growing group of pastors who are broadcasting their lives 24/7 on the Internet.

"When I first heard of going live I thought, 'This is the future of pastoring but I'm not sure I like it,'" Woods says. But after a month he says he "totally digs it."

"It's the next step beyond blogging or even live blogging," he says. "It's about sharing life."

The trend is believed to have started in 2004 when Rick Givens of New York's West Side Church decided to make himself "more accountable and accessible" by webcasting every waking moment live. But his pioneering effort has forced other pastors into awkward decisions. Donald Taylor, 37, of Nebraska didn't want to go live, but relented because of pressure from his board. He hated his first week.

"It was like being in prison. You never have a moment to yourself," he says.

But soon he began to enjoy having a constant audience. His wife particularly likes it because "he behaves more," she says. "It's like having God looking over your shoulder. You never know who's watching."

To go live, pastors outfit their offices and homes with surveillance cameras and clip miniature video cameras to themselves which are linked to the Internet via cell phone. During counseling sessions and other sensitive occasions the audio is cut and faces are blurred. At night, pastors set the camera facing a closed bedroom door so viewers can see that they haven't left the room.

Bad Trends in Evangelicism: Ignoring the Past

Michael Spencer has been in a ranty mood this past week. That's good for readers, because he has very well-reasoned rants to offer. Recently, he composed a list of the major blunders that the American evangelical movement has fallen into. He explains each one in detail. They are:

1. Eliminating all hymns
2. Goofy youth minister style preaching
3. No church membership
4. The megachurch agenda vs. the healthy church agenda
5. Too much music

The first one is particularly interesting, and I think comes from the evangelical tendency to disregard the historic Church. That which came before them, or before 1980, is essentially bad. But if your theology (and specifically your ecclesiology) is the latest book at the LifeWay, then you're on the unstable ground of market forces, instead of deriving your theology from what the Bible AND what the historic Church has said about the Bible throughout the ages.

This tendency is also, to an extent, an overcorrection by some schools of Protestantism, which held that the Church became apostate after 95 AD and remained so until the Gospel sprung, fully formed, from the brow of John Calvin five hundred years ago. It is also the idolatry of both Modernism and PostModernism before the new, the innovative, and the cool.

I was a history major in college and tend to see a long view in such matters. That's why I find myself rather taken aback in our arguments on the Virgin Birth, Resurrection, etc. because my debating opponents are essentially saying, "Well, it turns out that the historic Church has always been wrong on this central, creedal statement on Christianity, and we've only understood the actual truth in the past few years." That's a really shocking statement to me, but apparently not to others. We should always read and interpret the Scriptures for ourselves, and may disagree with the historic Church on some matters. But if we find ourselves rejecting what the greater Church said on an issue that it said was critical, up until 100 years ago, then that should set off alarms. For example, if we can't say the Apostles' Creed (which includes issues like the Virgin Birth, Resurrection, Ascension), then we have departed from historic orthodoxy, and should be concerned.

Conservatives, too, can fall into this trap, such as the Pentecostal belief that whole Church was apostate until 1905. This is a particularly strange teaching for KJVonlyist Pentecostals, because that that means that their Bible was translated by non-Christians. Or perhaps a better example is Gwen Shamblin's cult, which started out of mainstream evangelicism, but left when Shamblin determined that the Church has always been wrong about the Trinity.

As we read and prayerfully study the Scriptures, we should regard the historic church as a critical navigational instrument. Those, both Left and Right, who toss such sextants into the sea, run great risk of running aground into heterodoxy.

Why I Don't Want To Be A Christian

That's the title of a thought-provoking post a blogger named T.J. He lists major ways that Christians offend non-Christians, and not in the good Jesus-offending-the-Pharisees kind of way.

Hat tip: Andrew Conard

Citizens for 1912 Truth

The government would have you believe that the Titanic sank in an 'accident'.

But now we know better.

Hat tip: Jeff the Baptist

Student Pastorate Advice

Thank you all, dear readers, for your words of encouragement last week when I was informed that I would be appointed to a church. Ya'll gave me lots of very good advice. I particularly liked Mark Winter's:

THOU SHALT NOT alter the order of worship in any way right off the bat.

THOU SHALT NOT preach grace to the exclusion of obedience, or vice versa.

THOU SHALT NOT get lazy in spiritual disciplines but continue to grow through study, Bible meditation, prayer and fasting, so that thy congregation might see the glory of the Lord on thy face and want some of it for themselves.

THOU SHALT be with the people, but thou shalt also have boundaries with thy flock, lest they interrupt thy dinner continually and call thee on vacation.

THOU SHALT lead and not just maintain the status quo, for the sheep always need to move toward greener pastures.

THOU SHALT help the congregation understand that thy wife may not be able to play the piano, teach Sunday school, quilt and smile 24/7.

THOU SHALT develop strong tastebuds and sample everything from the churchwide potlucks, lest thou offend Susie Pearl and Emma Mae.

THOU SHALT diligently study the Book of Discipline, but do not preach from the Book of Discipline or thy congregation shalt fall asleep.

THOU SHALT be remembered fondly among the young ones if thou bringest thy bunny occasionally to the children's sermon.

THOU SHALT offer them Christ and not just "church membership."

Written always with Mark's unique brand of humor. And since this is an occasional humor blog:

What is the worst advice that you have to give me about my first few days and weeks in my student appointment?

Sidebar Art Feature Changed

I have changed the "Tamara de Lempicka of the Week" feature in the sidebar to the groovalicious Shag. His work is truly magnificent, so we shall spend a few weeks or months looking at his prints and paintings here at Locusts & Honey.

iPod Stops Bullet, Saves Soldier's Life

In previous generations, soldiers used to carry New Testaments sheathed in steel, which occasionally saved their lives by stopping bullets or shrapnel. Now this protection has been updated for a new generation.

Hat tip: Glenn Reynolds

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup #110

Despite the demands that Holy Week places upon all pastors, Allan Bevere posted the latest MBWR. Way to go Allan!

Sermon on Canvas: The Burial Of Christ

This is Pieta by William Adolphe Bouguereau.

I saw this work once at the Dallas Museum of Art. I was not yet a Christian, but I was staggered by the agony on Mary's face. She held the pallid, lifeless body of her son. The angels, too, mourn. They they do not have Mary's despair. It is the wailing, exhausted anguish of a mother who has lost a child. The angels that surround her and the dead Christ know of the great victory that will come on the third day. To them, having heavenly knowledge, Christ was not a defeated savior, but the victor in the final struggle over sin and its inevitable consequence, death.

The time of rejoicing draws near....

Thou didst lie in the grave for me;
Grant, Lord, when I interred may be,
Peace and tranquility may reign,
Until I see Thy face again.

A source of holy joy I find,
That He was to a grave consigned.
He sanctified the tomb for us
And made its shadows glorious.

He made the tomb a resting place
For those who know His saving grace.
No terrors now the grave can hold
For those whom His strong arms enfold.

Blessed Lord Jesus, grant my prayer,
That I may die without a care,
That I may take my last long rest
By Thy sweet presence ever blessed!
--Hallgrimur Petursson in the Passiusalmar

Reblogged: Sermon on Canvas -- The View from the Cross

Click on the picture for a larger view. It's worth it.

This painting is What Our Savior Saw from the Cross by Tissot.

What did he see? A Pharisee giggling. His own mother mourning. Women adoring him. A Roman soldier wondering. A Zealot jeering. But all eyes are on he who died for the sake of the world. They look at him with varied expressions; he looks at them only with love.

I am, at times, the Pharisee, the mother, the women, the soldier, and the Zealot. But regardless of whether I honor or mock his sacrifice, he unfailingly returns my gaze with love.

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
-Charles Wesley


[reblogged]

Is There a Moral Polar Opposite to Abortion?

The Anchoress tells the stories of two mothers with cancer who declined treatment in order to give birth to healthy babies:

Really, I guess what it it comes down to is faith, and trust that in sacrificing oneself, one is not leaving the rest un-tended to, un-nurtured, un-watched. It comes down to the great Mystery that we are all invited to explore, if we are only open to it. And the key to the Mystery is Love.

For some reason, all of this makes me think of the Parable of the Two Sons: Jesus asked, “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today. The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”

[Some women who make this choice might be] staunch secularist[s] who - urged and instructed by Love - hooked into the Mystery and made [their] choice. But in doing so, [they have] also hooked into the message of the Christ: Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for another. Does it matter whether or not [such a mother] is Christian? Not really. What mattered [is being] open to Love, in its coming and it its going.

Which Early Church Father Are You?

You’re St. Jerome! You’re a passionate Christian, fiercely devoted to Jesus Christ and his Church. You are willing to labor long hours in the Lord’s vineyard, and you have little patience with those who are less willing or able to work as you do. Your passions often carry you into temptation zones of wrath, lust, and pride. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!

Hat tip: Keith McIlwain

Caption Contest

Previous contest winners

WINNER: Melissa:

The recently discovered reason for the decline in catfish population...

20 Years of Ninja High School

When I was a teenager, I collected comic books. Most of them were from a small San Antonio-based company called Antarctic Press. The flagship comic of AP in those days was Ninja High School, which is now celebrating twenty years in print.











I haven't read NHS in years, but I have fond memories of it. It is a humor/adventure/romance comic drawn in the manga style, originally by Ben Dunn, but by many other artists since. The story focuses on teenager everyman Jeremy Feeple in the small American town of Quagmire. Various legends taken very seriously by an alien race called Salurians bring their catgirl princess Asrial to Earth and Quagmire specifically because it is foretold that Asrial must marry this human boy, Jeremy. Simultaneously, similar legends compel Japanese ninja babe Ichi-kun Ichinohei ("Itchy-koo" as she becomes nicknamed) to believe that she must marry Jeremy if she is to become head of her ninja clan. Conflict ensues.

The stories tend to become pretty nonsensical after that, with alien invasions, the arrival of witches in Quagmire, a high school science teacher who tries to reintroduce steam engines, and many other bizarre storylines that filled twenty years, of which I read about five.

I think what made Ninja High School so appealing was that it didn't take itself too seriously. It was a celebration of absurd plot devices and preposterous coincidences. Deus ex machina reigned supreme. And then it would take the reader by surprise with sudden moments of character depth, startling action, and haunting romance.

The series has since moved off the original characters, introduced a second set, and then a third. More serious comics like Batman or Spawn can last for generations, for there are always evils to fight; always dragons to slay. But Ninja High School was not about evil, but about innocence. And innocence can only last for a brief moment in time, like a first kiss or a lazy Saturday afternoon wandering about the mall with one's friends, young and carefree. And that, I suppose, is what I miss about Ninja High School -- not just the comic, but what it represents.

Churches and Political Campaigns

Linda Green of the United Methodist News Service has a good article up about how churches should be careful about speaking politically in the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. The article is written mostly from the standpoint of avoiding non-profit status with the IRS. Church attorney Jim Allen:

"The mission of our church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ," said Allen. "We try to maximize the church’s resources to fulfill our mission, and one way we do that is by legally minimizing our income tax burden."

Allen said clergy should avoid political activism from the pulpit. "My first piece of advice would be to not invite candidates to speak in the pulpit, if the church is in the United States," he said.

Any statement interpreted as either endorsing or opposing a candidate is against IRS guidelines, regardless of whether a name is mentioned. For instance, a pastor declaring that "all good Christians should go to the polls and vote for the Christian candidate" would be improper if one candidate is known to be a Christian and the other is not, he said.

The prohibition extends beyond the pulpit into other church-sponsored events. "It does not matter if the activity is in the pulpit, fellowship hall, the vestibule or newsletter," he said. "It also does not matter whether the person doing or permitting the endorsement on behalf of the church is the pastor or a member."

I'm not really concerned about the tax issues related to church political involvement because, as I've written previously, the church shouldn't be involved in politics except in extreme circumstances, such as slavery or racial segregation. Christians, individually, should be involved in detailed policymaking and advocacy that reflects their understanding of Christian ethics. But the Church, as an institution, should be aware that taking stands on issues in which Christians can disagree with one another in good conscience serves only to divide the Body of Christ. When the Church takes a formal position on a political issue, it is engaging in a potentially very destructive act, and therefore should never do so casually.

Hat tip to Jim Parsons, who has a different angle:

I understand and agree with this article but I hope that does not scare preachers away from talking about politics and calling out the government when they need to. I am afraid people will take this and read into it. Saying that anything political from the pulpit will get the church sued. That is not the case. We as a church need to stand up for the rights of all humanity. We need to name the sins of government when they happen and lead the world into a right relationship with God.

UPDATE: Gavin Richardson has handily rounded-up what the Methoblogosphere is saying on this subject.

Did Priscilla Write The Epistle to the Hebrews?

Henry Neufeld reviews a book advocating that position:

I’m of the opinion that there is no solution to the authorship of Hebrews. All possible hypotheses have some problems, and none is likely to command the respect of a consensus of Biblical scholars, nor does any deserve to.

[snip]

It is not that it is a bad book. It’s actually rather good. It’s not that it displays sloppy scholarship. In general, it is well-researched and painstakingly footnoted. The problem is that the author claims: “The scale tells us that the Epistle to the Hebrews should be ascribed to Priscilla.” After reading the same evidence as presented in this book, I would say that what has been demonstrated is simply that Priscilla should not be excluded as a possible author of Hebrews.

There is an interesting rhetorical approach in this book which I find fairly common in books of critical Biblical scholarship. After some substantial speculation, the author will make a very positive statement about what has gone before. Her “charge to the jury” approach provides an interesting framework for this rhetorical certainty, as we are repeatedly reminded of the accumulating evidence in favor of Priscilla. But if we look more carefully, each element of this case is very speculative.

Henry goes on to examine each of the major arguments in the text, and argues that author Ruth Hoppin vastly overstates evidence to support her thesis. In short, we know nothing of Priscilla, and so attaching Hebrews to her is sheer agenda-driven speculation. Hoppin states "Recognition of Priscilla’s claim will advance the social and religious status of all women." Indeed it would. But that does not justify recognizing a groundless claim.

Student Appointment

I have been given a student local pastorate comprising a small-town church some distance away. I would like to solicit any advice that my readers have to offer about the first days or weeks at a new church.

Rabbits and Easter Don't Mix

We rabbit owners tend to feel a bit of dread every Easter season. That's because many people, particularly parents, give rabbits as presents at Easter. Every year, thousands of rabbits are purchased by or given to people who don't think through the consequences of their decision.

One poster published every year by the House Rabbit Society is headed like this: "He's not a child's toy. He's a real, live, ten-year commitment."

Many Easter rabbits end up abandoned in the wild, defenseless and hopeless. Their final days are spent in confusion and terror, enduring harsh temperatures and bloodthirsty predators. All for the sake of putting a smile on a child's face for five minutes on Easter morning.

It's not worth the price.

So this Easter, don't buy a rabbit.

Caption Contest

Previous contest winner

WINNER:

Jeff the Baptist: Officer, I honestly don't know whether I was going faster than the square root of 677. I mean, what are the units?

Larry B: Faced with staffing cutbacks, the public works department decides to let the city engineer make the traffic signs.

Methodist Blogs Weekly Roundup # 109

...is up.

What Is My Theological Worldview?

A year ago, I took the theological worldview test, as well as the year before.

My findings a year ago were:
Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan: 93%
Charismatic/Pentecostal: 71%
Neo orthodox: 68%
Fundamentalist: 61%
Classical Liberal: 54%
Reformed Evangelical: 54%
Emergent/Postmodern: 50%
Roman Catholic: 43%
Modern Liberal: 36%

Now they are:
Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan: 93%
Neo orthodox: 79%
Reformed Evangelical: 68%
Fundamentalist: 68%
Charismatic/Pentecostal: 57%
Classical Liberal: 50%
Emergent/Postmodern: 50%
Roman Catholic: 46%
Modern Liberal: 11%

So the changes are:
Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan: unchanged
Charismatic/Pentecostal: down 14%
Neo orthodox: up 11%
Fundamentalist: up 7%
Classical Liberal: down 4%
Reformed Evangelical: up 14%
Emergent/Postmodern: unchanged
Roman Catholic: up 3%
Modern Liberal: down 25%

So overall, I'd say that I've become more conservative in the past year. Given Asbury Seminary's strongly postmodernist perspective, that's surprising. But at the same time, Asbury also teaches the themes of Total Depravity and Entire Sanctification, which could result in these numbers.

My Neo orthodox and Reformed Evangelical numbers have also gone up, most likely as my humanistic intellectual habits are drummed out of me. I'm not sure why my Pentecostal score has dropped so sharply.

The increase in my Roman Catholic score is most likely due to a more developed Wesleyan sacramental theology.

In fact, I'd say that reading 1,500 pages of the Wesley brothers is responsible for most if not all of these changes.