Virtuous Friendship Book

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Friendship Advent Reflection, December 6

When Facebook first started, I resisted joining. That lasted for several years. I didn't want a computer network to control my sense of relationships and sense of self. Like so many others, I finally joined. Some days, especially when I get trolled or in a political fight with someone, I just want to quit. Other times I find it a blessing to see pictures of family and friends. Sometimes it just makes me lonely or jealous of others' great lives. Recently, in the last few months, I reached a milestone, over 1000 friends! No offense intended to any of you who may be reading this (actually there's only about a dozen of you, according to my blog records), but I don't think that all 1000 of my Facebook "friends" are actually my friends. It is a social network. However, the questions of size of friendship networks have been puzzling philosophers throughout the ages. Plutarch wrote a treatise about the subject, "On Having Many Friends." Building on the fou
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UM General Conference 2019

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I wanted to share just a few thoughts on the upcoming General Conference in St. Louis. First, let me say that I am praying that the delegates truly listen to one another and the Holy Spirit as they search what God's will might be for the church and its mission to the world. I hope the following reflections are offered in the spirit that is both conciliar and conciliatory. I offer these thoughts as ten theses. 1) The Church is the Body of Christ and hence much greater than The United Methodist Church. I hope the delegates will keep this in mind. As much affection as many have for The United Methodist Church, it is but a very small slice of global Christianity. The Church existed long before John Wesley came around, and certainly much longer than the late 1960's when the current denomination formed. 2) Human pride in a denomination is not wrong; no more wrong than human pride in a favorite athletic team, or beloved rock band is misplaced. However, when this affinity becomes e
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Advent Friendship Reflection, Day 16

Scholars of the Fourth Gospel often point to the dualism that is expressed in it. In John, we find a stark contrast between children of the light, and those of the world who reject the light. Throughout the narrative, we find stories that emphasize that you either get it, and accept Jesus, or, for whatever reasons, reject Jesus. As the Gospel comes to a close, Jesus gathers his closest disciples and offers a long testimony that is directed not only at them, but likely also at the author's community, and many generations of those that follow. With the dualistic motifs of light/darkness, acceptance/rejection, God/world, etc. the Fourth Gospel presents a clear delineation between the in group of those who understand and accept Jesus as the Incarnate Word, and out group of those who will continue to misunderstand and reject him. The language of friendship, as we discussed yesterday, creates very much an in group. Unfortunately for the intended audience of the Fourth Gospel, this clearl
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