Virtuous Friendship Book

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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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A Few Thoughts on Dr. King's Practical Theology and the Beloved Community

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Isaiah 49:1-7 Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the
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My Cup Runneth Over

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The  Lord  is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the  Lord  for ever. My grandfather had no more than an elementary school education. He was a construction worker in his youth, and a mailman in his later days. He sent all of his kids through college, made them bring their textbooks home, so he could read them cover to cover and learn from his kids what they were learning. He also was a man who had large portions of the Bible memorized, in the King J
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