Holiness is an attribute of God. It is not something we human beings have on our own, but something that must be imparted to us from God. Nevertheless, Christians have long believed that there are practices by which we open ourselves to the gift of holiness. When Wesley said that there is no holiness…
Scott Kisker, Maggie Ulmer, and I have launched a brand new podcast called “Plain Truth: A Holy-Spirited Podcast.” We’re going to talk about all things Christian, and probably quite a few things related to the Wesleyan/Methodist/EUB world. In our first episode, we talk about Scripture. What is it? What does it do? How can we…
We’ve probably all heard by now about Senator Dianne Feinstein’s remarks toward Roman Catholic judicial nominee Amy Barrett: Dogma and law are two different things. I think, whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different; in your case, Professor [Barrett], when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws…
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I’m happy to say that I received hard copies today of my new book, Scripture and the Life of God: Why the Bible Matters Today More Than Ever. My goal in this book is to talk about Scripture as a resource that leads us into salvation. Through Scripture, we can know God…
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally available for purchase: The Bible and Disability: A Commentary, ed. Sarah J. Melcher, Mikeal C. Parsons, and Amos Yong. I just received my author’s copy in the mail today (I wrote the section on Luke-Acts). It will be available in stores October 1, 2017, but you can order in…
In his Confessions, Augustine famously prayed, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” There is such profound truth in this prayer. I believe it with every fiber of my being. And yet, as we think through what this prayer might mean, there are certain questions that…
I’ve become more and more interested lately in the way Christians think–the way we see the world, assess our circumstances, analyze problems, and make decisions. I’m particularly interested in the ways in which Christian ways of thinking differ from non-Christian ways. Here begins a series of posts on the Christian mind. The Christian mind is…
Years ago I read Brian McLaren’s book, A Generous Orthodoxy. I really liked it at the time. I thought he made a good case. In subsequent years, however, I’ve become increasingly less comfortable with the term “generous orthodoxy.” I believe it is redundant. Orthodoxy is an expression of the generosity of God. Thus to say “generous…
Recently there has been considerable interest in the blogosphere around the idea of the “Next Methodism.” This idea has elicited a spate of criticism and the predictable conspiracy posts. There is, however, no “Next Methodism” conspiracy. The Next Methodism is an idea. It is an amorphous concept that will become whatever we make it. Anyone can…
A few good posts have popped up about the “Next Methodism” and what that might look like. Kevin Watson, Scott Fritzsche, and Stephen Fife have taken up this topic, and I made my own contribution as well. Now I’d like to continue the conversation with a bit of reflection on what it might mean for…
Pursuing Jesus
These are the thoughts, prayers, stories, sermons, and devotions from a simple pastor. May you be blessed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as you read...
Musings and whatnot....
Finding the humor, beauty, and purpose in the mess of motherhood
Doctrine Matters
Just another WordPress.com weblog
Reflections from Jacob J. Prahlow
humor | musings | fiction
Just another WordPress.com site
work and prayer of a jesus follower
Who is my ideal reader? Well, ideal means non-existent. I have no notion of whom I’m writing for. Guy Davenport
'An arrow through the air' - Notes of a Methodist pastor
Holiness, Sustainability, and Tending Good Soil
two of us are tall and the other one of us is short and has Down syndrome
Comments on the New Testament and Early Christianity (and related matters)
David F. Watson 