tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.comments2023-11-05T00:58:55.352-07:00A Peculiar ProphetWilliam H. Willimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00002821401928222858noreply@blogger.comBlogger1041125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-63202273070954187372012-05-24T05:02:43.303-07:002012-05-24T05:02:43.303-07:00Thank you so much for this post. A healthy fear o...Thank you so much for this post. A healthy fear of God also cures us of our unhealthy, damaging fears of so many other things. I especially liked this sentence in your post...<br />"The modern world has many ways of turning us in on ourselves, eventually to worship the dear little god within." Lord have mercy on us and save us from worshipping the "dear little god within." Thank you again for your thoughtful and inspiring post.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13656817318110987571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-37315107277970018362012-05-11T15:26:09.557-07:002012-05-11T15:26:09.557-07:00Bishop: I hope you are following the story--I hear...Bishop: I hope you are following the story--I heard it on NPR--of the President of Fl State defending an undocumented fellow from Tampa who has finished law school and now seeks admission to the State Bar.<br /> When Senator Shelby was in a Town Hall in Leesburg a few weeks ago, I asked him if he had had a chance to discuss the easily googled Mother Jones article Self Deportation featuring Kris Kobach, had had a chance to discuss with Coach Nick Saban's wife. A Devout Catholic, I think she could come into a role as a signature force in this conversation.<br /> I hope you will have a chance to talk to Mrs. Saban before you leave Alabama. Just ride Down US HWY 11 to Tuscaloosa and with divine imagination see if you don't see Bonhoeffer coming the other way.foxofbamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329204323614353093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-24612082458394458222012-04-30T20:00:12.452-07:002012-04-30T20:00:12.452-07:00Thank you for this post Dr. Willimon. I have found...Thank you for this post Dr. Willimon. I have found this very issue to be one of the most difficult to address in ministry, preaching included. <br /><br />What do you say to these two common responses I get: 1) God decreed war in the OT. And 2) So you wouldn't defend your family against a violent intruder? <br /><br />Thank youpatricklmitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00382251310469684546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-64545450541499336962012-04-25T11:50:09.512-07:002012-04-25T11:50:09.512-07:00I find it ironic that in the midst of their call t...I find it ironic that in the midst of their call to greater accountability, the Bishops themselves remain the least accountable individuals in the church. If current legislation is approved, their obligations will be limited to one meeting a year with a Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy, a meeting which, if past behavior is any guide, some will choose not to attend and will face no consequences for avoiding. Until the Council of Bishops begins to hold its own accountable for their performance in office they will continue to be mistrusted in their efforts to hold others accountable.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02140460609810327917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-90972955120257200802012-04-23T18:12:42.080-07:002012-04-23T18:12:42.080-07:00Bishop: I have seen an interview and a blog announ...Bishop: I have seen an interview and a blog announcing your book on your time in Alabama, The Bishop.<br /> I was gonna leave a farewell comment on your blog and I still may do that framing it in a comment of the Great Presbyterian minister from South Carolina Frank Harrington.<br /> But the Ft. Payne Times-Journal has a story up today of children from Crossville, Alabama meeting Gov Bentley in Montgomery last week.<br /> And I wanted to share here at your blog the comment I left online at the Times Journal as follows:<br /><br />This morning the first story on NPR at the crack of dawn was about Mitt Romney and Kris Kobach the Hispanic vote come the fall.<br /> Kobach is profiled in Self deportation article in Mother Jones magazine that I brought to the attention of Senator Shelby in a town hall in Centre about a month ago.<br /> And Bishop Willimon if the previews of his new book on his stay in Alabama is any indication of how he would unpack this photo would find this fascinating.<br /> Still the children look happy, and the Governor seems at peace with himself.<br /> As John Lewis said when I saw him in Selma first Sunday in March: " We all live in the Same house, and it's God's House."<br /> May God have mercy on these children from Crossville, and the Governor too. And me and you as well.<br /> In 97 or so I was in MOntgomery and Will Campbell was there on stage with 8th graders from Collinsville. At least one can hope the influential folks at FUMC Ft Payne and FBC, and the sons of the pastor of Collinsville Baptist will look at this photo through the eyes of Will Campbell and Bishop Willimon; as my friend Sam Hodges says, For the Love of Alabamafoxofbamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329204323614353093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-71708826941264976892012-03-08T09:05:43.545-08:002012-03-08T09:05:43.545-08:00Thank you. Our conference communication team is w...Thank you. Our conference communication team is working on the problem.BPUMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617382054311048395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-15700322064633398362012-03-07T08:25:07.980-08:002012-03-07T08:25:07.980-08:00I always enjoy Bishop Willimon's blogs and don...I always enjoy Bishop Willimon's blogs and don't compliment him on his insight and teachings nearly enough. So I hate to complain without having a solid record of praise. But there is something wrong with Bishop Willimon's podcasts the past few week. The speaking part is the usual 25 to 30 minutes, but there is also over four hours of silence after the talking is over. I know silence is golden, but it really takes a long time and a big chunk of my data plan to download nearly five hours of podcast, just to get 25 minutes of talking. Anything that could be done to remedy that would be most welcome.John N. Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17549743229329625916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-48998677593284213052012-03-05T08:58:09.962-08:002012-03-05T08:58:09.962-08:00I too am a South Carolinian and find myself in agr...I too am a South Carolinian and find myself in agreement with allot of what the good Bishop is saying. Yet, Tim also makes some valid points! Our Bishops must be deeply involved and provide vital and passionate episcopal leadership if this "new world" is to occur. I recently re-read John Harnish's "The Orders in The United Methodist Church" in which I found the 'pattern' and history of our denomination has always been to adapt so that the spiritual and sacramental needs of the laity and the unchurched are met! At the same time we continue to live out the Great Commission in our ministry and outreach! One thing is for sure; we either change or we will die!Len Ripleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04720732215876216140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-19421468237729546622012-02-28T12:39:34.029-08:002012-02-28T12:39:34.029-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.foxofbamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329204323614353093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-69324222673665632072012-02-28T12:38:53.618-08:002012-02-28T12:38:53.618-08:00Bishop:
Here in Lent I am reading Mother Jones,...Bishop:<br /> Here in Lent I am reading Mother Jones, and the feature on the Alabama Immigration Law; March April issue on newstands now.<br /> I am blogging just a click away above my pay grade on the writer of Bama's Immigration law, and Timothy George of Samford and the Manhattan Declaration (with Chuck Colson) and the inadequacy of his recent lecture at Judson College on the Barmen Declaration.<br /> Before you leave Alabama, I hope you and Stephen Black in concert with Robert Parham can host Kobach and George and Gov Bentley, and with a showing of Parham's documentary, explore some of the loose ends of my blog, and the Mother Jones feature.<br /> It hadn't registered with me, after the April 27 tornadoes, many Mexican immigrants hid with broken bones, cuts and bruises, rather than being caught up in the FEMA System in "Christian" Alabama<br /> I hope Nick Saban and his wife will join you on that day in Tuscaloosa if Stephen Black and Parham and Kobach show.<br /> Ashes To Ashesfoxofbamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329204323614353093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-86369287183270300402012-02-21T20:40:23.435-08:002012-02-21T20:40:23.435-08:00That's definitely a big help for students.
An...That's definitely a big help for students.<br /><br />Any chance for further support at the seminary forming more UM Elders than any other? (Asbury)John Wesley Leekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18424587406465161537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-26146261273384484082012-02-20T17:03:03.113-08:002012-02-20T17:03:03.113-08:00"But we live in a curious age in which, if we..."But we live in a curious age in which, if we think of sin at all, we focus more on the sins of Congress or the corporate board room than sins committed by individuals in a bedroom." <br /><br />really? we must live in two very different contexts. it would seem to me that the sins of Congress and the corporate board room get lost in the arguing back and forth about gender equality, gender identification, glbtq issues, and birth control.G Lake Dylanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18099078431583414645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-22024290032199487382012-02-17T04:17:27.779-08:002012-02-17T04:17:27.779-08:00This blog does not accept anonymous posts.This blog does not accept anonymous posts.BPUMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617382054311048395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-49075644995771284212012-02-15T19:58:10.168-08:002012-02-15T19:58:10.168-08:00I do not know Bishop Willimon. I do know Tim McLe...I do not know Bishop Willimon. I do know Tim McLendon. This rather vicious attack is unwarranted and uncalled for. Tim McClendon loves the United Methodist Church and is one of the greatest teachers and preachers of the Wesleyan theology of grace that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I would imagine that Bishop Willimon knows that too.<br /><br />I am disappointed to say that I have lost all the respect that I once had for Bishop Willimon.<br /><br />Wayne Cook<br />Rising Fawn-Sand Mountain UMCTN Ramblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13337932588414375173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-56693342618851348882012-02-14T21:38:25.500-08:002012-02-14T21:38:25.500-08:00I am not sure that the Call to Action is the full ...I am not sure that the Call to Action is the full answer unless included is the suggestions for vital congregations to begin to include fully people who have been excluded from the church's activities and governance. I was born into a nominally Methodist family in the Twin Tiers of PA & NY whether in the Elmira Heights Oakwood Avenue UMC or Chemung, NY UMC or Athens, PA 1st UMC or Waverly, NY 1st UMC, but being raised in the Waverly, NY 1st Church of the Nazarene because my Mom came back to The Lord through VBS and became a part of Waverly, NY !st Church of the Nazarene was similar in theology to the Elmira Heights, NY Oakwood Avenue UMC and practice with Sunday School, Morning Worship, Sunday Evening Youth Group, Sunday Evening Worship, Wednesday Prayer and Praise Worship with once a month missionary worship as well as twice a year Revival Worship. I am discovering that part of the renewing of the local congregation is being a Reconciliation Congregation where the excluded are included whether people with disabilities or LGBT, whether you believe that homosexuality is sin or not, we must begin to trust God to allow us to love and realize that only He saves not us. For me, Vital Congregations are Inclusive Congregations for people with disabilities or people who are poor or people from diverse cultures or people who are LGBT. Maybe the lessons from John Wesley, Phineas Bresee, and Joseph Widney from Wesleyan Theology as well as Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Baptist Theology and Mahatmas Ghandi from the Hindu Tradition. Where and how is God working in our community to love God fully and to love other people unconditionally as He loves us. Shalom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-56813068571577435722012-02-09T11:08:11.038-08:002012-02-09T11:08:11.038-08:00Peter
I've been thinking of you in recent days...Peter<br />I've been thinking of you in recent days. The only good thing our Governor has done is to agitate for charter schools. I'm thrilled by the grand success of your experiment. We return to Durham this summer and I'll again teach at Divinity School. How are your boys?<br /><br />Thnks for writing,<br />WillWilliam H. Willimonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00002821401928222858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-24531247568276507532012-02-08T22:09:41.303-08:002012-02-08T22:09:41.303-08:00This is a heartfelt "Thank You" from som...This is a heartfelt "Thank You" from someone you may not remember.<br /><br />Your ideas on small community oriented schools were an inspiration to me and the parents who created six charter schools in North Carolina.<br /><br />Sadly your ideas were undone by success. It is hard to say "No" to plans for expanding a school that has a waiting list of 500. Those tiny school are way too popular to remain small!<br /><br />Here is one of them:<br />http://www.woodscharter.org/<br /><br />Peter Morcombe (info@gallopingcamel.info)gallopingcamelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08490747443886030893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-1005391974487822142012-02-02T00:56:07.486-08:002012-02-02T00:56:07.486-08:00Dear Pastor William,
As a Methodist Pastor, do you...Dear Pastor William,<br />As a Methodist Pastor, do you believe the working power of the Holy Spirit filled believers with holy laughter.<br />Thanks<br />Alice<br />SingaporeCherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01763655233448819650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-15687758868852401602012-01-20T09:06:13.761-08:002012-01-20T09:06:13.761-08:00The word ‘Hospitality’ simply means the practice o...The word ‘Hospitality’ simply means the practice of being hospitable. But when we add the prefix ‘Christian’, it transforms into something for which the people in this cruel world today thirsts for. Hospitality is one of the fundamental cornerstones of Christian faith.Christians believe in the Almighty who “loves the sojourner” (Deut 10:18). Christian faith upholds the virtue of welcoming strangers or foreigners, as Israelites were once foreigners in Egypt.<br />Hospitality is the fundamental expression of Christians, in response to God’s hospitality and kindness to mankind in providing his only begotten son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice on Calvary, which compels every believer in the’ body of Christ’ to follow in His footsteps.<br /><a href="http://holy-food.org/" rel="nofollow"> CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY</a>IMRANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16468906603128511723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-88677286170913272762012-01-19T12:40:17.230-08:002012-01-19T12:40:17.230-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.John N. Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17549743229329625916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-46314947878427006862012-01-19T12:26:11.244-08:002012-01-19T12:26:11.244-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.John N. Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17549743229329625916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-42832619393398675802011-12-30T04:47:20.463-08:002011-12-30T04:47:20.463-08:00Christmas is a very popular all over the world.On ...Christmas is a very popular all over the world.On this day people love to present gifts to one another.There are many christmas gifts available in the market.Its a great article on Christmas gifts.mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14847481999324497228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-15598623595054153502011-12-16T09:51:38.070-08:002011-12-16T09:51:38.070-08:00OOPS
Meant our TOWN needs Jesus.OOPS<br /><br />Meant our TOWN needs Jesus.lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08106993638951670348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-9214545616975014292011-12-16T09:50:28.842-08:002011-12-16T09:50:28.842-08:00Inspiring!
Encouraging!
I am part of a small UMC...Inspiring!<br /><br />Encouraging!<br /><br />I am part of a small UMC in a large old in need of work historic building. We are a gray haired congregation for the most part. Our town is a town riddled with issues of poverty, drug abuse, gangs, and poor education.<br /><br />Our pastor is retiring this summer.<br /><br />I consider all of that the GOOD provisions of God for our congregation.<br /><br />We have to spend absolutely nothing to be on the mission field. <br /><br />The problems in our town make this town the perfect place for a Wesleyan mission.<br /><br />We have exactly the same issues John Wesley was able to address so ably in his time.<br /><br />We have people on site capable of giving, teaching, leading, providing music, and praying.<br /><br />My prayer is for revival for our church, for an outward focused pastor to whom we can be a blessing, and for God to put is in the game.<br /><br />Our needs Jesus. We know Jesus.<br /><br />I pray we get off our collective duffs and busy on the mission field.lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08106993638951670348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-27081981261929096492011-12-15T13:48:57.800-08:002011-12-15T13:48:57.800-08:00Bishop:
Have a good report from the Community Se...Bishop:<br /> Have a good report from the Community Service at the Collinsville UMC Sunday Night.<br /> UMC Pastor Tim Barnes did a grand job on Occupy till Jesus comes while we wait During Advent.<br /> And the good Methodist women as they do throughout the state had grand knick knacks. If you make it to the area one more time before you leave Alabama, be sure not to leave Collinsville without some of Lance Arnold's homemade salsa. He's my neighbor, been here 22 years and had no idea.<br /> But what brings me here today is the notice at ethicsdaily.com of your confession in Tennessee about the Alabama Immigration bill.<br /> I linked the report to several folks in Dekalb County including the pastor of FUMC Ft. Payne and some influential women with the study clubs.<br /> Had a good exchange couple days ago with Furman's Jim Pitts and AV Huff. Came across a clipping from Oct 6, 72; review of the Jesus Movement in the Furman community, the year of Explo 72 in Dallas.<br /> But that a topic for another time.<br /> All the richest blessings of Christmas to you this Season.foxofbamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329204323614353093noreply@blogger.com