Monthly Archives: May 2015

For the Bride: Non-Judgment

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Steve Harper

Continuing our exploration of early Christianity, we move from the principle of love to the practice of non-judgment, which is the application of love in situations and toward people who do not seem to deserve it.  When we read the … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: A Reconciled Church

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Steve Harper

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Paul describes the church as first ‘reconciled’ and then as ‘reconciling.’   That twofold flow has gotten my attention.  I want to write this week and next about it. First question: what would characterize a reconciled church?  … Continue reading →

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Journey: In-Spired!

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Steve Harper

Read: The Spirit is Moving! All the way back to my childhood, one of my favorite hymns has been, “Breathe on me, Breath of God.”  Maybe that is why the image of the Holy Spirit as breath (wind) has been … Continue reading →

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For the Bride: The Sum of All

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Steve Harper

When Paul wrote that love is “the more excellent way”–that it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things”–and that it is greater than faith or hope, he was doing all he could to say … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Arise! (#2)

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Steve Harper

Last week’s post (Arise #1) encouraged us to see Jesus’ resurrection as the ignition of an ongoing uprising. It is an uprising that occurs in all sorts of ways–what Paul referred to comprehensively as a “new creation” (2Corinthians 5:17).  This … Continue reading →

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Journey: Known By The Scars

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Steve Harper

Read: Whatever the Hardship, Keep Rising Up As I have already told you, I have benefited greatly from McLaren’s analogy of resurrection as an uprising.  Not surprisingly, he brings the third-quarter readings to an end in a way I would … Continue reading →

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For the Bride: Soft on Sin?

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Steve Harper

We have spent an extended period of time considering the way of love in early Christianity, revealing that it was the virtue which defined and directed the inner life and outer witness of the desert fathers and mothers. I will … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Arise! (#1)

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Steve Harper

Many of you will know that I write meditative posts each Monday here on Oboedire based on Brian McLaren’s book, ‘We Make the Road by Walking.’  I do this primarily as a way of personalizing the book for myself, but … Continue reading →

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Journey: Holy Generosity

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Steve Harper

Read: “The Uprising of Stewardship” As with so many other things, we move too quickly to plans and formulas in much of North American Christianity.  We want to know “how” to do something before laying the foundation of “why” we … Continue reading →

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Editorial: Local-Option Methodism

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Steve Harper

Adam Hamilton has issued a new call for “a way forward” advocating a local-option plan that the General Conference would design, approve, implement, oversee, and (doubtless) amend over time. As with his original proposal (issued about a year ago), social … Continue reading →

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For the Bride: Freedom to Love

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Steve Harper

Rarely do all three weekly writings here on Oboedire revolve around the same theme, but they do this week.  The theme of freedom has woven its way naturally into each post, quite apart from any advance or deliberate plan on … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: The Path to Freedom

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Steve Harper

The April 13th issue of Time magazine featured a look at the various Religious Freedem Acts that are in place in the country, as well as those being proposed.  The magazine rightly showed how complex and divisive the matter has … Continue reading →

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Journey: Moving Toward Freedom

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Steve Harper

Read: “The Uprising of Partnership” We do not see the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God before the end of the New Testament, but we do see the trajectory that will increasingly bring in God’s reign in the ensuing centuries–a … Continue reading →

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For the Bride: The Cost of Love

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Steve Harper

A look at the early desert mothers and fathers reveals that the kind of love we are describing came at great cost.  Far from being quick and easy, it was prolonged and challenging.  And far from being cheap grace, it … Continue reading →

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