Monthly Archives: March 2016

Year of Mercy: Gospel Attentiveness

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Steve Harper

(13) If we are to be merciful as God is merciful, we must pay attention to the Father, as Jesus himself did (John 5:19).  In the Christian tradition, we practice Gospel attentiveness through reading and reflecting on Scripture. In its … Continue reading →

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UMC: Revisiting Human Sexuality

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Steve Harper

It is incumbent on delegates to discuss any issue with the best and most up-to-date information available.  This is particularly true with respect to human sexuality.  A lot has changed since 1972, and what we have learned since then cannot … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: The Necessity of Holy Saturday

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Steve Harper

One of my abiding memories of Jeannie’s and my trip to the Holy Land is the time we spent in and around the garden tomb.  The way things worked out, we had a longer period of waiting than was usually … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: The Necessity of Holy Saturday

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Steve Harper

One of my abiding memories of Jeannie’s and my trip to the Holy Land is the time we spent in around the garden tomb.  The way things worked out, we had a longer period of waiting than was usually the … Continue reading →

Posted in In-Sight | 2 Comments

Editorial: Into the Night

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Steve Harper

How ironic that a text from the Maundy Thursday passages so clearly applies to us on this Maundy Thursday.  In John 13:30, as soon as Judas left the group gathered in the upper room to go and betray Jesus, the … Continue reading →

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Year of Mercy: God’s Heartbeat

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Steve Harper

(12) This section of Pope Francis is so rich and compact, my first inclination was simply to post it verbatim.  I hope you will not fail to read it, even as you read my reflection below… Calling mercy “the heartbeat … Continue reading →

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UMC: Loving and Legislating

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Steve Harper

General Conference faces the challenge of turning perspectives into programs, convictions into content, principles into polity. It is the inescapable movement from beliefs to practices.  Creating the bridge that moves the UMC from one to the other is a formidable … Continue reading →

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Year of Mercy: Amnesia

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Steve Harper

(11)  Henri Nouwen once remarked that the great danger in the spiritual life is amnesia–forgetting the very things God would have us remember.  Pope Francis would surely agree, as in this section of his writing, he cites similar words from … Continue reading →

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UMC: Schism

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Steve Harper

The atmosphere of schism (even when the word is not used) never completely goes away in these days leading up to General Conference.  It most often appears with respect to human sexuality, but it can sometimes be observed in discussions … Continue reading →

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Year of Mercy: The Foundation

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Steve Harper

(10) The life and ministry of the Church stands on the foundation of mercy.  The witness of the Church rises and falls in relation to the presence or absence of mercy.  Pope Francis believes the Church has forgotten this and … Continue reading →

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UMC: The Pivot

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steve Harper

As General Conference approaches, the various plans being put forward regarding human sexuality make it appear that the decisive factor will be which theological view is finally adopted as determinative.  And while I believe theological conversations are essential in a … Continue reading →

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Year of Mercy: Storied Into Love

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Steve Harper

(9) Jesus understood the transformative power of stories.  Parables were his primary means of speaking the revelation of God to us.  Among his best-known stories are two parables of mercy: e.g. Luke 15:1-32 and Matthew 18:21-35. These parables of mercy … Continue reading →

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