Monthly Archives: November 2018

In-Sight: From Fear to Love

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Steve Harper

​This is the final “In-Sight” post for this year.  It resumes on Monday, January 7th.  Since I have written about love in the last two “In Sight” posts, I thought I would conclude the year with another one. __________________________________ For … Continue reading →

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Shepherd’s Care: Time To Be Respectful

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Steve Harper

This is the final “Shepherd’s Care” post for 2018.  It will resume on January 4th, and the series about time and ministry will continue. _________________________ If indeed time is the precious commodity of our time, we must not only be … Continue reading →

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Site Update: 2019 Theme

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Steve Harper

Having completed the 2018 Oboedire theme, “Practicing the Better” last week, I am ready to announce the 2019 theme: “Here and Now.”  In some ways, it is an expansion of the 2018 theme, because the only place we can practice … Continue reading →

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Editorial:  Theological Obscurantism

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Steve Harper

​My personality moves me in the direction of details, specifics, and particulars.  Sometimes a single word captures my attention for quite a while.  I have a built-in propensity to zoom in. This means that I have had to discipline myself … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: The Grand Synthesis

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Steve Harper

​God is the love (1 John 4:8).  God is creator (Genesis 1:1).  These are two fundamental affirmations of our faith.  Each is important in its own right, but when we weave them together, an even grander revelation emerges. Clearly, the … Continue reading →

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Shepherd’s Care: Time To Pay Attention

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Steve Harper

​Earbuds may go down in history as one of the most insidious devices ever invented.  They draw us away from the world in which we are present into some other world. That other world may be a good one, but … Continue reading →

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Practicing the Better: A Final Word

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Steve Harper

​I come to the end of this series feeling like a runner who must now pass the baton to the next person in the race. This series has been an extended one, but it could easily have been longer and deeper. … Continue reading →

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Editorial: Racism Amplified

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Steve Harper

​With the Supreme Court’s decision in 2013 to largely end protections afforded to minorities by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, there was an immediate resurgance of racism in our political system.  Even before the ruling states began to implement … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Now What?

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Steve Harper

With slightly less than a week behind us since we voted, we see the reality of a divided nation, and already we are feeling the renewed tensions which go along with our differences. It is a spiritual formation question to … Continue reading →

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Editorial: Mass Shootings and Religion

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Steve Harper

Sitting in the deep sadness that drapes our national soul when we experience another mass shooting (307 this year)**, we once again hear the cries and calls from a nation whose voices are hoarse from repetition, whose eyes are red … Continue reading →

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Shepherd’s Care: Time To Be With God

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Steve Harper

​In his book, ‘Working the Angles,’ Eugene Peterson noted that among all the expectations placed upon him by his congregation and denomination, there was not an expectation that he pray.  It was assumed that he did (and of course, he … Continue reading →

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Practicing the Better: Our Marching Orders, #2

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Steve Harper

​Rebuilding the foundations is the action we take to practice the better.  Using Jonathan Haidt’s moral foundation principles, we looked last week at caring and fairness.  We look at his remaining four foundations today. The third foundation is loyalty.  It … Continue reading →

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UMC: Telegraphing

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Steve Harper

​It’s called telegraphing….the sending of a message that shows what people are thinking, intending to do, etc.  Sometimes telegraphing is an unconscious messaging the senders are unaware of (but which others can easily detect)….or….a subrosa strategy senders use and can … Continue reading →

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In-Sight: Saved by Contemplation

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Steve Harper

​Before you pass out after reading the title of today’s post and are unable to read the rest of it, let me hasten to say that I believe Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.  With that, I hope you … Continue reading →

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Shepherd’s Care: Time–the Inescapable Fact

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Steve Harper

​My conversations with pastors over the years have revealed that the feeling of not having enough time is a major cause of both frustration and freneticism.  The nagging feeling that there is too much to do and too little time … Continue reading →

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