Author Archives: Steve Harper

About Steve Harper

Retired seminary professor, who taught for 32 years in the disciplines of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies. Author and co-author of 31 books. Also a retired Elder in The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

Here and Now: Courage

Posted on September 11, 2019

​Living in the present moment is living with “eyes wide open,” seeing into things so that their realities come into view (see Mark 8:18).  This kind of seeing gives us courage. First and foremost, we gain the courage to become … Continue reading →

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Holy Love: The Journey

Posted on September 9, 2019

​When I was asked to write ‘Holy Love,’ it included the hope that I would not only write from the Christian tradition but also from within the Wesleyan tradition.  To do this meant including the hermeneutic of experience.  I accepted … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Love

In-Sight: Excavating the Feminine

Posted on September 7, 2019

​One of the marks of Pentecost was, “Your sons and daughters willl prophesy….upon my servants, men and women  I will pour my spirit” (Acts 2:17-18).  This same inclusive mark is evidenced whenever the Spirit is moving.  Women’s voices arise in … Continue reading →

Posted in In-Sight

Here and Now: Discernment

Posted on September 4, 2019

​Life is a gift.  But like every gift, it comes wrapped.  We can think of this as the immediate impression which each moment provides.  And as with some gifts, what we see first (i.e. the wrapping paper, bow, etc) is … Continue reading →

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Holy Love: Prologue

Posted on September 2, 2019

Today, we move from the larger context of the new pentecost (or whatever else it is called) to the topic of human sexuality—one particular place where the fresh wind of the Spirit is blowing.  Upcoming posts will follow the development … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Love

Here and Now: Presence

Posted on August 28, 2019

​Living in the here-and-now gives us the opportunity to experience Presence.  When we are preoccupied with what has happened, or with what might happen, we risk missing what IS happening. Recent studies have shown that the notion we can multitask … Continue reading →

Posted in Here and Now

Holy Love: Fresh Wind Blowing #3

Posted on August 26, 2019

​The new pentecost is more of a movement than it is an institution.  Jesus said that new wine must be poured into new wineskins (Matthew 9 17)), and that is what is happening today.  The fresh wind of the Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Love