By Dr. Robin Dease As a seminary student in Washington, D.C., I worked for Marriott Management Services in the George Washington University community. I had the awesome opportunity of catering…
Read MorePosts by Category: Views
This is the category for Advocate editorials and other viewpoints.
Such beauty
By Jessica Brodie. I’m astounded by the beauty of God’s glory shining across every single page of this month’s newspaper. Take a look and tell me if you don’t agree! On every page, you’ll find examples of regular men and women—and sometimes children!—doing something extraordinary for the Lord, living beyond themselves to spread the Good News or to help others in His name. And all this is happening when many of us are stuck at home, quarantined for the most part because of the coronavirus.
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Church members left uplifting and encouraging chalk messages for their pastors outside Advent UMC, SImpsonville.
Just for today
By Bishop L. Jonathan Holston. The famed Dear Abby advice column offers wisdom wrapped in empathy and practicality. One such insightful column includes ways to have a chance for a fresh start today. There is no need to wait for a new week, a new month, or a new year. We don’t need to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the long term.
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Churches are getting creative in how they reach people in the pandemic. Here, the Rev. Annie Jackson places her sermon in a water bottle for a church member.
Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
These are trying times, to say the least. Our lives are upended, routines are off and many of the plans we thought we had a month ago are now completely and irrevocably gone. Some of us have lost our jobs, our security, our prospects, our health. And yet still: God is good. All the time. Even now. Especially now. A column by Advocate Editor Jessica Brodie.
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Can I get a witness?
May we live out the hope found in the resurrection by continuing to participate in the life of our churches in helpful ways. Here are some suggestions. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications
If God stirs me, God will equip me
On hearing God’s call and how to respond. By Jessica Brodie.
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A United Methodist Communications photo by Kay Panovec.
An encouraging word
Anticipation abounds in uncertain times. We want to know what to expect, what the prognosis will be—and we want to know now. In the face of the unknown, we can find ourselves overcome with fear and helplessness. By Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News
Be at peace, for God has it all under control
God is still the God of the universe—and the head of this denomination. And God has the power and authority to do whatever God wishes—including change our hearts and minds and push through whatever plan God intends, whether this one or another entirely. An editorial by Jessica Brodie.
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Photo by Jim Starr
Not by sight
Followers of Christ are often called to walk by faith and not by sight as we live in the in-between times modeled through Scripture. To walk by faith, not by sight, requires you to go to places God will reveal to you even if they are not familiar and to cling to the dreams God has planted in your heart. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
2020 vision
But what does “2020 vision” really mean for me as a woman of faith, and what does it mean for The United Methodist Church as we prepare to embark on yet another difficult and tumultuous year? A column by Editor Jessica Brodie.
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Photo by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications
Stand in awe
Once again, it is a new year, a time of listing the things we will resolve to do in the coming months. Some of these resolutions will be new, but much of the list contains “carryovers” from years gone by. Maybe the one resolution to make sure is on your list is to live beyond expectations. A column by Bishop Jonathan Holston.
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Photo by Susan Passi-Klaus
Dry bones come to life
We’ve heard the stories time and again: once-thriving country churches whose numbers dwindled as their communities folded, until eventually the churches themselves closed their doors. I picture these country churches as they likely were long ago, bustling with activity and chatter, their doors spilling open after worship with people who’d picnic on church grounds or under a nearby shade tree. But once in a while, I hear stories of the reverse: a small church suddenly flourishing again with new life, filled with people and ministry doing all they can the name of the Lord. A commentary Jessica Brodie.
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A UMNS photo by Kathleen Barry
A habit of hope
Shalom. The Hebrew word for “peace.” Shalom is not the absence of tension, but rather this peace exists in the midst of tension. We sometimes fall into thinking that if we have God’s peace then there will be no tension, no conflict, no issues to face. However, the truth is that God’s peace is present in the midst of all this, despite the circumstances around us. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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A photo illustration by Kathryn Price, United Methodist Communications
On being grateful
By Jessica Brodie. As the mother of preteens, I hear the word “entitled” bandied about a lot. My kids are in Generation Z, which is the first generation to grow up in an entirely digital world, and they are fully accustomed to all things electronic and adapt to new technologies quickly and easily. Entitled is a funny word…
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications
Never too late
It is said that the first feast was a traditional celebration of the plentiful harvest to which the Wampanoag were invited as an act of gratitude for the ways they had helped the Pilgrims acclimate to their new environment. The two groups joined together for these few days. Yet we know that this temporary time of friendship and feasting did not last. Now, even as we prepare for traditional celebrations with family and friends, the complexity of our history must be acknowledged. While we are thankful, we need to remember that reconciliation is still needed. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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UMCom photo by Kay Panovec
Stop the madness
This month, October, is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And sadly, South Carolina ranks fifth in the nation in the rate of women murdered by men. Your silence and your inaction could be deadly. Together, we can do something to help.
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Photo by Ronny Perry
Nothing could be plainer
Marie Curie said it this way: “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.” A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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Standing together
Keeping people out of prison is not about being “soft” on crime or altering laws. It’s about coming together as a responsible and loving community before crimes occur. It’s standing with our young people before they walk down the wrong path or begin to make poor choices. It’s coming alongside them with accountable mentoring relationships that expose them to positive life models and high expectations. A column by Jessica Brodie.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications
Must be carefully taught
How we live each day matters and impacts others in ways that we may never even know. So, being intentional about living our lives as a reflection of the Gospel even when that is challenging or unpopular, is critical. That’s why becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable is key. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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What are you waiting for?
In a world filled with complexity and uncertainty, it is easy to get overwhelmed. And the best way to counteract this kind of paralysis is to do something for someone else. A column by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
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David Ivey, member of Mount Horeb UMC, Lexington, clears away debris at a house in Hatillo, in northwest Puerto Rico. Photo by Matt Brodie.
