http://holstonconference.com/bishopblog/ Bishop James Swanson shares personal reflections with Holston Conference. en-us 2008-11-13T16:02:25-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2008/11/recent_election.html I noticed in the recent edition of Newscope an article about the Council of Bishops celebrating the recent election of Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. I write this blog to clarify what... Bishop 2008-11-13T16:02:25-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2008/10/current_economi.html The church is challenged by our current economic crisis to respond. We will respond whether we realize this or not. We must resist the temptation to join in the panic. I would like to suggest that our response should be... Bishop 2008-10-28T16:58:02-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/bad_can_push_us.html Sometime "bad things" happen to good people that create in good people the desire to be great people. The current decline in membership and church attendance within the United Methodist Church has been bad news to us and for some... Bishop 2007-05-29T13:24:29-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/flagrant_foul.html Good morning! Well, another one of my heroes has demonstrated that he is human. Robert Horry, sometimes referred to by sports commentators as “Big Shot Bob” confirmed that he is subject to flaws on the basketball court. It appeared... Bishop 2007-05-15T09:53:14-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/i_went_through_1.html There is a song I believe that was recorded by the group “America” that has been ringing in my ears for some time. The one line I believe goes something like this. “I’ve been through the desert on a horse... Bishop 2007-05-03T14:03:35-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/04/um_and_christia.html I just received an email from Dr. Riley Case in which he expressed a concern that we United Methodist practice a selective ecumenism based on his understanding of our decision to not join the new Christian Churches Together. Usually I... Bishop 2007-04-03T16:11:42-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/04/unpredictable_c.html I understand from the Weather Report this morning that winter is not ready to leave us. The report is that we will experience dramatically colder temperatures. The temperature will be dropping from the high 70s to the possible the 20s... Bishop 2007-04-03T14:53:28-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/large_church_co_1.html We just concluded our first Large Church Initiative in the Holston Conference. It was hosted by First Centenary and Christ United Methodist Churches. Our speakers were Bishops Al Gwinn & Hope Morgan Ward, Rev. Adam Hamilton, Kent Millard, and Leonard... Bishop 2007-03-10T21:38:08-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/recent_reading.html As part of our spiritual journey together, the Extended Cabinet and I have just finished reading and reviewing the book "Blood Done Signed My Name" by Timothy Tyson. It is the account of a United Methodist preacher kid's remembrances and... Bishop 2007-03-06T18:02:40-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/not_either_or_b.html We are all often guilty of making sacred the ways God moves in our lives and some time make the mistake of making our experience normative for others. Some of us accepted Christ as the result of a worship experience... Bishop 2007-03-02T00:04:48-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/02/bill_deskins.html The Holston Annual Conference lost a friend in Bill Deskins. Bill served this conference faithfully traveling to Knoxville from Tazewell, Virginia many times during a year to give leadership to our Personnel Resources Committee and to other meetings that needed... Bishop 2007-02-27T23:55:58-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/02/healing.html I am currently reading a book edited by Dr. G. Scott Morris, MD entitled "I Am the Lord Who Heals You." It is a collection of sermons by great preaching on the theme of healing, wholeness and restoration. I would... Bishop 2007-02-10T18:36:07-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/freedom_writers.html Wow! What a movie. I recommend this real life triumphant movie. It is the combined stories of high school freshmen struggling to learn in the midst of so much disappointment and despair so prevalent in the communities and homes in... Bishop 2007-01-26T23:45:05-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/winning.html My, my, I can only imagine how Peyton Manning feels after winning the AFC Championship game. I believe that this win is especially satisfying to him in light of the times when he did not win the so-called big game.... Bishop 2007-01-23T00:40:38-05:00 http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/12/the_pursuit_of.html After viewing the movie "Eragon" with my son Joshua and two of his friends Delphine met me at the movie to view the movie "Pursuit of Happyness." Will Smith starred in this true story about the life of Chris Gardner.... Bishop 2006-12-16T21:33:27-05:00