http://holstonconference.com/bishopblog/ Bishop James Swanson shares personal reflections with Holston Conference. en-us Copyright 2007 Tue, 29 May 2007 13:24:29 -0500 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:42:07 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.01D http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/bad_can_push_us.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/bad_can_push_us.html Tue, 29 May 2007 13:24:29 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/flagrant_foul.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/flagrant_foul.html Tue, 15 May 2007 09:53:14 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/i_went_through_1.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/05/i_went_through_1.html Thu, 03 May 2007 14:03:35 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/04/um_and_christia.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/04/um_and_christia.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:11:42 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/04/unpredictable_c.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/04/unpredictable_c.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:53:28 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/large_church_co_1.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/large_church_co_1.html Sat, 10 Mar 2007 21:38:08 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/recent_reading.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/recent_reading.html Tue, 06 Mar 2007 18:02:40 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/not_either_or_b.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/03/not_either_or_b.html Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:04:48 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/02/bill_deskins.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/02/bill_deskins.html Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:55:58 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/02/healing.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/02/healing.html Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:36:07 -0500 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... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/freedom_writers.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/freedom_writers.html Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:45:05 -0500 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.... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/winning.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2007/01/winning.html Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:40:38 -0500 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.... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/12/the_pursuit_of.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/12/the_pursuit_of.html Sat, 16 Dec 2006 21:33:27 -0500 The Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham decided to take the call of Jesus to feed the hungry seriously and it appears that they were slammed by some of their neighbors and the newspaper in Birmingham for doing this. This... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/11/give_it_to_them_1.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/11/give_it_to_them_1.html Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:36:09 -0500 Today, we the Council of Bishops, had our Opening Community Worship. It was a spirit-filled time with tremendous singing from the several choirs of the Central Conference of Mozambique. The President of Mozambique welcomed us and thanked the United... http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/11/opening_communi.html http://holstonconference.com/weblog/archives/2006/11/opening_communi.html Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:43:34 -0500