Thus, the candidate who embodies love over hate, joy over despair, peace over division, patience over manipulation, kindness over meanness, generosity over selfish-hoarding, faithfulness over deceptive inaccuracy, gentleness over brutality, self-control over impulsivity (Gal 5).

I’m researching the decline of compassion in USAmerican society FLORIDA. One facet is the negative relationship with compassion & regular church attendance. That is, people who self-report a degree of extrinsic religiosity are no more compassionate than non-religious respondents (1)

Advance copies of #NeverAlone Based on lectures at the Lakeside Chautauqua shortly after my brother McKinley’s overdose. First full integration of my sociological research with Biblical theology. Think #paintingwithashes but better Fergie approves 😊 amazon.com/gp/aw/d/151381…

🧵A theological response to “God anointed an adultering, power-raping, miserable sinner to be king… David.” Another case study in distorted and false theology is circulating likening King David to Trump. David, after a period of significant faithfulness to God used his position

Like many I’m starting to make the transition over to #bluesky Follow me here and I’ll follow you back… bsky.app/profile/revere…

I chose to attend Asbury because I heard Steve Harper teach on Wesleyan spirituality at a local church. I knew in my soul this was a person I needed to learn with. At the seminary I took every class Steve offered and had (1) amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DJH6…

Compassion is not only active on Tuesday. There is a thriving church plant here with worship on Sundays, families, & recovery meetings happening every day. Thankful for the overwhelming support of the vast majority of Ocala residents. 🙏🏽 for 4pm please 🙏🏽 ocala-news.com/2024/12/16/oca…

Loneliness is an epidemic that’s claiming lives, but there’s hope. This Christmas, let’s explore how incarnational communities offer a powerful antidote to isolation. Latest article & podcast episode on how fresh expressions can heal a fragmented world… open.substack.com/pub/passionalc…

We are starting 2025 with two books as top new releases in their Amazon categories. #TreasuresOldandNew has held down the #1 spot for three weeks and #NeverAlone is climbing! Thanks to all of you who have preordered 🙏🏽 amazon.com/stores/Michael…

Here’s the TV20 News segment on the women’s sober housing everyone! We are so grateful for the outpouring of support 🙏🏽 wcjb.com/2025/01/23/tra…

Thanks to the Ware Grant through the Florida United Methodist Foundation, our little ones now have stuff to do on Sunday mornings @StMarksUMC including interactive tablets, crafts, and a play & pray space 😊🥳🎉🎊

Today is release day for #NeverAlone everyone 🎉🥳🎊 amazon.com/gp/aw/d/151381…

We're proud to spotlight sociology graduate student Michael Beck, who, alongside his wife Jill, is expanding Open Arms Village to support women in recovery. The new facility will provide housing, resources, and guidance for women on their recovery journey. soccrim.clas.ufl.edu/2025/02/23/bec…

Year five… let’s go! Today, UM congregations in Florida announce clergy appointments. Excited to continue to serve Ocala & the surrounding area alongside the devoted teams who lead our network of churches. We love this “world that is our parish” & we are just getting started!

Today I’m celebrating 17 years of continuous sobriety, by the grace of God, & the support of a 12-step fellowship. 17 years ago I woke up in a jail cell in withdrawal. Today I will worship with my church & rejoice over my grandson Jaxon for his bday. May the 4th be with you.

New Free Resource Alert! Jill and I are thrilled to offer a brand new eBook: Church Planting for Everyone—a simple, practical guide to starting new faith communities in everyday spaces: passionalchurch.substack.com/p/a-gift-for-y…

This morning our Fresh Expressions Cultivators presented a report on the 200+ new faith communities across our conference! #FLUMC25

Our nation is once again erupting with civil disobedience. As citizens protest with courage & conviction, they are met with vulgar displays of militarized power. Foolishness saturates our feeds, broadcast through black mirrors, 24/7. And wisdom? open.substack.com/pub/passionalc…

Calling all laity! Don’t miss this Summer Laity Gathering - A Fresh Expressions Celebration & Training. A joyful space for laity who want to explore what it means to be part of the Fresh Expressions movement. Find more information at the link below. freshexpressionsfl.org/laitygathering

🧵“So… this is a Methodist thing?” Whether we’re gathered in a dog park, burrito joint, recovery center, or tattoo parlor, that question is one of my favorite moments. In it, I have one brief opportunity to share the beauty of following Jesus in the Wesleyan way. I’ve written1