Become ‘the more’

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.––We could become better people if we would be willing to drop old habits, attitudes and values, said Bishop James E. Swanson Sr.

“The genius of God is not that God was able to create humanity, but that God created us with the capacity to adapt and grow into someone even better than what God originally created,” the bishop told more than 600 people attending the 12th National Gathering of UM Men.

Now in his second term as president of the General Commission on UM Men, Swanson said, “It is a disservice to expect change in others with no commitment to change oneself.” But, he noted, while it is easy to expect others to change, it is far more difficult for us to change because we fear the grief that comes from losing the familiar.

“Sometimes you refuse to change because you know the ‘new you’ will demand more out of you. And you are not at the point where you are willing to ‘up your game’.”

At the conclusion of his July 7 address, the bishop gave the assembly a promise, “Even when we think God is unwilling to have contact with us, God doesn’t disown us. And it won’t happen. You are still here.”

The bishop invited those who wanted to respond to God’s call to come to the chancel to pray with conference prayer advocates.