I had breakfast with my dad recently. We were exploring what the Western church will look like on the other side of COVID-19. We agreed that even churches who have been open for months on-site are still running less than half of the live attendance they did a year ago. What will happen with theContinue reading “Strengthening What Remains (A Word to the Church)”
Category Archives: Rev. Fred Bishop
The Discipline of the Lord (came swiftly and from the left side)
(Fort Worth, Texas circa 1969) Dad is a southpaw. There are two files in my memory that verify this fact. One concerns the fact I could never use his baseball glove. I could catch with it but I always threw like a girl (These days girls throw really well, so I have no ideaContinue reading “The Discipline of the Lord (came swiftly and from the left side)”
Preaching the Old Testament (isn’t G rated)
To preach the Old Testament, three distinct things are required. First, you must be able to tell a popping good story. Old Testament stories must not be read; they must be told! Second, you must be able to surround the listeners with enough background to contextualize the event. If a preacher does not do this,Continue reading “Preaching the Old Testament (isn’t G rated)”
Jesus People Quote
I was raised with the Jesus People. Jesus People were hippies,,,but baptized. -Rev. Shane L. Bishop
The Stuff of Legacy (Reflections on Fred Bishop)
Of all the things I can say about my father, it would be most accurate to say he loves God. As a child, I watched him saunter for hours throughout an old IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) cemetery located across the street from our six-room Southern Illinois cottage. In a strangeContinue reading “The Stuff of Legacy (Reflections on Fred Bishop)”
The Irrepressible Fred Bishop
Praise-a-Thons (Herrin, Illinois, circa 1988) For a while in the late 80’s, dad was active in Christian television. Active in the same sense piranha are active when they encounter meat. It was really a pretty good fit. Television loves larger than life personalities and Fred Bishop is larger than several lives. Dad loves to learnContinue reading “The Irrepressible Fred Bishop”
A Football Story (It’s Really About Dad and Me)
I was watching Monday Night Football tonight. Here is a story from “Exactly As I Remember It” about the Dallas Cowbays, Dad and Me. A Football Story (It’s Really About Dad and Me) (San Antonio, Texas, circa 1974) As a boy, there were three holy services of worship each Sunday. There was Sunday morningContinue reading “A Football Story (It’s Really About Dad and Me)”