Ravings of a United Methodist Pastor (Who really needs to get back to work)

  At a St. Louis Cardinal Baseball game a few years back, a fellow United Methodist clergy member and I were discussing the need for our denomination to attract more gifted people into ordained ministry.  It seemed to us that many of our brightest and best young people don’t even consider whether God may be

United Methodist Clergy Trading Cards (2017 Edition)

United Methodist Clergy Trading Cards At a St. Louis Cardinal Baseball game a few years back, a fellow United Methodist clergy member and I were discussing the need for our denomination to attract more gifted people into ordained ministry.  It seemed to us that many of our brightest and best young people don’t even consider

They Can’t Ruin Thanksgiving (so they skip it)

Despite their best attempts, Thanksgiving is the one holiday the American retail industry has not been able to completely ruin.  If you don’t farm turkeys or grow cranberries, there is just not enough money to be made off of it.  That is why they skip it and jump from Halloween to Christmas.  They can’t ruin

A Commentary on Weather (Reports)

A Commentary on Weather (Reports) Weather reports in SW Illinois are almost always wrong. They tell us that it is nearly impossible to forecast the weather here but for the most part, we get Kansas City weather a day later and then pass it along to Indianapolis the following day. I would not be suspicious

Since When Do Guys Wear “Fragrances?”

When I was growing up, women wore perfume and guys wore cologne. These days both women and men wear “fragrances.” Frankly, I have no idea how they tell which “fragrances” are for men and which are for women. They all smell like they are for women to me. I think I should launch a line

A Slice of Life from “Re:member”

One of the features of my books is the “Slice of Life.” It is just a reflection on life that I hope connects others to the joys and humor in their own lives. Here is a slice from my new book “Re:member.” It centers around the fact that what of my hair is not jumping

Re:member Excerpts are Coming!

Each Monday until the release of Re:member, we will release a story on the Remember Books blog site. The photo chosen for the book cover was taken by Don Anderson in 2008.  In this shot in the upper Jordan River, Rev. Fred Bishop “remembered the baptism” of his son Rev. Shane L. Bishop. The new

Christmas “Exactly as I Remember it” Orders

  “Exactly as I Remember it” has not only sold well, but people are really enjoying it!  Thanks for your feedback.  Many have purchased multiple books for Christmas gifts.  If you order before Friday, we are confident we can get books to you before Christmas.  After that, we are not so confident.  Here is our

Book Release on Sunday

“Exactly as I Remember it” is formally released tomorrow.  This whole process has been a lot of fun.  I was able to write the kind of book I wanted to write.  In a world that tears people apart, the opportunity to offer some stories, slices of life and modern proverbs to help put people back

What Kind of Book is “Exactly”?

“Exactly as I Remember It” is a collection of short stories, slices of life and modern proverbs.  Stories happen in the places Rev. Shane Bishop has lived ranging from Pinckneyville to San Antonio to Georgia to DuQuoin to Louisville to Herrin to Fairview Heights.  The book is about 150 pages long and is in big