Joel Everson

Pastor (UMC) in small town Indiana. Producer of The Zeitcast with Jonathan Martin. Musician/Singer in the band War Radio.

[Bob Dylan @bobdylan]

Saw Nick Cave in Paris recently at the Accor Arena and I was really struck by that song Joy where he sings “We’ve all had too much sorrow, now it the time for joy.” I was thinking to myself, yeah that’s about right.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@theboyonthebike Good LORD, YES! I am beyond weary of these false equivocations. Yes, we need a robust critique of any system that attempts to be in any way above reproach (neoliberalism needs that criticism) but, it’s just unhelpful to act like all sides are the same here.

[Jonathan Martin @theboyonthebike]

If bad theology kills (& I believe it does), then bad eschatology is a serial killer.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@theboyonthebike Come on with it! I've tried... and I mean genuinely TRIED to find what magnetizes people to Petersons content. I end up with a headache every single time. It's like the reality tv writers version of good philosophical/ethical framing. Thank you for pointing to a better way.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@theboyonthebike Good Lord… YES and AMEN to this. So good, Jono.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@NatePyle79 I agree with your point, Nate. However, this particular Pastor is not a good example. He doubles down on Christian nationalism wkly. He's said some of the most harmful and disgusting things about our LGBTQ siblings I've ever heard from a pulpit. He doesn't deserve your platform.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@OG_Houston78 @ThatShaneB Thank you for replying, John.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@OG_Houston78 @ThatShaneB Hi John! Would you mind sharing which sermons from Acts DO mention heaven or hell? It's certainly possible I've missed them.

The term "eternal life", particularly as Jesus and later Paul used it, has very little to do with our modern idea of heaven or hell.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@ThatShaneB I also find it fascinating that in the 6 (roughly) sermons we find in the book of Acts we don't find a single instance of the Apostles mentioning the afterlife in the presentation of The Gospel message.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@ThatShaneB If you can't preach the Gospel without appealing to afterlife issues *positive or negative* you cannot preach the Gospel.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@BrianZahnd Outside it’s America.

[WMIII @WilliamMatt22]

This #BlackHistoryMonth I can’t stop thinking of James Baldwin and how he felt compelled, almost forced to be an optimist about the world simply because he couldn’t afford to be in despair:

”you can’t tell the children there’s no hope.” he’d often say

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@MikeCosper @RoseMadridSwet @mbird12 Mike, do you really think West does what Walsh accuses him of? I don’t see any way someone knowing Dr West and the context of his speech honestly thinks he’s saying what you’re accusing him of

[Jonathan Martin @theboyonthebike]

Most people I talk to are deeply disillusioned with the choices they are
offered: an unraveling neofascist who increasingly sounds like a less coherent version of the Riddler? Maybe the person last night who did a fine job of not raising the ire of the confederacy?

[Jonathan Martin @theboyonthebike]

The e-book of this little passion project/labor of love is free for one more day today. It was important for me to do that, because while this absolutely is “about” the ongoing Christmas season, there is unquestionably more raw soul in this than anything I’ve written thus far. I need this OUT of me, somehow.

I released it myself simply because the inner voice/impulse I’ve come to trust screamed like I’ve never heard before. It was singeing my own fingers to hold this in, felt like violence to myself to stay quiet. This “Christmas project” is a trojan horse to talk about Israel/Palestine, my beloved Sister Margaret Gaines; a channel for my fury at the world and at my own indifference, & as primal and raw an expression of hope as I’ve got left.

It’s all the things I don’t really have words for, almost more speaking in tongues than in English in that way-but I trust your heart will make sense of it:

https://t.co/tIVixH2pOI

[Jonathan Martin @theboyonthebike]

There is something that feels right about what little “promotion” there is for The Book of Waiting: Reflections on Advent and Christmas to be unadorned, all about the words. So today I wanted to share the preface with you. Rather than trying to tell you what it is, maybe it’s better to just let it be what it is-a small and feverish thing, a product of the fury I write about here.

The audiobook is up exclusively from my website, and the paperback can still arrive via Amazon by Saturday if you order it today. Thanks for supporting me in bringing this little dream into the world.

[Jonathan Martin @theboyonthebike]

Perhaps the most ridiculous thing I’ve done in my life…I released a surprise (“emergency?”) Advent/Christmas project—The Book of Waiting: Reflections on Advent & Christmas. I did it on my own just to get it out quickly, feeling such urgency on it. The audiobook is out TODAY, exclusively here: https://t.co/8wW8hM0VHt

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@RandyKnie What's fascinating is many early church writings indicate it was love God BY loving neighbor. This often to the degree that when Christians were asked about their faith they only mentioned love of neighbor. Anyone can claim love of God. Love of neighbor makes it measurable.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@Toby_j_coxon @RandyKnie @WalkingHumbl Actually, no... at least not according to Jesus. If you take a passage like the sheep and goats- one of Jesus' clearest on what judgment looks like- belief/faith is never mentioned. How we love our neighbor is the clear marker for being a sheep and inheriting life.

[Joel Everson @eversonj]

@jstnharper @transvangelical @masonmennenga @freebarbarian Do you find it beneficial to consider what early Christians said regarding Junia? My thought is, if your point is to move it past personal ideology, we have other historical sources that can guide us.