i thought i'd share the love & ask the famed john, from locusts and honey for his 'methodist blogger profile.' i personally love john's wit & he didn't disappoint. plus, i think this is an exclusive picture. yeah for top notch journalism.
intro: ‘John the Methodist’ is the pseudonym for a theologically conservative and politically libertarian United Methodist ministry candidate in the Jacksonville, Florida area. He is a librarian at a public library system and will be a student at the Orlando Campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. John holds a BA in history from Ohio Wesleyan University and a MLIS from Kent State University. He is married to Katherine, another librarian.
Why do you blog?
I have to do something with my hands so that I don't...er, I mean...I do it for the chicks. I swear, since I started blogging, I've had to fight them off with a stick.
What has been your best blogging experience?
Strolling down the beach with Jonathon Norman, hand in hand, under a full moon as the waves crashed against the shore (sigh).
Can you explain your love hate relationship with shane raynor?
He's my evil twin brother. Wait..that's not right. Oh, yeah. I'm his evil twin brother.
What would be your main advice to a novice blogger?
Get on Jay Voorhees' good side. No matter what, don't ever piss him off!
If you only had time to read three blogs a day, what would they be?
Instapundit, WesleyBlog, and IMAO
Who are your spiritual heroes?
My Mom and Dad, who have such a deep and abiding faith. They were so patient with me and my long walk away from and back to God. Also, Rev. Larry Saunders of the North Indiana Conference. We went to college together, back in my atheist days. He's had a profound spiritual impact on me, to say the least.
What are you reading at the moment?
The Bible. That's not a flippant reply. I read the whole Bible, cover to cover, every year, out loud. It takes about 15 minutes a day. I read little other than the Bible, although I have recently finished Fool's Gold by John McArthur.
What is your favorite hymn and why?
"Victory in Jesus", #370 in the UMC Hymnal. It’s a marvelous and passionate statement about the saving grace and forgiveness purchased by Christ for all of us.
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
Can you name a major moral, political, or philosophical issue on which you've changed your mind?
I used to strongly support the death penalty. But so many people are being exonerated from death row that I think that as a society, we should be willing to support the financial cost of life sentences instead of the moral cost of accidentally executing innocent people.
What philosophical thesis do you think is most important to combat?
Collectivism – the notion that people only have value as members of groups, rather than as individuals. It is collectivism that has led to the worst evils the world has known: communism, fascism, and the Teletubbies.
Is there a correlation between librarians & libertarians?
As a profession, librarians trend liberal, but not even remotely as liberal as the American Library Association says they do. Libertarian librarians are rare, but not unknown.
If you could affect one major change in the governing of your country, what would it be?
I would strictly enforce the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
If you could affect one major policy change in the United Methodist Church, what would it be?
I would bring rogue conferences (such as California-Nevada) to heel.
What would be your most important piece of advice about life?
Always wear shoes in which you can run at full speed or fight, if necessary. You never know what the day may bring.
What, if anything, do you worry about (other than jonathon norman)?
I don’t worry about Jonathon. He and I are like, totally over. I worry about paying the bills and getting through the candidacy process.
If you were to relive your life to this point, is there anything that you'd do differently?
The list would be a page long. Yes, there are many things that I’d do differently.
Where would you most like to live (other than where you do now)?
Fort Payne, Alabama. Nestled at the tail-end of the Appalachians and surrounded by thick forests divided by streams and waterfalls. Now that’s God’s country.
*interviewer's note: it's extra special for you 'alabama' fans, it's home to 'june jam' or maybe that's mentone, al.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
What is this ‘spare time’ of which you speak? Seriously, I work out five days a week. If given the time and money, I’d try to become a competitive bodybuilder. I used to play role-playing games a lot, but now I’m too old.
What is your most treasured possession?
An Iranian dagger that by grandfather brought back from WWII. Besides being pretty, it’s as sharp as a razor and since I don’t own a gun, I keep it for home defense (better than nothing).
What talent would you most like to have?
The ability to go without sleep. I could do so much more with that extra six hours a day.
If you could have three guests, past or present, to dinner, who would
they be?
Jesus, George Washington, and my late maternal grandfather (who gave me the dagger)
Do you have any other pets than your rabbit?
Yes. I have a one-year old Papillon named Sunny (named after King Louis XIV.) We carefully selected a breed that was unlikely to try to kill the rabbits, and it’s turned out very well. I brought the rabbits into the relationship, so I take care of them. Katherine takes care of the dog.
