James C. Howell

And His Name Shall Be Called

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:33:25 GMT

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Whether we hear it read aloud or sung by a massed choir, Isaiah 9:6 resonates with lifelong churchgoers, spiritual seekers, and even those dipping a toe into the things of God for the first time.

This Advent, step into the wonder of the season through the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah and the stirring music of Handel's Messiah. In And His Name Shall Be Called, beloved pastor and scholar James Howell invites you to reflect deeply on the four names that reveal the promise of God's presence in Isaiah 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Each week of this devotional centers on one of these titles, with daily reflections that draw from scripture, theology, and music to explore the many ways God is with us — in the past, today, and in the future. Through Howell's thoughtful insights and pastoral wisdom, you'll discover how these names are not just ancient poetry but promises still unfolding in our world today.

With special ties to Handel's Messiah, this devotional includes curated playlists to enrich your experience — helping you connect your spiritual reflections with the power of music in worship and contemplation.

Written by Rev. Dr. James Howell — senior pastor of one of the largest United Methodist congregations in the U.S. and author of the bestselling Unrevealed Until Its Season — this new Advent devotional will touch your heart and lead you to Christmas with joy and hope.

Whether you're reading alone, with family, or as part of a small group, And His Name Shall Be Called will be a meaningful Advent companion, revealing surprises and great treasures to help you make sense of who God really is and what life with God is, and could be, like.

And His Name Shall Be Called

Fri, 02 May 2025 16:26:30 GMT

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Whether we hear it read aloud or sung by a massed choir, Isaiah 9:6 resonates with lifelong churchgoers, spiritual seekers, and even those dipping a toe into the things of God for the first time.

Unrevealed Until Its Season

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:28:31 GMT

Author James Howell believes in the power of song to teach spiritual truths. "Hymns embed faith into the marrow of the soul," he writes. In Unrevealed Until Its Season, Howell takes us on a 40-day journey through well-loved hymns.

A meaningful Lenten devotional guide for individuals and small groups, Unrevealed Until Its Season is also a valuable resource and perfect gift for musicians as they prepare for worship, and for ministers as they lead worship.

Weekly themes include Praising God, Hymns About Jesus, Hymns of Forgiveness, Hymns of Vision, Hymns of Beauty, Hymns of Holy Week, and Hymns of Easter. Howell ponders phrases from old and new hymns, such as "Be Thou My Vision," "Hymn of Promise," "All Creatures of Our God and King," "For Everyone Born," "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "Lift High the Cross," and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

Yours Are the Hands of Christ

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:54:20 GMT

Take spirituality into the real world.

Jesus didn't "become flesh" so we could feel different. He came to this world so we will be different.

Often our spirituality seems invisible and mute to a hurting world. Many of us simply internalize faith out of fear, feelings of inadequacy, or choice. A faithful response to discipleship's call, however, is both inward and outward.

Through Howell's study, you'll find ways to apply faith to your daily life and make evident your commitment to Christ. By considering all that Jesus did with his hands as a teacher, a healer, and a compassionate servant, Howell challenges readers to be the hands and feet and love of Christ in the world.

"Christianity must become something real, tangible, something that pervades all that we are," writes Howell. "It must become something we do. In our culture, for Christianity to have any meaningful future, we must get serious about a genuine lifestyle that is holy without being elitist, engaged with the world without being jaded or self-righteous, active and busy yet prepared to cope with failure."

Howell's inspiration for this work comes from a poetic meditation written by Teresa of Avila, a Spanish nun who lived in the 16th century. The poem begins:

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours."

Howell connects these words with the apostle Paul, who wrote in 1 Corinthians 12: "Now you are the body of Christ."

Express your faith through action. Be the hands of Christ today to a hurting world.

Why This Jubilee?

Sat, 14 May 2022 01:04:58 GMT

Music is such an important part of Advent and Christmas. Can you imagine Advent without "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"? How about Christmas without carols like "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night," and "Joy to the World"?

It pleases the Lord Jesus when we sing of his coming with carols we know by heart. It pleases him even more when we think about the words we are singing.

In 24 reflections on well-known carols and Christmas songs, James Howell explores the birth of Jesus. He ponders the meaning of certain phrases from these songs and relates them to our daily lives.

The four weeks of devotions are arranged by topic:

The Place
The Men (Joseph, shepherds, magi)
The Mother
The Child

A guide for weekly discussion is included.

Join Howell in this rich remembrance for the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Unrevealed Until Its Season

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:50:11 GMT

Why This Jubilee?

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:42:33 GMT

It pleases the Lord Jesus when we sing of his coming with carols we know by heart. It pleases him even more when we think about the words we are singing.

In 24 reflections on well-known carols and Christmas songs, James Howell explores the birth of Jesus. He ponders the meaning of certain phrases from these songs and relates them to our daily lives.

The four weeks of devotions are arranged by topic:

The Place
The Men (Joseph, shepherds, magi)
The Mother
The Child

A guide for weekly discussion is included.

Join Howell in this rich remembrance for the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Yours Are the Hands of Christ

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:37:33 GMT

Take spirituality into the real world.

Jesus didn't "become flesh" so we could feel different. He came to this world so we will be different.

Howell's inspiration for this work comes from a poetic meditation written by Teresa of Avila, a Spanish nun who lived in the 16th century. The poem begins:

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours."

Howell connects these words with the apostle Paul, who wrote in 1 Corinthians 12: "Now you are the body of Christ."

Express your faith through action. Be the hands of Christ today to a hurting world.

Servants, Misfits, and Martyrs

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:35:45 GMT

"These vivid and touching accounts are not only inspirational and enlightening, but they also broaden our perspective of what characterizes a hero."

—Jimmy Carter
Former U.S. president, winner of 2002 Nobel Peace Prize

Do you wonder how you can make a difference? Worry whether you have the courage to dare the impossible? Take heart! Everyone has wrestled with thoughts of inadequacy and fallibility at some point in their lives-even spiritual "giants."

Servants, Misfits, and Martyrs gives you a glimpse inside the lives of regular, everyday people who made a profound impact on the world through their service to God.

"This is a book of stories, my personal favorites, really," writes Howell. "These friends of God are not superhuman or the elite. They are flesh and blood, just like you and me. And that is the point. It's important to remember that the most ordinary soul possesses the most extraordinary gift."

Read about Dorothy Day and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who devoted their lives to helping those who could not help themselves. Experience the stories of Sojourner Truth and Billy Graham. Learn about singing saints Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, and John Newton. Meet misfit Francis of Assisi and Clarence Jordan, creator of The Cotton Patch Bible.

An engaging page-turner, Servants, Misfits, and Martyrs proves that God blesses every one of us with a special gift we can use to light the world. Discover a world of saints whose faith, hope, and action will encourage and inspire you to make a difference.

Dare to attempt great things for God!