ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 2, 2026
We are a few weeks into the college football season, and I wonder how many teams heard a speech from a coach in the weeks before the season started that begin with something like, “Guys, this season is going to be our season.” Sadly, for many who heard the speech, so far the season has not been their season. There was great hope, yet that hope has been dashed by reality. Growing up a Nebraska Cornhusker fan in the years when they finished top five all the time, and often played for the national championship, there have been seasons over the last 15 years where I said out loud, “This is going to be our season,” and four games in, with only one win, it was clear that it would not be our season. I’m guessing there are few folks reading this who can relate.
As you will hear in the weeks ahead, I believe it is Cypress Creek Christian Church’s season. This is our time, for we are those who have chosen to plant ourselves near living water, and the fruit we are bearing is sustenance for which many in our community yearn. This is our season, and the unique ministry to which we are called directly meets the deeper questions more and more people are asking. This is our season. I’m not suggesting the past has been empty of such moments. Far from it! But today, there are not enough churches, at least in my opinion, who are speaking beyond some of the culture war nonsense. Yet the exodus from Christianity right now is not because people lack of interest in the things of faith, but there is unwillingness to claim a Jesus that is used as a mascot for bigotry and selfishness. Even people who have very little Christian background are saying, “I don’t believe that reflects Jesus.” Let’s not pretend that Cypress Creek Christian Church is perfect. Far from it! Yet God uses those who have chosen to plant themselves near living water, and I believe more and more people know us at Cypress Creek by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7:20) because this is a season to produce unconditional love, mercy, acceptance, inclusion, and a real desire to see justice and peace in our world.
As we allow your grace-filled waters to give us life, O Lord, we pray for the fruit we bear to be the fruit that will nourish our community and beyond. Amen.
