ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 8, 2026 Prayer for the Week: I pray for hope as pessimism has turned to defeat I pray for courage when the vulnerable cry out for an advocate I pray for mercy when judgement is harsh and misdirected I pray for kindness in a time when bullies are rewarded I pray for truth-telling as lies are defended with threats I pray for grace among those
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 7, 2026 In Isaiah 66:13, the prophet writes: As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. What images are important to you? People tend to love the image of God as the Good Shepherd, yet how many of us have known a shepherd well enough to provide a detailed description of what a good shepherd is
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 6, 2026 Yesterday, I attended a clergy event where Dr. Lisa Davidson, the Academic Dean at Phillips Seminary and Professor of Hebrew Bible, asked us a question: Do you want your doctor to provide you care based on what was known 2000 years ago? Let’s just say that we all agreed the answer was a big NO! Whether I am going in for a sore
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 5, 2026 Many churches are doubling down on divorce. What I mean is that more churches are feeling the need to relegate those who have experienced divorce to a lower status in the life of the church. Depending on the congregation, this post-divorce status can look a little different, but in most cases, it means that you can attend worship and give money, but you
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 4, 2026 There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the Bible, specifically what is called univocality. This assumption suggests the Bible speaks with one voice from Testament to Testament, from poetry to narrative, from prophetic declaration to parable. The one voice would be, of course, God’s voice. And most folks take the next step and argue divine inspiration and the inerrancy of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 3, 2026 Why Pride month? Yes, June is Pride month, a time in which a bit more focus falls upon those in the LGBTQ+ community. Like other months with a special focus, June provides an opportunity for additional education, acknowledgment of concerns, and questions. January is Dry January, a time to encourage and celebrate sobriety. February is Black History Month. March is Brain Tumor Awareness
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 2, 2026 We are already into June — how time flies when you’re having fun. Now I don’t want to make too much of this, but I need to say something to Cypress Creek Christian Church. We have tough days around the church. There have been numerous times when I have gone home shaking my head wondering how we were going to solve a problem
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS June 1, 2026 Prayer for the Week: Eternal Source of Love, provide me peace amidst the chaos. When foundational components of daily life are shaken and the underpinning of my faith appears tenuous, I seek to know you as Rock and Resolute. Provide me peace amidst the chaos, a peace that comes from knowing that you are unshaken and that the tenuousness I feel will dissipate
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS May 31, 2026 Part of our focus text this morning in worship is Second Corinthians 13:13, where we read: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. As I mentioned in yesterday’s Etching, today is Trinity Sunday. It makes sense that we celebrate the Trinity at this time of the year as
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS May 30, 2026 Tomorrow is Trinity Sunday according to the church calendar, a Sunday in which the church claims the basic conviction that God is one and God is three. There is no question that there is language within scripture that gives the impression that the God of Jesus is the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At the same time, scripture by itself