ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 30, 2025 Today, we begin our Advent Series: Do not let the “joy” crush you! Some of you might be thinking that if you’re going to be crushed by something, joy might be the very thing you’d choose. I can understand that perspective, but I’m concerned that our definition of joy might not be as cute and fluffy as some might believe. It’s not the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 29, 2025 How do you manage to slow down when everything around you seems to be speeding up, and there’s an overwhelming expectation that we should accomplish so many things in a short amount of time? Let’s be honest, it’s not an easy task, but it’s definitely not impossible. How much of the challenge is tied to a certain fabled perception of what this season
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 28, 2025 As I write this on Thursday evening of Thanksgiving, I am eating some leftovers from an earlier feast, while my wife watches “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the other room. It is my favorite Christmas movie, and I find the time to watch it every year. Though in this moment, I have to laugh because it feels like a threshold moment—still eating some
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 27, 2025 I am thankful this day for all those throughout Christian history, including some people I know very well, who are trying to maintain a very clear picture of a Christianity that reflects Jesus. A little over a week ago, I had an online conversation with someone (gave me permission to mention the conversation in my blog) who is absolutely captivated by the Jesus
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 26, 2025 Yesterday’s Etching on the topic of a green smoothie spilled everywhere in my kitchen was written early in the day on Monday, so before we experienced tornados in our area. A number of people, including a few who experienced some damage from the storm, found the message to be somewhat appropriate. Let’s be clear, a spilled smoothie should not be equated to the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 25, 2025 I buy some smoothies every month from a place called Daily Harvest. I like the healthiness of the ingredients, and there is one in particular that I was looking forward to having this month. It is a chocolate mint, with spinach and banana. I made that smoothie yesterday with coconut milk, and I couldn’t wait to enjoying every drop. The problem is that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 24, 2025 Prayer for the Week: This Land Belongs to No One By Hila Ratzabi This is a portion of the prayer. You can find the full prayer at: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/land-belongs-no-one/ “The earth is God’s, and all its fullness; The world and those who dwell upon it.” ~Psalm 24 This land belongs to no one but God. The Earth was here before us and will endure
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 23, 2025 The British journalist, Katty Kay, said, “Everybody fails; it’s no big deal. It’s what being human is. Don’t let that stop you from taking risks.” In tomorrow’s sermon, we are going to be looking at the story of Peter walking on water. We so often focus on his failure, but there would never have been a story about Peter walking on water, or
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 22, 2025 This Sunday is Thanksgiving Sunday because the Sunday immediately after Thanksgiving is the first Sunday of Advent. The second part of that statement was sort of difficult to type as I don’t feel quite ready for the Advent Season to be here. The funny thing is, no matter how much I feel ‘not ready’ for Advent, it still shows up. Yet I can’t
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 21, 2025 What do you do as a person of faith when you experience something that is really quite offensive, yet you realize that for one reason or another, others could not see it? And still others were simply too nice to say something. How do you go from being really ticked off to a place where you can speak calmly and in a way