ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 23, 2022I think we’ve all had the experience of standing on the outside looking in. As kids, at least at some point, most of us were not a part of the In Crowd. We might have tried to save up money to buy the newest pair of cool jeans, only to discover that by the time we could afford them, they were on their way out
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 22, 2022There are always going to be events and happenings that cause stress and anxiety. I’d like to tell you how to create an entirely stress-free world in three easy steps, but I do not believe such an approach exists. There is probably someone who has written a book on the topic, and there might be some exceptional suggestions found in its pages, but creating an
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 21, 2022Decisions are made in seats of power, some political, some religious, and these decisions are often harmful to those who have little or no power. The irrational rationalization of many such decisions is to protect good, wholesome people from those who seek to impose their immoral or violent agendas, but the irrational rationalization is not well disguised to anyone who is willing to ask serious
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 20, 2022Prayer for the Week:I feel lost but you know where I amI run away but there is no place away from youI am alone but I am forever accompanied by youHoly One comfort me in your eternal grace reassure me through your infinite mercy enliven me with your limitless loveThere is no place I can go where you have not forever existedMay this provide me
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 19, 2022Today is Juneteenth! I first learned of Juneteenth back in Jr. High from a teacher who wanted us to know the parts of history not always taught. It was probably about the time Texas (I was living in Nebraska at the time) became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. For anyone who might not know the history of Juneteenth (sometimes called Jubilee
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 18, 2022Tomorrow, I am continuing our look at the Book of Acts, but I’m leaping ahead just a bit to a story from Paul’s journey to Philippi. My preparation for the sermon has taken me back to my trip to Greece a few years ago, specifically the part of the trip to Thessaloniki and Philippi. According to the story in Acts 16, Paul and Silas were
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 17, 2022A lot of folks would describe Saul’s (later Paul’s) experience along the Damascus Road as a conversion. It makes sense! He started his journey as a follower of Jesus at that moment, so it must have been a conversion. But Saul/Paul never saw himself as anything but a Jew. He was a Jew who followed Jesus. Please understand that this is not the same as
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 16, 2022Have you ever changed your mind? I have met some folks recently who have experienced a dramatic (probably too soft of a word) shift in their thinking in regard to, among other things, what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The Apostle Paul, before he was Paul, persecuted those who followed Jesus. He drew upon words from Deuteronomy that said how those who
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 15, 2022Should I do the right thing? The good thing? The compassionate thing? Are they always the same thing? In theory, I think they are always the same, but in practice, I find moments when they do not necessarily align. There are times when my good help is enabling someone in their unhealthiness. What if my acts of compassion are, in fact, giving license for someone
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 14, 2022The Bible is not exactly what one might think it is. There are places where the commentary of the writers is dripping with sarcasm, irony or satire. But to the casual reader, the somewhat hidden criticism may not be noticed. In 2nd Samuel 11, the story of King David and Bathsheba, we find the words: “In the spring of the year, the time when kings