ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 13, 2022The opening words of Psalm 70 are: “Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!” Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a letter from prison in which he referenced some words a previous prisoner had carved on the wall. It read, “In 100 years it will all be over.” Bonhoeffer reflected on the words and suggested how they represented the painful laments
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 12, 2022There are words in John 12 often associated with the Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.” Where was Jesus as tension built and threats were no longer just empty attempts to undermine his work? It was real and only going to get more real. When Jesus spoke of where
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 11, 2022With trampled palm branches strewn along the road and songs of praise silenced, we find ourselves a bit disoriented as we enter this Holy Week. God of Heaven and Earth and every living creature upon this Earth, we look to you when the joyful entrance of a new and glorious king is quickly written off because of rumors of an intensified loathing among the Romans.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 10, 2022Joseph Campbell was a fascinating writer in the area of myth and religion, and one of his quotes that I love is one you might have come across at some point. He wrote: “You are the Hero of your own story.” I read those words and find myself taking them in many different directions, but they strike me as words of empowerment that lead to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 9 , 2022Last night, we were invited to share in an Interfaith Iftar event at the Mosque on Spears Road. The topic of discussion prior to the breaking of the fast (a part of the Muslim celebration of Ramadan) was compassion and justice. Your pastor (that would be me, Bruce) did a less than stellar job when I was invited to speak, but you can be
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 8, 2022As we continue to approach Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), we find words that can cause distress or denial. We read what happens after Jesus tells a rich young man to give away all of his possessions: When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 7, 2022Yesterday, I continued the walk to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, or what we call Palm Sunday. And in the Etching, I referenced this odd move in Matthew’s Gospel from eunuchs to children. These are reminders that our storytellers often left out information, specifically transitional information. Though the two stories sit side by side, there might have been two or three days between the two
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 6, 2022In yesterday’s Etching, I wrote about Jesus’ spirited exchange with the Pharisees on the topic of divorce. At the end, it gets a little weird as Jesus brings up eunuchs as part of his larger thoughts on divorce. But it even gets weirder when Matthew’s Gospel moves immediately from eunuchs to little children. We will talk more about that tomorrow. In fact, the last thing
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 5, 2022As Jesus was approaching his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, there were still conversations to have and teachings to offer. Among them, was a response to a question by some of the religious leaders of the day (Matthew 19) on the topic of divorce. Now a lot has come from this chapter in regard to the conflict Jesus had with the Pharisees. I could see how
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGApril 4, 2022Prayer for the Week: Easter is less than two weeks away. There is already a noticeable excitement beginning to take shape, but there are many more events between now and that magnificent day. O Holy God, take us on a journey where we are mindful of all that can be learned and experienced along the way. Let us not simply leap from one high point