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
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 13, 2022Prayer for the Week:Grant us, Merciful God, some holy restlessness in regard to the things that should be happening but are not. Bring to our spirits a sense of unease that refuses to be idle and disengaged. The list is long, and at times, overwhelming. Guide us, O God, to where our gifts can have the greatest impact upon the greatest need. We offer this
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 12, 2022Recently, I was being a little hard on myself. I don’t know for sure, but it might have been deserved. A friend of mine said, “Show yourself some grace. You’d only be following God’s lead.” That was sort of helpful in the moment. I’m not suggesting we let ourselves off the hook when we need to be challenged on something or need to be accountable
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 11, 2022Just so you know, your pastor is the devil incarnate in the minds of some people. In a recent post for Pride Week in which we shared our church’s love for all people, with an emphasis on the word ALL, I was asked: What Gospel does this church teach? I responded: You ask an excellent question! Like most churches, we would claim to follow the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 10, 2022I’m guessing most of you have heard the saying: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” I don’t know why I always assumed it was Shakespeare, but in fact, it was Alexander Pope in the early 18th century. Over the years, I have heard a few people use it as a cover for not forgiving. In their thinking, forgiveness belongs to God and not to