ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 14, 2021Scripture: Jeremiah 10:23I know, O Lord, that the way of human beings is not in their control, that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps. Thought for the Day: You read a passage like this, and it makes you wonder if human beings have free will. Yet if folks can chase after idols, and cause injustice for orphans and do not defend the rights
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 13, 2021Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Thought for the Day: One year ago today, I was kicking into high gear trying to figure out how we would do worship online after making the decision to cancel our in-person worship. I
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 12, 2021Scripture: Psalm 126:3The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Thought for the Day: Today we celebrate 49 years of being Cypress Creek Christian Church. On this day in 1972, at the home of Bill and Betty Ayers, a group of folks gathered and began to dream with God. Rev. Earl Bissex was a driving force in the organization of the new
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 11, 2021Scripture: Luke 5:27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” Thought for the Day: As a kid, I used to play a mean game of Follow the Leader and Simon Says. The games are similar, but one of the games is more about going wherever the leader guides the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 9, 2021Scripture: Esther 4:15-16Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 8, 2021Prayer for the Week: In this Season of Lent, this time in the Christian Year when our eyes begin to take focus upon the betrayal and loneliness of a man’s execution, we are drawn to our knees in humility and sorrow. O God whose love was born in a manger and authenticated upon a cross, we employ this time of prayer for the purpose of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 7, 2021Scripture: Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him. Thought for the Day: Is kindness the opposite of oppression? I don’t know if kindness by itself has the power to overcome oppression, but it is better than doing nothing. If you’re like me, there are times when I can become overwhelmed by the immensity
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 5, 2021Scripture: John 4:4-5Jesus had to go through Samaria. He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Thought for the Day: This is the beginning of the story often entitled: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. Jesus and his disciples have been in Judea, the area West of the Dead Sea where we find Bethlehem
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 5, 2021Scripture: 1st Corinthians 4:10aWe are fools for Christ… Thought for the Day: There are strong admonitions against foolishness throughout the Old Testament, specifically in what is called the Wisdom Literature. Yesterday’s devotional spoke to one of those passages, and I purposely drove the point home to create the contrast with Paul’s comment about being fools for Christ. Are we to be foolish or not? It