ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 27, 2020Prayer: Lord God, we might have invited your presence into our lives, but you were there long before those words were spoken. Your love did not require an invitation or any special act by us. And so this day, as the storm continues to rage, we not only claim your presence, but bear witness to it for the sake of those who are afraid and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 26, 2020Scripture: John 20:28Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Thought for the Day: This is part of the well known “Doubting Thomas” story. Let me suggest that we dismiss much of the story in the belief that it is well summarized by simply saying things like, “Well that’s just Thomas. He was the doubter.” Of course, Thomas was the only disciple who wasn’t
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 25, 2020Scripture: Colossians 2:6So live in Christ Jesus the Lord in the same way as you received him. Thought for the Day: Yesterday I was scrolling past a lot of useless emails when I noticed one that, in the subject line, talked about the potential hurricane(s). The very next email’s subject line read: Do you have enough life insurance? I laughed, but pretending that the second
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 24, 2020Prayer for the Week: Allow for simple words to spill into our ears and our minds – words like grace and mercy, kindness and love, steadfastness and compassion, forgiveness and justice. Simple words woven into the scriptures; simple words whispered by the Spirit; simple words enfleshed in Jesus. Holy God, we do not require a dictionary for these simple words, but if they are ever
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 23, 2020Scripture: Acts 10:34Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another.” Thought for the Day: Our carbon monoxide detectors went off yesterday here at the house. We were not concerned, but when we called the manufacturer of the detectors, they (for true safety and legal reasons) told us to call the fire department. Now we tried
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 22, 2020Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 2:8So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. Thought for the Day: An individual can communicate certain ideas adequately without any personal involvement in the actual idea. I can explain a basic math problem or how
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 21, 2020Scripture: Acts 10:1-2In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. Thought for the Day: This Sunday, I will be referencing the story of Cornelius and his encounter with the Apostle Peter.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 20, 2020Scripture: Hebrews 10:25Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. Thought for the Day: This passage speaks to our current situation. Right now, we are not meeting together for the safety of individuals and to hopefully curb the number of COVID cases. There are
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 19, 2020Scripture: Jeremiah 9:24bI am the LORD who acts with kindness, justice, and righteousness in the world, and I delight in these things, declares the LORD. Thought for the Day: The Hebrew word translated here as acts is `asah, a word that has been translated as pressed, produces or brings about. An old preacher I knew translated it as habit, describing the habits of God as
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 18, 2020Scripture: Luke 12:18-19Then the man said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” Thought for the Day: I was all excited about the LiveStream for