ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 8, 2020Prayer for the Week: If we were to look at the sky today, with patches of blue made even more brilliant by magnificently shaped clouds enticing our imagination, we might deceive our minds into believing that nothing has changed in recent months. Yet when our eyes take a break from the upward focus, it does not take long for us to be jolted by the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 7, 2020Scripture: Mark 10:51-52Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. Thought for the Day: Today during my sermon, I reference this story from Mark’s Gospel.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 6, 2020Scripture: Galatians 1:3-4Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father… Thought for the Day: Though Paul rejected some of his Jewish heritage, he held to other parts of it. In this case, he taught the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 5, 2020Scripture: Romans 5:5…and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Thought for the Day: Can I be honest? I expect your response to be something along the lines of, “Bruce, we expect you to be honest. You’re a pastor.” Very good! My hope has been met with disappointment
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 4, 2020Scripture: Matthew 5:6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Thought for the Day: For the longest time, I did not like the word righteous or righteousness as I equated such words with self-righteousness. If there was one thing that irritated me within my own religion was the occasional sense of superiority, religious arrogance that bled into self-righteousness. Maybe
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 3, 2020Scripture: John 13:13-15You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Thought for the Day: How did you learn to walk? How
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 2, 2020Scripture: Proverbs 4:23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Thought for the Day: I assume that if life can flow from us, so can something else… something that is far from life-giving. I appreciated the recent Op-Ed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The imagery of this paragraph really stood out to me: I don’t want to see stores looted or
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 1, 2020Prayer for the Week:For everyone who is angryFor everyone who feels exhaustedFor everyone who believes we are better than thisFor everyone who has convinced him/herself that the answer to it all is found in a meme –For everyone, Merciful God, a vision is sought of how justice and kindness can be enfleshed in human community.Your prophets spoke of a day when hatred and distrust would
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 31, 2020Scripture: Psalm 68:3-6But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds — his name is the Lord— be exultant before him. Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God gives the desolate
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 30, 2020Scripture: Acts 2:1-2When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting… Thought for the Day: Change is always right around the corner. All it takes is a good spiritual wind to blow through our lives,