ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 19, 2020Scripture: Genesis 1:27God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them. Thought for the Day: Earlier in chapter 1, the writer uses a different verb, to make. It is a different word all together in the original Hebrew language from the word we translate in this verse as created. Here, created, is Bara’. It
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 18, 2020Scripture: 1st Corinthians 8:3…but anyone who loves God is known by God. Thought for the Day: You might remember as I do a Sunday School teacher saying when we were young, “God knows you inside and out. God knows every thought in your head and heart.” That might have sounded, in theory, like a wonderful thing. It might have been thought of, by the teacher,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 17, 2020Scripture: James 3:18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. Thought for the Day: It is important to remember that righteousness is not some sort of self-righteousness or pietistic religiosity, but the rightness of God. That is what we believe will emerge from the soil of peace, the well cultivated land of shalom. This is not to confused with
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 16, 2020Scripture: James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. Thought for the Day: I pray that you have known someone whose works were done with a gentleness born of wisdom. I’ve known some people whose gentleness was born of foolishness. It was a gentleness without purpose or direction. There are
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 15, 2020Scripture: James 3:9-10With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Thought for the Day: Humanity, including those who follow Jesus, have yet to fully understand that to curse, demean, degrade or injure another
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 14, 2020Prayer for the Week (based upon Ephesians 1:18ff):The eyes of our hearts desire to see the hope to which we have been called, a hope of overwhelming greatness, a hope infused with heavenly strength. It is the power for resurrection, it is the power for restoration and healing when life appears lost. There is hope, but too few believe it. There is hope, but so
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 13, 2020Scripture: James 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. Thought for the Day: Can I get an Amen? Not trying to be funny, but especially in this moment, there are plenty of us who should not be public school teachers. We would have failed the first week into
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 12, 2020Scripture: James 2:25-26Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. Thought for the Day: As much as I agree with James, it almost feels as if he is using a little bit of guilt
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 11, 2020Scripture: James 2:21Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? Thought for the Day: Does anyone else find James’ use of the Isaac Sacrifice story a less than stellar illustration for his point? When I think of the word “work” in scripture, I tend to think of something positive, life-giving. Abraham was going to sacrifice a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 10, 2020Scripture: James 2:17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Thought for the Day: Some of the great moments in my ministry have been on Youth Mission Trips. There is always a need for caution – that we don’t get too much of a Messiah Complex – showing up as if we are there to rescue those in need. Mission Trips have