ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 1, 2025In the Fruit of the Spirit, we find listed: Kindness. In ancient Greek, it is: χρηστότης (chréstotés). The word probably has some root in the Hebrew, chesed, which is usually translated as lovingkindness or steadfast love. As one person wrote, it is that place where love becomes visible and tangible. For someone to be described as kind usually means something. If we are trying to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 31, 2025I was listening to John Lennon’s iconic song, “Imagine,” while driving to the office the other day. It has so many wonderful lines and images, but the words that caught my attention this time were: “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” How many times have you
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 30, 2025Hope is a powerful source of strength that often appears, from an outside perspective, to be nothing but baseless wishful thinking at best. However, when someone presents a compelling vision of hope, it can be exhilarating, inspiring, and transformative. It can bring people together around a common vision for change. In the movie, Rogue One, part of the Star Wars series, an argument is being
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 29, 2025Among the many honors I have as a minister, offering a eulogy at a memorial service stands among the greatest. At the same time, it can also be one of the more challenging and even painful parts of ministry. I have been at Cypress Creek Christian Church for 5,000 days (if my calculations are correct). In those 5,000 days, I’ve had the incredible privilege of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 28, 2025Donna and I were watching a short documentary on the making of the Jungle Cruise ride at the original Disneyland Park in California. There is the classic line where the boat skipper takes the boat behind Schweitzer Falls, named after the famous explorer, Dr. Albert Falls, and the skipper says (from the backside of the waterfall), “The Eighth Wonder of the World, the Backside of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 27, 2025Prayer for the Week:Nourish us, Holy One, as we seek to remain strong and persevere in a time of waiting. Help us to also remain open to the nudge of your Spirit, a little gentle prompt to be mindful of opportunities, no matter how small, to act faithfully. Often, we react with disgust when we can’t stick to our schedules. But perhaps there’s something valuable
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 26, 2025When meeting with couples in advance of their weddings, I have often spoken of the Apostle Paul’s words on love found in 1st Corinthians 13. Paul begins by putting the words patience and kindness with love, in part, because when trying to explain or talk about love, we most often talk about it in the specific ways we express love. And as I have been
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 25, 2025I am not a fan of jury duty, though I feel bad in saying that out loud (or in this case, writing it). For me, it has to do with the drive, which seems strange as I drive down to the medical center early in the morning a lot more often than I do for jury duty. I am also a bit of a control
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 24, 2025I’d like to briefly discuss patience, which will be the topic of Sunday’s message. In 2011, the late author, Rachel Held Evans, referenced a poem by the 16th-century mystic, St. Teresa of Ávila. Here’s the poem: Let nothing upset you,Let nothing startle you.All things pass;God does not change.Patience wins all it seeks.Whoever has God lacks nothing:God alone is enough. When referencing this poem, Rachel was talking about the criticism
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 23, 2025From what I understand, today is National Pie Day—not to be confused with National Pi Day, which is March 14th. Since pies are not really on my list of foods I can eat, I am not a strong advocate for National Pie Day. I am not opposed to it, but there might be just a hint of underlying bitterness over my inability to enjoy a