ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 3, 2026 Good Friday: In yesterday’s Maundy Thursday Service, we opened with the words from Philippians 2:5-8, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard e quality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS April 1, 2026 Today, our Jewish siblings are celebrating Passover, though a strange and occasional coincidence, it is also April Fools’ Day. And today is also Wednesday of Holy Week, which is often associated with the disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. Some say today, the day before Maundy Thursday, was the day the money exchanged hands between the religious leadership and Judas (Matthew 26:14-16). To
ECCLESIOGICAL ETCHINGS March 31, 2026 So yesterday, I was driving on Strack, between Louetta and Cypresswood, and as I came to the School Zone (20 mph), I slowed down to about 21, maybe 22 mph. I am a pretty good rule follower, but I noticed the car behind me not slowing down. He tailgated me about as close as I have ever had someone tailgate me. In fact,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 30, 2026 Prayer for the Week: Rev. Gerlyn Henry – she is the incumbent of the Church of the Holy Wisdom in the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. This prayer was written as part of an interview with Sojourners Magazine. She was asked to offer a prayer for 2026… Gracious and living God, break open what has hardened in us and awaken what has grown callous,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 29, 2026 Today is Youth Sunday, a wonderful tradition here at Cypress Creek Christian Church. As I always say, it is about the youth having a good experience in planning and leading the worship service. Many of the youth are given their first glimpse behind the curtain, and just yesterday, one of the youth said, “There’s a lot of work that goes into planning worship,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 28, 2026 Church signs, and specifically the thoughts congregations put on the signs, can be thoughtful, inspiring, and even a bit edgy at times. Some churches spin cultural references, make puns, or some even use language that invites a little fear. Of course, my favorite things are the mistakes, misspellings, or not taking a close look at how the sign is going to be perceived
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 27, 2026 From where I am seated, I can see Holy Week. Actually, some of the Maundy Thursday Service is pulled up alongside where I am currently typing. So yes, I can see part of Holy Week. If this phrase is new to you, don’t worry. There is a wonderful tradition within Christianity, a way of teaching the story of Jesus, while also creating a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 26, 2026 I am blessed beyond measure! I’m not saying it to sound all religious or because I feel it necessary to exude some gratitude. I feel blessed because yesterday was one of those days in which the blessings refused to remain contained in the blessing bucket. Someone knocked into it, and it spilled forth, drenching me in joy-filled goodness. And I am equally grateful
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 25, 2026 As we move toward the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Gospels don’t really provide us with a specific timeline until we reach the Passover (what would become the Last Supper), and even then, there are some differences in exactly how things played themselves out depending on which Gospel you are reading. According to Luke’s Gospel, sometime before Jesus gathered with his disciples
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS March 24, 2026 In Sunday’s sermon, I referenced the book If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk by John Pavlovitz. It is a wonderfully edgy book, and I appreciate John’s journey, which is about as crazy a journey as anyone might have. He was the youth pastor at a mega church in North Carolina before being fired as he was no longer asking the soft