ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 2, 2022Is it a risk when you are desperate? That may sound like a strange question, but in John 4, we find Jesus returning to Cana, the place where he had turned water into wine. There was a certain royal official in Cana whose son was sick, and when news reached the royal official that Jesus was coming, he went out to meet Jesus and to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 1, 2022Like many of you, I was really stunned and troubled to learn of a plaque that hangs at the entrance to the science building on the West Point campus, one of the military academies. This plaque says, “Ku Klux Klan,” and shows a hooded person holding a rifle. I’m sure someone will attempt to argue why it is appropriate to leave this image on the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 31, 2022In Staff Meeting yesterday, we compared two translations of Psalm 145:18. The first one, from the New Revised Standard Version, reads:“The Lord is near to all who call on him,to all who call on him in truth.” The second one, from the Common English Bible, reads:“The LORD is close to everyone who calls out to him,to all who call out to him sincerely.” They generally
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 30, 2022Sunday’s sermon probably received more feedback than any sermon I have ever done, and none of it was negative. Very few clergy can say such a thing. Yet 75% of the feedback has been in regard to my opening illustration about toothpaste, specifically how to get the last little bit from the tube. Folks have been offering their own insights and funny stories about toothpaste.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 29, 2022Prayer for the Week:Change for the sake of change brings no meaningful change. Change birthed out of bitter resentment only poisons the future. Change for nothing more than a self-serving scheme will subvert the power of hope. Where discerning hearts seek to find love’s greatest expression, change will mirror the divine dream for the world. O Holy One who was and is and always
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 28, 2022In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we find the wonderful litany that speaks of how life has certain periods of time—a certain stage of life when one response makes sense, and then at a later stage in life, a very different response makes sense. As someone who is not very good with letting go, saying good-bye or going in a new direction, I am drawn to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 27, 2022I’m sure a good historian would say I’m over simplifying things, but throughout Christian history, there have been two kinds of Christian movements. Those seeking to follow Jesus with greater commitment and those seeking to use the name of Jesus for their own self-serving end. There are many historic movements that would have been placed in the first category, including our own. There have been
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 26, 2022Churches and ministers like to quote from Isaiah 43 where God is declaring, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” We joyfully speak of the new thing God is doing—sermons are preached passionately and choirs sing songs proclaiming this news. I’ve been an enthusiastic participant in such celebrations, but so often we pass right over
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 25, 2022Let me begin by giving a big shoutout to Joel, Mariah, Paula and Bob Aghamalian. Each of them were guest writers while I was traveling this past week. It took a lot off my plate while also offering me a daily gift. I had read all of them when they were sent to me in the weeks leading up to my time away, but each
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 24, 2022Guest Writer: Dr. Joel PlaagA person of spirit may begin a prayerin awe and trembling, saying within:“Who am I, a creature made of earth,to stand before the Almighty in prayer?” Such a person speaks only a partial truth-And does not know yet the higher truth:The truth that all things,Even the material world,Are filled with God’s presence. Only when you come to knowThat you too contain