ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 27, 2022Many of your homes have been impacted by COVID. Many of you know the fears and grief brought about by this virus. Some of you know firsthand the stress and anxiety caused by this virus. There are some families and some parts of our society affected more than others. A question asked by some people and implied by others is the question humans have been
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 26, 2022I’m sitting here looking at my office desk. On it, there is a tie that I wore on Sunday, but took off immediately after worship. There are three masks, including the one I wore into the church this morning. Beside me is a small microphone that I use when I do videos. There is also a small toy basketball, a pile of rocks, a broken
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 25, 2022You can’t serve both God and wealth according to Jesus. In Luke 16, in a rather disjointed section of scripture (Bruce’s opinion), Jesus appears to summarize with the words, “No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 24, 2022Prayer for the Week: Holy God – today – we pray for the mending of the broken and a shattering of the chains that constrain. We pray for a liberation of body and soul, for both individuals and communities. We pray for Good News to spill forth in abundance upon all who feel a scarcity in their lives. We pray, Holy God, for your Spirit
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 23, 2022In Leviticus 25, we read about an important conviction of the people’s faith – Jubilee. It says, “You will make the fiftieth year holy, proclaiming freedom throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee year for you: each of you must return to your family property and to your extended family. The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee year for you.”
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 22, 2022Cypress Creek Christian Church will officially turn 50 years old on Saturday, March 12. As a community, we will celebrate during worship on March 13. There are other events in the works, including a fun fashion show from each of the decades of the church’s fifty years. There will be numerous fundraisers for the Special Pentecost Offering to support new churches. Some of those fundraisers
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 21, 2022Tonight, at Cypress Creek Christian Church, the new 2022 Elders will meet. This is the beginning of a retreat for the Leadership of the Church. Tomorrow, the Elders will be joined by the new Board. Part of it is simply to get better acquainted. We will spend time doing some of the practical work, training and preparing for certain tasks. Time will be spent dreaming,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 20, 2022A month ago, we talked about Mary’s Song or what is called the Magnificat. If it was a song, I’ve always wondered what the tune sounded like as it has some pretty harsh stuff. Mary sings about the Lord scattering the arrogant and pulling down the powerful from their thrones. This all happens while the lowly are lifted up. The hungry are filled with good
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 19, 2022I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about and praying for our teachers and school staff. A couple of things – I come from a family of educators, and so I have always had a deep respect for those who feel called to this important work. I have also witnessed firsthand my mother sitting at the dining room table late at night as
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJanuary 18, 2022For a couple of weeks now, I have been playing around with a verse of scripture – Psalm 25:1. It reads: I offer my life to you, LORD. The author of the Psalm continues, acknowledging the vulnerability present whenever a person offers oneself to someone else. When I am meeting with a couple in advance of a marriage ceremony, I spend time talking about vulnerability.