ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 22, 2021Prayer for the Week:Our good friend Terry Ewing (Vice President for Advancement at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma) puts out a weekly thought/prayer entitled: Overflowing. This past week, he offered a prayer that spoke to my heart and he granted me permission to repost it in my Etchings. Many voices.Many voices crowd the path of my life.Voices of those most close, dear whispers to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 21, 2021Scripture: 1st John 4:8b…God is love. Thought for the Day: I believe God loves us unconditionally, but it is something very different to suggest God IS love. This passage from 1st John presents love as something more than what God does. The equation would be: God = Love and Love = God. Suddenly love is not some goofy emotion that causes your heart rate to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 20, 2021Scripture: John 3:16For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Thought for the Day: These are familiar words for many Christians, yet our familiarity can breed assumptions that may not necessarily be entirely accurate – three specific ones in this verse. The word ‘world,’ in the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 19, 2021Scripture: Matthew 27:45-46From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Thought for the Day: A few weeks back during the Wednesday Studies, I focused on these words spoken by Jesus during his crucifixion. Jesus
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 18, 2021Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-24The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Thought for the Day: I always like coming to these verses in chapter three of Lamentations. The opening verses are sad and full of despair
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 17, 2021Scripture: Isaiah 33:2O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. Listen To Today’s EtchingHEREOr Read It Below Thought for the Day: These words are found in a chapter with what might be described as a mixed bag of emotions. There are “woes” (woe to you…) that are always frightening to hear,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 16, 2021Scripture: 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: For a week now, I have been intrigued by the phrase: gentleness born of wisdom. During this Season of Lent, I have taken a sentence or phrase from scripture and allowed it to roll around in my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 15, 2021Prayer for the Week: Holy God, your word took on flesh — your explanation and hope for creation was embodied in a life. Today, there is a lot of confusion and questions in regard to Christianity as a religion; in regard to Jesus as one who revealed your love and mercy; in regard to faith as a way of living. There might be some who
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 14, 2021Scripture: Jeremiah 10:23I know, O Lord, that the way of human beings is not in their control, that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps. Thought for the Day: You read a passage like this, and it makes you wonder if human beings have free will. Yet if folks can chase after idols, and cause injustice for orphans and do not defend the rights
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 13, 2021Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Thought for the Day: One year ago today, I was kicking into high gear trying to figure out how we would do worship online after making the decision to cancel our in-person worship. I