ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 4, 2025A lot of people confuse being humble with being humiliated. At first glance, there might be some similarities, at least from a distant observation point. But choosing to be humble begins with a choice, a fully conscious choice. Humiliation is often an intentional choice by an individual or group to inflict suffering upon another person. The one humiliated did not participate in the choice. The
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 3, 2025When the church decides to be the church and not simply protect or glorify a church building, miracles have been known to happen. I’m not suggesting someone leaps from a wheelchair and begins to dance, but I have witnessed someone confined by a low sense of self-worth, only to meet Jesus in his present embodied expression known as the church, and their demeanor was forever
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 2, 2025In Mark 9, we have one of the Passion Predictions, or to say it another way, Jesus tells his followers where this story is headed. Jesus said to them, “‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he was saying and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 1, 2025In four years, Easter will fall on April Fool’s Day. This will be the first time since 1956, thus the first time in my lifetime. Of course, Easter comes on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. We have some time before it happens on April 1, but it does make me wonder how ministers will preach that Easter Sunday.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 31, 2025This is part of a prayer the youth wrote for Youth Sunday—God of many names — Lord, friend from heaven, Mother and Father God, Creator and Source of Life, we are so thankful for the way you inspire kindness, love, and forgiveness. You inspire us because you first shared these same gifts with all creation. Meet us and nourish us—allow for every form of creativity
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 30, 2025From our friend, Rev. Dr. Terry EwingVice President of Advancement,Phillips Theological Seminary I heard it said recently, “It’s easier to be angry.”This statement doesn’t really require much explanation, because it is—it’s always easier to get angry. What is your default response? In everyday situations and interactions, what is your first response, what is poised below the surface, constantly tuned to any provocation, or the hint
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 29, 2025On occasion, Paula or I will receive a call from the Judge’s office next door, asking if we will do a wedding. It has provided us a wonderful opportunity to connect in a positive way with our neighbors in the Judge’s office, along with couples we would have never met. As a side note, I’m glad I do what I do. Every job has its
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 28, 2025I want to say, “Thank you!” In the last few months, I have been asking a number of folks to take on a task for me, and some of them have been a bit last minute. The number of YES’s has been a gift. There is some real excited energy around Cypress Creek Christian Church right now, but so often when new things are happening
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 27, 2025A known author by the name of John Maxwell said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Personally, I find his observation to be correct. I love it when I’m with a group of people and the creativity begins to inspire creativity; one person’s words are a catalyst for someone else’s imagination. What was discovered and formed in those
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 26, 2025When unexpected change happens in our daily lives, even the change that is personal and kept pretty close to the vest, the most common response is to hunker down, build a wall of protection, and push back against any other change. Sometimes the push back against other change becomes almost zealous in its outrage, in part, because it makes us feel in control of that