ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 21, 2021Scripture: Matthew 8:10-12When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 19, 2021Scripture: Romans 12:12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Thought for the Day: One of our church members posted a letter Dr. King sent to Billy Graham in 1957 during Graham’s New York City Crusade. In the letter, King wrote: We are gradually emerging from the bleak and desolate midnight of injustice into the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom of justice.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 18, 2021Prayer for the Week: There is so much we do not understand; so much we cannot comprehend; so many mysteries that remain beyond our reach. O Holy One of the Universe, you are shrouded in that mystery. We look to Jesus, and within him we are to see you. Yet there are questions that continue to confound us. We see death and suffering among those
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 17, 2021Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31The Lord gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youth will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Thought for the Day: There is something
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 16, 2021Scripture: Mark 1:35In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. Thought for the Day: I am a really bad speller, and when typing fast, I can make a multitude of mistakes of which I can only blame a few on autocorrect. I’m also horrible when it comes to proofreading, especially
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 15, 2021Scripture: Mark 1:21-22They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Thought for the Day: Do you sense a little passive-aggressive behavior from the Gospel writer? Those last words, “not as the scribes,” sound a little like an unnecessary dig.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 14, 2021Scripture: Mark 1:16-18As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Thought for the Day: I don’t know why, but in reading this passage just now,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 13, 2021Scripture: Mark 1:13Jesus was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Thought for the Day: I think most of us would describe Jesus as a pretty put together individual, even some Christian Leadership Books portray him as the stellar CEO type. Yet reread this verse from Mark, and notice that Jesus
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJanuary 12, 2021Scripture: Mark 1:12And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. Thought for the Day: Immediately after the baptism and divine affirmation of Jesus, the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. The word “drove” in the Greek is the combination of two words – Ek (out) and Ballo (throw). Driven is a pretty strong word, but it may not communicate just how dramatic it