ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 6, 2020Prayer for the Week: News reports, statistics, graphs and charts — they can so easily be dismissed as nothing more than a bunch of irrelevant numbers. Forgive us, God of All Creation, when we choose to live with a narrow vision of how sisters and brothers are being impacted this day. Though we may not know the stories behind every number, let us respect every
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 5, 2020Scripture: Galatians 6:1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Thought for the Day: Paul placed a lot of responsibility on the community. There is a tendency to suggest it isn’t our place or it’s not polite to involve ourselves
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 4, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Thought for the Day: As we read this verse, let us place the emphasis on the most important word in the passage. It is not the word SPIRIT, but the word IF. If we live by the Spirit, we should also be guided by the Spirit. But is it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 3, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Thought for the Day: If you were to sit in and listen to Board Meetings from a dozen different churches, how do you think you’d summarize what you heard? Would it be entirely focused on love? Or would the energy and passions give the appearance
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 2, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. Thought for the Day: Do you ever want to scream at the top of your lungs, “You’re missing the point!” I have… often. In fact, I have felt those words forming in my mouth a lot lately. For Paul, the folks in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 1, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:2Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Thought for the Day: Paul was always harsh on the whole circumcision thing which seems a bit odd since he was circumcised. Paul appears to be a slippery slope kind of person, fearful that if someone takes that one step in the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 30, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Thought for the Day: In reading this passage recently, I was struck by the word “again,” a word I had not really noticed before. You can read the passage without the word “again,” and it makes sense. Yet the assumption, or at least
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 29, 2020Prayer for the Week: Provide me a glimpse of the simple things, O Gracious and Compassionate Spirit. Remind me of what kindness looks like – not some: “what do I get out of it” type of kindness that really is not kindness. Remind me what understanding looks like – not some: “I will seek to understand as long as it does not conflict with my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 28, 2020Scripture: Matthew 12:1-2At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” Thought for the Day: Jewish law required that landowners not harvest the edges of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 27, 2020Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Thought for the Day: Have you ever had someone