ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 6, 2020Scripture: Galatians 1:3-4Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father… Thought for the Day: Though Paul rejected some of his Jewish heritage, he held to other parts of it. In this case, he taught the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 5, 2020Scripture: Romans 5:5…and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Thought for the Day: Can I be honest? I expect your response to be something along the lines of, “Bruce, we expect you to be honest. You’re a pastor.” Very good! My hope has been met with disappointment
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 4, 2020Scripture: Matthew 5:6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Thought for the Day: For the longest time, I did not like the word righteous or righteousness as I equated such words with self-righteousness. If there was one thing that irritated me within my own religion was the occasional sense of superiority, religious arrogance that bled into self-righteousness. Maybe
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 3, 2020Scripture: John 13:13-15You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Thought for the Day: How did you learn to walk? How
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 2, 2020Scripture: Proverbs 4:23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Thought for the Day: I assume that if life can flow from us, so can something else… something that is far from life-giving. I appreciated the recent Op-Ed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The imagery of this paragraph really stood out to me: I don’t want to see stores looted or
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 1, 2020Prayer for the Week:For everyone who is angryFor everyone who feels exhaustedFor everyone who believes we are better than thisFor everyone who has convinced him/herself that the answer to it all is found in a meme –For everyone, Merciful God, a vision is sought of how justice and kindness can be enfleshed in human community.Your prophets spoke of a day when hatred and distrust would
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 31, 2020Scripture: Psalm 68:3-6But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds — his name is the Lord— be exultant before him. Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God gives the desolate
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 30, 2020Scripture: Acts 2:1-2When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting… Thought for the Day: Change is always right around the corner. All it takes is a good spiritual wind to blow through our lives,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 29, 2020Scripture: Philippians 4:16For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. Thought for the Day: In a book of prayers, Lavon Bayler writes: “Eye-opening God, whose compassion reaches out to all who walk in darkness, help us to recognize the blind spots in our lives.” This is a dangerous prayer to offer as it requests God’s help
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 28, 2020Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:21Which do you want? Should I come to you with a big stick to punish you, or with love and a gentle spirit? Thought for the Day: Though I imagine Paul was a pretty serious guy, I think he desperately wanted to be known for having a sense of humor. I don’t wish to be rude, but if that was his wish