ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 1, 2025I went to write today’s Etching, and the header I put was February 29, 2025. I’m pretty sure it is not a leap year. It is funny how we fall into habits; something automatically happens. While we often understand the reasons behind what we’ve done, it can cause some problems. Mindfulness and attentiveness are of utmost importance for those of us who strive to be
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 28, 2025 On Sunday, we will be talking about self-control, and in my pondering of this topic the last couple of days, it sort of hit me that the first half of that hyphenated word is “self.” It is not an invitation to control others. One of the great challenges in life is realizing that we cannot dictate other people’s lives. We may try, but for anyone
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 27, 2025Yesterday was absolutely beautiful. I don’t know about you, but I was sort of needing some weather like that. Today is looking pretty good as well. It’s amazing how our mood and attitude are impacted by the weather. Growing up in Nebraska, I remember when winter was unyielding, the yucky dirty piles of snow and ice were everywhere, and we rarely saw the sun. Teachers
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 26, 2025Today, I am reminded of scriptural expectation around care for the poor. In Leviticus 19:17, we read, “Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them.” And in 1st John 3:17, we read, “But if someone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help—how can the love of God
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 25, 2025…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This Sunday, we conclude our time with the Fruit of the Spirit, with the underlying message of getting serious about the harvest. It is one thing to speak of the fruit growing and ripening within us. That is beautiful imagery, but that list is not intended to remain within
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 24, 2025Prayer for the Week: Consecrate your people;Empower their gathering; Sanctify their work.Holy God, your church believes it is called to be more than just another community organization, more than another social service club. It is your Spirit-infused body for the purpose of healing a broken and fragmented world. Immerse us in your vision of what is possible, allowing your magnificent presence to animate this community that has
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 23, 2025At what point do you choose to stop being gentle and choose a different approach? I recently was trying to get something corrected with my medical insurance, and though I started with the spirit of gentleness, I can’t say exactly when, but somewhere in that conversation and the passing me on to someone else, I sort of left behind the gentleness. Yes, you can catch
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 22, 2025If I can, I’d like to make a confession. As one who celebrates the diversity of Christianity, and has an appreciation of both the richness and turbulence of Christian history, I can also be a little judgmental when it comes to some fringe expressions of Christianity. With that said, I even have a hard time putting some of these fringe groups under the broad tent
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 21, 2025Does the metaphor of trying to keep all the plates spinning ever feel like an accurate description of your life? The other day, I realized that I had totally forgotten about a plate that thankfully was still spinning, but was beginning to lose some of its energy. I got distracted and found myself focused elsewhere. Sometimes I wonder if God gives a little spin to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 20, 2025It is a cold morning! After our last blast, I was sort of hoping we were done with the below-freezing stuff. Like many of you, I covered certain plants that don’t like the hard freeze. As I covered my rather tall olive tree, it got me to thinking about how little work I do in making sure the unhoused on our streets are well covered.