ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 23, 2020Scripture: James 2:1-4My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 22, 2020Scripture: Genesis 1:12The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. Thought for the Day: Rabbi Bradley Artson, the Dean at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, wrote an online article entitled: The Bible is a Book of Inclusion and Love. He opens the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 21, 2020Scripture: Leviticus 19:34Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. Thought for the Day: This was some pretty radical stuff. Imagine that you are relatively new to this “People” thing. You are out of Egypt,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 20, 2020Scripture: Romans 12:10-16Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 19, 2020Scripture: Luke 6:40Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, but whoever is fully prepared will be like their teacher. Thought for the Day: I am rereading Derek Penwell’s book, “Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, a Messy Ministry, and the Call to Mobilize.” He has some very thought-provoking lines, and the following caught my attention last night: Jesus calls us to go on an adventure, not a church
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 18, 2020Scripture: John 13:34I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. Thought for the Day: I absolutely adore Anne Lamott’s writing. Her words are provocative, while at the same time, uplifting. She writes, “Grace is spiritual WD-40, or water wings. The mystery of grace is that God loves Henry Kissinger and Vladimir
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS February 17, 2020 Prayer for the Week: Your Spirit has come to set us free. Jesus declared the blessing and indwelling of the Spirit as his empowerment for the work of liberation. O God who called forth Moses to guide an enslaved people to freedom, we notice a reoccurring theme wherever your Spirit is received by those who yearn to do your work. Too many sisters
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS February 16, 2020 Scripture: John 14:26 The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. Thought for the Day: Interesting, John’s Gospel tells us how the Holy Spirit will teach us “everything” we need. Now I believe the Spirit works in a multitude of ways, but it appears that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS February 15, 2020 Scripture: Jude 6-7 And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day. Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing