ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 8, 2019 Scripture: Matthew 9:36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Thought for the Day: Jesus didn’t simply see a crowd, a throng of people, a mob. He saw the people and how troubled they were. Without some spiritual awareness and empathy, the needs and the suffering of humanity
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 7, 2019 Mid-Week Prayer: We complain about our team’s inconsistency or lack of big wins. We grumble when our cable is on the fritz or our internet is running slow. We fuss about the traffic on our way to work or the construction that slows us down. What does it mean to suffer, to know true affliction? Lord of Mercy, Lord of Compassion, awaken us
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 6, 2019 Scripture: Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were money-lovers, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. Thought for the Day: I read those words, and my first reaction is to shake my head and belittle such selfish and misguided people. Yet then I walk into my closet, and I am confronted by a plethora of clothes hanging there that have known very little use.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 5, 2019 Scripture: Luke 16:20-21 At the rich man’s gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores. Thought for the Day: The story (parable) of Lazarus is one of the deeply troubling stories found in scripture, unless you are
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 4, 2019 Prayer for the Week Guest Writer: Rev. Hannah Fitch In this season we are called to remember those who have influenced and shaped our faith. For those who taught us bible stories, showed us compassion, loved us when we wondered if we deserved it, we pause to be grateful. For the lives of those who have touched us and instilled in us a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 3, 2019 Scripture: Romans 12:5 In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. Thought for the Day: Recently, I had someone ask, “What would the church be without the people?” I cannot predetermine exactly what God would do, but I’m pretty sure the church would no longer be the church.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 2, 2019 Scripture: Philippians 1:21-22 Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work. Thought for the Day: “…dying is even better”? Really? I don’t know if I can echo those words with the same confidence that I sense in reading this chapter from Paul. I might say, “If
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 1, 2019 Scripture: Esther 2:7 Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his cousin, for she had neither father nor mother; the girl was fair and beautiful, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter. Thought for the Day: Today is All Hallow’s Day, not All Hallow’s Eve. That was last night. Today (as we will on
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS October 31, 2019 Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1 The LORD’s power overcame me, and while I was in the LORD’s spirit, he led me out and set me down in the middle of a certain valley. It was full of bones. Thought For the Day: This passage could be the beginning of a good book in the genre of horror. I recognize that there are many different opinions
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS October 30, 2019 Scripture: Psalm 33:22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Thought For the Day: Yesterday, I wrote about mercy. In the above Psalm the language of “steadfast love” is a translation of the Hebrew word Checed, often translated as mercy or merciful kindness. This Psalm is intriguing as it suggests something radical for that time