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
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS October 29, 2019 Scripture: Deuteronomy 25:11-12 If two men are fighting with each other—a man and his fellow Israelite—and the wife of one of them gets into the fight, trying to save her husband from his attacker and does so by reaching out and grabbing his genitals, you must cut off her hand. Show no mercy. Thought For the Day: If there was any question on
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS October 28, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Sticks and stones will often break bones, but the names and insults and demeaning remarks hurled our way can leave a lasting mark upon our souls. In a world where so many seek to build themselves up by tearing down others, we come together in a community of love to encounter your love that wants nothing less than for