ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS October 1, 2019 Scripture: Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Thought for the Day: Today is a big day in my family, for today is the anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World in Florida. Today marks 48 years since “the happiest place on earth” opened a second happy venue in Florida. You
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 30, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Love Love a little… Love a lot… I have been invited by you to love but I do not know where to begin where to start where to give it a try Do I love a lot? Can I love just a little? The Incarnate Word The Prince of Peace The Bread of Life Jesus – it is his
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 29, 2019 Scripture: Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Thought for the Day: I have always read this passage one specific way, but a few days back, I was reading through Romans and my mind heard these words differently. We often think of God as the One doing the disapproving, but I wonder if the gift
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 28, 2019 Scripture: Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and become slaves to God, you have the consequence of a holy life, and the outcome is eternal life. Thought for the Day: Set free and enslaved…it’s a bit strange if you think about it. Yet this unique and somewhat odd combination produces a holy life that results in eternal
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 27, 2019 Scripture: Ephesians 5:2 Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God. Thought for the Day: Is anyone else a little troubled by the description of an execution smelling sweet to God? Isn’t that what Paul is suggesting here? In Leviticus 1, we find
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 26, 2019 Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. Thursday Prayer: Give me the courage to act, not with self interest, but with the interests of Jesus. Holy and Humble God, you demonstrated courage when you humbled yourself – when you took on the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 25, 2019 Scripture: Proverbs 11:25 Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Thought for the Day: Let’s be clear, I don’t believe this scripture is suggesting that if you give away $100, God will give you back $500 or $1,000. Sadly, there are those out there who will try to convince you they know the special formula. Of course, their
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 24, 2019 Scripture: Psalm 119:68 You are good and you do good. Teach me your statutes! Thought for the Day: This past weekend, I joined the men from the SW Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the Lake Brownwood Retreat Center. It was a really good event, and Rev. Todd Adams was one of the keynote speakers. I knew Todd back when
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 23, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Everlasting and Ever-Loving God, you have designed and shaped your church to look like Jesus. You have provided us wonderful examples of faithfulness in the words and lives of apostles, prophets and the kindness of those who served you without fanfare. With Jesus as our cornerstone, our model and mentor, your church shall endure. Today, let us be shaped