ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 13, 2025I really enjoy the annual Chili Cook-Off. We’ve been doing it since 2016, and I know that because I have the trophy from the first year. Of course, as I have shared often, I got the sympathy vote the first year. There were a couple of very generous people who felt sorry for me, so they loaded up my bowl with a lot of cash.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 12, 2025I’m guessing we all have gotten a song in our head, and no matter what we have attempted to do, it would not leave. A few days ago, I heard on the radio the Alphaville song, “Forever Young.” I have been singing and humming the song ever since. For those who have experienced my poor attempt at singing, I apologize (mostly to family). The key
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 11, 2025On Sunday, I discussed a topic that seemed to resonate deeply with a handful of individuals. As I had suggested, excuses often, although not always, come from feelings of inadequacy—a sense of not measuring up to some self-imposed ideal of good, skilled, or special. Yet when God calls us to do something, why is it that we should second-guess God? Don’t get me wrong, I
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 10, 2025Prayer for the Week:O Victorious God, I fervently prayed for my team to win; bargained my good behavior for more touchdowns; pleaded for the heavenly host to provide additional strength on the offensive line. I did everything I believed would help induce a victory by your divine hand, yet strangely I did not sense any enthusiasm for my prayer. It even felt as if your
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 9, 2025I occasionally come across little history notes on my computer, and today’s note informed me that on this day in the year 1098, during the First Crusade, the Army had a victory during the siege of Antioch. There was no other specific information in this history note, and it would have been easy to sort of dismiss it, but there was a bit of underlying
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 8, 2025There is a move to seek out “anti-Christian” rhetoric in government and other entities in our country. I never want there to be bias, and I sure do not want any religion to be targeted negatively, but those who are pursuing this move to root out all “anti-Christian” rhetoric are people who have a very specific understanding of Christianity, and in my opinion, it sure
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 7, 2025A friend of mine grew up calling his maternal grandmother, GeeGee. He told a story about his GeeGee, but spun things a bit by suggesting that all along her nickname was GG, and it stood for Gratitude and Generosity. He went on to explain how both of those attributes were very real in his GeeGee’s life. Not only did I love how he described his
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 6, 2025It is Black History Month, and I will share with you that as a white guy, about as white as they come, I love Black History Month. I have never felt threatened by Black History Month, and I sure have never felt the need to ask, “When is White History Month?” I’m more curious than I am insecure, and there is so much I do
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 5, 2025A while back, I made a passing comment about a Kumbaya moment. The idea is usually said with a hint of sarcasm, as if people in a tense moment will suddenly join hands and sing together the old camp song, “Kumbaya, My Lord.” The underlying assertion is that somehow church camp is an impractical setting where people have escaped the real challenges of life. But
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 4, 2025After ten days of feeling sort of bad (and 48 hours of feeling really, really bad), I am feeling a bit closer to normal. Still a little cough, but not bad. Of course, as I type the word “normal,” it makes me wonder what constitutes normalcy. This has me pondering Abby Normal from the movie Young Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein has the classic line, “Are you