ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 23, 2024In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, everyone got their fill, and there were still leftovers (Matthew 14:20). I’m sure you’ve known a Thanksgiving dinner or two where a similar outcome occurred. And the truth is, I’ve strangely found myself enjoying the leftovers more than the original meal. There is something about returning to the refrigerator and piling a plate full of turkey,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 22, 2024A funny thing happened on my way to the office yesterday. Actually, that is not true. Nothing funny, out of the ordinary, strange, or exciting happened on the way to the office yesterday. Honestly, starting a story with the words, “And nothing out of the ordinary happened on my way to the office…” is probably not going to grab anyone’s attention. Yesterday, as I delved
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 21, 2024As some of you may be aware, a prominent voice in the Christian movement died Monday. Tony Campolo was a gift to many of us who believed following Jesus included actively living with compassion and concern for the most vulnerable and refusing to remain quiet in the face of injustice. Tony was a Sociology Professor at Eastern College for many years, while also preaching the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 20, 2024Rob Bell, in his wonderful book, “Everything Is Spiritual,” writes about his relationship with his wife. While I appreciate the wonderful portrait of the love he has with his wife, I do not believe it is exclusively love found within a marriage. As he eloquently wrote, “There was a giant paradox there, hiding in that love. She didn’t make any demands, but what that did
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 19, 2024Yesterday, I booted up my computer to find the usual big dump of emails. Despite my best efforts to mark spam and unsubscribe from unwanted messages, I still receive a ton. Among the numerous emails, three particular emails caught my attention. The first email contained an update on someone’s health, and it was a bit concerning. The second email came from an organization that supports
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 18, 2024Prayer for the Week:We live in a world where most everything has a price.We interact daily with those who offer a gift, while expecting something in return.We hear of acts of generosity, only to discover that the giver benefited greatly.It is often difficult for us to trust in grace, O God, as we do not have many models of selflessness or gifts offered with no strings attached.For that reason,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 17, 2024A Catholic priest by the name of Marcelo Pérez was shot and killed last month. He was an ardent advocate for Indigenous peoples, collaborating with farmworkers and so many others who endured the violence perpetrated by the drug cartels and others involved in organized crime. He worked in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, and he remained steadfast in his commitment to justice and peace
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 16, 2024There are times when it appears that Jesus was in conflict with the Pharisees. However, in Luke 11, we encounter an instance where a Pharisee extended an invitation to Jesus for a meal. Jesus accepted the invitation and took a seat at the table. This event was followed by a rather intense and contentious discussion, but it is important to refrain from assuming that it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 15, 2024“God wants to bless you, and your genuine gratitude is the key that releases those blessings from heaven.” Those are the words of a minister who will remain unnamed, but I believe he offers an insight into two very different ways of thinking about gratitude. Maybe you were not as selfish and self-centered as I was in childhood, but I was expected to sit down
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 14, 2024Where does forgiveness begin? When we’ve been hurt, betrayed, or left to suffer, it is important to claim that we are of value. Too often, when we have been injured by another, we are left feeling devalued or even wondering whether we deserved it. The one who was the source of the injury (physical, emotional, or spiritual) is often given additional power through what might