ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 6, 2024In today’s sermon, I will be looking at a story about Jesus that includes a parable found in Luke 12. In verse 15, Jesus says to some folks that have approached him, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.” I never want to disagree with Jesus, but in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 5, 2024The other day, I heard a minister give the old joke about never seeing a u-haul behind a hearse. The point is that we cannot take it with us, and at the end of most people’s lives is a lot of stuff that doesn’t go to heaven but to Good Will, an estate sale, or the trashcan. It’s the stuff that we have purchased and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 4, 2024We did it! Yes, we did it! Last night, we officially opened the new playground. It is beautiful, and I am beyond excited. And when I say “we did it,” I am emphasizing the word “we.” This was a community effort. We had an initial gift from an anonymous angel, and though it was 35% of the total cost, there was still a lot more.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 3, 2024Jesus gave the world more than the world can fully understand, but part of what was given was a legacy of love. We have many examples of people who gave witness to love with extraordinary acts of love. Humanity is better off because of their breath-taking example. Yet the life and witness of Jesus seem to have a life of their own and within them
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 2, 2024Though ten years old, there is an interesting study that looks at income and happiness/contentment. In 2010, two Nobel Prize winning economists looked at how happiness is affected by money. Of course, we must acknowledge that happiness is very subjective, as those interviewed were not given any sort of parameters beyond the question: Would you describe yourself as happy or unhappy? The study followed 450,000
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSOctober 1, 2024On this day in 2017, a man opened fire at a country music festival in Las Vegas. 58 people were killed and more than 800 injured. To this day, the shooters motivations are unknown. Seven years have past, but for all the individuals and families impacted by that event, I doubt seven years have provided little to no comfort. Senseless violence, which is almost all
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 30, 2024O Heavenly Word, speak to me even when you know it will challenge those things I hold dear. I am not necessarily looking to have my feathers ruffled, and I am most certainly not looking forward to finding everything with which I feel comfortable suddenly being flipped upside down. Yet for your message to be Good News to some means that others might find it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 29, 2024In 2 Corinthians 9:7, we read: “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Who has given a gift to God in gratitude, though in the back of one’s mind is the hope of receiving a gift in return? Who has complained when those who are faithful seem to fare
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 28, 2024The late great John Shelby Spong said, “When any human group decides that they can define God, the outcome is always predictable. The ‘true faith,’ once defined, must then be defended against all critics, and it must also then be forced upon all people—for their own good, lest their souls be in jeopardy.” Christianity might do well numerically when it does not give people a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 27, 2024There are some passages of scripture that scream joy and optimism. I love coming across those passages and allowing their undeniable cheerfulness to lift my spirit. Of course, not every passage makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. For instance, Proverbs 14:12 tells us, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” I read those