ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 11, 2023A prayer in search of comfort in search of hope in search of grace in search of peace.In faith, I believe this holy pursuit is not void of meaning, as there is One who is listening and was pursuing me before I had even formed and named my deepest needs.It is good to be known by you, Holy God, for you are forever present.In my search, I have learned that my passionate pursuit of youdoes not compare to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 10, 2023Are you ready to continue stretching? We are three weeks into this reflection on the words of the Apostle Paul, specifically how we are to be “Reaching out for the things ahead of us…” What do you believe God is putting before you? I’m not seeking vague or overly pious answers to that question. In real, practical things, what do you think God is putting
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 9, 2023Where did the week go? I think we’ve all said it, and there are months when it appears that I am saying it every week. Like many of you, I sort of desire to be busy and to always be challenged, as it makes the day go by fast. Donna works at a women’s boutique in the strip mall near the church, and she echoes
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 8, 2023So this week, I started to work my way into the challenge that was given to the congregation last Sunday. What does a 53rd Stretch look like? One of the things I’ve tried to do is pray through the names of those who partner with Cypress Creek Christian Church, both members and friends, and to do so by name. In the last couple of years,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 7, 2023For the last two Sundays, we have been talking about stretching and reaching beyond certain things that too often hinder our capacity to grab hold of whatever it is that God is putting before us. I believe God is always inviting us to seize the goodness and kindness, the hope, and the affirmation found in God’s everlasting and unconditional love. Of course, sometimes those hinderances
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 6, 2023A number of years ago, we did an all-church study at Cypress Creek based on Michael Slaughter’s book, “Dare to Dream.” The study and discussion gained some traction, and I was really excited by what I could only call a copious amount of spiritual energy in the life of the congregation. But then we sort of hit a wall, and so I followed up with
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 5, 2023From what I understand, today is be late-to-something day. That’s right, September 5 is the official (unofficial) day to purposely be late for something. By the time you read this, I am hoping to have fulfilled the purpose of this day by being late to the event of my choosing. I purposely used the word “purpose” in the previous sentence because I prayerfully hope that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 3, 2023In Mark’s Gospel, the Scribes sure didn’t come off looking so good. In chapter 3, we read: And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He (Jesus) has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ Now some of the Scribes might have actually believed Jesus was Beelzebul (thought to be one of the greater evil forces in the universe),
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSSeptember 2, 2023Have you ever been caught off guard, and your initial reaction was to push back vehemently? It usually happens when something pokes at a long-held belief or tradition. Jesus was constantly running into folks whose initial reaction to his ministry was that of shock and anger, emotions that usually originate from a place of discomfort. We like the comfortable and expected, never wanting to be rattled