ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 1, 2023Soren Kieregaard once wrote, “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought, which they seldom use.” We want freedom of speech, and it is a marvelous Constitutional right. At the same time, we often do not use our God-given freedom to explore the diverse ideas in the world. We want freedom of speech, but the speech we offer is often
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 30, 2023On this day in the year 296 AD, Marcellinus became the Bishop of Rome (also known as the Pope). Marcellinus has a questionable segment of his story, at least from some people’s perspectives. As the leader of the church, he was accused, during a time of persecution against Christians, of renouncing his faith by paying homage to a Roman god. According to some traditions, he
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 29, 2023This coming Sunday, we are going to look at some of the baggage we carry, specifically in the form of guilt, fear and anger. Not in every case, but in many situations, people have convinced themselves that God wants them to carry the weight of these emotions. I’m not suggesting these emotions are not legitimate in some situations, but too often we have a skewed
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 28, 2023Woody Allen has a strange way of making a point that is often more truthful than those trying to be serious. He wrote, “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” I believe Allen is right. There are times
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 27, 2023Henri Nouwen is one of the great writers I turn to when I need to find a doorway to the spirit. He wrote, “To pray… to listen to the voice of the One who calls us the ‘beloved,’ is to learn that voice excludes no one.” On my best days, I can get a little cocky and think of myself a bit too highly. On
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 26, 2023I desire to be quiet, GodI yearn to know you’re thereTo sit with meand be reminded ofwho I amwho you are and what it means to live in your loveYou are always more willing to make space and time than I am to pause and step into itYet when I make the time and move into that space you are there to receive me to embrace meand to let me know that I am
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 25, 2023In Jonah 3:2, we read: “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” The phrase ‘get up and go’ appears more than fifteen times in the Bible. God is often telling people to get up from whatever they are doing and go to a specific destination. On a few occasions, it is to escape danger,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 24, 2023This entire week, I have been using my Etchings to prepare for tomorrow’s sermon. That’s a lot of energy and thought spent getting ready for one sermon, and now there is this anxiety that I have way overhyped this sermon. That was not my intention. But as I sit here today, I’m wondering if folks will walk out tomorrow saying, “Well, that was disappointing!” I
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 23, 2023On Easter of 1960, Bob Jones (of Bob Jones University) preached a sermon entitled: Is Segregation Scriptural? If you know the history of Bob Jones, then you already know the answer to the question posed by the sermon title. Bob Jones prided himself on his perfect literal reading of the Bible, and so he went in search of Bible verses to support his belief that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 22, 2023Last Sunday, I made an announcement about the sermon this coming week. Without specifics, I suggested it might be a bit more challenging for some folks. In my preaching, I try to balance encouragement, teaching, inspiration, and challenge. No one sermon falls solely into a single category. There is always some overlap. So I don’t believe Sunday’s sermon will only challenge, but it will require