ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 4, 2023One of our church members sent me a post from Zach W. Lambert. He wrote: There are two kinds of “everyone is welcome” churches:1. Everyone is welcome to conform to the church’s image of what a Christian looks like.2. Everyone is welcome to fully embody the unique image God created them to be.Run away from the first and run toward the second. I’m certain we
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 3, 2023Tomorrow, we begin a new study based on the book by Josh Scott entitled, “Bible Stories for Grown-ups.” In the introduction, Scott writes, “Fear is the enemy of curiosity, and as a result, one of the greatest limiters of our transformation.” This has really spoken to me lately. I can’t watch the news for more than five minutes without hearing about an event that, if
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 2, 2023For some reason, I’ve spent a little more time visiting folks in the hospitals and nursing facilities lately. As strange as it may sound, I really enjoy that part of my job, and during the pandemic, I found myself missing the more in-depth conversations that often happened beyond the quick greetings on Sunday morning. As a quick side note, make sure to let us know
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 1, 2023Prayer for the Week: As an introduction to the prayer of the week, I want to share what I did growing up on May 1. Some of you might have made May Baskets as I did. Usually the night before, we’d put together these baskets with candy, cookies, and some other special surprise. After school on May 1st, we would go to people’s homes and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 30, 2023As I shared a few days ago, today is Youth Sunday. If you are anywhere near Cypress Creek Christian Church, I believe you would be blessed to experience what the youth have prepared. Though it has been many years, I can remember the Youth Sundays when I was a youth. In my younger years, I welcomed people and passed out bulletins. In late Jr. High,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 29, 2023My car registration sticker had been sitting on the dining room table for a while, yet the end of the month was approaching, and it needed to get put in its proper place. I don’t know about you, but there are certain things where I get 92% of it done but don’t quite get it past the finish line. The inspection was done, the online
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 28, 2023More than a year ago, Donna and I heard that “To Kill a Mockingbird” was coming to the Hobby Center, and so our Christmas gift that year (even though tickets were not yet on sale) was dinner and a play. From age 15 to 40 or so, I read “To Kill a Mockingbird” at least once every year. It continued to reveal new truths and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 27, 2023This Sunday is Youth Sunday! It is a great Sunday, and not simply because I don’t have to preach. It is a great Sunday, as we have the opportunity to witness our youth giving expression to their faith. Since coming to CCCC, and specifically under the leadership of Rev. Mariah Newell, Youth Sundays have been powerful. What we’ve experienced in recent years puts to shame
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 26, 2023Yesterday, I wrote about the cost of doing business as a church… literal costs. As I write this Etching, my desk is a mess. And so many of the items sitting in front of me are brochures and advertisements for some newfangled software to help organize church ministry or an online video library that would be available at the press of a button or a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 25, 2023There are days in ministry when I envy Jesus wandering the hillsides and small towns with a small group of followers. No buildings; no power surges that wreak havoc on elevators and AC units; no workers’ comp insurance; no bank fees for depositing money into the bank, etc. Church is a lot more complicated today, yet despite my complaints about the hassles and costs of