ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 5, 2023In Exodus 25, the Lord God says to Moses: “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you” (vs.8-9). Years ago, a wonderful Rabbi and I were talking about the Book of Exodus, and though he spoke with pride about the beautiful Synagogue he served,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 4, 2023Pope Francis wrote: “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” Laura Amy Schlitz is a librarian, storyteller, and author. She wrote: “Folklore has a moral center to it. Folklore is always, always, always on the side of the underdog, and children have a natural instinct toward justice. They feel indignation at needless cruelty and wistfulness about acts of mercy
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 3, 2023As a church focused on the Love First Life, the assumption is that our love will be real, tangible, and life-giving for the sake of others. In John’s Gospel, we read about our lives bearing fruit, yet we must be connected to the vine, the true source (15:5). The Season of Lent is a time to reevaluate and find new ways of reconnecting to the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 2, 2023On Sunday, I will be focusing on a passage from Mark 10, but earlier in the chapter, we find this story: Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 1, 2023I love Jesus! I mean it, but there are a couple of questions that arise in the minds of many people when they hear that statement: 1. What does it mean to love Jesus? -and- 2. So what? I sort of find those questions challenging? If someone speaks about loving a spouse or a child, I don’t think most people would ask, “So what does
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 28, 2023Another year of statistics is being released with regard to ministers, and once again, nearly 50% of ministers in the United States considered leaving ministry in the last twelve months. Almost 25% of them did! There have always been clergy leaving the profession, and the reasons are numerous. But in the last few years, the numbers have ticked up, and it’s mostly connected to ministerial
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 27, 2023A Prayer from our Regional Minister, The Rev. Dr. Andy MangumLord, forty days is a long time. It’s a long time to feel the pouring rain and stress over whether the structures we have put in place are strong enough to withstand the flood. We thought our stuff was so big and impressive until we started getting tossed around on the waves. Forty days is
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 26, 2023Today, we begin a new Worship Series entitled, “What’s in a Title?” We often say, “Jesus Christ,” but it is important to know that Christ was not his last name. People will say, “Jesus H. Christ,” using it as an expletive. The origin is unknown, though Mark Twain wrote about its use back in 1847. And for those of us who are part of the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 25, 2023Someone who reached out to me recently through my online Etchings, and who lives outside of Texas, asked where he might find a church like Cypress Creek Christian Church. He is quite impressed with who we claim to be and really enjoys watching our worship services online. So I spent about two hours visiting different websites of churches near where he lives and then watching
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 24, 2023One of our church members, Cynthia Pitts, shared the following with the CareGivers Support Group here at the church, and then she shared it with me. It really resonated. By Heidi PriebeTo Love Someone Long-Term is to Attend a Thousand Funerals of the People They Used to Be. The people they’re too exhausted to be any longer. The people they don’t recognize inside themselves anymore.