ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 23, 2025Tomorrow is Sunday, and in worship, we are going to be focusing our attention on praise. I know, it sounds a little redundant. The Hebrew word (the Old Testament) we often translate as praise is yadah. It is a word associated with the hand, and it literally means to throw something away from yourself, like a rock. But the idea, in regard to our relationship
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 22, 2025I’m not wanting to argue the politics… maybe another day, but I was both fascinated and deeply troubled by a proposal to require “good moral character” for anyone who is seeking to become a naturalized citizen. In theory, I believe most all of us are in favor of good moral character for everyone, not just those seeking citizenship. But isn’t that subjective? For my grandparents,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 21, 2025A couple of days ago, a fragment of an asteroid burned up over Japan, and in the process, it lit up the night sky with shocking brilliance. I’m sure for anyone who was outside, especially in a rather dark location, it was a bit shocking. Videos from different locations show how night became day. Almost immediately, news reports were calming the concerns of citizens who
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 20, 2025On this day in 1858, Charles Darwin first published his theory of evolution. Have you ever watched a three-year-old in a checkout line lose his/her mind when the answer is, “No!” after requesting a chocolate bar? Well, the meltdown among many Christians was similar once word began to spread about Darwin. But like a lot of things, the information received by people lacked context and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 19, 2025Though I didn’t get up yesterday as early as I usually do (Monday is my day off), I still had some quiet time by myself in which I prayed for, among other things, our church. The last few weeks, we have experienced some really marvelous happenings—everything from good worship to an ordination to eight new members joining the church to a really fun night of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 18, 2025On this day in 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify what would become the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. Though I am proud we have the amendment, I sort of wonder why it took so long. Today, let us not only give thanks for the rights that we have to participate in our democracy, but let us also be mindful
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 17, 2025What does the world need the church to be in this moment? I tend to believe that is a question each local congregation needs to be asking itself, as no two contexts are going to be the same. Oh, sure, there are some generalizations that can be made about purpose and mission, but in my opinion, too many churches maintain a generalized understanding of their
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 16, 2025Jesus asked a lot of uncomfortable questions that we have too easily drained of the discomfort. In Matthew 7:3, Jesus asked the question, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?” Jesus was frustrated with the hypocrisy of some folks, including the religious leaders, but many people who read these words do so
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 15, 2025James A. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, though before he became President, he was a preacher in our tradition, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In fact, he was the only president to also be a minister. One of the best quotes attributed to Garfield, at least in my opinion, is: “The truth will set you free, but first it will make
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 14, 2025I was reading a portion of the book, “Deconstructing Your Faith Without Losing Yourself,” by Angela J. Herrington. Deconstructing is the process by which a person of faith, shaped by a very damaging form of faith, begins to unravel the mess of emotional trauma that has been woven into the fabric of one’s life. Though I have not read the entire book, I appreciate her