ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 23, 2023I grew up hearing about the National Benevolent Association. Though the word ‘benevolent’ was not a common word for a young kid, I had heard stories about the six women in St. Louis who gather for a Prayer Meeting. The year was 1886, and these women from First Christian Church were praying “about the plight of the homeless and helpless.” Some of these women went
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 22, 2023How would you describe the experience of compassion? What are the repercussions of compassion? Jesus brought both words and actions to the people who were like sheep without a shepherd and who were dealing with all kinds of illness (Matthew 9). The church has always struggled to balance word and action. Sadly, there have been times when we’ve been all words and devoid of action.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 21, 2023Every year, there is the World Happiness Report. I find it fascinating to read into the report and the markers used to determine happiness. They are: Psychological wellbeing, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards. It is interesting how the wealthiest countries are not necessarily the happiest, nor are the poorest. People don’t
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 20, 2023Prayer for the Week: There is often a yearning in our lives that does not comprehend the possibility of appeasement or satisfaction. The craving within our souls is often seeking fulfillment in the very things that will never satisfy. This does not deter or dissuade you, O God, for you are the One who seeks to meet the genuine needs of every single human being.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 19, 2023In worship today, we will spend some time reflecting on God naming us and anointing us. In a passage from 1st Peter 2, we hear how we have become God’s people so that we may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called us out of darkness and into an amazing light. There is something interesting going on in that passage because we
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 18, 2023The author, Rob Bell, continually offers insights into scripture that never seemed to catch my attention until he pointed them out. In his book, “Everything Is Spiritual,” he makes a passing comment about Ruth, the Moabite, who, after the death of her husband, is ready to follow her mother-in-law and leave behind her place of origin. If Ruth follows Naomi, she will be a foreigner
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 17, 2023In a funeral I officiated yesterday, I shared a quote from Maya Angelou. She wrote: “While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.” It is not an either-or situation, though many have suggested it is and/or acted as if it were so. Too many people have
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 16, 2023Based on some reading I have been doing lately, I have found the story of The Tower of Babel more and more informative. Despite the persistent and consistent teaching by Jesus of the equality of all humanity, there has been a persistent and consistent attempt for some to rise above others. When humanity was nothing more than a tribe, there were battles for supremacy between
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 15, 2023What would it mean for the universe, including your own little universe, if you were to find the capacity to forgive more often? Of course, when I speak of forgiveness, I am not suggesting we excuse unhealthy or damaging behavior; I’m not encouraging someone to stay in an abusive relationship; I’m not pretending forgiveness is easy. What I am proposing is a greater belief in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMarch 14, 2023Through this Lenten Season, we have been looking at different titles and designations assigned to Jesus. One that we will not have time to discuss on Sunday morning but is found right at the beginning of the New Testament is this: “A record of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). The title, Son of David, has very little