ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 11, 2023On this day in 1861, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution guaranteeing non-interference with slavery in any state remaining in the Union. It was an attempt to hold the Union together at a time when multiple states had already seceded and Civil War appeared inevitable. There were those who adamantly opposed slavery, yet they chose to vote with the Yeas. I
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 10, 2023In yesterday’s classes on Philippians, we focused on what is often called the Kenosis Hymn, a song from the early church that Paul might have borrowed and referenced in his letter. It begins with the words, “Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. But he emptied himself by taking the form of a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 9, 2023Today, we will be gathering at 1:30pm or 6:30pm to continue our study of Philippians. We sort of made it through the first chapter last week, but as I think about today’s classes, I am drawn back to the words, “Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel” (1:27). For Paul to use the words “most important” is no small thing. He
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 8, 2023In a conversation Jesus had with a woman at a well, he said: But the time is coming—and is here!—when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship him this way. God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth. For many people, they read words like “truth” and “spirit,” and they feel
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 7, 2023Ministers Week began yesterday at TCU/Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth. Now, I’m not a graduate of TCU or Brite, but they allow folks like me to attend. And along with seeing some former Cypress Creek folks (Gary & Judy Groves, and Renee Hoke), I was able to just worship last night. There was something about having absolutely no responsibility; no concerns about whether the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 6, 2023Prayer for the Week: When is life going to start going the way I want it to go? O God of Immeasurable Love, there appear to be a lot of interruptions and detours on this journey of mine. I’d like to have a week when the Monday morning plan is still in place at lunch that same day. It would be helpful if others would
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 5, 2023How powerful is the voice of guilt in your head or heart? Now I am quick to remind people that guilt is not always a bad thing. It is a part of our broad emotional bandwidth that notices ethical or moral dissonance inside of us—that uneasy feeling that what I am doing may not reflect what I claim to believe. But let’s be clear—guilt is
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 4, 2023Amidst Jesus’ best-known sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, he said to his listeners, “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). This is frequently presented as God, the divine genie in a bottle, with some irony. If you do these things, including striving for the kin(g)dom of God
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 3, 2023On this day in 1870, the 15th Amendment was ratified, guaranteeing the right to vote for all male citizens, regardless of race. It reads: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It was a dramatic statement of progress,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 2, 2023I have some glow sticks on my desk. They are leftover from Christmas Eve. A child was recently visiting the church office with her parents when she noticed the glow sticks. She asked about them, and I figured she wanted one of them. I was glad to share, but in fact, she was more concerned about me. “Do you keep the glow sticks close by