ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 9, 2023According to what we read in Luke 14, Jesus told a large group of his followers, “…you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own.” I spend a lot of time trying to explain away what Jesus appeared to be commanding his disciples to do and, thus, for me to do. We are quick to point out how Jesus, in another part
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 8, 2023When something quirky and a little unexpected happens, yet the outcome is good, we often say, “God has a sense of humor.” Now there is a part of me that wants to believe that God does have a sense of humor, yet many of the things we attempt to ascribe to God’s sense of humor might just be life happening. In my years of ministry,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 7, 2023What’s in a name? I remember an episode of the old sitcom, Laverne and Shirley, where Lenny Kosnowski explained that his last name meant, “Help! There’s a pig in my kitchen.” Though I don’t believe he quite had the correct translation of the Polish name, it does make me wonder how we relate to the names given to us. How do they shape and form
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 6, 2023 As most of you know, Cypress Creek Christian Church is a member church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I am quick to remind people that we were the first denomination created on U.S. soil and the only tradition to have a minister who was also the President of the United States (James Garfield). For the next few Sundays, as we prepare for the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 5, 2023Yesterday, on the BBC website, there was a fascinating article about another archeological find. People have been enthralled by the Maya ruins throughout Mexico and Central America, and just last month, a magnificent and previously unknown city was found in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. They have named the city Ocomtún, and they estimate that it was occupied from 600 to 800 AD. I am a little
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 4, 2023What does it mean to be a good citizen of any nation (I’m mostly thinking of the United States as it is the nation of which I am a citizen) when the scriptures say, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)? There have been folks, since the time of the Apostle Paul, who have argued this point in one way while others have argued it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 3, 2023Prayer for the Week:Wherever there is loneliness, you are there. Wherever there is suffering at the hands of injustice, you are there. Wherever there is illness and hopelessness, you are there. Wherever there is grief and heartache, you are there. These are our prayerful declarations, O God, yet as we claim your grace-filled response, we also seek your Spirit-filled encouragement, for wherever you are, so
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 2, 2023What is your starting place? Without knowing the context of the question, you probably can’t answer it. But if I were to ask what your starting place was in regard to your faith, could you answer it? And equally important, do you think your answer would really reflect your true starting place? Would you say your starting place is “the Bible” or “Jesus” or “baptism?”
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 1, 2023Soren Kieregaard once wrote, “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought, which they seldom use.” We want freedom of speech, and it is a marvelous Constitutional right. At the same time, we often do not use our God-given freedom to explore the diverse ideas in the world. We want freedom of speech, but the speech we offer is often
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 30, 2023On this day in the year 296 AD, Marcellinus became the Bishop of Rome (also known as the Pope). Marcellinus has a questionable segment of his story, at least from some people’s perspectives. As the leader of the church, he was accused, during a time of persecution against Christians, of renouncing his faith by paying homage to a Roman god. According to some traditions, he