ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 14, 2022Prayer for the Week: Make a gentle and compassionate heart within me, a heart capable of discerning the hurts of those who, all too often, seek to conceal what is true, those whose pride or sense of privacy has them giving the impression that life is just fine. Create within me a heart that is tender enough to feel the loneliness hidden behind a larger-than-life
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 13, 2022For a few weeks last month, we focused in worship on the importance of loving ourselves. We were reminded of how Jesus called us to love God, love our neighbors and love ourselves. In yesterday’s Etching, I talked about the importance of showing kindness, but as central as sharing kindness is to the Jesus movement, we also need to be willing to receive kindness. To
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 12, 2022I was chatting the other day with a woman outside the church. She didn’t know who I was, though in the conversation she asked, “Why is there so little kindness? I think everyone is in favor, at least when they are sitting around with their friends talking about the need for kindness.” Of course, we did not come to any great conclusions on the matter.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 11, 2022Psalm 30 is written in the voice of someone who has been in the “pit,” a place where the author cried out to God and God heard the cries. It is a Psalm of rescue and redemption, and the response of the author is: “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy…” The transforming of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 10, 2022I am amazed at my capacity to remember lyrics from songs I enjoyed in the 1980s. Of course, I’m probably getting some of the lyrics entirely wrong, but there are some songs I’ve not heard in decades, yet I remember the words at the very same time that I cannot remember where I set down my cell phone. Music has a magnificent capacity to touch
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 9, 2022We’ve seen some celebrating in our town in recent days. The weather was good on Monday for the parade honoring the World Series Champs. Though I was not there, I enjoyed watching some news coverage and seeing social media pics. People were having a really good time, with lots of celebrative shouting, singing and dancing. There is something special when a community comes together, and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 8, 2022As a part of my own study and prayer time, I was reading Isaiah 12. It’s a short chapter, in which there is confession and an acknowledgement of God’s anger that is no longer present. And then in v. 3, we find the words: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Though I do not necessarily believe God gets angry like
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 7, 2022Prayer for the Week:Breathe a blessing into me, O Source of Life,Breathe into me your peace and mercy, your love and kindness.You are beyond generous, for the giving of good gifts, the giving of life-giving gifts, is what you do.Make within me fertile ground so I might humbly receive, what seeks to take root, what seeks to grow and spread.Breathe a blessing into me this
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 6, 2022A regular practice can become a habit. A habit, if given the opportunity, can become an enduring characteristic. Yet too often, people are not willing to put forth the initial effort to begin what could become a regular practice. I’m guilty of it. Whether it is better eating or more intentional prayer, I can think about it. I can even schedule a starting day. But
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSNovember 5, 2022I read some words of scripture in the hotel a few nights ago that have continued to speak and dance in my head and heart. In Proverbs 3:27-28, we read: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when