ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 13, 2026 Jim Hartung died on January 10. That may not be a name you know, but he was one of my heroes during my high school years. Jim was a Nebraska Cornhusker gymnast in the early 80s when I, a high school gymnast, was working out on Sunday afternoons at the university’s open gym. During Jim’s four years at the University of Nebraska, they
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 12, 2026 Prayer for the Week: Holy and Gracious God, guide and encourage me as I seek to do the work of quieting my spirit so that I might center myself more fully in your love. As a plethora of forces tug and pull on me, vying for my attention while draining my energy, I pray for the capacity to return to that place of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 11, 2026 The Apostle Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 5:6-8, “Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 10, 2026 Years ago, I worked with a monk who taught us a prayer that he shared in times of difficulty. The prayer went something like this: “Provide me with your perspective on this situation, O Holy Father who came from heaven to earth. Amen.” As we all know, perspective is 90% of people’s understanding of what’s important, what is right, and of course, what
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 9, 2026 The following poem by Nikita Gill, a British-Indian poet and artist, has been a part of my mornings and evenings that last few days. Though I am still digesting it, I strangely find it speaking to me and to the moment. The rage you are feeling comes from the same place inside your heart as the love. This is why you refuse to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 8, 2026 Today is an anniversary of sorts. On January 8, 2008, I started writing what was to be 30 days of focused posts and emails when I was serving as a church in Florida. Eighteen years later, I continue to write. Of the over 6,000 Etchings that I have written, I feel as there are three or four dozen that are pretty good. But
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 7, 2026 The Rev. Dr. Terry Ewing recently shared a quote that I had not heard, but it truly resonated with me. And then he reflected on the quote. “The best way of taking care of the future is to take care of the present, because the future is made of the present.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh. Terry went on to share… It seems obvious. To build
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 6, 2026 The Twelve Days of Christmas have come to a conclusion, and today is Epiphany. If you remember, during our Travelers’ Christmas Service on December 22, we handed out battery-operated candles, inviting all the participants to keep it lit through Christmas Sunday. I was basing it on the estimated battery life, thinking they should easily make it a couple of days past Christmas Sunday,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 5, 2026 Prayer for the Week: I’m not entirely sure how my prayer should be structured or the best way to address you. The words that come to mind don’t sound particularly sacred. Yet I believe that even when I offer my utmost efforts to you, God, and these efforts appear more like a dumpster fire to anyone judging, that you actually hear the intent
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 4, 2026 First, it is Camel Walk Sunday. I hope you plan to be at Meyer Park a little before 10 a.m. to join in the Camel Parade down Cypresswood Drive. If you park your car at Meyer Park, we will have drivers available after worship to drive you back to the park to pick up your car. But in light of the Magi making