ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 12, 2021Salvation is one of those loaded words. Though I love the word, I am very cautious about using the word because of how it is heard in certain circles. For some, it is nothing more than the ticket to the afterlife. It is as if Jesus provided us an escape capsule that we jump into at the point of death. I do not believe that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 11, 2021I enjoy what some would call deep theological conversations, but I also recognize that such heady exchanges are not for everyone. Amidst all the eschatological, ecclesiological and teleological discussions, the simple word, Emmanuel, is what brings joy to my heart. In Matthew 1, we learn that the child being born into the world will be named Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.” You can
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 10, 2021It was Bing Crosby who made the song, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” famous in 1943. This was during the height of the United States’ involvement in World War II, yet the song has maintained it poignant influence on generations since. It does not matter the cause of separation, there is something about Christmas that only intensifies the hurt and longing. It’s just another date
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 9, 2021You probably have moments when you read a passage of scripture and find yourself saying, “What! Are you kidding me!!” I find one of those passages in James 1:2 where we read: “My brothers and sisters, think of the various trials you encounter as occasions for joy.” I tend to think of the things that make my life easier as occasions for joy, not the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 8, 2021In recent weeks, I have been intrigued by the number of times I’ve heard people make the connection between joy and gratitude. Most of them have been outside of religious circles. Both joy and gratitude are not necessarily emotions or attitudes exclusive to people of faith. For that reason, I have found myself trying to explore the connection beyond the theological structures I would usually
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 7, 2021A quick show of hands – How many people enjoy unexpected change? The church as an institution is not known for its flexibility and capacity to go with the flow. I am one that will avoid change in most every situation if it is possible. Yet when I think of the desire to stand my ground against change, it doesn’t really sit well with the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 6, 2021Prayer for the Week:As music guides our thoughts and imaginations, we find ourselves in your presence, O Spirit of the Advent Experience. The songs and the familiar melodiesof this season have a capacity to usher us from one worldview to another. Our bodies do not change location, but we find ourselves beckoned and drawn from unhealthy ways of living and into a reign of abundant
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 5, 2021I want peace, a peace that is experienced by all, not simply those who have the position or power to create a restricted and private space of so-called peacefulness. I want peace, a peace that permeates every human soul, flowing from us and between us. I want peace, a peace where children do not fear going to school or walking home or being in their
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 4, 2021There is a certain well known prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), yet it is unlikely he was the author of it. In fact, the language of “make me” does not fit the theology or lifestyle of Francis. From his communal living, the language of even a private prayer would probably have been “make us,” with an emphasis on the collective body. With
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 3, 2021Paul wrote on more than one occasion about not being weary when it comes to doing what is right. It almost sounds like something you would hear from a parent, though maybe worded in a slightly different way. Paul spoke those words in 2 Thessalonians, and then just a few verses later, he wrote: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at