ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 20, 2025 I pulled up a video of one of my former professors, Rev. Dr. Newell Williams, who went on to become President at Brite Divinity School from 2003 – 2022 (new President is Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady, who preached at CCCC during my sabbatical). I had to laugh listening to his lecture as he structured it based on three questions: What is sin? What
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 19, 2025 I’ve always been captivated by the simple yet profound words of Mother Teresa, including, “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” I’m certain there are examples of people who went from zero to full-speed Jesus follower in less than 60 seconds, but for most of us, it was and is gradual and incremental. We build upon
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 18, 2025 On Sunday morning, as I was running from my Bagels with Bruce to the office to prepare to preach at the Traditional Service, Guy Johnson Jr. came over to give me a hug just outside the office door. I know his hugs always come with prayer. But then as I was walking away from him, he quickly caught up and ever so kindly
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 17, 2025 Prayer for the Week: We offer our prayer to you, O God of Miracles. Today, we do not pray for the little things, though they are deserving of our attention and our best wishes. Today, we bring our focus upon those things that deeply trouble the world, grieving the hearts of those of us who believe in the value of every single person.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 15, 2025 There is a word used in a lot of Christian circles these days. The word is deconstruction, or specifically the deconstructing of faith. A lot of people who grew up in what they might now call an unhealthy or damaging form of Christianity find themselves needing to rethink, from top to bottom, the ideas they once held so closely. Churches’ use of fear,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 14, 2025 James Fowler is still considered the guru of faith development, even though he died ten years ago. He was a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. For Fowler, there were six stages in faith development, plus a “pre-stage,” which is birth to two years old. In that pre-stage, children are learning trust, love, and hope—ideas that will be central to the development that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 13, 2025 So yesterday, I was standing next to someone who said, “Tomorrow is Friday the 13th!” There was definitely some spookiness in her voice. The third person standing there said, “No, it’s not! It’s Thursday the 13th.” The person who had originally messed it up looked a little confused, and then realizing her mistake, said somewhat jokingly, “Well, that’s even worse.” In that little
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 12, 2025 A few years ago, I encountered a young person who asked me if Jesus had bad breath. Before I could respond, one of the adults in the room intervened with a bit of indignation, asserting, “The Son of God does not have bad breath.” What transpired next almost felt like a comedy sketch from a late-night TV show. First, there is no Biblical
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 11, 2025 A political advisor by the name of Del Bigtree said in the last couple of days, “God is an anti-vaxxer, and he needs you to speak up.” Now, without allowing my emotion to burst forth in a mix of laughter and rage, let me address the theological claim. Anytime someone says, “God is…,” they are making a pretty strong statement, yet one that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS November 10, 2025 Prayer for the Week: For all the good work being done in your name, O Merciful God, we shout: Thank you! For all the acts of kindness that reflect your heart, we sing songs of thanksgiving. For all the expressions of generosity that change lives, we celebrate you, Lord God, as the Source. At a time when the world appears consumed by selfishness