ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 27, 2020A Prayer To Begin Lent:A journey begins and the life of Jesus leads us. Merciful and Holy Guide, the walk to Easter requires us to see and experience -the rejection by the very people who called Jesus friend; -the pain inflicted by an Empire that sought to make his suffering an example; -the loneliness brought about by the denial of his closest followers; -the darkness
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 26, 2020Scripture: Psalm 28:9O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever. Thought for the Day: The 18th century French writer, Stendhal, penned these words, The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheepthat their interests and his own are the same. In the well known 23rd Psalm, the shepherd moves the sheep to green pastures and still waters. This sounds
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 25, 2020Scripture: Proverbs 12:22The LORD detests false lips; he favors those who do what is true. Thought for the Day: On Sunday, I talked about how “this following Jesus-thing” is hard. Don’t get me wrong, there are days when it is easy, might I say simple. But there are many other days when the challenge feels a bit beyond what we might think is doable. This
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 24, 2020Prayer for the Week: Holy Spirit – friend of humanity and source of power for the church – we speak of you often, including in our songs and prayers. But how often do we relinquish our self unto you? How often do we allow your flame to burn away what is not of you but has become a part of us? How often do we
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 23, 2020Scripture: James 2:1-4My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 22, 2020Scripture: Genesis 1:12The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. Thought for the Day: Rabbi Bradley Artson, the Dean at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, wrote an online article entitled: The Bible is a Book of Inclusion and Love. He opens the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 21, 2020Scripture: Leviticus 19:34Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. Thought for the Day: This was some pretty radical stuff. Imagine that you are relatively new to this “People” thing. You are out of Egypt,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 20, 2020Scripture: Romans 12:10-16Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSFebruary 19, 2020Scripture: Luke 6:40Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, but whoever is fully prepared will be like their teacher. Thought for the Day: I am rereading Derek Penwell’s book, “Outlandish: An Unlikely Messiah, a Messy Ministry, and the Call to Mobilize.” He has some very thought-provoking lines, and the following caught my attention last night: Jesus calls us to go on an adventure, not a church