ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 24, 2026 This Sunday, we will begin a series based on Psalm 1:3 — “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.” The people (“they” in this verse) are described in vs. 1-2, where we learn that the author is referring to those who delight in the law and teaching of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 23, 2026 When I lived in Florida, I asked someone about a specific tree on his property. He said, “It’s a River Birch, and it has wet feet.” I glanced around looking for feet, only to have him explain that certain trees like to be close to water, they thrive in moist soil, and can survive flooding. That’s what it means for a tree or
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 22, 2026 Yesterday, I was mowing in my backyard where I have a couple of trees, but they are both very small. And neither one of them is an oak tree, yet out of nowhere, I got hit on the head with an acorn. Maybe a kid with a slingshot from a block away had launched it and it landed on my head. I only
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 21, 2026 Thought from the Sermon: Forgiveness demands trust, but it’s not necessarily trusting the person who caused the injury. That may never happen. Instead, it involves trusting God and trusting the process. As we grow in this trust, we also learn to trust our own decisions to maintain boundaries we’ve set for our own safety and healing. Prayer: I’ve often misunderstood the concept of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 20, 2026 Today, we will be wrestling with the notion of forgiveness in worship. I have appreciated the dozen or so authors I have been reading in preparation for this sermon, but among them is Brené Brown, who said, “People can look at you, expecting forgiveness like they are standing in front of a vending machine.” Not only did I laugh out loud, but it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 19, 2026 When I go by Sprouts, I often pick up just a small bag of cinnamon-roasted pecans. They are dairy and gluten-free, and quite yummy. They are also expensive, so I often get only $3 or so. It’s all I need, though often I begin munching on them as I drive home. The other day, I purchased an even smaller amount, .2 lbs. On
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 18, 2026 On Sunday, I will be talking about forgiveness. You might have watched the short video I created on the topic. In it, I referenced the words from the Apostle Paul, when he said, “…just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” When I think about how I express my faith, I don’t use a lot of words like must.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 17, 2026 Yesterday, during our Men’s Group meeting, after lifting up the joys and concerns of the congregation and praying over them, we discussed intercessory prayer. While the Christian faith has always emphasized that we don’t need someone to intercede on our behalf when going before God, it’s comforting to have those who stand in the gap, especially during challenging times. In Galatians 6:2, the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 16, 2026 Donna and I got away over the weekend to a little cabin in Arkansas for a couple of nights, and though it was hot (actually, slightly hotter near Hot Springs than Houston), we had a wonderful and relaxing time. It was one of those short breaks where we both said, “Can we stay two more weeks?” Early Sunday morning, we went over to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 15, 2026 Within our tradition, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), there is not one way of doing things. We are not a top-down denomination with a manual that dictates our practices. However, if I am to be completely honest, there are days when a manual would be appreciated. If you were to travel the country and visit numerous congregations within our denomination, you would