ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 2, 2024This Sunday, though not technically the day we usually celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, we will be focusing on the Acts 1 passage where we read, “After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (vs.9). The scene from Acts sounds similar to the story of the ancient prophet Elijah being carried
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 1, 2024In less than 24 hours, I had three separate people ask me in one way or another, “How did Christianity get so far away from the core teachings of Jesus?” I wish I could push back and say, “Oh, Christianity hasn’t gotten too far off,” but if I were to say such a thing, I would be lying. Understanding how we got here is complicated,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 30, 2024Donna and I will be flying to Denver in a couple of weeks and then driving to Alliance, Nebraska, in the panhandle of Nebraska. When my father died at a very young age, more than 55 years ago, my mother was completely unprepared. They were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where my dad was a professor in the Education Department at the University. They had no
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 29, 2024Prayer for the Day: Holy and Ever-present God, you have called forth this body, your church, and you have given us a task—a responsibility. We are not to judge; we are not called to layer on more guilt or grief; we definitely have not been called to suggest you love and are present to some more than others. Sometimes such things are done in your
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 28, 2024The Greater Houston Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was really quite wonderful. If you read my Etching from yesterday, you know I was looking forward to hearing the keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Dawn Weaks. She did not disappoint. There was also some wonderful worship, great conversations over lunch, and many hugs from folks who I have come to love and respect. One
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 27, 2024Today is the Assembly of the Disciple Churches in the Greater Houston area. We have five people (maybe a sixth) from Cypress Creek Christian Church headed to Taylor Lake Christian Church for this gathering, and last I heard, there were well over 120 registered. I am looking forward to hearing Rev. Dawn Weaks speak on her book, Break Through: Trusting God For Big Change in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 26, 2024This Sunday, I am preaching on the second half of Psalm 22, though it is difficult to understand the second half without knowing the opening words. Of course, those were words Jesus borrowed as he hung upon the cross, “‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” It is a statement of utter despair. Actually, despair seems to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 25, 2024I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness lately, specifically reflecting on the back and forth between Peter and Jesus found in Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.’” Peter
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 24, 2024Fred Rogers from Mr. Rogers fame said, “I don’t think that the basics that kids need have changed in 10,000 years.” In a world where new scientific discoveries are happening on a daily basis and new technology is coming into our lives as fast as we are willing to spend the money, Mr. Rogers is once again correct in his analysis. Children need the essentials
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSApril 23, 2024This one is a long one… my apologies. Have you ever noticed that when someone summarizes what they’ve heard, what they offer as a summary is what they heard through their personal filters? Like many of you, I have gone to hear a speaker with some friends, and then afterward, we grabbed some dinner or coffee. The conversation around the table has often been fascinating