ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 24, 2025
I’d like to briefly discuss patience, which will be the topic of Sunday’s message. In 2011, the late author, Rachel Held Evans, referenced a poem by the 16th-century mystic, St. Teresa of Ávila. Here’s the poem:

Let nothing upset you,
Let nothing startle you.
All things pass;
God does not change.
Patience wins all it seeks.
Whoever has God lacks nothing:
God alone is enough.

When referencing this poem, Rachel was talking about the criticism she was receiving, and I’m certain she received a lot as she was deconstructing her evangelical faith in public. What do you need to hear from the poem when you are on the receiving end of unjust and unkind criticism?

Holy and Unchanging God, I reach out to you in those tough moments when negativity appears at my doorstep unexpectedly. While it may sting a little, I pray that it never causes me to doubt my value and purpose. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 23, 2025
From what I understand, today is National Pie Day—not to be confused with National Pi Day, which is March 14th. Since pies are not really on my list of foods I can eat, I am not a strong advocate for National Pie Day. I am not opposed to it, but there might be just a hint of underlying bitterness over my inability to enjoy a good piece of apple pie or cheesecake. There are many good replacements for those requiring gluten-free and dairy-free, but trust me when I say, in the arena of pie-making, I have yet to find a success. Brownies, cookies, and even cupcakes are quite good, but not pies… yet.  

I have been thinking about this pie dilemma as compared to other happenings in our world. What if I suddenly went on a campaign to keep others from enjoying pies simply because I could not enjoy a good piece of pecan pie? Is that fair? Probably not. And even though I referenced being bitter earlier, that was only in jest. I might be a tad envious, but not bitter. But what about situations when we have the right to do something, but doing so would bring harm to someone else? I’m not talking about coveting a good piece of strawberry cheesecake, but doing something that brings spiritual, emotional, or even physical injury to another person. The Apostle Paul struggled with these questions when writing about eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul was quick to dismiss any sort of religious wrongdoing because there are no other gods. Yet for Paul, there was an expectation of empathy and compassion toward others because following Christ seeks to meet people where they are. Oh sure, you might be able to save a little on a pound of ground goat meat because it came from a goat sacrificed at the Temple of Apollo, but what about those in the community who will find this difficult? Do we just tell them to get over it? 

This is the place where individual freedom and responsibility intersect, particularly when that responsibility transcends what we have determined as our best interests. We’ve frequently turned the Christian life into a marketplace, picking one that suits our interests or personal likes. But that’s backwards, because Jesus always seemed to be challenging his disciples with the underlying question, ‘What are your personal likes that keep you from doing what God needs you to do?’ I doubt it’s goat meat for any of us, but if I genuinely care about my neighbor’s health, spiritual well-being, and emotional security, then things that seemed important suddenly don’t hold the same weight. Why? Because I love my neighbor and I love the idea of God’s Kin(g)dom, which includes all humanity as God’s cherished children. 

Sometimes I convince myself that what I want is exactly what you want, God. Sorry for those moments when I have made the Gospel into a message about embracing what I want above what the world needs. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 22, 2025
The work of the church is extraordinarily serious, and throughout Christianity’s history, the church has been at its best when it has served on the frontlines of real change, brought justice to broken systems, and helped people find real and lasting healing. Nothing has changed, and that is exactly what and who the church is… or at least should be. With that said, the church has also been a place of play and humor, because at the core of what it means to be human is to find joy and laughter because us human beings are funny and we need to laugh at ourselves a little more often.

A few weeks ago, I dressed up in a camel suit for worship because we had to cancel the camel walk the week before. I was pleased to see people laugh, though a ministry colleague wrote me after seeing some pictures and said, “If I had done that in my church, there would have been a meeting called before worship ended for the purpose of firing me.” He was serious, and though I know that everything I attempt to do won’t achieve its intended goal, I appreciate Cypress Creek Christian Church for having a sense of humor, while also providing me space to try things without fear. A few times I’ve walked away saying to myself, “Well, that was a complete failure,” but there wasn’t any anxiety about my future employment. There is a lot of freedom there.

And then yesterday, one of our church members asked about combining a little fundraiser with some fun-raising. He suggested we get at least 25 people to post on the church’s Facebook page images of them playing in the snow. I thought it was a great idea, though I was not absolutely sure if people were going to do it. I should have known better. The CCCC community was immediately all in, and at last count, I think we had close to 75 images (we will show some of them in worship on Sunday). And the fundraising part was that we fun challenged that $200 would be given as seed money for our Week of Compassion Special Day Offering (coming in mid-February) if we got the 25 images. Well done!!

The Apostle Paul spoke of singing and rejoicing. In fact, he said, “Again, I say, ‘Rejoice.’” It’s hard to do much joyful singing if you are a stuck-in-the-mud curmudgeon. Thanks for being a church that is full of life and willing to laugh along the way to doing some really good and life-changing work.

Often the really hard and challenging work is best done with a little humor. It can’t always be that way, but as we look to you, O Amazing and Grace-filled God, we continue to find a reason to rejoice and celebrate the fullness of life. Thank you! Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 21, 2025
I was reading an article on the BBC’s website about venomous caterpillars. Just the headline caught my attention. I do not tend to think of caterpillars as venomous, though I probably should as I was stung a couple of years ago by a woollybear caterpillar while cutting some tree limbs. Wow! That was painful. The article pointed out how scientists have been and continue to look at venom of different creatures because they are a better way to find new drug candidates than starting from scratch. They contain molecules fine-tuned over millions of years to target specific biological processes in the victim. Evolution has shaped these chemical compounds in a way that would be nearly impossible in a laboratory. One of the new sought-after weight loss medications comes from a molecule extracted from a venomous lizard. 

Some of you might be scratching your heads and wondering where I’m headed with all this, but if you’ve followed me for a while, you know I can be quite random. However, I find it intriguing how something that falls under the category of venom, and for that very reason, is something we tend to avoid, can actually possess properties that are healing or life-changing. We live in a world that judges various things that might initially seem dangerous but, upon closer examination, can actually be a blessing. It’s all about the preconceived ideas we bring to whatever we are observing. If we assume that it will be forever defined by the title it was given, then we won’t ever see what else it has to offer. 

The world around us is full of surprises, but we pray, O God of immeasurable possibilities, for the capacity to see beyond the assumptions we might have embedded within us. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 20, 2025
On this Dr. Martin Luther King holiday - A Prayer from Dr. King
O God, we thank you for the fact that you have inspired men and women in all nations and in all cultures. We call you different names: some call you Allah; some call you Elohim; some call you Jehovah; some call you Brahma; some call you the Unmoved Mover. But we know that these are all names for one and the same God. Grant that we will follow you and become so committed to your way and your kingdom that we will be able to establish in our lives and in this world a brother and sisterhood, that we will be able to establish here a kingdom of understanding, where men and women will live together as brothers and sisters and respect the dignity and worth of every human being. In the name and spirit of Jesus. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 19, 2025
Today in worship, we are going to be looking at transactional relationships, specifically how our relationship with God and the church can too easily slip into what is an unhealthy relationship of expectations. Life is full of relationships where a transaction is expected or required. When you check out at the grocery store, there is a basic assumption that you will give them some money. Otherwise, it usually causes a rather tense moment as you attempt to run out the door pushing your cart full of items. Transactional relationships help our economy, but they are not a good model for marriages. In the ancient world, it was transactional. There was a dowry, a payment from the bride’s family to the groom or the groom’s father. And the language of “giving the bride away” implied a transaction. Things were different when people in the Bible got married. Although we’ve moved away from the expectation of a dowry, and many clergy (including myself) have long since chosen language other than ‘giving away,’ which implies property, we must be aware of the undercurrents of an implied quid pro quo in some of our most intimate relationships. Sadly, I believe this has been influenced by some who have presented a relationship with God as having certain expectations of what God requires in advance of loving us. I firmly believe that the opposite is true. God’s unmerited and unconditional love inspires us to choose specific actions or behaviors. However, even when we fail to live up to the incredible ideals revealed in Jesus, God’s love remains unwavering.

Thank you for your boundless love and goodness, O God of the Universe. Your love is not contingent upon our good choices or behavior, but simply because you are love. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 18, 2025
When confronted with self-doubt, the advice of simply believing in oneself can be somewhat ineffective. While the intention behind such advice may be sincere, individuals struggling with self-doubt have already been wrestling with the question. A skilled therapist can assist in uncovering the underlying reasons for this lack of confidence or feelings of self-doubt. However, this process may not always be straightforward or easy. Doubts around faith are equally difficult, but self-doubt and doubt in regard to religious beliefs are not the same. Yet I have met many people who have asked legitimate questions in regard to faith, the Bible, the existence of God, yet others have made these good questions into concerns that leave questioning people fearful. Doubts about some aspect of orthodox Christianity, for instance, are twisted into an existential crisis, often leaving a person with self-doubt. And when someone is struggling with self-doubt, this vulnerability can be seized upon by religion. What if Christianity celebrated doubts, questions, even hesitancy that were spoken out loud by people who felt confident in their value as human beings? What if the church fostered an environment where thoughtful reflections and honest confessions about uncertainty were permitted without fear of judgment or manipulation of people’s vulnerable state of mind? I think Jesus loves not only the doubter but the doubts, for doubts point to a faith that is active and being challenged by life. Doubts, within a healthy setting, can give rise to deeper insight and true conviction in regard to how one is to live in a very complicated world. One of the real gifts the church can offer is to continue to affirm a person’s worth and beloved status even in a moment when that person is questioning everything.

Thanks for loving and affirming me, O God of amazing grace and goodness, especially when I might even be doubting your existence. Even the most challenging questions do not hinder your capacity to be God. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 17, 2025
Deescalating tension is an art, and I am so envious of people who have the skill of speaking to a moment of anger with words that helps create a pause. It does not mean everyone is happy or at peace, but often unchecked escalation is followed by more escalation. Inflammatory allegations are made, and before long, the original point is lost in a turbulent exchange that has everyone in a defensive stance. In today’s world, we need more individuals who are less adept at fanning the flames of distrust and animosity and more skilled at creating an environment where voices are given a platform to express themselves and committed individuals are willing to seek understanding. Let’s be clear—that does not mean agreement. 

In Mark 2, some of the religious leaders and legal experts ask the disciples, “Why does he (Jesus) eat with sinners and tax collectors?” Jesus is standing within earshot of this question, so it sure appears as if the intent of the question was to cause triangulation and to have the disciples arguing among themselves. Jesus immediately responded, but didn’t spew vitriol or tell his disciples how his accusers were idiots. Instead, he stayed on task and communicated his mission by saying, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” Other times, when Jesus was asked a question, he chose to respond with a question. I need to learn how to avoid getting entangled in irrelevant debates that serve as emotional smokescreens to keep from actually addressing the issue at hand. And then from a place of genuine curiosity, to ask good questions that seek to better see the perspective of another.

Where people are hurting and afraid, I look to you, Lord God, for a quiet and content spirit so that I might listen with the intent of understanding. And where anger leads to accusations, I pray for that same quiet and content heart so as not to be drawn into a unhelpful yelling match. Be my guide! Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 16, 2025
When I wrote yesterday’s Etching, I was filled with hope for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. However, I must admit that my usual skepticism was trying to gain some traction. While the news from last night is both exciting and promising, we mustn’t forget that the finish line remains in the distance. Even if the ceasefire is recognized and both sides fulfill their commitments, profound pain and distrust deeply resonate within the souls of many. Regardless of how one argues or justifies the violence over the past two and a half years, the trauma experienced by countless individuals must be acknowledged. A process, both personal and communal, must be established to address this collective trauma. Otherwise, the pain will only grow and spill over into acts of revenge. Religion has too often chosen to take the side of violence, offering approval and God’s blessing upon war. But most religions, at their core, were inspired by people of peace who were looking to heal the human soul from the hurts and insecurities that too often were the catalysts for violence. In this moment, I am praying for religious leaders, psychotherapists, and those who specialize in conflict resolution, to begin preparing for the next step. What South Africa did in the mid-90s, though not perfect, is a starting place for healing to begin. As a person of faith, I must believe it is possible.

People of faith turn to you, O God who has taken the impossible and shaped it into a miracle. We do not approach such longstanding and deeply seeded trauma naively, yet you are the One who has made a way when there wasn’t one. Let us be agents of your restoration, reconciliation, and healing. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 15, 2025
Like you, I am filled with immense hope for the ongoing discussions in the Middle East, particularly the potential ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. This has been an extraordinarily complicated situation, and to understand it necessitates individuals holding seemingly contradictory beliefs simultaneously. Most people are reluctant to even consider such a concept, preferring straightforward explanations for complex issues deeply rooted in history, politics, religion, and generational animosity that even those currently involved cannot fully comprehend. We want to be able to stand in a high place of objective virtue from where we can effortlessly declare that one group is good and the other group is bad. Oh, I so wish such a place existed from which we could offer clear determinations in regard to all conflicts, but such a place does not exist. I have been reading a lot lately, including the work of Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem (www.mitriraheb.org), and his book, Decolonizing Palestine. I just purchased the book, Rooted in Faith and Justice: Christian Calls to Conscience & Cries for Peace in Palestine. It is published by our denomination’s publishing house, Chalice Press. These writings are deeply troubling and require some honesty with ourselves in regard to preconceived ideas that we bring to this conflict. As a person who struggles to find the necessary time to learn as much as I would like on a multitude of topics, I often feel ill-prepared to enter into important conversations on issues of immense importance. But today, I think about John 9, where the disciples of Jesus see a blind man and ask, “So Jesus, who sinned to bring about this blindness? This man or his parent?” For the longest time, people had been taught that disease and ailments were a sign of divine punishment, so the disciples believed they could narrow down the one at fault pretty quickly. In their minds, it was either this one or that one. Of course, Jesus, like he so often did, presented a third option that complicated the disciples’ previously held beliefs, but also muddied the waters in regard to who was to blame. It seemed as if Jesus sought to escape the blame game and swiftly transition to the healing process. While many may express a desire for quick healing in the Middle East, I believe achieving this goal requires letting go of preconceived notions and acknowledging the complexity of the situation, which goes beyond what most are willing to acknowledge. 

Holy God, I pray for peace and healing, while achieving true justice for all. Some might call me naive, but I am full of hope because Jesus invited me to be a person of hope. Amen.