01-26-26

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 26, 2026
The best intentions and the absolute worst results. Yesterday morning, with no in-person worship, I wanted to open the morning with a live stream from my living room. I had everything set up right in front of the fireplace, and I was even impressed with the lighting. With my new microphone, the sound was really good, but after finishing the 15-minute live event, my wife broke the bad news—there was no video. I was using an updated software, and it is really important to do the last step if having video is your hope. Live and learn! How often have we not taken something to the next step? Have you ever put in a lot of effort, only to fall short at the very end? In my online sermon yesterday, I talked about the difficulty in taking the first step, especially when we are overwhelmed or hopeless. Despair is a powerful deterrent to any sort of progress. However, I don’t know if I can come up with just one or two reasons why we sometimes fall short in the end. Maybe it’s a lack of persistence or complete exhaustion, or it might be a genuine fear of success? In my Sunday morning failure, I can point to my unwillingness to find a good YouTube instructional video. The confidence I had in my capacity to access the necessary steps and bring it to a conclusion was a bit too high. I was overly confident, and like Proverbs 16:18, a haughty attitude will usually end in a fall. In my case, a failure. Not to oversimplify, but one of my takeaways was my inability to admit that seeking help can be a good thing, no matter how confident or cocky I might be feeling. There is always someone who could provide helpful insight.

I seek the courage to ask questions and draw upon the wisdom you have placed within others, O Lord who is present with encouragement in every moment. Amen.