ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 31, 2026
What does it mean to be an ‘Esther 4’ kind of person? If you remember, in the Book of Esther, we find the Jewish people at a moment when their existence was threatened. Esther, a Jewish woman (though most folks did not realize she was Jewish), found herself in a place of privilege, yet there was still a risk if Esther was to speak out. Mordecai, her uncle, challenged her with the words…

“Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time,… you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this” (4:13-14). 

Where is our place of privilege? Where can we become a voice for those who are suffering, even if there is a risk involved? When feeling overwhelmed, I often turn to the words of Thomas Reed, who served as Speaker of the House in the late 1800s. He said, “Being one, with God, is always a majority, but many a martyr has been burned at the stake while the votes were being counted.” Esther could have easily been a casualty in that time between speaking out and actually having what she said take root. Is it worth it? Great question! Of course, Esther didn’t hesitate, and neither did Jesus. Is this “just such a time” for you?

Whenever I find myself in a position of influence or with a platform from which I can speak, I earnestly seek the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Holy and Visionary God, it feels as though every moment could be another “just such a time” moment. Regrettably, this sentiment holds true, as we witness a recurring pattern in human history where the powers and principalities resist the teachings of Jesus—love, mercy, kindness, and justice. May I draw inspiration from Esther and others who have discovered the courage to pursue their spiritual vocation. If this is indeed my moment to share your Gospel, I do not wish to remain silent. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 30, 2026
Have you ever felt like you were not going to make it to your destination? Yesterday, I visited someone at the Medical Center downtown, and the trip home left me feeling like a pinball in a pinball machine. My map rerouted me five times to save time, yet what was to be a one-hour and nine-minute drive back to the church ended up taking one hour and 55 minutes. It always feels strange when you have traveled for ten minutes, yet the mapping program indicates that you are twelve minutes further away from your destination. That experience is applicable to all kinds of situations in life, including our pursuit of a deeper and more faithful relationship with God. Speaking from my own experience, there have been moments when my intentional work has opened a door into a greater understanding of God, yet as I explored that new opening, I ended up feeling further away from God. I must confess that in such moments, when I thought it was a step toward greater intimacy with God, I was left feeling as if there was a bigger gulf. It’s not because God was any more distant, but on the other side of that discovery, I felt less faithful and less Christ-like. Of course, God is forever gracious, and so in spite of my feeling distant, God continued to remind me that I was on a journey. And sometimes the path is not straight, and when climbing, there is something called switchbacks (zigzag climb) that helps us move upward even when we may not feel as if we are making progress. And the good news is that God continues to beckon us, along with walking alongside us in the journey. 

We say, "Thanks be to God!" We shout these words to you, O Gracious God, for you continue to be the One who yearns for us to find life and wholeness through a deeper and more abiding relationship with you. Yet sometimes we are confronted by something that does not feel righteous in our own life. Encourage a spirit of boldness so as not to shrink from what is right and good and just. It's a journey, but we trust your presence along the way. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 29, 2026
Yesterday, I took an online class with Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes, from Union Theological Seminary. The title of the class was, “Only Prayer Can Save Us! How to Stay Alive and Sustain Our People During These Times.” There were so many good sources of nourishment in his words. He reminded us how important it is that we go deeper into our spiritual well. If we allow our reservoirs to run dry, we cannot do the things God is needing us to do. He also talked about how we too often pray ‘for’ or ‘to’ or ‘about,’ but how about praying ‘with.’ Prayer is about a relationship with God, and like a good friend, we can ask for things, talk about things, or talk to our friend. But doesn’t your friendship expand and grow when you choose to simply be ‘with’ your friend? The same is true with God. Carvelhaes also spoke about how we pray ‘with’ others, especially when others are suffering or deeply grieving. He talked about how prayer is about lingering with the stories of those who are hurting, grieving, and afraid. There are times when simply knowing we have someone who is ‘with’ us in the pain is enough for the moment.

Holy and Gentle God, friend and companion to all, help us to find that place of centering where we are able to be with you, even if it is only for a few moments. It’s there that we can drink from the well of life and find nourishment in your love. Give us the capacity and empathy so we are able to be fully present and listen to the stories of those whose experiences might be very different than our own, yet through compassionate attentiveness, we are able to better sit with them and to bring an awareness of your presence no matter the circumstance. This is our prayer and request. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 28, 2026
I have started and erased, started and erased this Etching more times than I care to admit. My words have represented a bit of a word salad, with spurts and sputters of frustration and utter nonsense. There are days when an idea flows, and other days where it might take me a little longer. And then there are days like this one where my ideas feel like they are wading through waist-deep oatmeal on their way to some semblance of written communication. I guess what I want to say is that human beings are not a problem to solve. A lack of human decency is a problem for us to solve, and one that I believe we can solve. Dr. King was right when he wrote, “We must all learn to live together as family or we will all perish together as fools” (slight modification by Bruce). We can do better, and I would encourage us to begin with telling the truth, and not simply a fabricated version that seeks to protect the powerful at the expense of the most vulnerable. The prophets were seeking a much better world, and Jesus came along and took their vision to a whole different level.

​Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy! There is no question that we need your mercy, and from there, we might begin to fashion a new way of living together, living with love and compassion as Jesus taught us. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 27, 2026
My good friend and colleague in ministry, Rev. Michael Junkroski, wrote the following (I am including only a portion, though you’ll find the link to the full article below)…

I like Jesus. I might even go so far as to say I “love” Jesus, but I’m cautious in an era where loving Jesus seems to mean embracing authoritarianism — a development over which Jesus would most definitely weep, since it was an authoritarian government that killed him.

When Jesus’ execution failed to end his revolutionary movement, the empire first tried to eliminate it with terrorizing pogroms, and then they usurped it, perverting Jesus’ ministry of inclusive love and forgiveness into the unofficial state religion of the Pax Romana, peace through violence.

The Jesus of empire, now as then, has nothing to do with Jesus.
https://medium.com/pastor-michaels-intersect/jesus-was-not-a-christian-8691db1c6806

Is Christianity, the church, and following Jesus the same thing? Yes and no… Some would say that is not an answer, and that’s probably true. However, there have been moments when the church or some expression of Christianity has been a breathtaking and sacred example of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. And sadly, there have been way too many times when there were absolutely no similarities, except for the use of Jesus’ name.  People shouldn’t need to say, “I’m a Christian” or “I go to church.” The hope is that one’s life says it all. It might be a silly example, but we’ve all seen the business or company truck with some Jesus tagline or bumpersticker. If you feel as if you must put it on your business card, then it’s possible that you may need to revisit your values and daily choices. Jesus doesn’t care what window cling you put in your back window, but he was pretty specific on how we treat the most vulnerable, those who are frightened or grieving, and what it means to put love first. 

Continue to make my life the best expression of Jesus it can be. Your help and the encouragement of your Spirit are most definitely needed, O Merciful God. I trust that with each faithful attempt at serving my neighbor with grace and kindness, you will be there. And maybe, just maybe, someone will meet Jesus, the revolutionary teacher of love, through me. Amen.

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.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 25, 2026
It is Sunday morning, and so many across our country are dealing with power outages, significant ice and snow, and so many other weather-related challenges. Yet I am overwhelmed by the violence being brought against peaceful protestors, including clergy, though clergy or not, this should never happen. If you are a student of history, this kind of thing is never remembered well. Bull Connor, the man given the title: Commissioner of Public Safety for the city of Birmingham, did not bring safety to his community. There were hateful and racist people who were absolutely thrilled with Bull Connor’s approach to “public safety,” yet today there are very few people who find anything moral or just or good about the actions of Bull Connor. And there were those who were pleased with the public safety campaign that silenced a trouble-making radical named Jesus. He stirred up too much trouble as his teachings offered common folks a very different vision of the future, including one where those with the sword and credentials from Rome would find themselves powerless through the unconditional and relentless love of God. It was a world being turned upside down, and those in power could not have such talk. When Jesus eventually chose some good old-fashioned street theater, as the prophets were known to do, and turned over some tables in the Temple, it was the final straw that led to his arrest and execution. And it put many of his followers on the same trajectory. Yet was that violence against peaceful and love-centered people remembered well? It is the way of love, kindness, mercy, and justice that always wins in the end. More people may be killed, families torn apart, innocent people harassed, and a growth in a hateful Us vs. Them ideology, but none of it will be remembered well. Every moment offers an opportunity to choose what the prophets and Jesus referred to as righteousness, which had nothing to do with arrogant religious piety, but a world turned upside down, or in the eyes of God, right side up. We have another moral crisis moment, and if you spend much time reading the prophets or the best-known sermon by Jesus, then you know what righteousness looks like in this moment.

For the innocent and vulnerable, for the peacemakers, and for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, we seek to join you, Holy One, and your Spirit of transformative hope in turning this world right side up. It won’t be easy, yet through the lens of our faith history, we know what is good and right and just. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 24, 2026
Last night, Donna and I took in the Klein High School performance of “Crazy For You,” and it was fantastic. We like supporting community theater, plus a couple of our youth were in the crew. There are still a few nights left, including tonight, so if you’re looking for something to do before the storm rolls in, this might be of interest… though keep an eye on the forecast. As I watched the choreography (my wife, the dance-choreographer, was really impressed), I found myself at times sort of lost in the moment, transported to that place where you begin to forget you’re in a theater. I wasn’t picturing myself on the stage, but my foot was tapping and I have a feeling that I was swaying back and forth just a little. We could probably ask the people seated behind us. I have seen many productions, both professional and community theater, where it was clunky and you felt like an outsider observing. But whether it is a musical, play, or just a good storyteller, there are times when everything comes together and the audience finds itself immersed in the experience. 

In the life of the church, it’s not about production level or choreography, but what does it mean to communicate the Gospel in such a way that a listener becomes lost in the story, so captivated, that it becomes an experience? In the Gospel, when Jesus was telling a story, I picture people’s curiosity being touched by the simplicity and absurdity, specifically when he told a parable. These were not full-length productions, but I imagine people being enthralled, laughing, nodding in agreement, and sometimes feeling completely confused… but in just the right way as to leave them looking for more. How are we doing when it comes to sharing the Gospel?

For all those who seek to be a voice of good news, we pray for your Spirit to guide their work, O Lord of the Story. At its core, the Gospel is a story of love—a story of your love seeking to redeem and transform the hurt, brokenness, and suffering in this world. Where we can bring our gifts to the telling of this story, please guide us. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 23, 2026
I just returned from Nashville, where I was gathering with some amazing clergy. I am not a person who feels imposter syndrome very often, but these were some impressive individuals who are doing some extraordinary things. I felt blessed to spend time with them. Yesterday morning, our speaker was Dr. Jaco J. Hamman, Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture at Vanderbilt University. I was totally engaged by what he shared, and in a world where we are told that we should find balance in our lives, he suggested that no one actually finds balance. He pointed out how even walking requires us to be a little off balance, assuming we want to move forward. He suggested that we should seek to be deliberately off balance, in the sense that different periods of life will require a lot of energy focused in one segment of life, but for that time, we are deliberately choosing to be off balance. Because of those more intense and demanding periods of life, we must acknowledge how the other parts of life that had to be sacrificed for a time will probably require some attention now that the demanding time has passed. There will be those who might tell us how the goal is to have some semblance of balance over one’s entire life, but that could require spreadsheets and daily tracking of how we spent our time. That’s not going to work for me, so maybe it’s about mindfulness, internal times of returning to the now for an assessment of our lives—our relationship, which includes self, family, friends, and God. And in that assessment, an awareness of where we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Where do we need to refill? Where do we need to reconnect? What might need to be released so we are able to replenish? In the end, I like what Dr. Hamman shared with us. Like walking, if we are going to move forward, we need to be deliberately off balance.

Your grace has the power to call me back to the now, giving me both permission and the process by which I can take a needed assessment of my life. Giver of that grace, I solicit your guidance at every step of the way, as this does not come easily for me. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 22, 2026
I received a letter last week. Someone spent $12 to make sure I received his letter. There was something to appreciate about someone’s willingness to take the extra step and spend the money to share his opinion that I am a horrible minister and sinful human being. And equally important, I am taking the congregation to hell with me. I won’t go into details, but you probably guess some of the concerns. This is a person who has never visited the church. Again, there is something to be admired when a person feels so passionate about my salvation, but I am amazed at how some folks’ understanding of Christianity is so narrow and incomplete. The church started fighting over what to believe, and quite often killing over the topic, just 30 minutes after Jesus ascended into heaven. The church has been at its worst when it has not engaged the full spectrum of theological questions and confusion with curiosity. In the good old days of the Holy Roman Empire, when everyone appeared to enjoy the same beliefs, there was still plenty of disagreements. Those who disagreed often tried to keep their opinions to themselves, otherwise they were imprisoned or executed. The threat of death is always a good tool of evangelism. Well, so is the threat of hell, and when someone quotes four verses of scriptures completely out of context, and then leaps to what he believed to be a logical conclusion of my damnation, leaves me two choices. I can either comply or burn. Of course, I believe such an approach undermines everything that Jesus taught. Jesus entered the world in a time of Us vs. Them games; you are either with us or against us; you are on the side of the enemy or on the side of God. Jesus looked at those games and offered something so radically different that most people didn’t know what to do with it. Despite what some will try to argue, Jesus did not offer a message of “turn or burn,” but an opportunity to find the fullness of life in and through unconditional love. It had less to do with following rules or reciting a confession, and a whole lot to do with growing in one’s capacity to love neighbor, self, and God. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but if I had even an ounce of concern in regard to the accusations of the letter, I would not sleep well at night. But I have experienced God’s breathtaking and immeasurable love, and for that reason, I believe there is a whole different way of viewing our existence together, and with that, what it means to believe and celebrate the God of grace.

Without any concern, Lord God, I trust in your love to continue to find ways of shaping and transforming this world. Where there is still work to be done within me, I pray for both humility and openness to receive the gifts I am needing. Thank you! Amen.