ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 30, 2025
I was in Indianapolis for about 36 hours for the Board Meeting of the Christian Church Foundation. This was my first Board Meeting, and if you’ve ever served on a national Board, you probably remember your first meeting. To begin with, you’re just trying to remember all the names of the folks sitting around the table (thank goodness I already knew a handful of them), but there are acronyms to learn and the detailed reports from the auditors. I thought I’d done my homework, but I’ve returned home with more. The Christian Church Foundation is our denomination’s foundation, investing just over $1 billion of the church’s money for the purpose of ministry. Much of it is endowments for local congregations, and CCCC has three endowments held by CCF. Many individuals within our denomination have established charitable trusts, which provide them with a steady stream of income for the rest of their lives. The remaining funds can then become an endowment for a local church. There are also endowments for larger ministries of the denomination, such as Week of Compassion and Disciple Men. We spent some of our time together reflecting on the balance between the fiduciary responsibility we have as Board Members and the ethical responsibility we have when it comes to the investing of the money. We met with representatives of ICCR (Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility) who has been advising faith-based organizations on how such bodies can influence corporate decisions on everything from climate change, ethical supply chains, and workers’ rights. They seek to work with companies, often sitting down at the table and helping them understand how ethical responsibility within the corporation today can lead to a stronger and more profitable company long-term. In many situations, it presents a mutually beneficial opportunity. The investment approach of the Christian Church Foundation is smart diversification, while always looking toward long-term growth. The Foundation’s approach has proven successful, even during economic downturns. ICCR and CCF exemplify how asking thoughtful questions, focusing on the future, avoiding quick fixes, and prioritizing people over profits can yield remarkable and steadfast resources for the church’s future. And an interesting side note, ICCR has discovered that there are often wonderful partners within corporations who are seeking a similar path.

We give you thanks, Lord God, for the faithful stewards throughout the years who have seen their accumulated resources as a way of supporting ministry long after they have joined you. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 29, 2025
It’s hardly surprising that the word sabbatical is connected to the word Sabbath. The word Sabbath is first found in scripture in the Book of Exodus, where we hear how the people are to remember the Sabbath. This notion of Sabbath comes out of the first creation story found in Genesis 1, where God rested on the seventh day. The word Sabbath in Hebrew is: shabbath, which is derived from the Hebrew word: shavath, which means to cease. Have you ever worked so hard that your body forced you to cease everything? I have known people who have worked to that place so often that they’ve experienced physical repercussions, significant and lasting health problems. There is nothing wrong with working hard, but the body and mind need rest. The concept of a weekly Sabbath, particularly in light of Israel’s narrative of slavery and forced labor, was an extraordinary gift and revelation of God’s perspective on the divine-human relationship. For these people, they were not slaves of a God who was some brutal taskmaster. Instead, they found a God who was genuinely concerned about them. Through this and other stories, we come to recognize that we were created to have purpose, which is often manifest in some expression of work (mind - body, or both), but living into that purpose must be done in a healthy way. And Sabbath, and sometimes sabbatical, are needed. As I have said before, I wish to thank Cypress Creek Christian Church for my Sabbatical leave that will begin next Monday. This may sound odd, but I am looking forward to reading. I read quite a bit, but it is almost entirely for work—sermon preparation, trying to better understand mental health issues our culture is facing, or an ancient spiritual practice. Don’t get me wrong, I find almost all of it fascinating. But I have a stack of books that I have been looking at for months. A member of the church, David Cook, gave me some summaries of books more than six months ago, and a couple of them spurred some interest… but I just have not had the time to actually sit down and read for my own engagement. I’m almost giddy as I think about it. 

Continue to provide for us times when we can cease from what we have been doing so that we can rest and breathe and find deeper connection to you, O Lord of the Sabbath. We pray in the name of Jesus, the one who would slip away and spend time alone on a mountain. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 28, 2025
Prayer for the Week: God of Love, we are like the pilgrims who journeyed to Emmaus many centuries ago. As we traverse this path, we seek faithful and supportive voices that remind us of your presence with us at every turn. When we find ourselves in challenging situations and encounter those who seek to harm anyone with a fragile ego, we strive to serve as conduits of your Spirit’s affirmation and encouragement. May each act of compassion build within us confidence to move forward with boldness. Continue to immerse us with your affirming grace and kindness. We offer these words of prayer, trusting that you will remain steadfast as our traveling companion. Together, we can help others find their place within your beloved community. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 27, 2025
In the scripture that we will focus on this morning, we learn of two people who encountered the resurrected Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. As the story is told, they did not recognize this stranger as Jesus until they sat down at a table and Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. In that moment, their eyes were opened. I am intrigued by what they say to each other after Jesus disappears. They say to one another,

“Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

How often, after the fact, do we say to ourselves, “I should have seen what was right in front of me!” There are a handful of moments in my own recent history when I came to a situation where an opportunity to act on behalf of Jesus was there as clear as day. Yet somehow I talked myself out of it. We can beat ourselves up when it comes to those missed opportunities, or we can learn from them and seek not to repeat them. How much time has been wasted bemoaning a failure? I wonder if in that time of spiritual and emotional flogging, I missed another opportunity. It is good to reflect and learn, but then it’s time to act from an improved vantage point. I think of Maya Angelou, who wrote, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” God’s grace helps in that work.

Through your immeasurable grace, Merciful God, I find the capacity to learn from mistakes, make corrections, and try to do better. For everyone who needs me to do better, continue to encourage me on that trajectory of growth. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 26, 2025
Today is the Greater Houston Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Cypress Creek Christian Church has a good number of folks going, and I am looking forward to gathering with fellow members of our tradition. I am a church geek, and I name that. I enjoy most church gatherings, especially when I’m able to have the quiet conversations in the hallway where I ask someone, “So, tell me what’s exciting at your church?” In many situations, people are focusing on the negatives, the things that feel like a crisis. Many of the workshops at such events are responding to problems. It’s funny how often people are caught off guard by the question, but then after a minute or two, they have something to share. Over the years I have heard some wonderful ideas, but even more so, it is nice to see people take pride in a ministry that is touching or even transforming lives. Quite often, people are hesitant because they don’t think the ministry is big enough or has enough bells and whistles. Yet I think God uses churches within their unique settings to make a difference. We shouldn’t assume that every successful ministry can be transplanted. This took me a bit too long to learn in ministry. I would go to a conference, hear a brilliant speaker, buy the book, and return home with the implementation plan, only to discover that it did not make sense for the church I was serving or my larger ministry context. We can definitely learn from each other, but after hearing people talk about what excites them in their church, I often follow up with the question, “And how did that ministry come about?” The discernment process is often where the learning really takes place. How did they listen for the Spirit, while paying attention to the underlying needs of people in the neighborhood around the church? It wasn’t about making assumptions or simply imposing a ministry on the community. It was allowing for God to match the giftedness of the faith community with the real needs of others. Where could we be doing a better job of listening for the Spirit, alongside the cries of those who we pass by every single day?

Give me ears to hear and a spirit that seeks to discern. Too often, Lord God, I want to impose what I believe to be what is needed, only to waste precious time and energy, or even cause harm in your name. I pray for your help. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 25, 2025
If you have turned on the TV in recent days, there is a pretty good chance you’ve found a news story about Pope Francis. His life deserves all the tributes, even though his humility would have found such praise to be unneeded. Historically, the Catholic Church has taught that the Pope, when speaking about church doctrine, is infallible, or to say it another way, there is no error or inaccuracy in the Pope’s teaching. Why is that? Because the Pope is understood as speaking on behalf of God, yet when Pope Francis said in regard to a bishop who had made a mistake, “Who am I to judge?” there was a dramatic reinterpretation of Papal authority. Now let me be clear—there was no official change in Catholic Church Doctrine, and no document was written to explain the statement. However, those words resonated with me. I’m not Catholic, yet I have always tried to show respect for religious leaders across the spectrum. And the Pope received my respect, not only because of the title but because of his life. And this man’s humility and compassion for the least among us might have been one of the better examples we’ve had among prominent leaders in recent decades. Had he offered strong judgments against someone, I don’t think most people would have argued. But like Jesus, Pope Francis only spoke strongly against those who abused their power, misused their wealth, or wielded religion for their personal gain. As Pope, Francis had immense power, yet he used it in one of the most Christ-like ways I have seen. A few Cypress Creek Christian Church folks have said with a grin, “Bruce, there is an open position in Rome. Do you think you’ll apply?” Though any Catholic could become Pope, I don’t plan to change denominations. Even more so, I sure wouldn’t want to follow that man.

Whenever I witness humility, compassion, and kindness that leaves me in awe, I can’t help but believe that I’m encountering something you, Lord God, have bestowed upon the world. If you’re the power behind that witness, then I should certainly pay attention and strive to emulate them in my own life. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 24, 2025
Yesterday was Earth Day, and the day before that, I planted three trees. I’m not bragging. They were given to me, and when you’re given trees, there is only one thing to do—find a good home in the dirt. And though I watered them immediately after planting, I have been thrilled with the rain we have received the last 24 hours. All my life, I have been intrigued by trees, and planting and successfully growing them (I’ve not always been successful) has brought me great joy. And though my little effort of planting trees and giving a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation each year to plant more trees is not making a massive difference in the climate crisis, doing nothing is not an option. As I think about Jesus, there had to have been thousands and thousands of people who were needing healing in just the three years of his ministry, yet we know he didn’t come close to healing that many. What we do know is that he cared for those he met along his journey. I’m sure he worried about those who he would not meet. Yet he could only do what he could do, and he modeled for us what it means to do what we can with what we have with those we meet along the way. All the problems we face, and there are many, can be overwhelming. I hear people say often, “I don’t know where to begin.” Sadly, those words leave too many people standing on the sidelines of service. What would happen if just half those people found one thing to do for one hour each week? How many millions, maybe even billions of hours would suddenly be offered at no cost for the purpose of helping, healing, and transforming our world? Of course, another part of the problem is how we have made debating social issues into a primetime sport. Too many people confuse actually doing something with arguing about whose fault it is or why those who choose to do something offend them. Let’s feed a few people, plant some trees, make sure more people have access to clean water, and help give voice to the voiceless. If you still don’t know where to begin, I would invite you to spend a little time in prayer. I feel confident that God will show you the next step. Of course, it will be up to you to take that step.

Though the problems are many and immense, I believe you have given us the resources to bring about dramatic change. Encourage us, O Just and Loving God, in the multitude of opportunities to bring alive the Gospel. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 23, 2025
For more than six or seven years (really, for more like three decades), we have been talking about the decline of Christianity and the growth of the nones. Of course, the nones are not to be confused with the nuns. Nones are those who self-describe as unaffiliated with any organized religion, often checking the box “none” when asked which religion best describes you. Our denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has seen a pretty dramatic decline over the last thirty years, and when you’re not a terribly big denomination, decline really hurts. But in the last 9-12 months, the decline in Christianity (and religion in general) appears to be leveling off or even seeing a slight blip upwards. It might be an anomaly, and soon everything will return to decline. But maybe not!

In the United States, although a relatively small percentage of the population, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, have also experienced an increase in numbers. However, given that nearly 80% of older adults identify as Christian, while only 46% of younger adults do, the future religious landscape appears uncertain. In other research, individuals who identify as neither Christian nor nominally Christian but have been drawn to Christianity in recent years have been drawn to churches that are unequivocal about their identity and the divine calling they perceive. In a lot of churches right now, there has been this fictitious belief that a local congregation can be all things to all people. Let’s be clear, Jesus was not all things to all people. Jesus did not embrace the idea that rules were more important than relationships or that possessions were more valuable than people. I believe Jesus still loved the individuals who held those beliefs, but he wasn’t creating a big tent where such beliefs would be included in his movement. 

Don’t misunderstand me—no religion will be monolithic, except perhaps for something more cult-like. At Cypress Creek Christian Church, when we proclaim that everyone is loved by God and is welcome at the Communion Table, it doesn’t imply that every belief held by individuals will be incorporated into our primary message. We might have someone attending CCCC who would say that women should be silent and subservient. To hold that belief is to suggest that women are not necessarily allowed to be themselves at the Table, and thus are not really welcomed at the Table. I use that only as an example, but even if someone holds that belief, I think God loves that person. But his (I’m thinking it would be a male) ideas would not only stand in contrast to the core conviction of a God whose love is unconditional and limitless, but if those beliefs were allowed to be spoken at the Communion Table, even though we believe in a diversity of thought, the Communion Table suddenly becomes unwelcoming and unsafe for women. 

One of the great challenges (and there are many) for Christianity right now is to be clear in regard to who Jesus was and is, and equally important, what does it mean to be a follower? When many of the nones say they like Jesus, they just don’t believe the church resembles Jesus at all, it might be time for Christianity to ask some hard questions. I have used the passage often in recent months, but I will use it again. Jesus said that others will know you are my disciples when you love one another. We can have some serious conversations about how love relates to justice, mercy, forgiveness, and a number of other important aspects of life, but it is really impossible to lead with hate or vindictiveness, fear-mongering or guilt-baiting, and still claim oneself a follower of Jesus. To follow means you are on the same path, or at least one that is nearly identical. Otherwise, as Jesus suggested, it is hypocrisy. 

Continue to challenge me on what it means to take the name of Jesus, O Living Light and Source of Love. There are areas where my love is not hitting the mark, and in those places I pray for a gentle nudge or a swift kick in my spiritual backside. At the same time, I pray for the capacity to love those who clearly do not resemble the Jesus life, even when they act as if they own his name. Keep me humble, yet holding strong to the core convictions of love, empathy, kindness, and justice. There remains room for a diversity of thought, but the thoughts of Jesus never marginalized the marginalized, or demonized those already demonized. I offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, whose life and self-giving love I continue to use as a model for my life. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 22, 2025
I am excited, anxious, and carrying a little uncertainty in regard to my Sabbatical that begins in two weeks. First, let me begin by saying how much I appreciate the opportunity to step away from the daily work of ministry. When I started negotiations with Cypress Creek Christian Church nearly 14 years ago, I insisted that my Letter of Call include a Sabbatical, and at the time, the Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was encouraging congregations to write it into the Letter of Call. According to our agreement, I can take one month after three years, two months after four years, or three months after six years. I have already taken one Sabbatical, though it was sort of choppy as it was postponed because of the flood and then the pandemic. Some people might wonder why ministers are offered Sabbaticals. In no way do I want to pretend that ministers work harder than other people. I’m sure I work harder than some and a whole lot less than others. Though in the last 18 months, I have been tracking my hours, and if full-time is 50 hours/week, I have probably earned 27 weeks of comp time in those 18 months. Could I work more efficiently? Yes! Could I say, “No” to more things? Yes! Do I feel resentful for the hours I work? No! I really like what I do. Don’t get me wrong. There are a few less than great days, but every job has some. And I probably have less than most. Cypress Creek Christian Church has taken very good care of me and my family over the years. My job does have flexibility when I need it, and unlike some of my ministry colleagues, CCCC does not micromanage me. That’s a gift! When I return at the end of July, I plan to return refreshed and full of energy — my hope is that I will bring new ideas from conversations I will have with fellow clergy; some new approaches for engaging visitors to our church; and of course, I will be returning with a new right knee. There will be some great guest preachers while I’m gone, and though I hope things run so smoothly that you don’t miss me, I sort of hope that it won’t have been so easy that you’re wondering whether or not I need to return. And though I have some folks writing a few of my Etchings, and I do plan to write some during my Sabbatical, I am guessing there will probably only be three or so each week. Again, thanks for this gift!!

For times of rest, renewal, and opportunities to connect more deeply with you, Merciful God, I am thankful. Provide blessings to the ministry of Cypress Creek Christian Church throughout the summer. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS 
April 21, 2025
Prayer for the Week: May the resurrection we proclaimed yesterday become the resurrection we personify today. Holy Power of Grace, every attempt to contain you and limit your impact upon this world is temporary at best. Every tomb has an expiration date, for nothing can separate us from your eternal love. There are those who seek to create a larger and more intimidating stone to seal the tombs of their own making, but your promise is undeterred. Your grace that raised Jesus from the dead finds such obstacles as unimpressive, and Easter reveals itself over and over again. Give us the faith to live as those who see Easter as something that stretches well beyond a 24-hour period. If the tomb could not contain the power of Easter, why should we think a date on a calendar could? Amen.