ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 30, 2025
Today is the last day of June, which means it is the last day of Pride Month. Though just because a time of celebration has come to a conclusion does not mean pride, education, advocacy, and general support will conclude. Christmas happens on December 25th, and we begin celebrating it the day after Thanksgiving (in stores shortly after July 4th), but the wonderful news of a God who chose to be born into the world for the sake of love is not something we contain within a 24-hour period, a month, or even a lifetime. The celebration of humanity’s inherent worth never ceases, but certain groups who have been deemed less deserving or completely excluded from God’s love require additional attention. 

Scripture reveals your love for all creation, O Holy Source of Goodness and Grace, yet over and over again, we read stories of how you showed particular concern for those who were enslaved, marginalized, and too often forgotten. It didn’t reduce your love for any other person or group, as your love is eternal. However, sometimes wounded souls need special attention, a time when your love lifts and honors the unique beauty of the very people that others have dismissed and demeaned. Thank you for your unconditional and limitless love, while not viewing humanity as needing some uniform blessing. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 29, 2025
I reached for my cup of tea and then lifted it to my lips—not once or twice or even three times, but four different times. These all occurred after the cup was empty. Each time I thought to myself, I need to get up and make myself another cup. Each time, I went back to what I was doing instead of getting more tea. It may not have been procrastination, but it felt a little like a window through which I glimpsed many aspects of my life. Though another cup of tea was not some high priority, it clearly was something my body (or mind) was craving. Not that all cravings should receive our full and immediate attention, but too often we lift the empty cup of faith numerous times and think to ourselves, I should do something about it. We think it, but we do not do what is necessary to fill our cup. In Proverbs 13:4, we read, “The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing; the appetite of the diligent is satisfied.”

Fill my cup, Lord! This is my request, yet I pray for the spiritual energy to get up and do what is necessary to see my cup filled. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 28, 2025
As I read through the Bible, I repeatedly encounter numerous instances when God seems to announce inclusion, even in spite of the chosen people of Israel, the disciples, and the early church choosing an attitude of protectionism through exclusion. Of course, claiming we are better than everyone else, and if you disagree, we will kill you was sort of the norm in ancient times. Though let’s be real, has anything changed? My point is that when stories in the Bible appear to reflect the worst of humanity’s arrogance rooted in insecurity, we can probably assume that is not a reflection of God’s best. 

There are clearly places in scripture that make us uneasy, even turning our stomachs because of the horrific way God and God’s people are portrayed. We struggle to defend what appears to be a God telling one group of people to kill all the people of another nation—both adults and children. There are instances when God appears to be ambivalent about, or even rewarding, rape. There are hundreds of places where God seems to support the system of slavery, including the selling of one’s daughter into slavery when the family’s finances get tough. It’s all in the Bible, and please don’t say something like, “Well, that’s the God of the Old Testament.” We didn’t get a new God when the New Testament was written. God is God! 

I believe the Bible to be a living library of human experience. Story after story of people trying to make sense of daily life, including the most painful moments through the lenses of long-held traditions and the ongoing questioning in life brought about by new experiences that challenge those old traditions. Yet as I said at the beginning of this Etching, there are these amazing moments where God announces inclusion in such a way that it would have sounded absurd to those who first heard it. It didn’t just challenge traditions and commonly held assumptions, it obliterated them. For that reason, there were always and have continued to be those who couldn’t quite believe what God was trying to communicate. In that discomfort, some have chosen to hunker down and cling to old ways of thinking. 

In John 14, Jesus told his disciples how those who believe will do even greater things than he was able to do. I do not think he was simply saying the next generation will be able to do greater things, and then God will lock down everything from that day forward. Every generation, including our own, assuming we believe that God continues to speak and act in new and profound ways, will discover previously unimaginable understandings of inclusion rooted in unconditional and limitless love. Don’t get me wrong! There are plenty of breathtaking examples within scripture where God and God’s people stepped way outside tradition, and those need to be our model for how God continues to do the same in every generation. 

Provide me the faith so as to trust your Spirit, O Holy One, as you continue to reveal the beauty and power of your reign of love that leaves no one behind. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 27, 2025
It was MLK who wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As people of faith, we must be the voice and advocate for everyone who is experiencing injustice, even if it is something outside of our experience. Early in my ministry, I talked to a group (mostly men) about the gender wage gap in this country. It is estimated that women have lost more than $60 trillion over the last 50 years when it comes to a lack of equal pay for the same job. When I shared some of my thoughts, an older gentleman said, “Why should I care? I’m not a woman.” It was one of those shocking moments, and for a few seconds, the shock left me speechless. Yet when I caught my breath, I began to talk about being raised, along with my three siblings, by a single mother after my father’s death. Though my argument was personal and poignant, it sort of missed the point. Even if a woman is married to someone making a lot of money, inequality is inequality. My grandmother had to quit teaching when she got married as only single women could be public teachers in that part of Nebraska, with the underlying belief that a woman’s place was in the home caring for her husband. It’s interesting how human history is on repeat, in that we seem fine when it comes to making excuses for injustice until a majority of people wake up and realize that though something might have been acceptable at one time, injustice is injustice. Sadly, we take only small steps forward, unable to see other injustices that are right in front of us. Jesus had many intense conversations with the religious leaders of his day, including on the topic of healing on the Sabbath. Of course, Jewish tradition did not oppose healing on the Sabbath as some have tried to argue, but there were probably those who still tried to suggest that the healing could wait another day. But when the system tells you again and again that you must wait, and you find yourself unable to earn a living and many imply your illness is a sign of divine judgment, waiting is an injustice. Jesus could have said, “Sure! I’ll wait until tomorrow.” But the God of love, mercy, kindness, and justice believes an act of justice is a good thing, especially on the Sabbath day when we are invited to honor the our Lord God.

Just because it’s the way we’ve always done it is no excuse to continue to ignore suffering, inequality, or injustice. Give me, O Lord of the Sabbath, both a heart and a mind that perceive what is good and right and just. Amen. 

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 25, 2025
While on Sabbatical, one of the books I have read is Holy Runaways by Matthias Roberts. It is an important and challenging book on trauma caused by the church. Matthias is writing from the perspective of a gay man, but his insights are not limited to those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. So many have experienced injury because of the church. Toward the end of the book, Matthias is talking about complicity, especially in regard to our silence or ambivalence. Too often, if it is not my experience, then it must not be true or carry much validity. Matthias writes about tragic and unjust events occurring and how people…

“…feign shock, release empty statements, make concessions, and maybe post some resources, and then they’re right back to radio silence. I would argue this was among the worst kinds of violence because we said, ‘I see you. I’m listening to you. I see you are hurting. And now I’m not going to do anything about it.’”

Do you understand the pain of those who have experienced the injury and trauma, and the very people who have taken the name of Jesus and committed to his ways of compassion, self-giving love, and seeking justice seem to slip away the moment it becomes challenging.

In James 1, we read: “be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like” (22-24).

As people of faith, we do a lot of listening to Scripture, whether that is personal or corporate Bible study, worship, or a host of other settings. We are recipients of the Living Word through scripture and the Spirit, yet there are times when it appears that the Living Word has fallen upon dry and unwelcoming soil. And when the soil of our hearts is not receptive to the Living Word, then it is going to be equally unwelcoming to the painful stories of others. Just because someone’s story is outside of our known experience does not mean we should dismiss it. In fact, it invites us to be curious, giving space for the story to be told uninterrupted, and for us to explore others who are telling similar stories. To be heard and met with compassion can be one of the greatest gifts a person can experience. Of course, the next thing is to ask, “What tangible thing can I do?” Let’s try to be those who are giving that gift. 

Give me an open heart and a nonjudgmental spirit as I seek to learn those things that will make me a more empathetic and faithful person. I request your help, Holy God. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 24, 2025
Edwin Hubbell Chapin, a 19th-century preacher, wrote, “Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge.” Powerful words! I wonder if it could be taken to a higher level, where we don’t simply forgo revenge but refrain from contemplating it? From the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:24). I do not pretend to know what Jesus had been thinking in the moments before speaking those words, but in lesser challenging moments, I am pretty certain we’ve all pondered some revenge and retribution at one time or another. Yet what would it mean to continue to work on oneself, striving toward a place where forgiveness comes more and more naturally to us? Maybe it starts with the person who bumps into you at the grocery store and says nothing. But from there, what would it be like to forgive as easily as breathing? I know I have some work to do, but I look to Jesus, who I imagine found those words of forgiveness much easier than most. Remember, forgiving is not approval of what was done or even giving permission to be hurt again. Often, forgiveness is part of the process by which we build stronger boundaries. Yet with that said, I believe we would be healthier individuals and the world would be healthier if forgiveness was something we all could offer without too much time planning our revenge.

Help me, Merciful God! Allow me a glimpse of your immeasurable forgiveness as a reminder of what I am striving to do. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 23, 2025
I really enjoyed the Academy Award-nominated movie, Conclave. One of the main characters, Cardinal Aldo Bellini, makes a sort of confession to his friend, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence. Bellini says, “Thomas, I’ve come to ask for your forgiveness. I had the temerity… to tell you to examine your heart, when all the time it was my own that… It’s shameful to be this age and still not know yourself. Ambition, ‘The moth of holiness.’” The actor, Stanley Tucci, plays Bellini, and this short monologue is really quite extraordinary, in both the writing and acting. But I was struck by the idea that ambition is the moth of holiness. Holiness is this garment of the sacred that we spend a lifetime seeking to wear it more often and with more faithfulness. Yet there are too many things that can entice our ego, and though they might appear insignificant, they are like moths that ever-so-quietly begin to eat away at that garment that we believed was ours to wear. Along with ambition, what are some of the other ego-inflating characteristics that can leave the garment of holiness with some rather embarrassing holes?

Continue to help me, Merciful God, as I seek to clothe myself in the attributes that represent and give witness to Jesus. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 21, 2025
I have had a bit more time to sit with my thoughts lately, and a question continues to make an appearance in my mind. It’s actually a question with multiple points, yet it begins with: If Jesus were to show up tomorrow, what would grieve his heart in regard to…? What follows are the specific areas: your life; your family; your church; your community; your nation? This is not a question intended for anyone to impose on someone else, but to simply be a very individual spiritual challenge that cannot be a one-and-done. Of course, asking the question assumes a basic idea of what might grieve the heart of Jesus. I don’t want to pretend I have some exhaustive list, but I think it begins with knowing the expectations and purpose of Jesus. We are all probably in agreement that loving the neighbor is first and foremost, assuming one does not define neighbor by proximity, geography, or resemblance. It assumes a willingness to take up the cross of Jesus—which I would best describe as self-giving love when there is a good chance some people won’t like it. And I would think a genuine concern for the most vulnerable among us, including but not limited to those whom the prophets often referenced: orphan, widow, poor, sick, and immigrant. You might have others that you can easily add. The point is that you and I cannot allow the Spirit to challenge us on what might be grieving the heart of Jesus if we do not know what might grieve the heart of Jesus. Spend a few days on each of those areas, and remembering that God is forever merciful, start making some tangible changes so as not to cause as much grief to the heart of Jesus.

Challenge me! Push me! Invite me into a deeper relationship with you, O Living Christ, as I want my life, family, church, community, and nation to honor you and the life you modeled. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 20, 2025
Jesus read these words from the Prophet Isaiah, 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…” (Luke 4:18)

These words were offered as Jesus was visiting the synagogue in Nazareth. Though he was quoting an ancient text, the opening declaration about the Spirit of the Lord being upon him would have caught the attention of those in the synagogue. The Spirit rested upon those whom God was calling to do great things—prophets, teachers, healers, and priests were among those who felt called and empowered by the Spirit. This portion of Luke comes early in the earthly ministry of Jesus, but at the end of John’s Gospel, we read how Jesus breathed on his disciples and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The same Spirit that animated the gifts of Jesus at the beginning of his work now animates our gifts so that we can be the prophets, teachers, healers, and priests. The presence of God in the form of the Spirit makes that happen.

Holy Spirit—lead me, form me, uplift me, strengthen me, and send me. I ask these things in the knowledge that you will be with me as we partner in the good work of the Gospel. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 19, 2025
I’m going to share something personal, though if you know me, you know this isn’t unusual. I find it challenging to share much without offering from my personal story. A little over twenty-seven years ago, I was diagnosed with M.S. At the time, I had a great neurologist and primary care doctor who walked me through the first steps after diagnosis. I also had a meeting with a specialist and someone from a national M.S. organization, and they both told me the same thing. I should plan to be in a wheelchair and on disability by the time I was fifty. I needed to get my affairs in order before then. Over the next decade, I was given grim reports about any sort of serious surgery as it could have dangerous implications for my M.S. Those were frightening words to hear for many reasons, but especially as Donna and I had only recently married. Today, I am in my late fifties, and I just had a knee replacement with the plans of many, many years of walking, maybe even some jogging. I offer those words with humility as I know people, even one younger than I am, who have died in the last year because of complications related to M.S. I also celebrate the amazing progress made with medication and other care. Like anyone, I can’t guarantee what will happen tomorrow or next month, but I believe my good health has been guided by excellent doctors and undergirded with lots of prayer and love. Had things not turned out so well, I’m pretty certain we would have still found a way forward, but I find myself expressing gratitude more and more often.

For the way you journey with us no matter the circumstances, we give you thanks, O Holy and Eternal Spirit. Amen.