ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 11, 2023 Last night, I woke up in a bit of a panic. For more than a minute, I thought it was Saturday night. For a minister, that means Sunday is tomorrow. And of course, I didn’t have a sermon. It’s the minister's version of the kid having a dream that he walks into a final in a class he’s never attended. I had that dream once or twice earlier in life. Though once I got my head on straight and realized that it was Monday night and I still had a number of days before I’d be expected to preach, there was a question that came to my mind. Do I have a sermon I can preach? The answer is Yes. I have an emergency sermon, and though I should probably revisit it as it isn’t very good, there is one available (a sort of break glass in case of emergency kind of sermon). But I was really asking the question of whether I had a witness to offer to others—a true message of Good News? I’m not suggesting it needs to be polished, but I believe every follower of Jesus should have something to say (or maybe you express yourself in music, dance, visual arts, etc.). The current culture is looking for something authentic—something shared from a person's experience. I would encourage you to ponder what your witness might be. Out of the mercy and kindness I have experienced, O God, I strive to find a good word I can offer in gratitude. Amen.
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 10, 2023 Prayer for the Week (Guest Writer: Dawn Basel, Elder) Father, healer, friend We come before you in need of your healing. We ask for the kind of healing that only you can provide. With your healing comes wholeness. The definition of wholeness is the state of being well in mind, body and soul. Who but you lord can provide such a blessing. Lord make us whole in our love for ourselves, make us whole in our love for our neighbor. Make us whole in our love for life, family and friends. Make us whole so that through our love for you we meet the world rejoicing. Let our wholeness speak of your great love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 8, 2023 When something quirky and a little unexpected happens, yet the outcome is good, we often say, "God has a sense of humor." Now there is a part of me that wants to believe that God does have a sense of humor, yet many of the things we attempt to ascribe to God’s sense of humor might just be life happening. In my years of ministry, I have known people who believe God controls everything in our lives, from the color of the shirt we choose in the morning to the tornado that killed five people. There are a handful of Bible passages that would suggest such a God, but since Jesus was all about invitation and opportunity, an all-controlling God doesn’t seem to fit the enfleshed vision of God. We are invited, but the magnificence of love is its capacity to leave room for a NO as our response to the invite. Could it be that God loves us enough to let us do something contrary to the divine plan? An interesting thought? Whether I am a product of my past or entirely free to choose in spite of my hardwiring, I pray for a life that aligns with the love you have shown to the world, O Magnificent God. This is my humble prayer. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 7, 2023 What’s in a name? I remember an episode of the old sitcom, Laverne and Shirley, where Lenny Kosnowski explained that his last name meant, "Help! There’s a pig in my kitchen." Though I don’t believe he quite had the correct translation of the Polish name, it does make me wonder how we relate to the names given to us. How do they shape and form us? In Acts 4, an apostle by the name of Joseph was given a new name, Barnabas. The name means "son of encouragement." Almost immediately upon receiving the name, Barnabas began to live into his new name in some pretty profound ways. I’m not too sure what Bruce exactly means (I know it was the surname of Scottish royalty, though clearly I am a bit more of a commoner), but my other name, Christian, is always calling me to a higher goal: to be Christ-like. Call me again, O Lord, to the ways of the one whose name I have taken. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 6, 2023 As most of you know, Cypress Creek Christian Church is a member church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I am quick to remind people that we were the first denomination created on U.S. soil and the only tradition to have a minister who was also the President of the United States (James Garfield). For the next few Sundays, as we prepare for the General Assembly of the denomination (being held in Louisville, KY), I am preaching some sermons connected to both the theme of the General Assembly and a little bit of information about our tradition. The theme is: The Kindom of God Within Us/Among Us. And yes, the word is Kindom, not Kingdom. It’s trying to expand our understanding of the word, especially since none of us know a whole lot about Kingdom, at least firsthand. In Matthew 3, John the Baptist makes a dramatic proclamation when he says, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." A quick reminder about the Kingdom of Heaven vs. the Kingdom of God--Matthew is the most Jewish of the Gospels, and it used Heaven as a way of respectfully avoiding pronouncing the sacred word God. It basically means the same thing, so it is to be understood, not as a location, but as a way of existing. It is the reign of God, or the fullness of God, and the question for us is simple: How are we to live our lives (how are we to exist) so as to align ourselves with the values and priorities of God’s reign? Of course, for John, it begins with repentance. Yes, it is the same word the guy on the corner was yelling as the only option for avoiding hell, but it’s really not about that. Instead, it’s about participating in what God is doing in the world. It’s asking the question, So how do I align my life with the life of Jesus that I find in scripture? What were the values and priorities his life exuded, and then how do I begin to make them my own? As we talk about the Kingdom or Kindom of God/Heaven in the weeks ahead, continue to keep in mind the idea of aligning yourself with the values and priorities of the Jesus life. Most Gracious God, guide us into a way of living that honors you and blesses others. In Jesus, you have provided us with an excellent starting place, and though there might be some places of challenge, it is quite difficult to ignore the love, mercy, and compassion made real in him. With each morning, help me to discern how I can better align myself with these high ideals. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 5, 2023 Yesterday, on the BBC website, there was a fascinating article about another archeological find. People have been enthralled by the Maya ruins throughout Mexico and Central America, and just last month, a magnificent and previously unknown city was found in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. They have named the city Ocomtún, and they estimate that it was occupied from 600 to 800 AD. I am a little goofy and nerdy about this kind of stuff, but one of the great mysteries, even with a number of new discoveries over the last few decades, has produced no real answers. Of course, the mystery is the sudden abandonment of Maya cities around 900 AD, which seemed to have happened uniformly across thousands of miles. There are many excellent guesses and opinions, but no one seems to have come up with something that most scholars would agree upon. I think about how this relates to Biblical scholarship, trying to understand why things occurred, not one thousand years ago, but two thousand or even four thousand years ago. There are things scholars feel pretty confident about, while other things find themselves under a cloud of great uncertainty. Some people who center their faith and ethics upon the stories of Israel and even the early church can feel a bit shaken to learn that not everything we claim about history carries with it certainty. In fact, a lot of it is not even found in the Bible, but in the traditions and mythology throughout early Christianity. For me, this is not discomforting but exciting. I don’t think a faith understood like a puzzle that has been solved is really calling us to any sort of faithfulness. It appears to me that faithfulness is an ongoing exploration, where new discoveries occur and new information reshapes how we think about God, ourselves, and what it means to live as a follower of Jesus in this moment of time. Never stop exploring and learning! For the amazing cultures around the globe, including those we have only begun to understand, I am thankful, O God. Let us never lose the capacity to be awed and excited about something new, even when it raises more questions than answers. This is our prayer! Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 4, 2023 What does it mean to be a good citizen of any nation (I’m mostly thinking of the United States as it is the nation of which I am a citizen) when the scriptures say, "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20)? There have been folks, since the time of the Apostle Paul, who have argued this point in one way while others have argued it in a completely different way. I don’t want to sound as if I’m avoiding the debate, but I do truly believe it is a complicated struggle for anyone serious about following Jesus. In Romans 13, Paul writes, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities," yet Paul was arrested numerous times as he lived his faithfulness in such a way that he was pushing back against some of the laws of the Roman Empire. In fact, just a few verses later, Paul will talk about how the law is summarized in the words, "You are to love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 9). So what happens when the law of the land keeps you from loving your neighbor the way you believe God has called you to love? I’m not writing this with the intention of saying, "So here is what you must believe," but to encourage us to continue to have heartfelt conversations on what it means to be a follower of Jesus and live in a nation that respects religious freedom but does not always embody what some of us would suggest is Christ-like living. And even among Christians, there is going to be some disagreement on what Christ-like living looks like. So on this day of national remembrance and celebration, let us continue to think deeply about how one can be the best citizen of this nation, while also trying to live a life that reflects citizenship in heaven. A healthy debate will be good for both. Gracious God, continue to be ever so present in all the real struggles we have in trying to determine how to be faithful in the reality of this moment. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 3, 2023 Prayer for the Week: Wherever there is loneliness, you are there. Wherever there is suffering at the hands of injustice, you are there. Wherever there is illness and hopelessness, you are there. Wherever there is grief and heartache, you are there. These are our prayerful declarations, O God, yet as we claim your grace-filled response, we also seek your Spirit-filled encouragement, for wherever you are, so should your church be. As you guide us, we shall follow. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 2, 2023 What is your starting place? Without knowing the context of the question, you probably can’t answer it. But if I were to ask what your starting place was in regard to your faith, could you answer it? And equally important, do you think your answer would really reflect your true starting place? Would you say your starting place is "the Bible" or "Jesus" or "baptism?" What part of the Bible, and more specifically, what stories or passages, are most informative? If Jesus was your answer, is it his life or his teachings? Is it his death and resurrection? If baptism, communion, or any other practice is your starting place, what about the experience is so important and instructive? I was rereading the Apostle Paul’s story of transformation found in Acts 9, that moment when the resurrected Christ met Saul (later Paul) along the road to Damascus. That radical and redemptive experience forever changed Paul, and it seems as if he went back to it on a number of occasions in his writings. But even to say it was the Damascus Road experience that was Paul’s starting place is not quite specific enough. What happened to Paul in that moment? What forever changed him because of that encounter? I believe the question is very important in understanding our faith, but it sure appears to be an onion moment… pulling back layer after layer after layer. So where is my starting place? What is at the core of my convictions? Though I may find a previously unknown layer to it, I still find the question and journey very informative. It helps me to converse seriously with others who might live their faith differently than I do, but once we both peel back some of those layers, we will begin to expose a place where real understanding can begin to occur. With a heart full of joy, O Lord, I desire to discover more and more about myself and this faith I claim to have. As I seek to understand you, O Gracious One, I am also trying to figure out my own complexity. Be forever my guide. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
May 2024
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