ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 31, 2025
It’s the last day of July and my first day back in the office. It feels a little like the first day back to school after summer break. It’s been a few years, but I can still remember the emotion. There was excitement, nervousness, and especially as I was moving to a new school, a whole lot of uncertainty. I’m returning to the same church, yet in some ways, I am not. If we believe in the Spirit’s ongoing work in the life of the church—a movement that is never solely tied to a specific personality—then I’ve got to believe there has been growth and new insights in the life of the congregation that I have not participated in. That feels a bit strange, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The church is not the building. It is a living entity, animated by the Holy Spirit through the faithfulness of the people. I do feel out of practice as I have been working on my first sermon back, and it is on its third draft… each of them dramatically different than the previous one. I would ask you to be gracious as I return, but I already know that you will. It is in the church’s DNA, and for that, I am thankful. 

I think about 2nd Corinthians 5:17-19, where we read:
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

Notice, the work of God and response of the people are not tied to a minister. As we remind ourselves often with our mission statement—God is the first actor, setting before us the standard for God’s love, the love we are to embody within the work of the church. Thanks for doing exactly what God was needing you to do these last three months.

There is gratitude for your church, O Lord, and my spirit knows joy. Thank you for continuing to guide the necessary work of sharing the Gospel at Cypress Creek Christian Church and beyond. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 30, 2025
I caught part of a science show on TV the other day, and the question being asked was, “How much energy does it take…?” Though they were measuring the amount of joules required to move certain objects, my mind instantly went to a related question that only a minister would ask. I wanted to know how much energy it takes to forgive as compared to how much energy it takes to not forgive. I’m guessing there is not a scientific formula by which such a thing can accurately be determined, but I sort of wonder if forgiveness requires a lot of energy upfront, but in the end, there is a dramatic reduction in the energy required. Where, on the other hand, choosing not to forgive might not have a peak energy requirement, but it continues to draw energy day after day, month after month, year after year. Let’s be clear—forgiveness is never easy, and in almost every case, it does not come quickly. Yet I sort of wonder if those who do not even try—holding closely the anger and injury, the bitterness and resentment—become sort of addicted to the grudge. And like any addiction, over time, it begins to kill the person. Forgiving is hard, and it will demand some energy. But in time, the painful experience no longer consumes us and our energies can be redirected toward those things that bring health and well-being. In John 20:23, Jesus said to his disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” In the original Greek of the New Testament, the word translated here as “retained,” literally means to seize with great strength. It’s not like tucking the hurt in one’s pocket and forgetting about it. Retaining requires energy, and in this case, it demands a lot of energy for as long as one continues to hold the injury close.

Merciful and Encouraging God, thank you for being realistic about forgiveness, always helping us through the arduous and demanding process. I give you thanks for counselors and others whose training assist in this challenging, yet necessary work. Continue to nudge me when I put off the need to forgive, for though I might convince myself that I have tucked the hurt away, it is always consuming my life-energy. Thank you for loving me through this tough yet necessary undertaking. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 29, 2025
I cannot believe my sabbatical is coming to an end. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, but that’s not a negative. Anytime you have surgery as I did, you’re not absolutely sure how you’re going to respond. Most of it has gone well, but there have been some quirky things… though I’m quirky. For the most part, I’m looking forward to being back, but I’m also feeling a bit overwhelmed as I think about how I will return. You’ve probably returned from a wonderful vacation with lots of stories and pictures to share. People are interested, but they didn’t go on the vacation and do not bring the same enthusiasm. I have a bad habit of turning on the firehose when most people are only able to sip a little at a time. The area you’ll probably hear about the most in the months ahead is visitor engagement. In the past three weeks, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many insightful and gifted individuals who have shared their expertise on this topic. Each of them has been incredibly helpful, and it’s clear that there’s no single, one-size-fits-all approach. However, what stands out as crucial is the importance of intentionality and organization. But equally important is a basic, yet necessary idea that needs to take hold within the congregation as a whole. That idea is that there are at least a few hundred people within a few miles of Cypress Creek Christian Church who would find the message and mission of CCCC to be transformative. There are people whose lives would be significantly better if only they were able to find their way into our community. Yet how does the invitation go out and how do we meet them when they arrive? I have felt a new sense of responsibility, might I even call it a sacred burden. I use that word, not out of some heavy-handed demand from above, but in this joyful sense of purpose. I have been convinced that what CCCC is doing, not only with the Love First Life, but our work of radical inclusion, is exactly what God wants us to be doing in this moment. And if just one life, someone who has only known a god of vengeance and hate, a god built on guilt and fear, suddenly glimpses the power of unconditional and limitless love, then we’ve done the very thing Jesus called us to do. And though it breaks my heart, there is not just one such person in a few mile radius of our church. There are hundreds! 

Give us eyes to see and hearts that are aware of the real needs and yearnings of those we meet each day. You have provided this amazing Gospel, Lord Jesus, and I believe it has a specific purpose for a moment just like this. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 28, 2025
Most people, regardless of their religious beliefs, have heard the words, “The Lord is my shepherd.” They may not know from where the phrase comes or even what it means, but whether they heard it at a funeral service or received it as a cross-stitch from Grandma, it sounds familiar. For people of faith, those words are not only familiar but encouraging, providing peace and comfort. Yet for most of us, shepherding is not a metaphor we know. Oh sure, we’ve seen a shepherd on tv or held a shepherd’s crook during a Christmas pageant, but it's not something most of us know firsthand. I think its evocative power comes, in part, because of where we’ve heard it spoken. Maybe we were taught those words at a very young age by a beloved Sunday School teacher. Or maybe those were words you heard spoken to a family member at the end of life. Or maybe, during a time of crisis, you repeated them as a sort of prayer. The language associated with faith has found meaning because of the memories we connect to those words. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.

Good and Gracious God, thank you for providing images that have been a source of meaning for centuries. And even if I can’t fully grasp the meaning of the metaphor, there is still meaning to be found. Thank you! Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 27, 2025
Many people enjoy living in a daydream-like existence. They are dreamers, with no intention of sharing the dreams or attempting to bring the dreams to fruition. The best way of seeing dreams become reality is to actually wake up from your dreaming. In the story of Joseph, whose father made him a coat of many colors, we find many dreams that were uncomfortable to share, yet in the end, people found life when those dreams became a reality. Are you a dreamer? If you are, good! If you have been sleepwalking in a state of wishful thinking all your life, it might be time to wake up and act upon the dreams God has been putting before you.

I wish to dream your dream, Good and Gracious God, but I also desire to participate with you in the realization of your amazing and transformative dream. Wake me up! Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 26, 2025
I have been doing some reading on the Apostle Paul’s sexual ethic. Some of you are thinking to yourself, “Bruce, find a hobby… consider stamp collecting.” Starting in 1st Corinthians 7, Paul sounds as if he is freestyling, just making it up as he goes. As you read the chapter, it reads like a stream of consciousness, as if Paul did not have the option of going back and editing the document on the computer. My point is that he bounces all over the place—both defending celibacy, which is his own choice. In fact, he writes: “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain unmarried as I am.” But then he qualifies his remarks by telling his readers to get married if they can’t control themselves because “it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion” (vs.9). Yet in vs. 17, it feels as if he throws up his arms in frustration and writes, “However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.” Many people might be scratching their heads, but to complicate matters further, this rather convoluted portion of scripture needs to be read with one particular line in mind. In vs. 26, Paul explains how his thinking is based upon “the impending crisis.” Paul believed the new age, which included the return of Jesus, was going to happen soon, probably within his lifetime and definitely within the lifetime of many of those reading 1st Corinthians. This raises an important question in my mind: since Paul was mistaken about the imminent return of Jesus, and his rambling attempt at a sexual ethic was based on the notion that Jesus was coming very soon, can we entirely disregard what Paul wrote in this chapter? I won’t share my thoughts on this question, but I will say that, regardless of your answer, be prepared to provide a compelling explanation for it. 

Continue to guide me, Wise and Gracious Spirit, as I explore more deeply what it means to center my life on scripture, including portions of scripture that may not be relevant… or may have been built on an incorrect premise. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 25, 2025
On the BBC’s website is a story about a fossil of the terror birds some 13 million years ago. This bird clearly lived up to its name as one of the top predators, standing at nearly 8 feet tall, with a beak that ripped flesh from any animal. What captured the attention of scientists were some bite marks on the leg bone of the terror bird that appeared to have come from a large crocodile-like reptile. It too was one of the top predators, and the scientists surmise that these teeth marks were a sign of a battle to the death. I am fascinated by stories like this, but also found it interesting how these two creatures were considered, in that moment of Earth history, to be the most powerful animals on the planet. Yet today, as the article pointed out, they are both extinct. How often do we think of something as being the strongest and best, and we cannot imagine it ever stumbling from its place at the top? Yet in the case of these two creatures, not only did they drop from the top spot, they dropped out of existence. Not to oversimplify, but think about Sears, Blockbuster, or Kodak. Not only were they household names, but many believed they’d never fall from their place at the top. Not only did they fall, they’ve basically fallen out of existence (there are a few fossils still around). As people of faith, striving toward greater Christ-like living requires an attitude that is rarely found at the top. It is humility. Now I’m not suggesting humility would have saved the terror bird, but I’m afraid the church might fall out of existence if it doesn’t include a bit more humility. 

As I continue to try to be the best version of myself, Holy and Loving Maker of All, I seek to know and grow in my capacity for humility. Amen.


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8d2j195yo

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 23, 2025
Early in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is baptized by John, and then Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness. Only 14 verses in the Gospel, John is arrested, and Jesus begins his public ministry. I think most people breeze right through those 13 verses on their way to another destination, missing the confusion and tension that must have been felt by those who were disciples of John, uncertain about this Jesus who upon his baptism disappeared for nearly six weeks. In reading the Gospels, we often are viewing the story with a basic knowledge of where it is going, and for that reason, we do not ponder what is happening just below the storyline that lacks details. It makes me wonder how often I assume to know where something is going, looking just past the present, and for that reason, I miss the real emotions of the moment. Of course, Jesus was going to make a dramatic return from the wilderness and do amazing things, but those forty days that included John’s arrest must have been frightening for many. Faith in Jesus is not simply looking to the end of the story or even the next high point. It is about living fully present in the moment where people are anxious and finding it nearly impossible to think God will show up tomorrow or a week from Thursday or ever. We cannot be dismissive or arrogant. Instead, we must meet people where they are in the hopes that there will be people who will meet us in our challenging moments.

I desire to know your story, God of hope and promises, always remembering how your story is about both the destination and the journey for each of your beloved. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 22, 2025
Donna and I have definitely moved into old people’s world as we have been extraordinarily excited about a new refrigerator. It arrived after I left town, so Donna has been learning all the basics. Guess what! It’s not like the old days when you just plugged it in and it got cold. Among the questions, come to find out, is one that is rather important. What temperature do you set the freezer and refrigerator? And to no surprise, there are lots of opinions online. The suggestions are relatively close, but some people are pretty clear that the freezer must be set at 2 degrees, not zero. And others are adamant that it much be one below zero. Come to find out, a lot of it has to do with the make and model, but also the temperature you keep your house and the capacity for air to reach the back of the unit where it is drawing in the air. I sort of miss the days of plugging it in and expecting it to do what it is supposed to do. 

Of course, this got me to thinking as I was driving to my hotel today. We would all say that a relationship, whether friendship, marriage, parenting, or work, requires attention. But how much? There are going to be people who tell you, “It must be X number of hours every week! No exceptions!” Maybe in theory, but I think we need to take into account the make and model, or in the case of a human being, the uniqueness of that person. And how much air is that person getting? There are times when someone is getting plenty of air, whether that is exercise or time with the Spirit of God (translated as the divine breath or wind), but there are other times when something is keeping them from that life-giving breath. In those moments, a little extra attention might be necessary. There are times when I know that my wife has had plenty of Bruce time, and a little time by herself would be life-giving. But there are other moments when she’s needing a bit more attention. It is true for me and for all of us. All relationships need attention, but one definition of attention is not going to work with every person or situation. 

I have a feeling we’ll be adjusting the temperature settings on the refrigerator and freezer for the next few weeks until we determine what works best for our specific make and model. However, once we’ve found the optimal settings, it’s unlikely to change significantly. Of course, humans are not appliances, and what works today may not necessarily work a year from now. And that’s perfectly acceptable.

Thank you for your grace, O Giver of life and love, that meets us right where we are in every moment of life. May we learn from you when it comes to the relationships that bless our lives. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 21, 2025
The fourth-century Syrian church leaders, Ephrem and Simeon, believed faith was not filtered through the mind but the heart. They advocated for tears to be a sacrament in the church, like communion and baptism. Ephrem suggested that if you have not cried, then you probably do not know God. What would it mean for us to hold tears as sacred as every other ritual in the life of the church?

May the tears my body offers, whether for grief, suffering, or even joy, be an entry point into your presence, O Holy and Gracious God. Amen.