ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 15, 2019 Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. Thought for the Day: For the foreseeable future, I am going to make Thursday a day of prayer. I will use the above text from Isaiah each week as my starting place as I pray for a world free of violence, bigotry and hate…believing that God is already doing a new thing. Do we recognize it? Prayer: It was Bob the Builder who asked, “Can we fix it?” And with an enthusiasm that shook many living rooms across the country, the response among children was, “Yes we can!” Merciful Creator, you look upon the life you engendered and nurtured in this world, yet we have not always respected or been the best stewards of that life energy. Our choices, so often short sided, have discounted the value of this gift. We have disrespected it within others, and we have too easily disregarded it within ourselves. Your Spirit whispers to us a rhetorical question, “Can we fix it?” Our lips want to join the millions of children who have responded without hesitation, “Yes we can!” They know the story of Bob, and they know he always finds a way. We know your story, Lord, and we try to believe in your patient capacity when it comes to finding a way. Provide us time to do some soul searching with your Spirit as the guide. Let us name the wounds we carry within us that too often provide consent to others who may want to injure us. Let us name the wounds we carry within us that buy into the myth that our healing will come through disparaging or hurting others. Can we fix it, we ask? Let our emphasis be upon the word WE as WE need you and your transformative love that is given unconditionally. Let us work on ourselves, but in doing so, let us provide a gracious and safe environment where others can work on their stuff. In and through your love, we might just find a way to fix this. Or maybe, we will learn to join you in the new thing already happening in our midst. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2KyVC9O
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 14, 2019 Scripture: Romans 15:14-15 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and are able to teach each other. But I’ve written to you in a sort of daring way, partly to remind you of what you already know. I’m writing to you in this way because of the grace that was given to me by God. Thought for the Day: If Paul had actually given headings to certain sections of scripture, I feel pretty certain this one would have the heading, “Take note, Bruce.” Paul is so affirming in the opening sentence, but then it is followed with a “But…” According to Jon Snow from Game of Thrones, “Everything before the word ‘but’ is horse manure (he used a different word, but you get the point). I don’t know if I would go that far with Paul’s words, but he wants to temper any ego issues the church in Rome might claim. I wonder what the church in Rome already knows? Could it be that each of us is a mixed bag of good and poor choices. We have our more than impressive moments, and then we have our less than stellar. I think Paul would applaud us for many things, but then remind us of what we already know – we are always one decision, one poor choice of words, one quick reaction without thinking, one sarcastic comment – from becoming the jerks Christ does not need representing him. Will he still love us? Of course, but we need to continually do self-evaluations about our weaknesses and what sets us off. Grace, according to Paul, is what helps us do this tough internal work. It removes any fear we might have of some divine judgment, while also empowering us as we do the necessary work of change. Remember, you are also – one decision, one grace-filled choice, one thoughtful response, one affirming comment – from becoming the person Christ need you to be. Prayer: Let us celebrate the many successes while being aware of the needed work that remains. O Merciful God, keep us about the work of faith while always working on our faith. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/33y3PT7 …starting this September/ via WordPress https://ift.tt/2Z2nqY7 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: For those of you my age or older, you will probably remember Rodney King and the famous quote, “…can we just get along…” Some mocked his comment, while others longly wished it was as easy as he made it sound. I read John’s Gospel, and one called the Christ – God Incarnate – the fullest expression of Divine – provides us a simple command: Love one another. Of course, he doesn’t just command it, but also provides us his life as and example of exactly how to do this. You’d think it would be simple, but maybe you’re like me and find it a bit more challenging in the day-to-day grind of life. In light of everything happening in our country these days, I want to say, “…can we just stop shooting each other…” You’d think it wouldn’t be all that complicated, but if you take into account our lack of success on the issue, I wonder if it is a bit more complicated than we’d like to believe. Of course, Jesus’ original commandment needs to be a key element in all of this. Too often those of us who are passionate about seeing a dramatic reduction in gun violence find ourselves in situations where we do not embody the love of God as well as we should. Ok, I’ll speak for myself when I say that I am not always the best model for others to see. This is why I think our mission as a church – to assist individuals and families in living the love first life – is so very important. And even more importantly, I think we need to take seriously the idea of becoming a learning center of the love first life. Prayer: Mentoring God, I love the curriculum provided to me in the life of Jesus. It is very helpful and inspiring, but I wonder if it is time for me to take an internship on living the love first life, a chance to both practice and learn firsthand. Provide me with such opportunities. Amen. TIME OF PRAYERTODAY LLIFEPraying for those via WordPress https://ift.tt/2Z4PAWk ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 12, 2019 Prayer for the Week: There is history to your church, O Spirit who empowered those first followers. There is a history to your church, O Spirit who has called forth preachers and teachers, servants and caregivers, those who exemplify humility and compassion. There is a history to your church, O Spirit, and we are inspired by the sacrifices of those who continued to follow your calling. There is a rich history to your church, O Spirit, and we are thankful for those who have humbly guided the body into greater faithfulness; who have been living examples of Christ Jesus in the moment; who have refused to relinquish their purpose even when the challenge appeared too much. There is an amazing history being written about your church in this very moment, O Spirit, and we pray that our participation will be worth telling to another generation. There is a church, your church, O Spirit, and it is coming alive for this generation. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2KLsYB0 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 11, 2019 A Prayer As We Gather For Worship: It has been a week since our nation was rocked by a wave of violence that betrayed your holy shalom, O Spirit of Life. A week ago, two events tore at the core of our souls, but the violence and death did not end. Parents grieve uncontrollably; youth find hope ripped from them; children are left orphaned. This is not what you intended, and in Jesus and in the voices of so many other witnesses of grace, you have provided us a clear path forward. It will require us to reevaluate and make confession, to relinquish and change. This is not about what we like, but what you demand. It cannot be about polls or votes. Instead, it needs to be about making real sacrifices for the sake of every human life. Those sacrifices must not be imposed upon a few, but shared by all. This can never be about those people or that city. It must be about us, the human family that currently needs healing. As we experience this Sabbath Day, allow for us to rest with you. Bring to us spiritual energy to be about the hard work necessary for all brokenness and division to be made whole. You are the One who has declared that all things have been reconciled unto you. We are part of all things and this is our moment to claim that truth. We might feel it necessary to ask you for patience, but maybe we should really ask for a firm shove forward. You have been patient, and it is our time to stop living in the grace of that gift. We ask this now in the name of the one who was and is love incarnate. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2KDIrmR ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 10, 2019 Prayer for the Fears: As we ache for those whose lives have been forever changed in recent weeks, we must also name our own fears brought on by the ongoing violence in our country. Holy One of All Creation, we know people who could so easily be caught in a similar act of hate. We know those who could easily become the target of bigoted violence simply because of how they look or who they are. We fear because we love these people as you love them. Too many nights are without sleep as parents wait and wonder about their children who work late or are simply out with friends. Sadly, these fears are nothing new for some communities. You, Righteous God, have witnessed the brutality within the human race, the cruelty that emerged from insecurity run amuck. Yet you continue to believe in us and to see the potential for beauty and a reemergence of your kingdom vision. We cannot ignore our fears, Merciful God, yet we can become those whose decisions and interactions are not driven by fear. Make us aware of your Spirit that already dwells within us, a Spirit that is not of fear, but of love and power. It is this Spirit that shall be for us the guiding force by which we shall see your kingdom emerge. This we pray in the name of Christ the Redeemer. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2ORQCRM ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 9, 2019 Prayer for God-Inspired Imagination: There are those who look at a large piece of marble and see a human form ready to emerge. There are those who hold a lump of clay and picture a chalice ready to be formed. There are those who have been given the Spiritual Gift of Imagination. Some have been called artists, some dreamers, and others prophets. They see, not what is, but what could be. Today, O God of this Gift, we seem to lack those whose imagination is inspired through the lenses of love, mercy, compassion and hope. Instead, we find an ancient and destructive story being recycled, retold and revived. Though we celebrate resurrection, there are many things that should remain firmly in the grave. The stories of destruction are one such thing. Call and inspire another generation of those who can imagine what you already see. Beckon forth those with a heavenly perspective, who see creation as it was intended. For those of us with other gifts, let us listen carefully to the vision these prophetic voices offer. Provide us the courage, Lord God, to find our place in the embodied hope they reveal. Instill within us a willingness to risk and participate in the necessary work between imagination and consummation. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2MPdGOv ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 8, 2019 Prayer for the Grieving: In Christ Jesus, we witnessed the power of your love over death. We join the voices who ask the rhetorical questions, “Where, O death, is your sting? Where, O death, is your victory?” Lord of the Empty Tomb, we are able to speak with confidence as those who have, by faith, walked in the shadow of death and witnessed new life. Yet on this day, there are families who are making arrangements for funerals and memorial services. There are those who are attempting to find language so as to speak hope into the darkness of despair. There are those who remain firmly rooted in denial, and can we blame them. For those of us who grieve from a distance, may our faith and hope respectfully provide space for individuals who must make this dark journey. Let us never provide unwanted or unsolicited advice. Instead, O God of Grace, provide us the insight into how we can be the empowered Body of Christ to those who need Christ’s physical presence along the way. May your church not move to the next thing too quickly, even though the news cycle and society’s attention span will. Let us, as you so beautifully displayed in Jesus, be present to those who will remain in the struggle and the emotional chaos that is grief. May our spiritual support, even from a distance, resemble your amazing grace. This we request in the name of Jesus, your miraculous expression of love incarnate. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2GWvkfg NOTE: Throughout this week, I will be offering prayers for my daily devotionals. This is the mechanism I am using to process what occurred this past weekend. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS August 7, 2019 Prayer of Hope: I refuse to give in! I refuse to give up! The fullness of your life enfleshed chose to reject his own fears to preserve the irrefutable power of love. Great and Merciful God, there is a brokenness within our culture. Some use the language of demonic as they declare it an inevitable happening in an evil world. I refuse to give in! I refuse to give up! You created us, everyone of us – every color, race, gender, age, orientation, nationality, religious belief. There is nothing about us that changes your opinion of us. Jesus stepped into a moment of time when national rulers and religious authorities declared the value of some and worthlessness of others. When there was nothing within the structures of power to shape an appreciation of humanity’s diverse beauty, the insecurities of some gave birth to fear. This fear so easily became institutionalized hate that manifested itself in violence. I refuse to give in! I refuse to give up! Yet it only takes a few to stoke the fear and fan the flames. It only takes a handful to become a hateful horde. This is where my voice and my body are given to you, O Creator God, for I believe in the power of your irrefutable love. Continue to instill within me the conviction that your love shall have the final word, and if that conviction resides within me, I will refuse to give in or give up. My voice and my body are yours, for your vision of love must first find fullness within me before I can share it with the world. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2M4UY5X |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2024
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