ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 21, 2023 Prayer for the Week Wherever kindness is needed… Wherever a bit more grace is required… Wherever a whole lot more mercy will help… May I be a conduit for you Most Generous God Allowing the gifts of Kindness, Grace and Mercy To flow through me And into the world. Amen.
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 20, 2023 Like many of you, I am watching the weather reports and visiting the National Hurricane Center’s website. By the time you read this, Hurricane Hillary will be pounding Baja California, with tons of rain to follow across southern California. Though needing rain, those of us along the Gulf Coast of Texas know all too well the damage heavy rains from a tropical storm can bring. I never know exactly what to pray for in moments like this. As I ponder the nature and character of God, I cannot imagine a God who will turn a hurricane if enough prayers are said or the right people say the prayers or at least some people pray the prayers God most likes. In my mind, that was the sort of God from whom Jesus was trying to free people. Don’t get me wrong, I am still praying because I believe prayer changes people, especially the one praying. And maybe this is one of those moments when nature is going to do its thing and human beings will seek strength and hope that have as their source the One who is the Source of Love, through which miracles do occur. No matter what our current thinking is in regard to prayer, Lord God, may we all be mindful of those who find themselves in dangerous situations this day, whether it be those on the West Coast, the ongoing heat of the South, a war in Ukraine, the violence in Yemen and the Congo, or children everywhere who do not have access to food, water, and education. Use our prayers, and then utilize us. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 19, 2023 Yesterday was my mother’s memorial service at First Christian Church in Lincoln, NE. Rev. Kara Hillhouse, the Interim Minister of the church, presided, and she was brilliant. As I often tell others, the funeral/memorial service is only part of the grief process, but there are comforting rituals woven into the experience through which great truths are proclaimed. And of course, there are the people who show up. We were blessed beyond measure by those who were able to be there. We had friends and relatives that drove and flew great distances just to share in the experience, and their presence was an enfleshed emblem of kindness and love. Each service is going to look different as it seeks to reflect the deceased along with the needs of the family. But today, my heart is full for the ways my mother’s life was honored. Gracious and Gentle God, I am forever thankful for the way you show up in all of life’s moments, in the highest moments of joy and the lowest moments of grief. You have an amazing way of utilizing human beings to communicate the Good News of love, especially in those times when we most need it. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 18, 2023 Guest Writer: Rev. Paula Gembala This Sunday, we will be talking about the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. His brothers were jealous of him as their father favored him. They threw him in an empty well, and later sold him as a slave. They told their father he had been killed by wild animals. From there, Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a household slave to Potiphar. He was accused of attempting to rape Potiphar’s wife and was thrown in prison. During this time he accurately interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, who were also in prison. One of them told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret the dreams. He was sent to Pharaoh and interpreted his dream in such a powerful way that he was appointed second-in-command over Egypt. Pharaoh’s dream predicted seven years of famine. Here is where we will pick up on Sunday morning. During the famine, Joseph’s older brothers came to Egypt to buy food. They didn’t recognize Joseph. How would we react to seeing our brothers, who 20 years ago had thrown us down a well and then sold us to slavery? Would we want revenge? Would we put them all in prison? Would we have them killed? Would we forgive them? Lord God of all, guide us to do what is right, no matter how we have been treated in the past. Teach us to live in the present and look to the future instead of being stuck in the past. We know it is difficult at times to offer forgiveness to those that have wronged us. Be with us in these times O God as we try to see your will in our lives. This we pray in the name of Jesus, the one who offers forgiveness in all situations. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 17, 2023 Just the other day, I had someone say to me, "Why all this talk about the needy and poor? Jesus told us that they would be with us always." The individual was referencing Mark 14:7, as Jesus was moving closer to his arrest and crucifixion. Like always, it is important to read scripture within its context, especially when Jesus followed up by telling his listeners how we are to show kindness whenever we’d like. And of course, to suggest we have no responsibility to those in need is to dismiss much of the Jesus story. There are times when I come across a verse or even a phrase in scripture with which I resonate. I don’t believe it is necessarily bad to have a few words encourage you, but if we are going to share them with others or make a strong statement about faith, we ought to pause and seek to understand what the larger context is suggesting. We never want to pass along an idea that really is not found in scripture. Good God, provide wisdom and genuine curiosity for my study and exploration of the Bible. There is much to learn and so many inspiring stories, but there is context, and there might be times when it is not saying what it says. Give me eyes to see when the sarcasm or hyperbole is seeking to make a point other than what the literal words might suggest. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 16, 2023 In the sermon on Sunday, I spent only a few moments on three different ways Superheroes became Super. As was our focus with the Spider-Man analogue, it was gettin bitten. But there were others, like Wonder Woman and Superman, who were Super because of where they had come. Wonder Woman was from the island of Themyscira, where she was a Princess and had certain powers because of where she was born and who her parents were. Superman came from the planet Krypton, where there was a stronger gravitational force, and thus, his body was stronger and did not feel the same pull here on earth. Of course, this is all fiction and part of the very creative imaginations of those who first put ink to paper. Yet with that said, someone’s place of origin is impactful. And as followers of Jesus, and those who take the writings of the Apostle Paul seriously, we are reminded that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Lots of folks read that to mean that we will go there when we die, and though I would agree with that general thought, I do not believe Paul was simply describing our destination after death. Whatever we claim as home has an impact on us, and just like anyone who might not be currently living in their home country, there are certain things you do to remain connected. Maybe there are certain holiday celebrations or meals that reconnect you. I have heard families recite a prayer in their native language or tell stories associated with their home country. In your mind, what are the attributes of heaven? What are the values, characteristics of the relationships, and the ethos? If we claim our citizenship as being in heaven, then shouldn’t our lives here on earth reflect our ultimate citizenship. And if you’re like me and think of heaven, less as a place, and more as a way of being, then trying to maintain that way of being wherever we might go is pretty important. No matter where I might find myself, Gracious God, I pray for the highest ideals of heaven to be reflected in my daily decisions and interactions. This is a formidable request, yet I believe it is possible with you. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 15, 2023 In Sunday’s sermon, I used the whole superhero idea of backstories (the journey of the superhero) and how they communicate the HOW—how they became super; how they gained their special powers; how they got those really cool outfits. And though I quickly described three different ways in which folks became super, I focused on gettin bitten. Of course, I was drawing upon the Spider-Man story and how he was bitten by a genetically altered spider. I played around with the idea, suggesting that at some point we got bit by Jesus. Not a genetically altered Jesus, but a Spirit-filled and grace-unleashing Jesus. And just like Spider-Man, who began to take on the essence and attributes of a spider, the hope is that we will begin to take on the essence and attributes of Jesus. Of course, what exactly does ‘bitten’ look like? It’s a cute metaphor, but I think most of us want to know the down-and-dirty details of exactly how that happens. For those of you who can remember a moment in which you fell in love, do you remember the first moment you were smitten by this other person? Do you remember when that person consumed your every thought? Do you remember going to bed at night and waking first thing in the morning with that person’s face in your thoughts and maybe a certain scent in your fragrance memory? I believe the same thing happens as we begin to fall in love with Jesus and the ways of Jesus. When we first glimpse the unconditional nature of his love put on display in his life and death, and the breath-taking beauty of this love is something you can no longer dismiss, I believe you’ve been bitten by Jesus. This can happen in a time of worship, prayer, fasting, service, or simply in a moment of reflection while you are on your way into work one morning. Suddenly, love is no longer an object you are simply observing but a gift you are experiencing. And you find the essence and attributes of the one who is the source of that love reflected in your own life. That’s what I meant when I borrowed the Spider-Man backstory. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and showing me the power of love. Thank you for a faith community inspired by your love that seeks to Put Love First In All Things. Thank you for the way your love has bitten me and infected me for the good. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 14, 2023 Prayer for the Week: Where people gather in and through the power of love, there is a belief that you are present. Eternal One, guide us into those places where love is real and unmistakable; where love affirms us and challenges us; where love allows us to feel safe being who we are while encouraging us to stretch toward what is truly possible; where love provides space for us to meet others we would have never met. Some will say this is an unrealistic ideal, but through faith in the power of love made real in Jesus, we shall move forward as if it already fully exists. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 13, 2023 I am up early on Sunday mornings, usually sitting at our dining room table by 4:10am, where I do some morning reflections and then spend time specifically praying for those who will be providing leadership throughout the morning. From worship leaders to musicians, Sunday School teachers to greeters, Holy Grounds hospitality to those who prepare and serve communion. So much happens on Sunday morning, and over the years, I have been struck by the number of people who have become committed to the vision and mission of Cypress Creek Christian Church, not because of the sermon or stellar music, but because one person in the church took the time to sit and talk over a cup of coffee, to invite them to Sunday School, to sit with them on their first Sunday so they did not sit alone, or to offer a good word as the communion elements were offered in grace. Jesus spoke of having faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20-21), and if we understand faith as more than an intellectual exercise, then we should seek to express our faith in small yet very tangible actions each day. It is often the little things, O Spirit of Life, that move individuals and communities toward greater love and kin(g)dom living. Continue to encourage me throughout this day as I live into those small expressions of faithfulness. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 12, 2023 I know we all say stuff that, if we were to think through the words a bit more carefully, we would have to admit that we really didn’t mean what we said. Like all of you, I have been overwhelmed by the images from Maui. The part I want to lift up comes from a couple of casual conversations over the last few days. In three separate situations, I had people speak of how devastated they were to see the fires on Maui, how beautiful the island once was, and how it means they probably won’t be visiting the island again for years to come. That all might be true, but it sort of felt like they were missing the point. Yes, the magnificent beauty of the island (my mother took the entire family there shortly after Donna and I were married) has been impacted significantly, but there are many people who have died and many more whose lives have forever changed. I don’t want to knock the folks who said these things too much as I have probably done the same at some point in life, but there are times when something horrible has occurred to others, and we need to make sure we don’t make it about us. Or somehow bring it around as if to suggest that our indirect loss is equal to that of those who were directly impacted. The word compassion literally means to suffer with, but that’s not to suggest that we need to find our own reason for suffering. As the Apostle Paul wrote about the importance of community, he specifically referenced weeping with those who weep. Even when we cannot fully understand the pain or grief of another, we can ache and hurt with them… simply because love connects us to them and allows us to at least glimpse the depth of their suffering. And we feel it. Today, Gracious God, we bring before you the suffering and hurt of so many in Hawaii. We know it is only one place of pain and destruction in our world, but the sheer magnitude is sort of consuming us. Let us focus our attention on the genuine needs of others, allowing those needs to guide our response. We ask this in the name of the compassionate one, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
May 2024
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