ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 10, 2023 Are you ready to continue stretching? We are three weeks into this reflection on the words of the Apostle Paul, specifically how we are to be "Reaching out for the things ahead of us…" What do you believe God is putting before you? I’m not seeking vague or overly pious answers to that question. In real, practical things, what do you think God is putting before you? Do you think God might put before you a gift of mercy, specifically expressed in the idea that you show yourself a bit more kindness and grace? Maybe God is putting before you some thoughts about your grief and how the one you grieve for is at peace and desires for you to know that same peace. Or maybe it is a word of challenge about some anger you continue to hold in your heart, and God is pointing to Jesus as a reminder that you were not created for anger but for love—a love that begins with a love of self. I believe God is putting before us gifts that are all about the betterment of our lives and the life of the church, so that our individual lives and communal-life can better express the unconditional and limitless love of God to a hurting and fearful world. So often those gifts are sitting just beyond our grasp, in part because of hinderances and obstacles that we, others, or circumstances have put there. How can we better stretch and reach and take hold of what God is offering? You are always seeking to bless us, O God, with your abundance of mercy, kindness, hope, joy, love and peace. These are among the gifts that help us to know and embrace the wholeness intended for our lives. You are both persistent and patient in providing such gifts, yet we remain challenged by all sorts of obstacles, some of them self-imposed and others coming from outside of us. Whatever the case, keep us reaching and stretching for all that you are putting before us. Amen.
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 9, 2023 Where did the week go? I think we’ve all said it, and there are months when it appears that I am saying it every week. Like many of you, I sort of desire to be busy and to always be challenged, as it makes the day go by fast. Donna works at a women’s boutique in the strip mall near the church, and she echoes the importance of being busy at work. It makes the day go by much more quickly. Of course, there is a difference between being busy and being productive. I’m sure we all have had one of those days when we felt crazy-busy but, at the end of the day, asked ourselves, "Did I actually accomplish anything?" I’m sure many of you remember the bumper sticker that came out in the 80s that read, "Jesus is coming. Look busy." I sort of wonder if I confuse busyness with faithfulness, a full calendar with true devotion to the ways of Jesus. In the time of Jesus, there were plenty of people who appeared to be incredibly busy with religious-looking activities and pious practices, but were they honoring God? In the Prophets, and then spoken by Jesus, there is an emphasis on acts of mercy, compassion and justice instead of religious practices in the temple. I don’t believe any of the great voices in scripture were suggesting that worship and ritual were all bad, but they reminded us that worship and ritual are all about preparing us to be the best people we can be in the world, specifically in making real things like mercy, compassion and justice. Lord God, help me to never confuse the tools of preparation with the end result. You’ve called me to do more than pray, fast and worship, yet they are important practices if I desire to be faithful to you and the ways of Jesus. May I always remember what the ultimate goal is. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 8, 2023 So this week, I started to work my way into the challenge that was given to the congregation last Sunday. What does a 53rd Stretch look like? One of the things I’ve tried to do is pray through the names of those who partner with Cypress Creek Christian Church, both members and friends, and to do so by name. In the last couple of years, it has only been happening two or three times each week, for maybe 20 or 30 minutes each of those days. This week, I just completed a third day, and each of those three days, I have prayed for between 30-40 minutes. You might have been one of those for whom I prayed. I’m hoping to sneak in another day this week, but if I am consistent with this increase over the next four weeks or so, it will be a 53rd gift of prayer… and maybe that additional time will become the norm. Donna and I also gave a 53rd Offering, an additional amount equal to one week's offering. I am currently trying to determine another area of my life where I can do some stretching, so if you have been pondering options and you’ve determined an interesting or creative 53rd Stretch, please share it with me. In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul talks a lot about Reaching/Stretching toward certain goals, and though he is clear that he is far from perfect, he writes about continuing to pursue them. He writes, "…so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose" (vs. 12). On Monday, I was cleaning in the laundry room (which still needs more cleaning), and among the lint and other stuff was an old rubber band. Who knows how long it had been there, and probably because it was sitting near the dryer, it was brittle. I pulled it just a little, and it immediately snapped. It was a pretty good metaphor for the importance of stretching our faith. An unstretched faith will become dry and rigid, and before we know it, even the most insignificant tug on that faith will be damaging. Not that a damaged faith can’t be healed, but I believe a better option is to continue to stretch and reach, allowing that faith to be nimble and flexible and resilient. Holy Spirit, you continue to invite and beckon me to find my limits, and in doing so, I discover that what I believed to be my capacity may in fact not be anywhere near what I can do. Thanks for the nudge and a new potential for growth. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 7, 2023 For the last two Sundays, we have been talking about stretching and reaching beyond certain things that too often hinder our capacity to grab hold of whatever it is that God is putting before us. I believe God is always inviting us to seize the goodness and kindness, the hope, and the affirmation found in God’s everlasting and unconditional love. Of course, sometimes those hinderances are not our own doing. In fact, many of the obstacles we face in our individual journeys in this life were not placed there by us but by other people or circumstances. I think back to when I was first diagnosed with MS. It was frightening news that appeared to be an immense barrier between where I stood and where I believed God’s presence would be found. It’s interesting how uncertainty and fear can skew our perception of God, yet what I quickly learned was that God was more than even my skewed perception. So many people came alongside me, their very lives becoming an expression of God’s presence. All I had to do was reach out with an open hand and take the hand of that person who showed up with a word of encouragement or simply as a reminder that I was not alone. I truly believe, O Amazing God, that you are forever seeking to come alongside us as an encourager, counselor, and friend. And today, I give thanks for those who hear your call and serve as a tangible expression of your love. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 6, 2023 A number of years ago, we did an all-church study at Cypress Creek based on Michael Slaughter’s book, "Dare to Dream." The study and discussion gained some traction, and I was really excited by what I could only call a copious amount of spiritual energy in the life of the congregation. But then we sort of hit a wall, and so I followed up with another study to focus on what I deemed the area of struggle. Of course, that class ended early because of the pandemic. With that said, I was surprised to see people struggle when it came to naming their own purpose in life. Most people could speak of it in broad terms, using phrases like: I’m a follower of Jesus or I’m a disciple and student of the Jesus way. But when pushed to name their specific calling, a majority of those involved found it very hard. Years ago, I heard a scholar suggest that when western Christianity began to emphasize a "personal relationship with Jesus" (early 20th century), there was no emphasis placed on a person being called by Jesus. Sadly, it became a relationship that was mostly about what I got from this relationship and not what I brought to this relationship. Now let me be clear, there are people who can speak very clearly and beautifully about their God-given dream and purpose, but in a recent conversation with two pastors, they echoed a very similar challenge in their churches. So I guess the question to ask is whether or not, in a sort of elevator speech, can you share with others what you believe to be your unique calling in this world? That’s not to say it will be your calling forever, but in this moment of time, where do you see your distinctive gifts, empowered by the Holy Spirit, meeting a specific need in the world? You love me and believe in me, Lord God, and with both your love and confidence by my side, I seek to know how best I can serve you. Give me strength to take the needed steps in faith for the good work set before me. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 5, 2023 From what I understand, today is be late-to-something day. That’s right, September 5 is the official (unofficial) day to purposely be late for something. By the time you read this, I am hoping to have fulfilled the purpose of this day by being late to the event of my choosing. I purposely used the word "purpose" in the previous sentence because I prayerfully hope that being late to something today won’t be the purpose of my day today. I find it interesting that there are a lot of Bible verses that reference the importance of knowing God’s purpose, but rarely do they specifically state that purpose. Often, we need to look a little deeper, and I would encourage looking to Jesus and his interactions with people. What story about Jesus do you think of when you reflect on what your purpose might be for today? Though we may joke about the purpose of this day, O God of Grace, I pray for a sacred perception through which I see who Jesus is and what Jesus has called me to do. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 3, 2023 In Mark’s Gospel, the Scribes sure didn’t come off looking so good. In chapter 3, we read: And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He (Jesus) has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ Now some of the Scribes might have actually believed Jesus was Beelzebul (thought to be one of the greater evil forces in the universe), but I sort of wonder if it was more playground name-calling. How often, when people do not know what to say, will they reach for an insult or try to bully with an over-the-top disparaging remark? Maybe even hoping to distract from the fact that they have no real argument in their own defense. In Acts 17, some of the philosophers who have been debating the Apostle Paul say to him, "What does this babbler want to say?" I do not believe the word "babbler" is used endearingly. In fact, it sort of leaves the reader appreciating Paul, who appears to take the high road, continuing to embody the love of Jesus even in a good debate. Though I may feel passionate about my beliefs and engage in some good debate, I pray that I never forget the central purpose of my faith, O Lord. You have called me to love, even when someone posts a nasty word about me on social media. Amen ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 2, 2023 Have you ever been caught off guard, and your initial reaction was to push back vehemently? It usually happens when something pokes at a long-held belief or tradition. Jesus was constantly running into folks whose initial reaction to his ministry was that of shock and anger, emotions that usually originate from a place of discomfort. We like the comfortable and expected, never wanting to be rattled by something that appears to attack or even dismantle what we claim is important. So often we look to the stories of Jesus and how he shook so many of the foundational ideas that people had long held, but then we interpret them in our own context as simply suggesting we should not cuss as much or should attend church a bit more often. Though they are both admirable things to strive for, are they challenging us at the core of what we claim to believe? Do they cause us to rethink our priorities? I’m not suggesting everything must change, but I do believe the Jesus-story challenges every generation, as we tend to have a bad habit of falling back into the same old practices that do not uphold the values of Jesus. Lord of both peace and discomfort, I acknowledge my need for those things I can trust and uphold as keys to my existence. But I must confess that there are certain things that are central to who I am that do not reflect your love, your kindness, or your generosity. Help me to do a little stretching in my daily life so that I am better prepared for those more impactful moments when I must be stretched for the sake of your Gospel. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 1, 2023 Can you believe it is May 1? Oh wait, it’s September 1? Where did the summer go? Anyone else feeling that way? It’s interesting how we have periods of life that seem to fly by and other times when it feels as if we are wading through waste-deep oatmeal (that’s slow). Scientists have theories around these experiences of time, but in the end, I think we all speak from experience and sort of know that time can "feel" different depending on what is happening around us. Of course, Einstein was the first to suggest that time is relative, and others say that what we as humans describe as time is in fact an illusion. Personally, I am fascinated by this stuff and have read lots of articles and watched lots of videos, but I probably only understand about 20% of it. With that said, I am fascinated that scripture has two different ways of describing time. The first is the Greek word Chronos, from which we get our word chronological. This time is measured by the clock, which is how most of us in western culture would describe time. The second is Kairos, an understanding of time that is not quantitative but qualitative. Sometimes it is described as the fulness of time, or some will talk about that first magical date with someone special, saying, "It was as if time stood still." I have also heard people call it God time or Kin(g)dom time. How do we measure something like time when we step into the presence of the One who is eternal? And since scripture claims that God is love (1 John 4:16), whenever the unconditional and unrelenting love of God is present, we are dancing with what is eternal. I give you thanks, O Eternal and Grace-filled God, for the way you show up and make space in my very time-structured life, pushing back everything that attempts to squeeze the meaning and joy from life. Amen. |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
May 2024
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