ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Philip Yancey writes, “Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.” I love the image, yet I would add that in the great reversal that is central to the teachings of Jesus (The first will be last and the last will be first -or- the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of the religious elite), where the lowly are lifted up, we find that grace adds buoyancy. It doesn’t just flow down hill, but it has the capacity to raise up what has been push down. I can still remember when Zach was little and it was bath time. Before turning on the water, the toys were tossed into the tub. As the water rose, so did the toys. Once in the water, Zach would often push them under water, only to be delighted when they’d bounce back to the surface. Sadly, for too many people, they know what it is like to be continually pushed back down. Yet it is grace, as proclaimed and lived by the church, that gives a sense of buoyancy to those who, time and time again, have been knocked down and held down. Grace flows to the lowest point, and then its buoyancy begins to lift what has been pushed down. Prayer: Continue to lift us, O God of Grace, and as we rise may we share that lifesaving and buoyant power with others. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2HjHthU
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Yesterday I did a small funeral, which included a graveside service. There was a full processional to the cemetery, and it was about 45 minutes outside of town. We had eight police officers escorting us, and we went through every red light and stop sign along the way. To be honest, I could get used to that. And I might have gotten a little used to it, for as I was approaching the first light on my return trip (no escort), I almost ran the red light. It is amazing how quickly you can get used to something new and miss what is right in front of you…something you would have usually seen. Doesn’t our faith suggest that God is in every place, in every moment of time? If that’s the case, then the reference to Jacob waking up may not have entirely been related to literal sleep. Does life often lull us into a drowsy, even lazy awareness? Thank God that God is patient, always present and waiting until we have our moment of realization. In those moments, I don’t believe we should beat ourselves up too much. Though God might have been waiting a long time to be noticed, I don’t believe God is upset when it finally occurs. Prayer: Awaken my spirit, Merciful God, for surely you are in this moment. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/35gxYI5 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS via WordPress https://ift.tt/2T56wHB ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: We were – we are – we will forever be created in the image of God, though Paul was quick to suggest that such a statement does not give us some holier-than-thou status. We are all created in the image of God with an emphasis on the ALL! Now there are plenty of folks, including white supremacists, who are wandering around suggesting they own the real image of God. Their hate is destructive, yet it does not change the message. As a traveling preacher, Paul saw walls of division falling all around him, and so it is hard to imagine how anyone could spin the message of love into something full of bigotry. Yet they have – they are – they will for a while. The Good News we find in Jesus is that love wins, and any message that suggests that one human being has less value than another will burn in the fires of Gehenna. Prayer: May the words I speak and the decisions I make and the way I interact with others continue to uphold the glorious gift of your image, O Lord, that rests upon every single human being. Amen. TODAY’S WORSHIP SERVICE via WordPress https://ift.tt/2T5WGW0 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: What ‘wonders and signs’ does a person need to do to get executed? In an initial reading of Acts 6 and 7, it appears that Stephen was stoned to death because he took care of the most vulnerable. It doesn’t sound like an offense worthy of the death penalty. Even if there were those who didn’t like Stephen’s acts of compassion toward the widows and orphans, you would think they could tolerate such acts. The word translated as ‘wonders’ in this passage comes from the Greek word, Semaino, which means to make known. For Stephen, he was making grace and deeds of power known not simply to those in need but to the systems and structures that allowed for people to be in need. Let me suggest that Stephen was not about the work of charity, which rarely ruffles feathers, but was in fact making God’s reign known in ways that confronted the institutional and political structures that ignored the most vulnerable. In today’s culture, it probably won’t get you killed, but it will get you demonized. If that’s happened to you, at least you are in good company. Prayer: O Triune God – Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer – I praise your name, and in doing so, commit myself to the work of changing this world for the better. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/31iwFaF ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Martin Luther, the 16th century reformist, reconnected Christianity’s understanding of faith with its understanding of God’s amazing grace. Amidst a religious structure that had become consumed with the doling out of divine love, Luther wrote, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace…” God’s love is allocated by God alone. It is controlled only by God, and even then, God’s control of it is the act of unleashing its full power upon every person and every aspect of creation. As human beings, we like to play god by controlling the distribution of the divine gifts. Yet if we were really playing God, we would know that by definition divine love is freely given. Playing God would only mean opening the floodgates and letting the torrent of grace flow. Actually, I’m pretty sure that is exactly what we are to do. Prayer: Broaden my heart’s capacity to love, O Lord, as only you can do. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/37dtdSw ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: I have always been deeply troubled by this verse of scripture, though sadly it is a reflection of many people’s reality. King David just learned that Amnon had raped Tamar. David was the king, the most powerful authority, yet his anger did not result in any action. How many people have experienced violence, including those who have survived violence at the hand of a family member or significant other, yet found no help or support from the very people who should have responded? Oh sure, some of the perpetrators of violence might be scolded or read the riot act, but no real consequences. This must never happen! Every person has sacred value and should be treated as such. No one should ever experience emotional or physical abuse, yet too often people are made to feel as if they deserved it. Northwest Assistance Ministry reminds us that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and today, they are inviting us to wear purple to show support of survivors and in memory of the victims. NAM has an amazing program, including a Hotline (281-885-4673). Thank God for these programs that provide safety, advocacy and support, even when the King David’s of this world do nothing. Prayer: Gracious God, let my life give witness to the immeasurable value of every human life. And where someone is not treated with the respect and dignity deserved, let my voice and actions provide a clear picture of your thinking on the matter. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/34Zsl10 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: Have you ever been standing with a group and you’re laughing about something, when suddenly your friend Ted shows up and asks, “So, what are you all laughing about?” There is that hesitation as you ponder the challenges of bringing Ted up to speed. There are times when it would require a short history lesson, maybe even some diagrams to give the backstory that lead to the humorous exchange. And even then, it could have been just one of those moments where it would be nearly impossible to explain. There are times when answering a question requires some serious background information. When some of the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus, they had a question on whether Jesus was the one people had been expecting. Jesus probably could have given a simple YES or NO, but the question may have carried with it certain expectations that may not have been entirely accurate. Jesus had been working with his own disciples for quite some time, and they still were confused. To say YES to John’s followers would be to affirm a picture of the Messiah that was not necessarily what Jesus was trying to teach. But to say NO would have caused even more confusion. Jesus responded as only Jesus could – by asking what they had seen and heard. There are times when a quick explanation is not going to cut it, but hopefully what people have seen and heard leave no doubt. It makes me wonder what I am communicating through my words and actions. Prayer: May my life leave no questions, O God, in regard to what is central to my faith. Let my words and actions paint a very clear picture of my commitment to follow in the ways of Jesus. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2H0Prft ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS Thought for the Day: There are days when I wonder whether it would make sense to scrap the whole concept of church (as we know it today) and start over. For those of us who claim to follow Jesus, we must acknowledge that he never bought a building. In fact, he didn’t seem to stay in one place very long. I don’t believe there were any paid staff in the group (makes me just a bit nervous), though it was nice to have Jesus around who could make an abundance of food and wine. And there was no need to pay for health insurance with Jesus in the room. And I don’t think Jesus said much about having to pay for music licenses so that we could sing songs in worship, and include the lyrics when we livestream. Of course, we pay those licensing fees so that the artists who wrote the music can be paid. And I do think Jesus would value the time and giftedness of a song writer. I’m rambling a bit, but on Sunday I talked a lot about the simplicity of the Jesus-message and our capacity to complicate it. If you look at Christian history, there tends to be swings…some rather dramatic. In the post-pandemic world, a swing toward simplicity is likely. I don’t believe we will be scrapping the whole thing, but I see a shift in how we prioritize our time, energy and money. Part of our stewardship plans for 2021, Readying for Revival, alongside the revitalization of the Centrum (hoping to be debt free), is to find ourselves in a healthy position to be the church God needs us to be…and I’m thinking God is really going to need us to be that Love First Church. Prayer: A revival is coming! It may not include dancing in the aisles, but there might be some dancing among the heavenly host as more of your creation experiences unconditional love. Amen! via WordPress https://ift.tt/3lH5k9P |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2024
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