ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 14, 2025
On Saturday, the Elders and Board had a great gathering to begin conversations about 2025, and in the later afternoon, when just the Board was together, I shared with them the slogan for 2025 that I hope will guide some of our work. The slogan is: Making it happen with two other people. The idea is to involve others. We as a church need to do a better job of inviting others to join us in whatever the task might be. We have some incredibly hardworking individuals around the church who make things happen. That’s fantastic! However, there are many others who possess remarkable talents and would be thrilled to contribute their energy to crucial tasks, but they are never given the opportunity. The funny thing was that I included a scripture (Titus 2:7-8a) with the slogan, but it was the wrong one. I have a bad habit of doing more than one thing at a time, and I flipped the scriptures. I read it out loud to the Board, and to be honest, I had a moment where I kept on telling myself, “This is the right passage, but why do I see absolutely no connection to the topic?” I moved on, but it wasn’t until later that night that I realized what had occurred when I noticed the Board scripture on the document that was to have the Titus passage. The intended passage for the Board was Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 where we find, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. If either should fall, one can pick up the other.” Of course, I was thinking “two or three are better than one,” but you get the idea. If you are invited to do something this coming year, if you say YES, find a couple of people to join you in the work. Not only is it good to involve others, but it is usually a lot more fun.

Triune God, O Creator of community, continue to put before us the work of the Gospel, and then bring some good folks to share in the work. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 13, 2025
Prayer for the Week: Each day, I’m presented with an endless array of choices, and at the end of the day, I take a moment to reflect on the ones I made. Somewhere between those two points, you have given me an opportunity to choose compassion, kindness, mercy, and justice. O Holy Spirit, the source of wise counsel, grant me the knowledge and strength to make choices that will enable my neighbor to experience the fullness of life as you intended. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 12, 2025
We often joke about how time flies when we are having fun, but from the birth of Jesus on December 25 to Baptism of the Lord Sunday (today), Jesus goes from infant to 30-year-old man. Some years, we toss in his trip to Jerusalem at age 12 where he stayed behind and freaked out his parents (Luke 2:41ff), but there isn’t a lot to tell about those 28 or 29 years between Epiphany and Baptism. And of course, the other eleven plus months of the year, we have to get through all the stories of Jesus’ ministry. Between today and mid-April, my plan is to read all of Mark’s Gospel for my own personal study. That won’t be a challenge as it is not a very long Gospel, but my intention is to focus on the individual stories about Jesus and ask the question, “What does this tell me about Jesus’ purpose, at least from the perspective of the Gospel writer Mark?” The more I know about the purpose of Jesus, the more I know about my purpose as a follower of Jesus.

Merciful God, Generous Guide, keep me ever so close to Jesus as we journey from baptism, through the roadways of Galilee, to a lakeside, to a village called Bethsaida, to an Upper Room, a Garden, and a cross. There is a lot that happens, so help me keep attentive, especially to those often overlooked details. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 11, 2025
It’s intriguing that John is extensively discussed in Luke’s Gospel as the one who prepares the way for Jesus, yet not mentioned when it comes to Jesus’ baptism. Matthew and Mark make it clear that Jesus was baptized by John, but Luke makes no mention of who did the baptism or give any description of the event itself. In fact, the divine voice proclaims, “You are my beloved Son,” not during the baptism (as Matthew and Mark portray), but rather as Jesus prays after the baptism. For Luke, almost every significant event happens as Jesus is praying or immediately after Jesus finishes praying. Luke’s special emphasis on prayer reminds us of prayer’s power to connect us with the Source of Life. We don’t pray so we can have significant things given to us. We pray because of the wonderful connection that is found with God. However, since we are connected, we should be prepared for significant events to unfold through us.

I come before you, O Lord of my life, so I might know you better. May this moment of connection provide for me whatever is needed to make this day a little more joyful for myself and those around me. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 10, 2025
Tomorrow (Saturday), the Elders and General Board of Cypress Creek Christian Church will convene to kick off 2025. My first request of all those who are reading this Etching is to pray for this gathering, and for the significant contributions these two bodies within the church will make over the next twelve months. Many of you have served in a leadership role within the church community. You are aware of the responsibility that accompanies the words, “I will serve my church and my God with the gifts I have been given.” Perhaps not as dramatic as Jesus’ call to the first disciples, which involved them abandoning their jobs, church ministry remains of utmost significance. Consider this for a moment—every aspect of the church necessitates individuals to enthusiastically affirm their commitment. I find amusement when newcomers to the church suddenly realize that worship, education, youth and children’s activities, special community events, and so on, don’t magically materialize simply because we schedule them on a calendar. It is a result of faithful and committed individuals throughout the centuries being willing to give of themselves for the significant work of the church.

I join with many who lift before you, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, the wonderfully gifted leaders who will be serving Cypress Creek Christian Church. Bless them with joy, energy, and insight, as we all strive to Put Love First In All Things. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 9, 2025
Setting aside the current political climate we find ourselves in, I want to offer a few words about President Jimmy Carter. In 1980, in advance of the election, I wrote a paper on President Jimmy Carter. Though I did not include it in the paper I wrote, the last article I read in my research talked about his faith. It caught my attention and stuck with me as I have rarely witnessed a politician who was able to speak on the topic of faith and the Biblical story with such authenticity. At no point did I ever feel as if it was being “used” for political points. And of course, his life post-presidency has been an extraordinary witness to the Christian call for compassion and peacemaking. He has set a standard, through his work with Habitat for Humanity and international diplomacy, on what faithfulness looks like in retirement (which wasn’t much of a traditional retirement). Jimmy Carter gave us a glimpse of what provided him the strength to do what he did when he wrote. 

“God is not my personal valet. God does not build a protective fence around my life, keep me from trouble, fulfill my personal desires, or guarantee my success. However, through prayer, God offers me comfort, reassurance, satisfaction, courage, hope, and peace.”

I hope my prayer life helps facilitate such an amazing connection to God, and then brings about a life of faith that might offer just a smidge of the impact President Carter’s life had.

May it be so, O God! Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 8, 2025
The Franciscan Monk, Richard Rohr, wrote:

“In the New Testament, and particularly for Jesus, the most common image for what God is offering us is a banquet. It’s not a trophy, not a prize, not a reward reserved for later, but a participative and joyous party now. A banquet has everything to do with invitation and acceptance; it is never a command performance.”

I recently had a conversation with a politician, and I never really considered what it might be like to be a politician during the holiday season. As a politician, he is invited to numerous events between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is more than the number of hours in that month. Many people extending the invitations assume that since it’s a party, the politician will be delighted to accept it. However, in his case, most of these events are work and not particularly enjoyable.

The image of a banquet, that includes an invitation and acceptance, has nothing to do with a quid pro quo dining experience. It is not about expectations or winning favor. Instead, it is all about unmerited love that creates space where a person can fully enjoy the banquet, feasting on the abundance that God provides. Of course, this is not something we experience soli on the other side of death. In faith, it is something to be experienced and lived in the here and now.

Kind and Generous Creator, through your gracious invitation, I have found delight, peace, and complete acceptance at your table. From the sanctuary to every place of welcome and gracious hospitality, I am able to feast with you and the fullness of creation. Thank you! Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 7, 2025
Have you ever experienced a quiet moment in your life when all the good things in daily existence seemed to come together, filling you with an overwhelming sense of blessing? I’ve had a few of those moments recently, and while the list of blessings is far too extensive to fit into an Etching, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Cypress Creek Christian Church community. My family is immensely blessed, and the church continues to take care of us. I think of the words from Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome, “I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ” (Romans 15:29). Paul was preparing to visit Spain on his way to Rome, and though we have no specific Biblical evidence of the visit to Spain, there is a lot of Christian tradition, including Clement of Rome referencing Paul’s visit in some of his writings. Paul used the word ‘fullness’ to describe the blessings. The Greek word in the original text is: πληρώματι (plērōmati), the same word used to describe the baskets of leftovers when Jesus fed the 5000 and by Paul in Colossians 2 where we read, “All the fullness of deity lives in Christ’s body. And you have been filled by him…” (Colossians 2:9-10). Paul appears to suggest that the fullness of God existed within Jesus (Trinitarian imagery), but then Paul’s conclusion is that such fullness dwells within us. For Paul, this fullness was truly chock-full of immeasurable gifts, including a death to our old ways and rebirth with Christ, an experience of God’s forgiveness, and a new understanding of “aliveness” that comes through God’s merciful kindness. This realization makes me understand that the source of my feeling of being blessed is not affected by external factors like the weather, my mood, mistreatment from others, or even my financial situation. It’s about allowing the Spirit to fill me, a genuine unmerited gift from God, and then choosing to live as someone who comprehends the privilege of being a recipient of such a gift.

I am blessed, and I know you are the ultimate source, Merciful and Generous God. Life may not be perfect, but knowledge of your immense generosity fills me with an overwhelming reason for feeling blessed. May my life be lived in such a way that I can help others experience the same love, compassion, and kindness that fills my life to capacity and beyond. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 6, 2025
The Magi have made the journey 
They’ve made their appearance
They’ve offered their homage
They’ve shared their gifts
They return by a different route
  Returned as different people
  Forever changed
  Unreservedly awe-struck
Holy One of celestial signs and wonders 
  Continue to invite us onto the journey 
  Provide partners 
  Fellow travelers
  Companions 
  Encouragers
Bring us into your presence 
  Born to a simple family
  With a doting father
  With a faithful mother
Bring us into your presence
  Born into an unexpected place
  With an extraordinary love 
  With kindness and gentleness
Because of our journey 
  We shall return as different people 
  Forever changed
  Unreservedly awe-struck
With gratitude and joy
  We end our prayer with amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 5, 2025
Though tomorrow is technically Epiphany, the 12th Day of Christmas, we will be celebrating it today at Cypress Creek Christian Church. As I hope all of you are aware, we have decided to cancel this year’s Camel Walk. To be honest, I’m the absolute worst at making the decision to cancel anything. I tend to be the optimist, thinking all storms will skirt around us. But in this case, what the weather folks were putting under the list of possibilities was enough for me to say that it is better to be safe. 

But today, on this Epiphany Sunday, I will begin a new sermon series entitled: Time To Get Serious About The Harvest, focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit and the implications for our relationships. As I look at the first Fruit of the Spirit, Love, I will be inviting the congregation to imagine what the journey of the Magi was like, including the ways love might have been manifest during their quest. This sermon will require us to step outside of what we know from scripture and allow our curiosity to explore what might be called the gaps within the stories of our faith. Following the example of the ancient Rabbis, the early church examined with curiosity where the stories of the Bible left the reader feeling as if the story needed a bit more information. 

Continue to provide me with a spirit of curiosity, O God, for you are the One who inspired the stories of the faithful, ancient stories that were intended to form every generation. Amen.