ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 30, 2026
If I see another post calling for “a return to Biblical marriage,” I am going to scream. And it can be loud and annoying. Let’s be very real here. No one, and I feel pretty confident that includes anyone reading this, does not want Biblical marriage. You may want what you’ve been told is Biblical marriage or what you assume to be Biblical marriage, but unless you are a misogynistic jerk who does not believe women have value, then you are not seeking Biblical marriage. First, and everything hinges on this, women were property. First, they were property of their fathers, and then upon marriage, they were property of their husbands. You may remember that in the Ten Commandments, the document Texas is requiring in public school class rooms, it says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife…” A wife scores just below a house in regard to importance in regard to possessions. Second is not bad, unless you find it deeply troubling that she is even on the property list. And I hope you do. But that is Biblical marriage, and sadly, there are some churches really pushing to reclaim that kind of family structure.

A married man could rape a twelve year old, and as long as she had not been betrothed (promised by her father) to another man, then all the rapist had to do was pay a fine to the father of the girl, marry her, and promise never to divorce her (Deuteronomy 22:28-29). This is exactly what most people want and would define as Biblical marriage. That’s sarcasm in case you had not noticed (I apologize for anyone who finds that to be triggering). And FYI, in cases of adultery, women were always the guilty ones, never the men.

And even though 1st Corinthians 7:4 makes it sound equal, it really was not. It says, “For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” Yet who was considered head of the household, and who was to make all the important decisions? This passage might have been a step in the right direction (maybe), but you may not be surprised that many churches emphasize the first part of that verse, while suggesting that the second part means the wife is to serve and provide pleasure for the husband. 

I could write another sixty paragraphs with these kinds of examples, but hopefully I’ve made my point. Unless you are a strong supporter of polygamy, and despite what some might say, the New Testament does not denounce polygamy. Only for leaders (1st Timothy and Titus), and it is thought that church leaders should have only one wife as there would not be enough time to care for a second wife because of all the church work. 

At the end of the day, every generation has chosen what defines Biblical marriage. Alternatively, a more fitting question might be: what does a marriage look like that honors God? I don’t believe there’s a single answer, but it’s crucial for individuals to acknowledge upfront that they’re consciously excluding certain Bible passages that have very clear expectations of marriage. By starting there, people can engage in honest conversations. The problem lies in that many individuals are silenced when someone says, “Well, I just believe in Biblical marriage,” without realizing that without transparency about what’s included and what’s excluded, such a statement becomes nonsensical in today’s culture.

Provide me wisdom and a willingness not to be silenced by those who, with broad statements, are seeking to demonstrate their superior knowledge on matters associated with the Bible and faith. Be gracious to me, Holy God, as you always are. And give me the courage to push back with good questions that pursue, above all things, truth. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 29, 2026
Religion hellbent on control-
Faith as a tool of someone else’s opinion-
Sacrosanct as an instrument of fear-
Where did we lose Jesus?
Where did we forget the two Great Commandments?
O God, who first loved us, we seek your guidance on this pathway of love. Wherever Christianity has become about control, about imposing someone else’s perceived definition of proper faith, and about instilling fear to achieve submission, we pray to join Jesus on the way. As others battle over preposterous ways of describing Christianity, invite us, as you did the earliest disciples, to follow. The world doesn’t need more religion, but relationships rooted in love. It does not need a Christianity that has forgotten the story of self-giving love, but a body uncompromising when it comes to living self-giving love for the sake of a broken world. Make this our conviction. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 28, 2026
I always find it fascinating when watching an older movie, and though the storyline is clearly set in another moment of time and the writers were writing from a very different moment in history, the theme of the movie remains relevant. In fact, it speaks truth to our current moment in ways that seem a bit surprising. There appear to be certain truths that bridge time, and equally important, history continues to repeat itself… that is, until we choose to really learn history. It is always concerning when we learn dates, names, and where the big battles were fought, but do not learn everything that led to the important moments. I don’t blame teachers, but a system that wants an easy way of evaluating progress. For instance, the Battle of the Alamo occurred in 1836. That is an important piece of trivia that is either right or wrong on the test, but at the end of the day, there is nothing helpful in simply knowing a date if the hope is to determine how to make us a safer and more just society. Though the Alamo is raised up as a mighty moment of resilience, along with a people finding inspiration on the other side of defeat, it is much more complicated. As people fought for independence, part of the independence was a desire to maintain the use of slave labor as Mexico had outlawed slavery in 1829. It is a reminder that there are often many layers and hidden agendas behind what appears to be a rather straightforward story. Humans have always liked simple and uncomplicated stories. It allows us to have clear delineation—there are those who are good and those who are bad; the event happened because the bad people did something bad; the victors were celebrated and were given the right to write the simple story, or at least their version. The Bible is filled with simple stories, but alongside the Old Testament, there were writings from the sages and rabbis who argued and brought to light many different ways of looking at what appeared to be a simple story. And Jesus told simple stories in the form of parables, including when he said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…” It seemed so straightforward until one pauses long enough to recognize the absurdity of such a statement. It is in that recognition that one is able to begin the journey of real discovery. Let’s learn history beyond just a superficial reading, and let’s learn the stories of faith beyond those who want us to read them in a very narrow and unnuanced way.

Holy God, Supreme Care-giver of all that exists, provide us senses that are able to take in the beauty, complexity, and absurdity of this world in which we live. Help us to take notice, appreciate, and even be challenged by what we learn. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 27, 2026
In Matthew 11:16-19, we find Jesus offering wisdom in a sort of roundabout way. He said,

“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 

It is said that you can’t please all the folk all the time, and I believe that to be true. At the same time, there are those who will never be happy no matter what you try to do. Are you a people-pleaser? Do you obsess with making sure everyone is happy? In some groups, these aspirations might be achieved, but in most cases, a person attempting to balance all the needs and wants and general weirdness found in a group will fail... even if the group is only two or three. I had a friend who would say, “If you do your best, and people can’t appreciate your best, go find some folks who might.” I don’t know if it is the best advice in every situation, but there are times when alternative agendas and general negativity cannot be easily overcome. And as Jesus suggested earlier in the Gospel, there are times when it is best to shake off the dust on our sandals and move on.

O Great God, help me as I strive to do my best in your kin(g)dom work. When my best appears to hit a roadblock, or folks seem to find something irrelevant to nitpick, keep me focused on the bigger picture. Keep me strong and speaking Good News as I refuse to allow their not-so-good news to dwell within me. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 26, 2026
Today marks the International Day to Support Victims of Torture. On one hand, I can’t help but wonder if we truly need a dedicated day for this cause. I genuinely believe that supporting victims of torture should be an inherent part of our society, and I would like to think that only a few individuals in the world genuinely support torture. However, a day like this serves as a reminder of the urgent need to raise awareness and bring this issue to the forefront of our collective consciousness. Torture still occurs on many different levels around the globe, and there are way too many victims whose stories are unknown.

Growing up, I watched Saturday morning cartoons, and I knew all the School House Rock videos. There was a sort of introductory one that had the lines:

As your body grows bigger,
Your mind must flower.
It's great to learn,
'Cause knowledge is power!

Knowledge is power, and knowing what has occurred and continues to occur sets the stage for the possibility of change. I’m not suggesting knowledge automatically brings change, such as an ending to torture. However, it can be pretty much guaranteed that nothing will change for the good if no one actually knows what occurs. 

In James 1:5, we read:

“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”

Though I believe God provides wisdom, sometimes the wisdom is the capacity for us as individuals to explore, ask questions, and discover for ourselves. The things we know the best are the things we learned ourselves, and though sometimes what we learn is painful or deeply troubling, it is still important for us to know.

Help me to know what I should know, O God of the Universe. Though sometimes it is disturbing to learn what is happening in this world, Jesus never turned away from suffering or injustice. Provide me both knowledge and the capacity to utilize that knowledge for the good work that needs to be done in this world. Amen.

​MORE INFORMATION
https://www.cvt.org/campaign/june-26/

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 25, 2026
If you were to watch any of my social media, you’d see a lot of gymnastics. As one who once competed in gymnastics and then did some coaching in college, I do love the sport. Today, I watch athletes doing skills that we never dreamed of doing. And trust me, we could dream up some pretty crazy, scary stuff. There are some skills that are becoming common today that had someone suggested them back in the 80s when I was competing, I would have laughed out loud.  In Men’s Gymnastics, scoring has changed, in part, because of the growing difficulty. A perfect 10 was no longer capable of measuring the level of difficulty, along with technique and form. Things have changed, and not in some small or incremental way. For men’s gymnastics, it is the same six events, but what they are doing on those events is mind-blowing. This is one of those situations where I think some people would yearn for the good old days with compulsories and the traditional way of scoring. Though I was a mediocre gymnast and only dreamed of competing on a high level, I was passionate about the sport. But I am also thankful for the way it has changed and progressed, along with the dazzling capability of these athletes. No one likes change, but I am sort of glad they are no longer using leather helmets in football. The shoe technology for long-distance running is extraordinary. The knowledge around nutrition and strength training has grown exponentially. As much as we might like things the way they once were, the old adage is true: The only constant is change, and trying to restrain it will ultimately fail. Now change should always come with questions, with thoughtful insight from experts, and with an awareness of the implications. Remember, there was fierce opposition from carriage manufacturers and equestrian businesses when the first automobiles appeared. There was anti-car legislation that was passed in some parts of the country, and religious voices decried the evils of such technology. So how did that work for the carriage builders? I sure wish there would have been a bit more emphasis on public transportation, but change will always come. Sadly, Christianity has too often tried to restrain and condemn science for simply being science. Just because the Earth is not the center of the universe did not undermine Christianity, unless your Christianity was a house of cards to begin with. Just because biologists, neurologists, and sociologists have demonstrated that same-sex attraction is not a choice and has been around since humans first started walking upright (we might not have scientific proof that goes back quite that far), it should not undermine a person’s Christian convictions unless a person is trying to hold onto the empty ideology of inerrancy. As long as science does not disprove the power of love, kindness, and mercy, I think Christianity can weather changes that come our way, and new scientific insights and technology might just expand our Jesus-following capacity. 

With change comes anxiousness. It happens to the best of us, yet we trust you to remain God even when change is happening all around us. We trust the power of your unconditional love to transform even the most desperate of situations. And God, we believe that following Jesus does not put us at odds with the world around us, but as a partner seeking the best for every aspect of your creation. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 24, 2026
In yesterday’s Etching, I provided a little background on stewardship at Cypress Creek Christian Church and where I feel as if I sort of dropped the ball. In my first year or so, prior to us doing the Capital Campaign, taking a low-key approach to stewardship (talking about money and other resources) probably made sense. It allowed for the anxiety to diminish and for us to get a real handle on where we were financially. The biggest concern was the mortgage. We owed approximately $2.77 million, and the church was paying interest only, and if I remember correctly, the church had skipped three or four payments in the previous year simply because there was no money. Equally concerning, there was no plan. I was not here when decisions were made, and so I do not judge or pretend that I would have known better. However, Cypress Creek Christian Church had run for four decades from the mindset of, “Build it and they will come.” Post-WWII and through the early 80s, that approach worked. But by the late 80s and early 90s, churches were building but very few in the community were driven to join the church like in previous generations. Today, it is amazing to see that, in spite of the flood brought on by Hurricane Harvey and the pandemic that followed, we are debt-free as a congregation. This is a combination of people’s generosity, a commitment to our vision and mission, and a belief in a God who makes a way when no one can see the way forward. 

With that said, Christian stewardship is not about keeping churches open or making sure ministers’ salaries are paid (though I do want to thank you for that). It is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and finding the best way of impacting this world with kindness, love, mercy, and hope. It is helping to realize God’s dream of justice for all creation, which includes liberating people from fear and the insecurities that drive hate and suffering. It is walking alongside the lonely and those who are grieving to embody the idea of incarnation—that idea that God shows up. What that looks like and how that is demonstrated will be different from one church to another, but the question is not about how many people are in the seats on Sunday morning but how many people beyond the building are impacted by the followers of Jesus because of what those followers experienced and learned in worship, study, and fellowship. 

I believe we can make a good case for what we are doing, yet we cannot just assume that because we look like a church that we are actually doing what Jesus needs us to be doing. I hope that if Cypress Creek Christian Church ever gets to a point where it is no longer making a difference in our community and beyond, then as good stewards, we will close up shop and align the resources we have with a community that is making a difference. Again, I’m not suggesting that’s what we need to do today. Far from it! I see our impact only growing in the future. But as one who has watched so many churches move down the path of irrelevancy, I pray for the awareness and courage to move faithfully into God’s future even if faithfulness means leaving behind Cypress Creek Christian Church. Churches unable to say that out loud are often the ones that are already long past relevancy and are being poor stewards of their resources. At the end of the day, I don’t really want to stand before God and try to explain how I helped keep the doors of an irrelevant church open at the expense of the Gospel. I’m pretty sure God will remain gracious, but I’d rather be able to point to some ways that I shared with others in bringing real and transformative love into this world. And at Cypress Creek Christian Church, I believe we can point to many such places.

Help me to ask the necessary and often difficult questions about faithfulness, relevancy, and Gospel purpose. I look to you, Gracious and Vision-inspiring God, to guide my stewardship in ways that are faithful, generous, and impactful. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 23, 2026
In Sunday’s message, I talked about money… specifically what it means to be a part of something greater than oneself. Next week, I will celebrate fourteen years at Cypress Creek Christian Church. If I were to be honest, I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around that number. The first church I served out of seminary, I served for thirteen years and six months, so Cypress Creek Christian Church is now my longest ministry. One of the critiques I probably deserve is my lack of stewardship education. Or to say it another way, I should have preached more sermons on money, giving, and specifically how people can financially support the mission and vision of the church.


When I first arrived, the church was in a financial mess. Watching sermons from the year prior to my arrival revealed that there were numerous Sundays when someone stood up during the announcement time and made a desperate plea for money. Several announcements expressed concerns about whether the church would be able to pay the staff the following week. There was a sense of panic in the appeal which did not create a sense of peace for those who had come looking for some respite. Many people told me they wanted to see more young families at church, yet I pointed out that so many young families are dealing with financial concerns, even crisis at home. The last thing they need to hear when they come to church is something that only intensifies their current state. So from that point on, I focused elsewhere. And yes, we did amazingly well. OK, there were some periods of concern and times when I didn’t sleep well at all. Yet Jesus referenced money, wealth, and possessions more than he talked about heaven, faith, or salvation. And since our culture has some pretty unhealthy, even dangerous ideas around money, it is probably good for the church to speak about it often. Again, as I shared in my message on Sunday, guilt, fear, or manipulation would not be Jesus’ approach. In fact, some of the concerns he raised were related to those who abused the poor, widow, and orphan—abusing the people who had absolutely no power and were easily targeted by those with power. The church should represent Jesus, not the people Jesus spoke against.

You have gifted us to be generous, O Lord who first loved us. Generosity will look different for every person, based upon gifts and abilities. Yet let us never dismiss the possibility that generosity birthed from an attitude of abundance could bless another human life. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 22, 2026
Prayer for the Week:
Dear Spirit and Source of Inspiration, we give thanks for your boundless generosity made visible in Jesus—whether it was making time for the most vulnerable while his disciples were telling them to be quiet, or whether it was making time for a meal with one that everyone seemed to despise. His compassion was unceasing; his kindness did not seem to know any bounds; his love appeared limitless and then it even went a little further. Open the eyes of our hearts to the needs of those around us, especially those who have been made to feel as if your sacred and life-giving generosity is beyond their grasp. Help us to demonstrate for them and all the world how grace refuses to let anyone slip away. Deliver us from the fear of scarcity, and replace it with a deep trust in your abundant provision. Teach us to give not simply from our surplus, but with a cheerful and willing spirit. And may our lives be a quiet reflection of who you are, the One who is always drawing each and every member of creation into a healing and transformative embrace. This we offer to the glory of Jesus who made real your boundless generosity. Amen.

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 21, 2026
G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was an outspoken Christian apologist, though often bringing some humor to his writing. One of his great lines, at least from my perspective, is:

The chief object of education is not to learn things; nay, the chief object of education is to unlearn things.

I don’t know about you, but I have had to unlearn a lot of things in life. I remember my third year of college, when I was working with some of the incoming first-year students. A young man explained to a small group how he was an only child, and he had the whole upstairs of the house to himself. He told us, “I’m going to have to forget a lot of things.” He used the word ‘forget,’ but I think he could have said ‘unlearn.’ 

My walk with Jesus has consisted of a lot of amazing moments of insight, but as I think more about those moments, there was usually some unlearning involved. I had to forget, or at least to put to the side something I previously believed. To pick up the new thing often requires us to release our grip on the old thing, which can be pretty painful.

Amazing God, always loving us for who we are while guiding us with love into new things, I pray for the capacity to let go of or unlearn what is necessary so that I may embrace the new thing you are putting before me. Give me courage that is rooted in your immeasurable grace. Amen.