Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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Pastor’s Prayer for 7 May 2017
O Lord God, our Father,
You are the light that can never be put out; and now you give us a light that shall drive away all darkness. You are love without coldness, and you have given us such warmth in our hearts that we can love all when we meet. You are the life that defies death, and you have opened for us the way that leads to eternal life.
None of us is a great Christian; we are all humble and ordinary. But your grace is enough for us. Arouse in us that small degree of joy and thankfulness of which we are capable, to the timid faith which we can muster, to the cautious obedience which we cannot refuse, and thus to the wholeness of life which you have prepared for all of us through the death and resurrection of your son. Do not allow any of us to remain apathetic or indifferent to the wondrous glory of Easter, but let the light of our risen Lord reach every corner of our dull hearts.
Amen.
–Karl Barth
Katharina and Martin
Katharina and Martin:
The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk
by Michelle DeRusha
–Review by Teri Hyrkas
This year will mark the 500th Anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, begun by Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. Of the numerous church and societal changes credited to Luther, there is one that is so pervasive that it could be overlooked: marriage reform. In her book, Katharina and Martin: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk (Baker Books, 2017), author Michelle DeRusha explains that during the Reformation, Luther pressed steadily for revision of German ecclesiastical and civil laws governing matrimony. During this time of change, Luther surrendered to pressure from his closest friends who called on him to live out in his own life what he expected to see done in the lives of others, and Luther himself got married. Luther’s marriage was judged to be a radical undertaking for a man who was previously a monk, but his choice of a wife was profoundly revolutionary as well: the woman who became Luther’s wife was the noblewoman and former nun, Katharina Bora.
In the well researched Katharina and Martin, DeRusha trains her attention on and forms her narrative around Bora. The author acknowledges in the first pages of her book that there is not much information available on Katharina. What is known about Katharina’s early life, says DeRusha, is that at age six she was placed in a cloistered school one hundred miles from her home, then four years later she was transferred by her father to a convent where she was to begin her training as a nun. Katharina remained in the convent for close to fifteen years. read more…
The Question Quest
The Question Quest Lectionary 30 April 2017 3rd Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35 Text to Life Every year this time the DOT of the city of Seattle declares an event known as “Pothole Palooza.” Residents are encouraged to snap and send…
How God Became King
How God Became King
By Tom Wright
ISBN: 9780061730573
–Review by Doug Balzer
My fascination with Tom (NT) Wright continues as I review another one of his books “How God Became King.” Reading the title, my thoughts went to the idea that it is common knowledge amongst followers of Christ that he is King, so why do we need this book? But the question raised by the title is “How.” So, it caused me to pause and ponder the thought, –and formulate some ideas where Wright might be going with this book. After reading the book, it was evident to me that the assumptions I formulated in my mind were wrong. The old phrase, “don’t judge a book by it cover” haunted me, at least for a short period. Wright’s book was a breath of life that reminded me to push against being overly familiar with God’s story. It was a warning that I can become too confident about my theology and reading of the gospels that I mis what is right in front of my eyes. read more…
Slacking and Productivity
Darwin Was a Slacker and You Should Be Too
Summary: “When you examine the lives of history’s most creative figures, you are immediately confronted with a paradox: They organize their lives around their work, but not their days. read more…
Easter 2
Sometimes, (riffing on the famously mis-quoted line made popular in the movie Amadeus), there are just too many words (notes!). For the season of Easter, Sound Theology will give you simply the Psalm for the day (from the Revised Common Lectionary), possibly a hymn verse or section of poetry, and the music.
There is so much remarkable music for the Easter Season, that we should take the time to soak it in.
Psalm 16:5-11 (The Message) read more…
Abduction –The Metaphorical Hypothesis –Preaching Tip for 30 April 2017
Often pastors ask: “Where do you find the connections?” “What sources do you use?” “Where do you find the information?” The answer is, “It doesn’t work like that!” First, you need a hypothesis. For example, in the Story Sermon for this week, a connection is made between Jesus’ call and…
Pastor’s Prayer –for 30 April 2017
I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Wesley’s Covenant Prayer
–as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936
The Catch
The Catch Story Lectionary 30 April 2017 Jesus’ Seaside Post-Resurrection Appearance Moses Commissions Joshua to Succeed Him (Numbers 27:12-23) The Story of Samson (Judges 16) The Passing of the Mantle from Elijah to Elisha (1 Kings 19 and 2 Kings 2) The Book of Jonah (Including the Song of Jonah)…
Beautiful
Beautiful Story Lectionary 23 April 2017 Jesus’ Post Resurrection Appearance in a Locked Room The Story of Noah and the Mourning of Methuselah (Genesis 5-7) The Sealing of the Garden (Genesis 3) Song of Moses (Exodus 15) The Psalm of Jonah Psalm 98: Sing a New Song Psalm 30: Lifted…