Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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Pastor’s Prayer –7 August 2016
Ah Lord, with trembling I confess,
A gracious soul may fall from grace;
The salt may lose its seasoning power,
And never, never, find it more.
Lest that my fearful case should be,
Each moment knit my soul to thee;
And lead me to the mount above,
Through the low vale of humble love.
–Charles Wesley
Following Jesus
Following Jesus:
Biblical Reflections on Discipleship
by N.T. Wright
It has been a marvelously refreshing experience to read Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship by N. T. Wright (Eerdmans, 1995) This 2012 edition, which has a new preface by the author, is a book that is wholly focused on the wonder of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And, yes, this is a book about discipleship, because as Wright points out, “The longer you look at Jesus the more you will want to serve him in his world. That is, of course, if it’s the real Jesus you are looking at.” In Following Jesus Wright helps the reader to separate the “invented” idea of Jesus, a “character who makes few real demands” on his followers, from the actual person of Jesus, who, as Wright tells us, had the disturbing practice of addressing very sticky situations of his day, and who invites his followers to do likewise today. read more…
Nature or Nurture
Nature vs. Nurture
Here is fascinating piece on nature vs. nurture. Fun facts like this: Violence on the Kibbutz in Israel is so low that the criminal courts send violent offenders there to learn how to live a non-violent life. read more…
My Master’s Face
Some poets appear on the horizon with a poem, and then disappear, with little else known about them except for that one poem. William Hurd Hillyer (1880-c.1931) is one such poem. We know when he was born, but not sure when he died. But when he published “My Master’s Face,”…
St. Brendan
As soon as you enter my home we have named “Dolphin Cay,” on the floor there is a mosaic of “St. Brendan’s Cross,” an Irish “fish cross” made of four dolphins or whales. There are many apocryphal seafaring stories about St. Brendan, who according to one of the legends “discovered”…
Rich Toward God
Rich Toward God Lectionary31 July 2016Hosea 11:1-11Psalm 107:1-9, 43 Colossians 3:1-11Luke 12:13-21 Text to Life We’ve all have had those “shoulda, coulda, woulda” moments in life, those instances where “greatness passed us by” and we were clueless. Did you skip like I did the ’76 winter Olympics USA vs. USSR hockey…
The Plank
The Plank Story Lectionary31 July 2016 God’s Guidelines for Justice and Mercy (Exodus 23:1-9)King Solomon Judges With God’s Wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28)God Empowers Othniel, First Savior (Judge) of Israel (Judges 3)God Entreats Judges to Judge As God Would Judge With Love (2 Chronicles 19:4-11)The Song of Deborah (Judges 5)Psalm 7: We…
Pray! –Preaching Tip for 31 July 2016
We live in a world filled with violence. The power of prayer to turn the hearts of humanity is not to be underestimated. “In all things pray,” says Paul to the Philippians. Do not forget to make prayer part of your sermon. Do not forget that your sermon is also…
Pastor’s Prayer for 31 July 2016
We ask you, Master, be our helper and defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture.
–1 Clement (c 96 ce)
The High Mountains of Portugal
The High Mountains of Portugal
A Novel
by Yann Martel
It was September 2001 when Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi (2001, Knopf Canada), burst upon the book scene in North America. At that time, Martel’s fantasy/adventure story of a boy and a tiger lost at sea in a lifeboat won many prestigious literary prizes, among them the Man Booker Prize for Fiction. In 2012 the movie “Life of Pi” premiered and won four Academy Awards, including Best Director. Today, the book Life of Pi is on the required reading list at colleges and continues to be chosen as a selection for book clubs, an example being the “100 Books Challenge” discussion at Goodreads website which chose Life of Pi as their book selection in May 2016. read more…