Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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The Canticle of the Sun
The Canticle of the Sun Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, all praise is yours, all glory, honour and blessings. To you alone, Most High, do they belong; no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. We praise you, Lord, for all your creatures, especially for Brother Sun, who is…
Leave a Trail of Breadcrumbs
Leave a Trail of Breadcrumbs Lectionary 2 August 2015 10th Sunday After Pentecost 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a Psalm 51 Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35 Text to Life In August everyone is an agriculturalist. The bounty of summer crops are all around us. The gift of all that is fresh and growing…
The Proof is in the Roof
The Proof is in the Roof Story Lectionary 2 August 2015 Daniel: Daniel’s Vision of the Sovereignty of the Son of Man (7) Ezekiel: Ezekiel’s Vision of God’s Coming Judgment and Sovereignty (1-3) Psalm 80: The Son of Man’s Coming Psalm 95: Praise and Warning Psalm 146: The Mission of…
Pastor’s Prayer for 8/2/15
Lord Jesus, teach us how to be humbled. Teach us how to love like you, respecting others however lowly, poor and unattractive they are. Teach us to complete our tasks as you did, in unhuurried quietness of mind, not thinking we deserve something more exciting. Teach us to see how unworthy we are of all the gifts that you have given us, and not to regard them as ours by right. Help us to see how small we are in comparison with you, and in realizing this forget our self-importance, and serve you and everyone in true humbleness of heart.”
Etta Gullick
Think Like a Five-Year-Old
Think Like a Five-Year-Old
Reclaim Your Wonder and Create Great Things
by Len Wilson
Creativity is a word that triggers all kinds of reactions from people. Some are delighted with the idea of creativity and everything that comes with it: energy, freedom, innovation, artistry, and beauty. Some are hesitant about creative activities because of the seemingly undefined boundaries, chaos, messiness, and absence of guarantees about the end product.
Question: How can one promote the idea of creativity among those who do not self-identify as creative types? Answer: Encourage them to read Think Like a Five-Year-Old – Reclaim Your Wonder and Create Great Things by Len Wilson. read more…
Blessing
In the Old Testament book of Numbers, the LORD gave words to Moses to pass on to Aaron and his sons that we now know as the “Priestly Blessing” (Number 6:24-26). Aaron’s sons were instructed to use these words to bless the people of Israel so that they would be “named” as God’s people.
Named as God’s people . . . that is a remarkable and undeserved blessing; one that stretches through time to name and call us even today. read more…
Music –8/2/15
Music can be an integral part of your sermon. Sometimes an experience of Christ and a right theology can be internalized and embodied many times more than hearing it in words. It’s important to make sure that when you use music as a part of your sermon that it serves…
Don’t leave them hanging…
A tour guide in an Australian art museum always ends her tour with a certain piece of art. She says to the group, “And here, ladies and gentlemen, we conclude our tour with one of the finest pieces of sculpture in the entire museum. Notice the nobility of the face,…
Forgotten identity
During the Gulf War, a group of British soldiers became lost in the desert. Looking weary and bedraggled, they eventually stumbled into an 5-Star general. “Do you know where we are?” one of the bleary eyed soldiers blurted out. The general, annoyed because of the unkempt appearance and because they…
What are we looking for?
A real estate agent was showing a number of homes to a young couple with a toddler. They toured several houses, examining the features of each in great detail. They opened every door, went into every room, explored every closet, looked into every cabinet. Through it all, the toddler patiently…