Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
Here, you can comment on any post to participate in the discussion.
The Two Legs of the One Truth
The Two Legs of the One Truth Lectionary 21 June 2015 Fourth Sunday After Pentecost Father’s Day 1 Samuel 17(1a,4-11,19-23), 32-49 Psalm 9:9-20 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41 Text to Life Yogi Berra (b. 1925) is the beloved, berated Yankee catcher, manager, coach, and accidental philosopher. When you…
Griffins Everywhere
EPIC sermons –6/21/15
Make your sermon EPIC –Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich, and Connective! Ask these questions when you are creating your sermon: 1) how can my sermon serve to connect people with Christ 2) how can my sermon facilitate people’s ability to experience Christ during that moment, during their worship, during their lives in ways that will transfigured…
Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More –Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist
Fierce Convictions:
The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More –
Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist
by Karen Swallow Prior
This week’s book review features Fierce Convictions, an excellent biography of Hannah More, a remarkable woman who deserves to be much better known than she is. In next week’s column at The Open Table, author Karen Swallow Prior has graciously agreed to answer some questions about the writing of Fierce Convictions – so stay tuned! Next week on Preach The Story: an interview with Karen Swallow Prior.
Fierce Convictions, an outstanding biography published in November 2014 by Thomas Nelson, tells the little-known story of Englishwoman, Hannah More (1745 – 1833). If you are familiar with More at all, you probably know of her partnership with William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect, whose unflagging work for the abolition of slavery in England has been written about extensively. But that’s not all there is to know about Hannah More, whose list of accomplishments is astounding. read more…
Vein Creator Spiritus
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know;
And Thee, through endless times confessed,
Of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death be glory given,
With Thou, O Holy Comforter,
Henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
—–Veni Creator Spiritus (“Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest”)
Ultimate Exposure
The XV International Tchaikovsky Competition began this past week in Moscow and St. Petersburg. One of the premiere competitions in the world, the Tchaikovsky invites young musicians in four categories, piano, violin, cello, and voice, to perform to win up to $100,000US and to become one of the most sought after performers on the concert stage.
The first part of the competition was the audition round for pianists. Thirty-six competitors performed, and 30 were selected to proceed to Round 1. For the next two weeks, these pianists will demonstrate for the judges and the public, their desire to create music at the highest level. read more…
Good advice!
“If you want change in your church, you must be prepared to watch money walk out the door.” John Flowers
The Power of the Wilderness
The Power of The Wilderness Story Lectionary Genesis 32: 22-32 (Jacob [Israel] wrestles with God) Deuteronomy 4 – 6 Psalm 91 Psalm 3 Proverbs 11 The Book of Job Hannah’s Prayer (I Samuel 2) Matthew’s Witness to Jesus’ Temptations in the Wilderness Mark’s Witness to Jesus’ Temptations in the Wilderness…
Pastor’s Prayer for 6-14-15
O God, what will you do to conquer the fearful hardness of our hearts?
Lord, you must give us new hearts, tender hearts, sensitive hearts, to replace hearts that are made of marble and of bronze. You must give us your own heart, Jesus.
Place your heart deep in the center of our hearts, and enkindle in each heart a flame of love as strong, as great, as the sum of all the reasons that I have for loving you, my God.
O holy heart of Jesus, dwell hidden in my heart,
So that I may live only in you and only for you, so that, in the end, I may live with you eternally in heaven.
Jesuit missionary St. Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)
Actions Create Actualities
Actions Create Actualities Lectionary 14 June 2015 Third Sunday After Pentecost 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Psalm 20 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13), 14-17 Mark 4:26-34 Text to Life It’s the rare child who makes it to adulthood without having to participate in some kind of “science project.” Do you remember…