Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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My Rightful Place
In the museum of modern art (MoMA) in New York City, an elderly man sat before a painting by one of the greatest of modern artists. The man was obviously highly elated. Over and over he kept saying, “At last, I’m in my rightful place. I’m in my rightful place.…
Winter of Our Discontent
The central character in John Steinbeck’s novel “The Winter of Our Discontent” is a grocery clerk whose life is filled with discontent. He’s not happy with himself. He’s not happy with others. He’s not happy with life in general. One day, as he is routinely checking the groceries upon the…
Out of Order
There is the story of a man who was worried so much he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown that he decided to see a psychiatrist. “What’s you problem?” the psychiatrist asked. “Actually, I’ve got two problems,” the man replied. “My first problem is that I don’t think…
The Gospel is Written on Your Fingers
Some people think, it seems, that when Judgment Day calls us to accountability we’ll be “judged” by what we say and how we say it. “Inasmuch as you did,” not said, as our life will speak for itself. Or in the words of Mother Teresa, “The gospel is written on…
Dreams
This could be offered as a prayer, as you invite people to bow their heads and listen as God is speaking these words to them directly. It is also a powerful way of ending a sermon. I challenge you to hear these words yourself without tears welling up inside (or…
Faith, love, and hope
“Faith anchors the moral life in an awareness of self and responsibility . .. Love structures our awareness of the world and our appreciation of its ordered values . . . Hope focuses our awareness of time on the ‘works prepared before us to walk in’ (Ephesians 2:10).” Oliver O’Donovan,…
Godstruck
Godstruck Story Lectionary Genesis 1: God’s voice creates and God’s breath hovers and moves over the deep; God breathes life into adama; go forth and multiply Ezekiel 37: Dry Bones comes to life through God’s breath Psalm 81: Sound the ram’s horn; I am the Lord your God Psalm 98:…
Greater Things
Greater Things Lectionary 24 May 2015 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Text to Life (based on John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15) It’s that time of year. Parents have a big decision to make. . . . Summer camp or no summer camp? Summer camp…
Humor –5/24/15
Sometimes the mood and the atmosphere of worship becomes “too serious.” When seriousness pervades, one’s focus can be more on decorum and behavior than on the Holy Spirit. The lightness of humor can break through those moments and allow for a breakdown of the walls that keep people from being…
Veni Sancte Spiritus –A Prayer for Pentecost
Come thou Holy Paraclete, And from they celestial seat Send they light and brilliancy Father of the poor, draw near; Grier of all gifts be here; Come, the soul’s true radiancy Thou of comforters the best, Thou the soul’s most welcome guest, Come in toil refreshingly. In our labour rest…