Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
Here, you can comment on any post to participate in the discussion.
The Failure Dance: Shake and Step
The Failure Dance: Shake and Step Lectionary 8 July 2018 7th Sunday After Pentecost 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 Text to Life Summertime is “family vacation” time. For some of us that means an annual trip to a grandparent’s house and a gathering or…
Metaphors are Not Literal Nor Ethical Principles
Metaphors are prisms that point to truths or reveal depths of meaning. They are not ethical standards or principles in themselves. This is important when looking at scripture. Metaphors such as leprosy use a terrible skin condition that eats away flesh to describe the way sins (particularly of guilt and…
Pastor’s Prayer for 8 July 2018
Grant, Almighty God, that as we set up against thee so many obstacles through the depravity of our flesh and natural disposition, that we seem as it were to be designedly striving to close up the door against thy goodness and paternal favour, O grant, that our hearts may be so softened by thy Spirit, and the hardness which has hitherto prevailed may be so corrected, that we may submit ourselves to thee with genuine docility, especially as thou dost so kindly and tenderly invite us to thyself, that being allured by thy sweet invitation, we may run, and so run as not to be weary in our course, until Christ shall at length bring us together to thee, and, at the same time, lead us to thee for that eternal life, which he has obtained for us by his own blood. Amen.
–John Calvin
Paterson
Paterson
A Movie Review
–Review by Teri Hyrkas
I love summer, but it does get wild and crazy at times. Is your psyche suffering sunstroke from summer activities? Let me suggest a remedy: the movie Paterson. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, this singularly beautiful film, released in 2016, is an oasis for a parched soul.
Shot in the quiet, well-worn, blue collar city of Paterson, New Jersey, the movie depicts a city bus driver, also named Paterson, who is a poet. The storyline unfolds over the course of one week. The pace of the movie is unhurried. The film is chockfull of humor, kindness and Paterson’s poetry, which appears on the screen whenever he is thinking about or writing a poem. All the poems in Paterson but one were written by present day poet, Ron Padgett. read more…
Musical Terror –Russian I
Soccer and Russia. These two things would not usually go together. But this year, Russia is hosting the World Cup. Russia is a powerhouse of classical music composers, so while the footballers play, let’s surround ourselves with some of the best music that reflects Russian terroir.
There are so many wonderful composers and performers; worthy of three weeks of playlists. This week: Tchaikovsky read more…
Deliverance
Deliverance Story Lectionary 1 July 2018 Lord of Womb and Water, Birth and Rebirth (Exodus 14 and 15-16) Moses and the Healing Snake (Numbers 21) Psalm 90: The Lord of Birth and Rebirth Psalm 104: Lord of Water and Creation Psalm 139: The Womb of the Lord The Book of…
The American Church
Patriotism Inside the American Church
“On the Sunday morning preceding Brad’s post, my wife and I sat through a church service that featured boy scouts parading the flag right before the congregation stood and pledged allegiance to it. I whispered, “and to the republic for which it stands,” unsure exactly what was happening. My wife protested by remaining silent.”
Read more at: http://bit.ly/churchpatriot read more…
Jesus Knows You by Name
Jesus Knows You by Name Lectionary 1 July 2018 6th Sunday After Pentecost 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 Text to Life What’s in a name? Everything, that’s what. Forget Shakespeare, who insisted that “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” For…
Moving Beyond Cliché –Preaching Tip for 1 July 2018
When you mine for metaphors, make sure to dig into them deeply, so that what you say is not just a matter of tradition or worse, cliché. You must not imagine that those before you have found out everything to be found, although it’s helpful to know what they did…
Pastor’s Prayer for 1 July 2018
Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
Than if a host did round me stand.
–Columba
Read more at: http://www.faithandworship.com/early_Christian_prayers.htm#ixzz5JPZKA7Zo
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution