Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
Here, you can comment on any post to participate in the discussion.
Don’t Forget the Leftovers
Don’t Forget the Leftovers Lectionary 6 August 2017 9th Sunday After Pentecost Genesis 32: 22-31 Psalm 17:1-7, 15 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21 Text to Life What makes a great dinner party? Is it the food? Maybe. Is it the decor, the ambiance? Partially. Is it the guest list? To a…
What Jesus Knew –Preaching Tip for 6 August 2017
Whenever Jesus spoke, acted, or told a story, he drew heavily upon the metaphors of the Hebrew scriptures. In fact, everything Jesus said was in some way a “re-framing” of the Hebrew scriptures for new understanding of God and the shema. To understand Jesus, we need to understand the metaphors and…
Pastor’s Prayer for 6 August 2017
Precious Blood,
Ocean of Divine Mercy:
Flow upon us!
Precious Blood,
Most pure Offering:
Procure us every Grace!
Precious Blood,
Hope and Refuge of sinners:
Atone for us!
Precious Blood,
Delight of holy souls:
Draw us! Amen.
–Catherine of Sienna
Humble Roots
Humble Roots:
How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul
by Hannah Anderson
–Review by Teri Hyrkas
When Jesus described himself as “gentle and lowly in heart”(Matthew 11:29), he was letting his listeners know that he was a typical person, a blood and bone, standard issue human being, that he did not put himself above anyone he met. During his time on earth, Jesus chose to live with and identify himself with common people of humble origins and modest means. In Jesus’ era humility was considered by his disciples to be an admirable trait, but what about in our time? Is humility even considered a virtue in post-modern Christian life? And what, if any, are the benefits of pursuing the path of humility? read more…
Summer Music Festivals
One of the best things about summer has to be music outdoors. Concerts spring up everywhere when the weather gets sunny. From impromptu guitar players in city parks to long-standing festivals featuring international artists, music and sunshine go together. Regardless of their stature, the best summer festivals all have one thing in common: everyone can participate in something. Whether you take in a free lunch-time event, or get tickets on the grass and bring a picnic, or queue for the Proms’ coveted day-of floor seats, festivals try hard to invite as wide an audience as possible. Festivals are mini celebrations, bringing people together in instant communities of focused participation. They are also crucibles for creativity, as artists from diverse genres and backgrounds come together to energize and spark something new. Shared experiences. Inspirational performances. Amplified delight. Over the next few weeks, Sound Theology will bring you music that will be (or has been) played at 2017 summer music festivals around the world. If have summer outdoor concerts in your neighborhood, go! read more…
Massah and Meribah
Massah and Meribah Story Lectionary 30 July 2017 The Water that Springs Forth from God (Genesis 2:4-25) Isaac Reopens the Wells His Father Had Dug (Genesis 26) Jacob Builds an Altar that Becomes Jacob’s Well (Genesis 35:7) The Lord Provides Water from a Rock (Exodus 17:1-7: Massah and Meribah) Psalm…
The Innovators
The Innovators Lectionary 30 July 2017 8th Sunday After Pentecost Genesis 29:15-28 Psalm 105:1-11, 45b Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Text to Life How many here this morning have a “two-car” garage that now can only hold one car? Come on, now. Tell the truth! And if the truth be…
Books, Magazines, and Newspapers
Digital may be the future, but print still looms large in the present fortunes of newspapers
Summary: “Print-only looks to remain a distinct and substantial market segment for some time to come.
Read more at: https://goo.gl/CzaxxH
Digitally mined from: http://www.poynter.org
Free on the Internet Archive: 255 issues of Galaxy Magazines, 1950-1976 read more…
The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook
The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook: Including the Myth & Mystery, Care & Feeding, Life & Lore of these Fiercely Splendid Creatures
By Shawn MacKenzie
ISBN 978-0-7387-2785-1
Published 2011; 314 pages
–Review by Douglas Balzer
Here be Dragons . . . Not the slavering, whimsical monsters from childhood fancies, but real dragons—fierce, complex, wondrous, and wild. They do not require our belief; they never have. – from the publisher.
Do you need to stimulate your imagination back to life? Then think momentarily about St. George and the dragon. It is a classic medieval tale that is still told today. For me, there has always existed a childhood fascination with dragons. Growing up hearing the tales of the fierce beasts and the knights who rescued people from them and ultimately slew the monsters was just what a boy like me needed to fuel his imagination while on my grandparent’s farm. There were many an adventure into the woods of the canyon, (Silver Creek Canyon, Oregon) that with my brothers and cousins we engaged the creatures. Sometimes we would become friends with the dragons. Other times we fought great battles. The variety within their kind was endless only limited by our imaginations. read more…
It’s a metaphor! –Preaching Tip for 30 July 2017
One of the most prominent metaphors in scripture is water. From the “deep” in Genesis to the invitation to “Drink freely” in revelation, water is everywhere in scripture. How do you exegete this metaphor? You might start simply by making a list of all of the qualities, properties, descriptors, functions…