The Commons
A preaching blog with ideas and for interactive story sermon writing and image exegesis by Len Sweet.
Here, you can comment on any post to discuss its meaning and share your thoughts.
Dust but not Bread?
When Jack Stotts was the President of McCormick Seminary, something happened that he told in a speech on unity and inclusivity: McCormick Seminary had just relocated to the south side of Chicago to become part of a rich ecumenical cluster of theological schools. One day Bill Guindon, the president of…
The Gas for Life
A gas thief thought he had struck gold at an RV park in Seattle. He found a motorhome where no one was around. So he siphoned the tank. Unfortunately, he drew up out of the tank not gasoline but raw sewage. The RV owner decided not to press charges. Each…
Saying So Doesn’t Make It So
A cartoon in The New Yorker shows a doctor walking towards a sick patient. The doctor says, “Good news, Mr. Figby! The insurance company says you’re well.” Saying so doesn’t make it so. Even when the “saying” is done by the authorities.
Change is hard
In 1803, a British civil service job was created. A watchman was told to stand on the Cliffs of Dover with a spyglass. It was an important job. He was to look across the English Channel toward France. When he saw Napoleon coming, he was to ring an alarm bell…
The Gatekeeper’s Question
I told this story in one of my books. But it’s worth repeating and retelling. The story is of a traveler who approached the gates of an ancient city. The gatekeeper sat quietly, and listened as the traveler announced that he had left his old city and was looking for…
The Shadow
An old cartoon features a fairyland that was tyrannized by a dark force called “The Shadow.” All the fairies, elves, and animals in the kingdom fled in terror of “The Shadow.” The residents lived in such fear and trembling that the entire kingdom was about to turn into one huge…
Go Gentile Into This Good Day
Every person you meet today is hurting deep inside from something. Go gentle into this good day. I wrote those words after reading a heart-wrenching short story by Raymond Carver called “A Small, Good Thing.” It’s a story two families . . . a baker and a couple who is…
What’s Your Starch?
Not long ago a member of the church gave me a magnet to put on our refrigerator. Now, this is not one of those nice sayings or cute little ornaments. No. This was a miniature ironing board, iron and can of spray starch. That may not be significant to you…
Who, Me?
A much-overweight, out-of-shape man decided to take up tennis. He took several lessons from a pro. He also read several self-help books which advised him to “think positively” and “develop a winning attitude.” A friend asked him how his tennis was going. He replied, “When my opponent hits the ball…
Calvin and Hobbes
Too many churches track their turnstiles more than their turnarounds, turnabouts and turning points: There is a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip: “I need to get a heart rate monitor.” The tiger asks “What for?” “To make sure I’m chewing at my aerobic threshold! Every day I want…