The Years the Locusts Have Stolen | Leonard Sweet, LenTalk#135, PTS, Lectionary Semiotics, 23OCT22

About this sermon

Everyone needs a face lift. Not just people in their 50s and 60s who think they need added assistance in fighting gravity. Everyone needs a face lift. A face lift that says with the psalmist, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” A face lift that helps us face up to the challenges and obstacles in front of us, and a face lift that helps us face into your fears and struggles. Repentance is facing toward the face of God, which entails an about-face (metanoia) from dread and stress and a U-turn from staring at our face to facing the face of God’s mercy and love. Martial arts teaches that the best strategy when faced with a fighter is not to fight. If you can walk away, walk. If you can run, run. Run fast, run far. Fighting is never good. But if you can’t walk or run away, face in. Get as close to your opponent as fast as you can, as face to face and skin to skin as possible. In that closeness you have the greatest control and can react the quickest. Your greatest vulnerability is the key to your greatest victory. I end this LenTalk with an ancient Hasidic tale about heaven and hell that is captured in this photo. The story is not just an oldie but goodie, but a golden oldie that can be told over and over again. The Lectionary Passages for the Week of 23 October 2022 are: Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 Luke 18:9-14 We would love for you to hit the "subscribe" button for these vlogs. Don't forget to hit the Notification Bell so that you never miss our most recent video. Support Len’s Ministry through his 510-c-3 “SpiritVenture Ministries” (SVM) https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WLM4V9GAJDRVL Become a SpiritVenture Ministries (SVM) Supporter at $9/month or a Tribe of Issachar Member at $49/month http://preachthestory.com/donate/ Follow Leonard Sweet on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonard.sweet Twitter: https://twitter.com/lensweet (Sweet’s daily micro-blogs) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lensweet (Sweet’s daily blogs) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preachthestory #LeonardSweet #repentance #restoration #repentancerestoration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preachthestorycommunity (Specifically for preachers and others who love those who preach) Access sermons, conferences, and more Leonard Sweet activities: https://preachthestory.com/ (hundreds of written sermons) https://www.facebook.com/thesalishseapress (Sweet’s newest publications) https://salishsea.press/ https://the-salish.com (Orcas Island getaway cottages for board, staff and church advances (aka “retreats”) #leonardsweet #semiotics