For the last several weeks, I’ve been collecting interesting tidbits, prayers, sayings and Scripture. There is no connecting thread except to say that I found each one interesting. I hope you will too.

 

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A prayer to start or end your day…

 

Be our light in the darkness O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night.

 

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous and all for your love’s sake.

 

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

 

— From Book of Common Prayer

 

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Did you know? “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” — Stephen R. Covey

 

Did you know? “It is almost physiologically impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re wearing bright red pants.” — Designer Jessi Arrington

 

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Worst Honeymoon ever… Stefan and Erika Svanstorm of Stockholm Sweeden took a four month honeymoon in December 2010. These were their adventures during those four months…

 

  • Munich – Caught in one of Europe’s worst blizzards ever
  • Cairns, Australia – Weathered cyclone, were evacuated and spent 24 hours on a cement floor in a shopping center with 2,500 evacuees.
  • Brisbane, Australia – Stuck in floods
  • Perth, Australia – Narrowly escaped bushfires.
  • Christchurch, New Zealand – Arrived shortly a 6.3 magnitude-earthquake hit.
  • Tokyo, Japan – survived the earthquake.
  • Stockholm – Returned home, damaged but marriage still intact.

 

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Your kidding – A man illegally brought a gun into a bar, got injured in a fight and then sued the bar for not searching him for a weapon.

 

Bizarre Job Listings – Wanted: Bed Warmer. Are you a warm body? The London Holiday Inn is looking for someone to roll around our guest’s bed (without the guest!) for five minutes until the sheets are nice and toasty.

 

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A favorite chorus and Prayer…

 

Day by day; Day by day.

Oh dear Lord, three things I pray.

To see thee more clearly.

Love thee more dearly.

Follow thee more nearly.

Day by day.

— Godspell

 

From Gospel of John…

 

A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

 

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep.

 

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[x] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God.

 

Then Jesus told him, “Follow Me.”                 –John 21:17-19

 

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Good advice…

 

Patrick Lencioni asked six simple questions to guide any organization seeking purpose. I would think any church could ask the same questions.

 

  1. Why do we exist?
  2. How do we behave?
  3. What do we do?
  4. How will we succeed?
  5. What is most important right now?
  6. Who must do what?

 

Lencioni goes on to say: “If you can rally around clear answers to these fundamental questions – without using jargon and flowery language – you will have a much better chance of having a healthy organization. Answering these questions is as difficult as it is simple. Simple because it doesn’t require great intellectual capacity  or cleverness. Difficult because it requires honest dialogue and a real time commitment.”

 

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Give us, O Lord, we pray: Firm faith, unwavering hope, a passion for justice.

 

Pour into our hearts: The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and spiritual strength, the spirit of knowledge and true compassion, and the spirit of wonder in all your works.

Light eternal, shine in our hearts; Power eternal deliver us from evil; Wisdom eternal, scatter the darkness of our ignorance, might eternal, have mercy on us.

 

Grant that we may ever seek your face, with all our heart and soul and strength; and in your infinite mercy, bring us at last to the fullness of your presence where we shall behold your glory and live your promised joys.

 

In your name O Christ, Our body and our blood, our life and our nourishment. Amen.

 

Alcuin