Ten Second Sermons
Exploring Faith with Haiku
by
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Chapter 5: Love, Love, and More Love You can’t really love Until you’ve poured out your hate Every single drop It overlooks flaws It ignores inconvenience True love is always Compliments are free And a treasure to many So be generous In all that you do Make kindness continuous Not once in a while Let great love and faith Be my lasting legacy From my short time here Show his love to all But on that sacred mission Don’t forget yourself When you fight a fight Let your only weapons be Grace, mercy, and love Live like a servant Loving others without strings Like his supreme gift Don’t forget to love And never take for granted Those who matter most Show how we’re different Treat your worst of enemies Like your dearest friend When love goes away With your heart turning to hate You must go find it Remember to love When you don’t know the answer You’ll always be right Just one drop of love Has the power to replace An ocean of hate If your heart won’t bend As you navigate through love Then it’s sure to break Love doesn’t possess Or control or dominate It treasures and builds Jesus Christ is love Christianity and hate Cannot coexist We have a potion Given by God to cure hate Undiluted love For a love that’s pure You can’t give just a portion Only your whole heart
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About the Book
Ten Second Sermons uses a faith-based haiku format to encourage and challenge both individual readers and the church as a whole. Mark Lidtke, a devoted Christian who served as a public middle school teacher for three decades, shares how the Lord has guided him even when he struggled with his faith. As he approached retirement, he found himself in a time of reflection, and he prayed. God was quick to answer, and his faith was ignited as he wrote haikus – something he often used to promote learning as a teacher. In this book exploding with powerful verses, he tackles a number of topics, such as love, empathy, revelation, and how Christians can live for Jesus. The haikus can be used for daily inspiration or as building blocks that will help you celebrate a deepening relationship with Christ. Whether you’re struggling with your faith or want to cultivate a connection with God for the first time, this book will inspire you to live your best life.
About the Author
Mark Lidtke was born in Oregon, which led to a love of the outdoors, especially camping. A public middle school teacher for three decades, he was a team leader, talented and gifted coordinator, ran a volunteer service project, and served on numerous committees. He also mentored at-risk students, coached sports, and served as a student teacher mentor for Western Oregon University, Willamette University, and Corban University.