What I’m doing for Lent.

21 Feb posted by

It’s Lent.  Usually people give stuff up for lent but seeing as I’ve already given up meat, dairy and eggs {along with most rich desserts} I’m not quite sure what’s left to give up.  I could attempt to give up facebook or twitter but that would last two days and why set myself up for failure.

Thinking seriously about Lent I realized that giving stuff up is easier for me then adding it.  Adding stuff to my already busy life is hard and I constantly find excuses to not do things.  This year I’m adding God into my life.  In truth I reflect quite a lot for worship preparation but I can be lazy when it comes to me time.  I’m adding personal theological reflection to my life and it begins right here:

‘Forgiveness’ {also known as Chapter 7 of Mere Christianity} is where this project begins.   I’ve been attempting to finish this book for weeks.  After I finish this book I will begin another.   There is a stack of books that I want to read and I intend to set time aside each day to do so.   The list is quite long and I’m not sure if I’ll finish but I intend to give it my best effort.

I know you might be thinking that this is a lot for 40 days.  It is.  I really don’t expect to finish but I need a goal, something to strive for.  I want to explore faith and reflection from a personal standpoint.  I’ve left it wide open and included so much choice because I want to be able to move where the spirit leads me.  I want to read as I am inspired and contemplate the issues that leap out at me as I go.  As I opened the Bible this morning as a first attempt at personal time this passage was the one I saw first.

Found in the Wisdom of Solomon it struck a chord with me.  Lent is a daily journey to help us prepare to meet the risen Christ.  I hope this period of reflection and prayer will help me see what needs to be corrected in my life and help me find passion and purpose in the things God has planned for me.

Now you know what I’m doing for Lent.  What are you doing?

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Filed Under: Bible, Christianity, Faith, Lent, Musings, Reflections

My dinner with Paul

21 Feb posted by

I had an interesting conversation with my brother last night at dinner.  Many people {okay my husband} shake their head when I sit beside my brother because it inevitably turns to Jesus/God/Church/Religion and last night it took about 5 seconds.   We talked about his dissatisfaction with organized religion.  He said a lot {I really should invite him to guest post} and it was important stuff.

My brother doesn’t believe that ‘church’ works anymore. He lamented his lack of voice and regards the money spent on hierarchy and structures to be a waste that could be redirected to something useful in the community.  He said the rules and rigidity are so defined that he cannot find a place for his piece in the puzzle.

He might not believe it but these are issues I think about all the time.  I try to think up ways to give everyone in the Church a voice and ownership over their worship experience.  I get frustrated when our rules prevent us from doing ministry and don’t allow for flexibility.  I wonder if we can ever move towards a faith that finds it’s energy spent on people and experiencing God in the world {as opposed to buildings, budgets and tradition}.

No matter how disgruntled I get and how many times I question the point of what I am doing I cannot find it in me to give up.  When asked why I continue I can honestly say I have too much passion for the message.  I still have my sense of calling.  I have seen too many circumstances where the Church or some part of it has truly made a difference in the lives of it’s members.  There is a need for community, for shared history and craving to truly know God in this world.

With all of that said I have a feeling that this conversation will happen again and I really hope that there will be some kind of progress forward that I can report back on.  Is it too much to hope for?

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Filed Under: Faith, Hope, Musings, Reflections
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