Lenten thoughts 2010

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[AgathaL'Orange]

I wanted to open up a thread... (hope that's okay Puff) where we could share lenten thoughts or verses as we look ahead to celebrating Easter/Pascha.  I know we have people here from the Reformed Baptists, Baptist, non-denominational, Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (don't we?), Reformed... that's all I can think of now.  Did I miss anyone?

Anyway, obviously we all reflect a different way.  But I would love to hear other's thoughts and to have a place to share my thoughts (which this year probably aren't going to be your typical lenten reflections and are probably going to have a lot to do with mind control LOL).  Oh dear.  

Today I was thinking this:

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me."  Simple yet huge.  It made me think of what I might be doing in my own life to prevent this in my kids.  

[BTDT]

Evangelical Covenant now, but grew up Lutheran (Missouri Synod). Add in Old GC, Formerly GC, Baptist, New GCM, and a smattering of Evangelical Free and one I can't remember.  Sorta reminds me of "Gee, Officer Krupke" in West Side Story -- "Goodness, gracious, that's why I'm a mess!" 

Through all of that, I never really observed Lent. None of the churches I've been to have really made a deal out of it. Closest I've come has been the local obsession with Paczkis the day before.    So I don't really know where to start, but I'm looking forward to reading some good thoughts here. 

-B

[AgathaL'Orange]

I'm glad you are looking forward to this!  I am too.  Anyone is welcome to join in.

Here's my thought for today:

"Sometimes God sends me moments in which I am utterly at peace.  In those moments I have constructed for myself a creed in which everything is clear and holy for me.  Here it is:  to believe that there is nothing more beautiful, more profound, more sympathetic, more reasonable, more courageous and more perfect than Christ; and no only is there nothing, but I tell myself in jealous love that never could there be."

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Actually I have two thoughts... I also want to include this sweet prayer for children.  I don't force my children to pray, but I do pray over them and around them at times.  Similar to how my mother prayed for me every day with her arms around me before I went to school in the morning.  Anyway, I think this little prayer from a child's perspective is precious.

A Child's Morning Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the bright sunlight of a new day.
As You made the sun to rise in the heavens, so come to shine in my life today.  For you are the Light of the world.  Guide me, direct me, lead me that I may do Your holy will and please You in all that I do this day.  Bless my parents, teachers, and all who care for me.  Amen.

[Linda]

Similar to how my mother prayed for me every day with her arms around me before I went to school in the morning.

Precious.

[AgathaL'Orange]

Try me, O God, and discern my paths; see if there is a way of transgression in me, and turn me away from it; and lead me into the eternal way, O God, You who have said, "I am the way, and the truth and the life," for you are blessed unto the ages.  Amen.
St.  Macarius of Alexandra, 4th Century

ALO note:  It gives me a thrill to pray the words of a Christian from the 4th century!  But even more than that is how the prayer shares my same thoughts.  Help me!  Save me!  Give me strength!  Hide me in You, Father!  Give me discernment!  Help me to have no sacred cows...  I want to do what is right...

[AgathaL'Orange]

From Psalm 139
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.
         
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.
         
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You.
         
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I wanted to make two posts today.  The second is a sweet little excerpt from a children's book I started with my kids.  it's called Pictures of God by John Kosmas Skinas, and it's all about icons. 

Here's what I read to one of my children today:

Before you, before your parents, before everyone and everything, there was God.
There was never a time that God wasn't.
And if it weren't for God, there would be nothing:  no trees, no animals, no friends, no love.
His hands shaped the mountains; his breath colored the flowers; and His eyes beamed when they beheld the centerpiece of His creation.
Do you know what this centerpiece is?  You!
Along with all the people you know and don't know, all the people you love very much and those you love very little-- you are the crown of His creation.

[LucyB]

ALO:

What a sweet devotional for your child! This year, Lent is taking on a new and emerging meaning for me. I have been following a Lenten blog. Since you said your thoughts may run toward mind control with children, I thought I'd share todays reflection with you.

http://theawkwardseason.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/finding-our-way/

[AgathaL'Orange]

Lucy B, thank you for sharing that.  When I read the links, these verses stuck out to me.

From Romans 10--  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

All the paths of the Lord are
steadfast love and
faithfulness,
for those who keep his
covenant and his decrees.

– Psalm 25:10

Today at my church was the Sunday of Orthodoxy, where we remember the people who have been Christians through the centuries.  It is a Sunday of remembrance and gratitude for those who have fought to preserve the jewel that is the church.  It was wonderful to hear the children answer this question, "What beings are made in the image of God?"  Their answer, "Human Beings!"   
Thank you, God!

[AgathaL'Orange]

This is from Frederica Mathewes-Green's book:  The Open Door

And we are captives:  "Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin," Jesus said.  In a bitter paradox, our self-willed exercise of freedom, our defiant assertion of power and choice enslaves us.  Every choice outside of the will of God is like choosing to live without oxygen.  He is light and life, and striking out in another direction is death.  Even worse, it is enslavement, as Jesus said; it is coming under the power of another, who wants to hurt us.

Jesus' victory was targeted.  It was a victory OVER someone, the "Evil One" whom He, in the Lord's Prayer, instructs us to pray to be delivered from.  It turns out that God and humans aren't the only forces in the universe.  If that's the case, sin isn't just a private affair, a matter of goofing up in an excusable, only-human way.  It is holding out your wrists and asking to be manacled.  It will confine you here, entombed in a pit.

The sin in our hearts, which seems so insignificant, is just one tributary of a dark river uniting us spiritually with those who torture, hate, and kill.  We are amateurs, dabbling in backbiting and gossip perhaps, showing off, telling weasely lies.  We're like the sidekicks in a movie, who tail after the big boss and yell, "You get 'em!" in our pipsqueak voices.  We do our part to help this cause, by being sullen or envious, and by thinking up zingers that will humiliate someone we dislike.


We are captives.  Our minds are captive.  We love evil rather than good, darkness rather than light (John 3:19).  We have the illusion that we are nice people, and do not know that we are lost, vulnerable, imprisoned, captives of the Evil that hates all human life.  Jesus says to us, as He did to the lukewarm church at Laodicea, "You say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked" Rev 3:17.

We are pitiable.  

Jesus takes pity on us.  This is why we call Him "Savior."  He saves us, literally from a fate worse than death, a situation we waltzed into willingly, and couldn't escape to save our lives.   Jesus hauls crouching Adam up by the wrist, and all he can do  is be grateful.  The more we realize what we have been rescued from, the more grateful we are; the deeper we see into the pit, the higher we glimpse the peaks of God's love."

[lone gone]

Your posting brought to my mind this excerpt from Don Matzat's Book "Christ Esteem"

In your reading about the experiences of Christians who progressed in their relationship with the Lord Jesus beyond the norm, you will note the combination of a deep sense of sin and failure together with a deep appreciation for what God accomplished in Christ Jesus.  Men such as Calvin, Luther, Wesley, CS Lewis, Shaeffer, were not afraid to speak of their sinful nature and even boast of their weaknesses, because they possessed a new life in Christ.......
 
Arriving at a accurate self-knowledge based upon the divine assessment of our lives is a very difficult but necessary step in finding our life in Christ.  If we do not know ourselves and come to grips with the depth of sin within our hearts, our relationship with Jesus will remain superficial.
 
 
Our sinful pride fights against the exposure of our thoughts, intentions, motives, and desires.  But without such exposure, we become easy prey to the wiles of the devil who knows our hearts and is able to exploit our weaknesses....By failing to know ourselves, unmask our pretensions, and come to grips with the reality of our corrupted human existence, we live a lie.  While God says we are sinners, we want to be considered saints, so we live a charade.  Our greatest fear becomes being unmasked.  While our righteousness is as filthy rags, we want to be known as good people, so our lives become controlled by the opinions of others.
 
 
the  pursuit of self-knowledge is an endless task.Biblical Christianity and humanistic psychology do agree on the one basic point that we must come to a knowledge of ourselves, but for different purposes.  While humanistic psychology teaches us to know ourselves so we might feel good about ourselves, biblical Christianity teaches us to know ourselves so that we might turn away from ourselves and discover our and identity in Christ Jesus.


amd yes, I am one of the Lutherans here. Ora Et Labora

[AgathaL'Orange]

Thanks, Long Gone... I knew we had a Lutheran here somewhere  .

Here's my thought today (Well, CS Lewis' thought that I wish I would have thought of!):

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. – C.S. Lewis
Is Theology Poetry?

This is exactly how I feel about Christianity.  I've been reading a lot by NT Wright lately, and he writes so much better than I can the very feeling within our bones that Christ is the answer.

Whenever I have started at square one to check and recheck my commitment to Christ and even to the existence of A God.  There is something from deep within me that calls out to God, not just A God, but to OUR God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I've been reading Simply Christian by NT Wright, and I LOVE how he sums up so well, how all of creation longs for justice and things to be "right".  That's how we were created to long for this.  People have become confused trying to either create the kingdom through strange rules or regulations or control OR by getting caught up in false religions that in comparison to NO belief system offer a bit of comfort in the promise of peace that simple "spirituality" might offer.  But there is no duplicate, no replacement for Christianity and the resurrection of Christ the Messiah. 

[AgathaL'Orange]

Indeed we find the idea of worshiping statues so bizarre that we even laugh with contempt at those who do it.  Yet far more dangerous than statues that are visible are the numerous idols which are invisible.  Power is such an idol.  Some people who possess powerful personalities desire power for themselves, and in this way make it their idol.  Others like to be under the sway of a powerful personality, who makes decision on their behalf, and in this way releases them from making moral choices for themselves; thus making the powerful person their idol.  Fame is another invisible idol.  Some people with the gift of speech love to bask in the warmth of adulation, and so make the admiration of others their idol.  Those others find perverse pleasure in treating the gifted speaker as a god, whose every word must be treated as infallible.  What I am saying is that the most dangerous idols are not outward objects made of wood and clay, but reside inside the human heart.

St.  John Chrysostom 347-407 AD

[AgathaL'Orange]

Isaiah 6:1-12
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven." And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." And he said, "Go, and say to this people: 'Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: "Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without men, and the land is utterly desolate, and the LORD removes men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land."

[AgathaL'Orange]

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
C. S. Lewis


O Lord, give me strength to greet the coming day in peace. 

[Rebekah]

Thanks for these thoughts, Agatha.

For Lent and because it's kind of intense, I've been avoiding GC sermons. If I feel the need to listen to a sermon, I'm trying to find something more "edifying". But, honestly, I've just been watching a lot of tv.  

It's hard because, as bad as it sounds (and is?), I don't know if I have a fervent faith in me anymore. Believing so strongly and so completely seems a little exhausting. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever had much actual faith. I believed in Christ because I was a child born into a Christian family that went to a persuasive fundamentalist church. And because I was told many times that the Bible and the Resurrection had been proven scientifically.

As I got older, when I doubted Christianity for one reason or another, I was thrown for such a tailspin that I did whatever I needed to in order to believe again (usually by remembering C.S. Lewis's Lord, liar, or lunatic argument). I literally felt like I wanted to kill myself when I had doubts, so I didn't let them linger long enough for me to do any actual searching.

Recently, I watched From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians on PBS's Frontline. For the first time I heard what scholars think about Jesus and the Gospels, and I realized how much faith really is required to be a Christian.

Maybe because I'm older or because my whole life doesn't revolve around a church, I feel like I could still be "me" and not be a Christian.

Probably the worst part of all of this is that I don't even know where or how to begin finding the truth. I'm not sure it can be proved archaeologically or scientifically. And if the resurrection can't actually be proven, am I willing to believe anyway? Who knew I was such a skeptic?!

Despite all of this, though, I am still fasting for Lent, though I'm not always sure why. As much as I love my church--the beauty, the mystery, the sacredness--it takes faith for me to even pray, "Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief."

So, if anyone has any good books to read, let me know!  

(I swear, who needs a journal when we've got the forum! Thanks for indulging me.)

[G_Prince]

Thanks for these thoughts, Agatha.

For Lent and because it's kind of intense, I've been avoiding GC sermons. If I feel the need to listen to a sermon, I'm trying to find something more "edifying". But, honestly, I've just been watching a lot of tv.  

It's hard because, as bad as it sounds (and is?), I don't know if I have a fervent faith in me anymore. Believing so strongly and so completely seems a little exhausting. In fact, I'm not sure if I've ever had much actual faith. I believed in Christ because I was a child born into a Christian family that went to a persuasive fundamentalist church. And because I was told many times that the Bible and the Resurrection had been proven scientifically.

As I got older, when I doubted Christianity for one reason or another, I was thrown for such a tailspin that I did whatever I needed to in order to believe again (usually by remembering C.S. Lewis's Lord, liar, or lunatic argument). I literally felt like I wanted to kill myself when I had doubts, so I didn't let them linger long enough for me to do any actual searching.

Recently, I watched From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians on PBS's Frontline. For the first time I heard what scholars think about Jesus and the Gospels, and I realized how much faith really is required to be a Christian.

Maybe because I'm older or because my whole life doesn't revolve around a church, I feel like I could still be "me" and not be a Christian.

Probably the worst part of all of this is that I don't even know where or how to begin finding the truth. I'm not sure it can be proved archaeologically or scientifically. And if the resurrection can't actually be proven, am I willing to believe anyway? Who knew I was such a skeptic?!

Despite all of this, though, I am still fasting for Lent, though I'm not always sure why. As much as I love my church--the beauty, the mystery, the sacredness--it takes faith for me to even pray, "Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief."

So, if anyone has any good books to read, let me know!  

(I swear, who needs a journal when we've got the forum! Thanks for indulging me.)

Great thoughts Rebekah. I think you are articulating what we have all felt (and still feel) at one time or another.

I think it's important to think of faith in communal rather than personal terms. We tend to be rogue Christians and place the burden of proof on ourselves. "What I believe...My interpretation of the scriptures...My personal relationship with Christ...etc." When we start to question things (as anyone with a shred of honesty will do) it's easy for Christianity to collapse because it exists only within our minds.

In reality, Christianity is truly cosmic, extending through millions of people throughout time and space. Personal faith, what we believe, is just a fraction of this community. Faith in fullness is impossible to achieve all by ourselves; we need a community of "believers" to conjure the faith required. The burden is not all on us, it is on the church. My faith and yours are inseparably linked. Where my faith ends yours begins and so on throughout the body of Christ.

Doubt will always exist so it is better to make peace with it. We don't have to worry if we have doubts, even of the soul-crisis variety. All we need is the faith of a mustard seed and a body of believers to plant it in. God will take care of the rest. So relax and enjoy the beauty of community this Lent.

[lone gone]

I too, have had to face my doubts. I have tried all the mental tricks such as focusing on something else ( positive thinking or  concentrating on  God's promises ), ignoring the doubts, staying busy with projects or getting hard on other people through preaching or reproving a doubter to hide your own weaknesses.

In the end, if you are going to be honest with yourself and be real with God, you have to accept your doubts and join the man who exclaimed  "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"

I firmly believe that someone who can honestly explore the other side of their faith such as an alternative viewpoint, honestly assess it in spite of the fear of what you may find, trust God to keep you safe even while facing danger and respectfully listen..... that person will in the end become stronger in their faith in God and not their faith in their understanding.

Yes, I can face the prospects that the words in the Bible were written by men, have changed over time, may not be understood by modern man the same way as it was understood by ancient man, and may not mean what we think they mean.

Think of the disciples who misunderstood the words of Christ before he headed for Jerusalem. That is us, even today.   There is no way to come to a complete understanding and we must face that fact squarely.

Accepting uncertainty is the hallmark of human maturity.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I have tried to reply to this new thread several times today, and I just don't think I can come up with anything that adds to what has already been said.  I love the "mustard seed planted in the community" picture.  I also agree that it has been refreshing to stay away from GC sermons and writings.  It may be time for me to be done with that... we'll see.  I love the lent "reset" button.  It really does help me reset myself to the elemental things of the faith.  Perhaps it's time for us to have an exodus to a new forum, full of what we want to be "for" instead of "against"!

Much love to all of you. You are not alone!

Here's a little quote from Dostoyevsky---

"It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt."

I love that.

[MidnightRider]

Perhaps it's time for us to have an exodus to a new forum, full of what we want to be "for" instead of "against"!

IMHO it is OK to do that on this forum.