Text Box: The season of Lent 2009 starts on February 25 and goes through Easter, which is on April 12th. In my twenties I worked at a Roman Catholic run group home for emotionally disturbed teens. One of the directors was Sister Helen, a motorcycle riding nun who was great with the kids. In the season of Lent, I remember Sister Helen giving up smoking and drinking for the season. She always comes to mind when I think of the season of Lent. Our church tradition says little about the Lenten season. Lent was rejected by some during the Reformation because it was believed to be a tradition of Rome and not a biblical tradition. Discoveries since the Reformation show evidence that Lent was started in the first or early second century as a way of preparing for Easter. The central idea of Lent is that we give up some physical pleasure to draw near to God. The western tradition of Lent includes 40 days of fasting meat (Sundays excluded) to identify with Jesus fast of 40 days in the wilderness. I learnt that fish was not considered meat due to the fact that they were not destroyed by the flood as the other animals were. You may or may not chose to participate with Lent this year, but God has called all of us to pursue holiness. I Peter 1:13-16 says, Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Text Box: We all need to wrestle with the implications of the above Scripture. Are we battling our ‘evil desires’ in the choices we make in recreation and entertainment? Does our lifestyle differ from our neighbor because of our faith in Christ? Do we ever give up legitimate pleasures (like eating meat) for the sake of drawing near to God? Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” May we honor God with spiritual acts of worship in this Lenten season. A word of caution is important at this time. Acts of sacrifice do not purchase our salvation. Most religions of the world call for more sacrificing than our tradition does. Hindus give up meat for a lifetime, not just a season. Usually the reason other religions sacrifice so much is that worshippers are trying to find favor with their understanding of god. Our Bible teaches us that salvation is a work of grace, which cannot be earned. Ephesians 2:8,9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Fasting will not earn our way into heaven, but it can enriched our relationship with God. I encourage you to reflect on ways you can strengthen your faith in preparation for Easter week. Is there something you need to give up so that you draw near to God? Are there good habits that you need to embrace to strengthen your faith? I trust that March 2009 will be a good month for you as you grow your faith and draw near to Jesus. God bless! -Pastor Rick

Breastplate Prayer

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Youth Events

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Faith & Reason

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March Events

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Baptism

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Nets Game

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St. Patrick

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Text Box: Reflections on the Season of Lent Text Box: March 2009 Text Box: Fort Lee Gospel Church Text Box: Gospel News