To know Him and make Him known,

Mel

LENT 2010 from Life at the Ridge

Easter where we remember Jesus 40 day fast in the wilderness and join him in a time of fasting for spiritual growth and intimacy.  Many people choose to fast or “give something up” during lent.  I did not grow up with the regular tradition of practicing lent but I have found over the past years that lent is not only a very meaningful time for me but it has also proven to be very powerful in realigning my heart with the heart of Jesus.

Over time, lent for many has become a time to give up something bad.  I would argue however, the intent behind lent is less about giving up something and more about having something to gain.  By following Jesus in fasting, we choose to make our fleshly desires second to our spiritual desires.

I encourage you to consider fasting for lent this year.  Here are a few tips on how I choose what to fast during the lent, I hope you find them helpful.

1.  Don’t fast anything that is purely for personal gain. i.e.  “I will give up sugar and also lose a few pounds.”  Jesus is paying attention to your heart, he get’s it when your fast is selfish in nature.
2.  Choose something that you will feel.  Discomfort reminds of the intent behind the fast and our mission to know, love and follow Jesus.
3.  Examine your life for addictions and dependencies.  Is there something your body or mind is addicted too?  This is a great place to start.
4.  Think about what you stand to gain through the fast.  If you give up Starbucks then you will end up with money.  How could you give that money instead of spending it on yourself?  If you give up television, what will you do with the free time you create?  Consider these resources to be invested into spiritual growth and serving others.
5.  Be honest with yourself and sincere with Jesus.  Again, he wants to grow your heart and its capacity to love more than yourself.

Let me know if you are joining me in fasting for lent this year.

On the mission,
Josh

LENT 2010 Kaleo Church Spokane

Lent: A Heavy Wait Edging Toward Hope

Last night Kaleo hosted an informal yet focused gathering designed to help us enter the season of Lent together.  Our observance of this season, while informed and tethered to centuries of practice by faithful Jesus followers, is not rooted in a desire to appear more spiritual, earn righteousness, etc.  Instead, we recognize the value and need of preparation.  Many among us have demonstrated this through a regiment of bodily exercise focused on an upcoming performance such as Bloomsday.  Others have done so by going back to school in order to prepare for a career that vibes with who they’re made to be.  There are countless examples of how we believe in preparation, and therefore orient our energies accordingly (at home, at work, at school, etc.).  And so the season of Lent is quite fitting, seeing as how it is a preparation for fully engaging the most important event, reality and hope in the history of everything, Easter.

So here is a little resource that we put together (from various sources) to help us enter the season of Lent.  Each day has a suggested exercise intended to help us come to grips with our own sin and struggle, as well as God’s good redemption enacted by Jesus and distributed through the Holy Spirit.  The reason for this is because the Lenten season is closely identified to Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness where he was tempted and overcame the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).  You’ll also notice that each Sunday suggests reading through the story just mentioned, and then enjoying the day.  The reason for this is because throughout Lent Sunday’s serve as days of feasting, as days made to remind us of what’s coming in just a few more Sundays.

So download the resource, honestly confess, repent and believe the Gospel, and let’s walk through this season, “a heavy wait edging toward hope,” together. (And feel free to share your experiences with the calendar resource, and the season in general in the comments section.)  For in our fasting we learn to feast.  In our confession we learn to celebrate.  In our preparation we learn to become, more fully, the good news in the places we’re planted.LNETLEMN

Justin