Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

Lent

What is Lent? Well, according to Websters 1828 Dictionary, lent is:

The quadragesimal fast, or fast of forty days observed by the christian church before Easter, the festival of our Savior's resurrection. It begins at Ash Wednesday, and continues till Easter.

Okay, I guess that's right, but while normally Websters can make things clear to me, I am still in the dark. I am not Catholic, but I married into a Catholic family. Of course I am not aware of any of them actually doing anything for Lent, so I I'm not sure I can get a good answer from them either. Thus I did as I so often do, and turned to the internet. After doing a few Google searches, I came across a website (http://www.wilstar.com/holidays/lent.htm) that gave me some good, quick and clear answers. I will give a brief summery from what I have gathered:

The highlight of the year for Christians is Easter, the day when our Lord rose from the dead. Lent is a forty-day season of preparation for Easter. Lent always begins on a Wednesday, called Ash Wednesday.

Why 40 days? Because, Jesus fasted and was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. Lent, then, is our time of fasting, prayer, temptation and repentance. Lent is not required anywhere in scriptures, but it has been a custom, which Christians have practiced for most of the last two thousand years.

In many languages, the word "Lent" actually means "fast." This is where the custom of giving up something for Lent originated.

However, just to confuse things, Lent is actually 46 days rather than 40 days. Why? Because the 40 days of Lent are supposed to be days of fasting, which means days of discipline and self-restraint. But Sunday, the Lord's Day, should never be a day of fasting, but a day of celebration! So each Sunday we suspend our Lenten disciplines and celebrate. Lent is 40 "fasting" days spread out over a total of 46 days beginning on Ash Wednesday.

The focus of Lent was always threefold:

1. It was a time to prepare new converts for baptism through intensive classes and instruction.
   
2. It was a time for long-standing Christians to review their lives and renew their commitment to Jesus Christ.
   
3. It was a time for backsliders to be restored to the faith.
   

In every case, it is a time for serious, disciplined self-examination, a time spent in intensive prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary.

To represent the dark and serious business of Lent, one custom has been to strip the sanctuary of all flowers, candles, and colors during Lent. This custom helps us to turn inward and examine ourselves, even as it reminds us of the dark and colorless Sabbath day when Jesus lay dead in the tomb.

Put simply, Lent is a time to examine ourselves carefully. Here are some questions upon which you might pray and meditate during Lent:

• Am I sharing gladly what I have with others, especially the stranger and the poor?
  
• Do I have a gracious and patient attitude with others, especially those who irritate me?
  
• Do I feel the power of connection to God and the church in corporate worship?
  
• How is my devotional and prayer life progressing? Am I listening to God more and complaining less? Is it time for a change or a growth in my Bible study and prayer life?
  
• What are the lurking sin problems, which still plague me?
  
• Am I as thoughtful and forgiving of family as others, or do I take my frustrations out on them?
  
• Do I speak up for the maligned and oppressed, or do I remain silent in order to remain popular?
  

So what does all this mean to me? Well, it gives me a guideline, a starting point for something that I have needed to do for a long time now. You see, I hold to the view of "Once saved, Always saved", so I don't question my salvation, but I do question how healthy my relationship with the Lord is. There was a time when I wanted to go into the ministry, but the Lord has shown me that I am not ready for this. Paul writes to Timothy regarding the Qualifications of being a minister. One of these is that a minister must have his household in order, as how can a minister expect to lead a congregation when he can't lead his own home. There are many problems taking place at home. No, there are no plans of divorce or anything like that, but there are nonetheless many issues that show me I am not yet ready for ministry (on a side note though, this last Sunday, due to bad weather, I was given the chance to fill in and teach Sunday school class at church, which tells me that the Lord does still have plans for me). As such, I plan to take the spirit of Lent as described above and apply it to my life, starting on Wednesday (02/17/10) thru Easter (4/04/10).

What do I hope to gain from this? I have quite a list, which I will share with anyone reading this.

• Rebuild my relationship with God.
  
• Get back into a routine of Bible study. One way that I am going to do this is by going to Setting Captives Free (http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/) and doing their online study titled "the Cross". This is a Bible study course designed to help you get focused on Christ. This is a 60 day course, so it will be going on after Lent actually ends, but hopefully by the end to Lent, I will be in the habit of setting aside time to have personal bible study.
  
• Overcome personal sins. There are those "besetting sins" that I constantly battle with. One example is weight. There have been many times when my weight has prevented me from doing all I could, either for God (as when I have been on missions trips). There are also times when my weight has kept me from being my best with my family (either I'm too tired or in a bad mood because of my weight). These "besetting sins" need to be put under control so they no longer come between me and my relationship with God or my family. As such, I plan to follow my understanding of fasting during Lent. I will primarily consume juices and soups, but will also allow myself some fruits and vegetables Monday – Saturday. Sundays I will eat normal meals (but eat "wisely, not as a glutton).
  
• Other areas I need to restrict is cutting back on television viewing and internet browsing. Way too much time is wasted in these activities (and all too often one can get drawn into areas they should avoid anyway), focusing this time gained into doing things with my family or in prayer and meditation with God.
  
• Read my Bible more!!!
  

During this time of Lent, I will be using this blog as a journal of my experiences and thoughts during Lent. I pray that this will lead me to where I need to be, and will be a help to others.

Turning to God from idols

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9 KJV)

In various other books written by the Apostle Paul, Paul writes in order to correct actions or to answer questions those churches had. In 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 1, Paul writes to praise theThessalonian people. They are overcoming. They are growing in their walk with the Lord, and in verse 9 he shows us how this is being done: the people have turned to God from their idols. Notice it is not the other way around: The people did not turn from their idols, but rather they turned to God.

Idolatry is a sin, and it is easy to turn from sin. WHAT? Did I really say that? Yes. The problem is that we often turn from one sin to another sin. How often do we hear about one who has stopped drinking, but takes up smoking? Or stops smoking but gains weight because they are now over eating? All too often, when we turn from one sin, we sink into another darker sin. For instance, if you read about King David in 2nd Samuel Chapter 11, we find that David should have been off to war. Instead, David sends Joab and the troops, while David himself "tarries" in Jerusalem. I'm sure that David thought he had valid reason to lag behind. He was the king. He could have thought that he deserved some time off from battle. Perhaps, by resting, he felt he would be refreshed, being a better leader in the times to come. But scripture doesn't tell us how David felt. Scripture cuts to the chase – David tarried. Tarried means that David chose to delay, to wait behind, to procrastinate. How many of us have not done this before. And while we may not want to call that a sin, we often don't see things the way God sees things.

David procrastinates. By doing so David sees Bathsheba, This leads to David falling prey to lust in his mind for Bathsheba. That lust turns into adultery, which next leads to the planning and finally murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah. At any point had David turned to God, this downward spiral would have been broken. Instead, David turns from one sin to another, sinking deeper and deeper.

The Thessalonians were turning to God. Turning to God first will automatically keep you from other sins.

In a previous post (The Vomit of your sins…), I address this topic, and at that time I mentioned that we often fall back into our sins (Psalms 26:11). The only way we can stop the cycle, to stop either turning form one sin to a deeper, darker sin, or returning to the same "pet" sins that we favor, is to turn to God.

Normally Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year, but this year was not, at least not in regards to how I felt things should have been at home. But that is when I remembered IT. IT happened again. It took problems with my family to remind me that it was not about what I wanted Christmas to be like (a quiet day at home with the family, opening gifts, watching videos and such), but that I needed to be keeping HIM first in my sights.

I need to remember that I need to keep Jesus first. Jesus can fix all my problems, but Jesus is not some little genie that I can pull out and command to fix my problems. Only when I am walking with Him will things be right. Jesus is going to make things right for me, but this takes place only when I am in perfect fellowship with Him, doing as He commands, following His directions, being in God's will. When I am in harmony with his plans for me, in the proper fellowship with Him, all other troubles with either work out, not seem so large, or I will have the understanding to know that what I believe is a problem is not truly an issue.

I need to turn to God. I need to do this first for my family, but also for my health and testimony. Whenever I get depressed, instead of turning to God, I often turn to food. I had originally hoped to maintain my weight over the holidays, and then start a diet. Instead, when problems arose, I turned to food, and as of this morning I weight 270. No more. I must put God first. I must turn to him rather than to food for comfort from my other cares and concerns.

It….

I don't remember the first time I ever heard the story of Christmas, the story of the birth of Jesus, nor when Gods' plan of salvation was first explained to me. In my memory, this is something that has just always been. And there are times when I wish that I did not know the story. You see, with knowing something for a long period of time, there comes a certain level of "callousness" that comes with knowledge.

That is one reason why I love Christmas. You see, even though I get just as caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping and decorating, at some point IT happens. One year IT was while I was up late playing Santa, putting packages under the tree for the kids. Another year IT was while I was driving home on Christmas eve and the roads were empty. What is the IT I am referring to? IT is when that quiet moment hits, when, for just a moment, the Christmas story hits me, and the wonder of it all shines again, when I am amazed at what a wonderful gift that God has given me. And for those few minutes, the callousness of my heart is stripped away. I may not remember the first time I was told the Christmas story, but during this time, I briefly feel the wonder and amazement of Gods' gift to me.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!

- From Luke Chapter 2, Matthew Chapter 1 (KJV) and the Chorus from "What Child is this?"

Perhaps you may believe that this sounds a bit cliché, but this year, remember that Jesus really is the reason for the season.  At some point during this busy time you will have a few moments of quiet.  At that time, sit back and ponder. Allow IT to happen to you, and remember the joy you had when you first heard the message.

Merry Christmas.

To our Veterans

The greatest thing I can say to our veterans this day is this:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
     -John 15:13 (KJV)

God bless you for your service and your sacrifice, and God bless your families