This is a space for anyone reading the Lent Book (Giving it up) to write down thoughts/ideas/helpful things they’ve found in reading the book.
This is a space for anyone reading the Lent Book (Giving it up) to write down thoughts/ideas/helpful things they’ve found in reading the book.
February 18, 2010 at 11:58 pm |
Reading the Ash Wednesday entry brought back a lot of memories. Maggi Dawn mentions Steve Fairnie, who people of a certain age will remember for his involvement with Fish Co and Techno Twins. He was a Bristolian and died very suddenly in 1993 at the age of 42 of an asthma attack while leading a field-trip in Devon. He was one of the most vibrant and entertaining Christians of his generation and made a profound impact on many lives both inside and beyond the church. Ash Wednesday confronts us with our own mortality – just as the death of someone as young as Fairnie does. For me Lent is not so much about giving things up as about ensuring that my priorities are right – a time of spiritual examination and an opportunity to refocus on living the abundant life that Jesus came to bring us.
February 26, 2010 at 8:15 am |
Been reflecting a lot this week on the story of Marjoe Gartner. It is a haunting episode – as a friend once commented, those involved in religion often seem to confuse prophets with profits. Last night I was talking with someone who has been attending a large local church who have a facility for people to give by credit card at their services – her concern is that the church is actually encouraging vulnerable people to go into debt by the way in which they combine this facility with their aggressive teaching on tithing.
One of the great features of Lent is that it allows us to strip bear these pretensions and to examine our motivations. There is something stunningly attractive about the simplicity of Jesus’ ministry and his desire to embrace the Father’s way of reaching out to the world.
February 28, 2010 at 9:53 pm |
test reply
February 28, 2010 at 9:52 pm |
I’ve really enjoyed seeing how she often takes a different slant on stories that I thought I knew. I’m not always sure I agree with her, but that’s fine because I’m therefore thinking about it more, and trying to hear God through it. I was particularly struck today with the story of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice Isaac. I’ve always seen it as to Abraham’s credit that he was obedient, and it was a test from God. She suggestst that it’s not the only way it could have happened. Previously Abraham had argued with God, and maybe it was the thing Abraham needed to learn about, but it could have happened a different godly way. I guess that just made me think about the possibilities in life, and how I can’t second guess God, but how he calls us to work in creative partnership with him. It reminded me of a bit in CS Lewis’s book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, where Lucy has just learned something that is damaging a friendship, and she says to Aslan, ‘would we have gone on being friends?’ and Aslan says no-one can ever know what would have happened, but we can all find out what can happen. Not sure this is very coherent!
March 16, 2010 at 10:05 am |
Interested in her take on Mothering Sunday. She argues strongly that the way it has changed into ‘Mothers Day’ makes it an extremely difficult day for lots of women. What do other people think about this? Is there anything we can do about this?
March 17, 2010 at 10:04 am |
I found this interesting because a couple of years ago I suggested giving a small gift to Dads on Father’s Day in church and one of the issues raised then was, what about men who aren’t fathers and want to be, but we celebrate motherhood every year. I know we give flowers to all ladies, but I think that must only slightly help.
The thing is, she arguest that originally the point of the day was to go home to your mother church, if you worked away from where you grew up, as many children and adults did. But that isn’t any more biblical than Mother’s Day. And in an age when most people don’t go to church, strikes me as not something we can realistically go back to. I do wonder whether our emphasis on Mothering Sunday should be the family of God, celebrating how we belong together in him, and maybe it should be up to families to show appreciation for their Mums.
March 17, 2010 at 3:40 pm |
Reading the three stories about the storms at sea, sometimes it seems Jesus is asleep when we need him and the heightened fear when things are not as they seem, as when the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost in the midst of the storm. We were reminded that Jesus is with us in the midst our storms.
We speculated on why Mark doesn’t include Peter’s walking on the water and were surprised that the author made no comment about the different endings to the two accounts. Mark says “their hearts were hardened” and Matthew says “those in the boat worshpped saying truly you are the Son of God.”
We thought about the story of Legion and how it is right that people who have been helped are not allowed to become dependent and also how difficult it can be for people to adapt to such dramatic change.
We all agreed that it is important to include everyone in Mothers Day and following on from idea of a mid lent breakfast… why not have a special celebration lunch on Mothers Day for the whole church?
Church history in this chapter was interesting to a point, but not crucial, helpful to some and confusing to others.
On the whole the group have enjoyed this book despite occasional critisms. We have found it makes us think about our preconceptions of our Lord and God. Lent is not so much about our willpower, it is by grace that we saved not through our own efforts.