“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.”

We’re moving on through this ‘special’ season of Lent, journeying with Jesus to the Cross and crucifixion. We experienced a wonderful, meaningful and soul-inspiring Ash Wednesday service, where we experienced, in a quiet and touching way, songs of the season, scripture readings and prayers that touched our souls. Together, we experienced the imposition of ashes upon our foreheads, and marched up to the cross that sits in our chancel to remind us of the awful suffering that occurred on the cross, and were reminded, again, of the ‘price’ Jesus paid for each one of us. He died for us, forgave us of our sins and set us free, to live abundantly. WHAT A GIFT THAT WAS! These words I quoted above are an invitation, not an obligation, to be aware, in this special season of the Christian year. But, aware of what, you might be wondering? And, I hope you are! That’s what I’m writing about in this week’s article of “JUST THINKING” — “OBSERVING”.

Why do we “observe” Lent? Why not just “do Lent,” or have Lent”, or “endure” Lent? Because, for this season to be meaningful for us, we have to be paying attention. The invitation is really to SEEK after God more diligently; to OPEN our eyes to the possibilities that God just might have something that we need to hear, to ENTERTAIN the notion that God just might be wanting to spend some quality time with each of us, to finally UNDERSTAND that the burdens that weigh us down are so much more light when we share that load with a loving God  who has nothing but what is best for us in mind.

Again, the liturgy invitation I shared above, is the Church’s traditional way of telling us to WAKE UP, to PUT GOD on our calendars and in our lives. The process of SELF-EXAMINATION, for example, is the attempt to take an honest look at ourselves and to assess what our priorities have been, what values have taken ultimate importance in our lives, and what ruts we have worn into the pathways of our souls, out of which we need to climb. That’s the repentance part – that climbing out of the holes we’ve dug for ourselves, and choosing to live in a different way.

Then, we need to fill our lives with the things that will remind us of God’s presence. Fasting and Self-denial are “disciplines” whereby we set aside something that occupies our thinking and replace it with thoughts OF, and with prayers TO, and conversation WITH God. ADD to that a RENEWED DILIGENCE in BIBLE STUDY, and we have the “ingredients” of a Holy Lent. That’s what I want each of us to experience during these remaining days of this beautiful and sacred season!

Our weekly worship experience and personal study times help us get the most of this “time of suffering and death”. By walking this journey to the cross, with Jesus, we, too, are able to deny ourselves, and make sacrifices and deepen our awareness of WHO we are called to BE, in Christ, WHAT He OFFERS us and WHO He can be in our lives every day. Let us all SHARE TOGETHER in a HOLY and DISCIPLINED Lenten Journey to the Cross in these remaining days of Lent.  God’s special blessings on YOU, this Lent!

     I am about to leave for a day and a half gathering of pastors to talk about our physical and spiritual health.  In preparation, I’ve read a book by Gary Gunderson entitled, “Leading Causes of Life.”  We tend to focus on the “leading causes of death.”  Last week, and most weeks, I walk among people who are faced with frightening diagnoses:  CANCER – HEART ATTACKS – DIABETES –STROKES – MENTAL ILLNESS – FAILING RELATIONSHIPS!  I listen to the news and I hear how bad things are on this planet created to nurture life.  Sometimes I think we are saturated in DEATH!  In fact, most people who will talk with me about death fear it terribly.  Many are simply too uncomfortable to talk about death at all. 

     Jesus said, “I came so that you might have life and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10).  We do not have to live afraid of death.  To do so means we play it safe and we avoid the necessary risks of connecting with others.  If we don’t learn to connect with God and then with each other. . .DEATH wins!  I refuse to live my life being afraid of death.  I refuse to miss loving Terri and Sarah and Stephen because they or I could die (at some point we all will!)  I simply refuse to miss the amazing joy of knowing and loving the people God puts in my path.  To do so would mean coming to end my life and then handing Jesus a frightened, shriveled soul.  What He demands is our devotion to Him and then our looking death in the eye and saying, “I’m not afraid of you.  I’m going to LIVE my life every day that I have it!” 

     There is so much LIFE around Northside!  The more we focus on the love and grace and teachings of Jesus Christ, the more we exude LIFE!  The world is full of doomsayers and those who say the good days are gone.  That is absurd!  Last week I saw hundreds and hundreds of people LIVING LIFE!  Sunday I worship with hundreds of people who stood in the face of death and said, “DEATH DOESN’T WIN – - GOD IS BIGGER THAN THAT!  I am fired up and more convinced than ever that JESUS GIVES US LIFE!  Join me church.  Don’t let death ruin your life!  We are forgiven, loved, set-free-to-live people!  LIVE!  IN JESUS CHRIST, just turn loose and LIVE!

Looking death in the eye and CHOOSING TO LIVE. . .Don