The Dirty Word: Legalism

LEGALISM:  strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit.

I took a roadtrip yesterday all by myself!  It was fantastic!  On the way, I was running through the radio stations, trying to stay awake and find something decent to listen to when I came across a sermon and was immediately drawn in.

I don't know who it was, or what radio station it was, but the message was so powerful, I couldn't keep from sharing it with you all.

The title was, Signs Legalism May Be Creeping In to Your Life (that's my paraphrase). 

The pastor broke the signs down but was very adamant that this is just a basic list and that there are many more signs we should be aware of.  He based this on the life of Abraham who was the exact OPPOSITE of legalistic.  He was a man who lived only by faith and was filled with the JOY of serving a loving God. 

1.) You care more about what people think than God.  Romans 4:14

2.) You are critical of others who's convictions aren't as strong as yours. 
       -This is especially true towards those who are "baby" Christians.  You see their faith as not as strong as yours and judge them for doing things you are convicted about.  It might just be that they aren't in the same place as you in their faith, not that they are purposely doing things they know are "wrong." 
      -This is true when you are critical of the way people talk, dress, look, etc...if it goes against what you think a Christian should look like and you perceive them a certain way because of that, you might be letting legalism creep in. 

3.) You lay heavy burdens on others.  Matthew 23 (specifically verse 4).  Go read Matthew and focus on the Pharisees and how they laid burdens on the people to live in a certain way, but were not willing to help the people in any way.  Basically, they spat out law, and sat back to watch the people fail because few could live with such heavy burdens towards keeping the law.

4.) You're getting good at seeing other people's sins...you're a SIN SNIFFER.

5.) You tend to be more black and white than those around you.  You have no gray area.  This doesn't have anything to do with the Bible or scripture.  The word of God is absolutely black and white.  But where we should have gray area is in the circumstances and situations of people.  When we begin to judge others without knowing their motivations or their circumstances, we move towards legalism, because this takes out the aspect of LOVE in our treatment of other people. 

6.) You are overly critical of someone else's sins

Here are a couple of others I found online:

-You revert back to the Old Testament except with a different set of rules.  (Galatians 3:1-3 and Galatians 4:9)
-You are blind to your own condition.  The Bible says legalists are spirtually blind.

Wow!  I don't know about you, but the Holy Spirit has put some serious conviction in my heart after hearing this. 

A Story of Obedience

Psalm 128:1:  Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in OBEDIENCE to him. (NIV)

Psalm 128:1: BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. (Amplified Bible)


You may think that now that I'm pregnant, all my thoughts about infertility have gone by the wayside.  I must tell you, nothing could be further from the truth.  There are days when my heart just aches for my friends, fellow-bloggers and even family who still struggle with having a baby.

Richard and I tried to start a family for four years.  In fact, our first miscarriage was March of 2007, and if all goes as planned, and God willing, I will deliver the twins just a few weeks after that four-year mark.

Through those days, weeks, months of struggle, I questioned so many things in my life.  Was I being punished for bad behavior earlier in my life?  Why would God do this to us?  Why are so many unwed, teenage girls able to get pregnant on a whim and not even want their babies, and here I am struggling so much to just have ONE shot?!  The list goes on and on.


Slowly...and I mean, S-L-O-W-L-Y...I began to realize that having a baby wasn't what this whole journey was about.  Yes, it was what our goal began as.  But through the four years (I'm a slow learner, it seems), God taught me about the bigger picture.  He showed me it wasn't all about having a baby.  Nope.  God was much bigger than that.  And I don't mean that it was about having TWO babies, either.   I was on a journey that was no one else's but mine.  Having a baby at 15 wasn't my story.  Having a baby after trying for one month wasn't my story.  Adopting a baby wasn't my story.



Somewhere in the process, He placed this thought in my head.  "If I go through this whole process only focusing on the end result (having a baby), I could miss an opportunity to know my God on a much more personal level and to reach a point in my faith I've never been and I REFUSE to miss that chance by dwelling on the struggle."


And so began MY STORY of obedience.  My flesh cried out MANY, MANY times to turn the other way and run to the easy choices.  But my heart and my soul said otherwise.


When I finally surrendered and told God I would do WHATEVER He wanted me to, even if it meant not being able to have a child, I actually meant it.  I meant it because I finally got it.  I understood what being OBEDIENT and being a disciple meant and that even though it hurt at the moment, I knew something bigger, and grander was waiting for us when the journey ended.

I read a post today on one of my favorite blogs.  Malinda, at A Gift Worth the Wait, has such an amazing and inspiring perspective on adoption and God's plan and will in her family's life.  I first found her blog when we were contemplating adoption a couple of years ago. Go on over and read about what is going on in their lives and how they have lived in obedience to God's will and calling. 

God in the Media...and Everywhere Else He Should Be!

Lately I've been blessed to catch several faith-inspired programs or stories on t.v.  Some are on conservative talk shows, but others have been in the mainstream, liberal Media, which is a pleasant surprise to their usual tight-lipped ways when it comes to any mention of faith. 

First, my sister-in-law called and insisted I DVR Glenn Beck's report on Faith in America.  If you haven't watched it, please do!  It is well worth the time it takes to listen through it.  Talk about an eye-opener!  Wow!  If only we could bring faith into our schools and government as it was intended to be!  Go here to watch/listen to it.  

The other day I was listening to the Huckabee Report on my way to school.  I just love his common sense approach to things.

He mentioned Nebraska's new laws concerning abortion and as I listened I just thanked God for Governor Dave Heineman who led the change in legislation.  The law is two-fold.  First, it holds doctors CIVILLY responsible for performing extensive screening on women seeking an abortion in Nebraska.  Second, and most controversial, is the banning of abortions at 20 weeks past fertilization due to what has been reported as fetal pain.

Praise God we still have people in leadership positions who will stand up for what they believe in and stand on what the forefather's intended for our country.  Go here for the full story. 

Then, this morning I was watching Good Morning America as I got ready for work.  I'm sure you've heard the story about the little girl with autism in Florida, who walked off on a nature hike and was lost in the swampland for four days.  Her story was on GMA, and the man who found her, a fellow church member of her family's gave ALL THE GLORY of finding her to God.  He never took any credit, but said God led him straight to her as he prayed and recited scripture aloud, hacking his way through the swampland.  His interview was about 5 minutes long and he said the Lord's name at least as many times.  He seemed so humble and full of the Spirit; I was taken aback somewhat by his courage and his insistence that he was not to credit for finding her.

 
I think he was living up to Paul's instructions to the people of Thessalonica:  

2 Thessalonians 2: 15-17  So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

Sunday's Coming

Palm Sunday evening we had our church Easter cantata. The entire service was just amazing and I was blessed to be able to sing with the choir and worship through music. Half the time I was so overwhelmed with emotion, I had to lip sync and pretend because I was so choked up. My favorite part of the service (okay, ONE Of my favorite parts) was this video. It is a sermon by well-known civil rights era Baptist preacher, S.M. Lockridge. I'm not fibbing either when I tell you his initials stand for Shadrach Meshach Lockridge. Scouts honor. It's like he had no choice; he was destined to be a voice for Jesus!

Anyway, our music director used this video, which incorporates one of Lockridge's sermons and footage from The Passion of the Christ, in our cantata. I'm telling y'all...I was just awed and inspired and all of those other words I'd like to use right now, but I'm just too tired to do so.

Take a few minutes and check this out. I encourage you to spend the week in meditation and reflection on what Easter is all about. I know I'm guilty of throwing around the words "crucifixion" and "resurrection" like they are so commonplace. But if you really meditate and think about what they mean, you will be overwhelmed. I know I have been. In the Sunday school class I teach (high school seniors), we talked last Sunday about not taking the Easter story for granted. I'm going to try my best not to this year.

Not Guilty

**UPDATE:  Tonight at choir practice, KW was giving away CD's, which he does occasionally.  Guess which one I got?  Uh-huh.  Mandisa!!  YAY!  

I've written before about how much I love and enjoy singing in our church's choir.

I love the people.

I love our music director, KW.

I love the talent of our accompanists.  

I love worshiping God in song and singing with all my heart and soul to Him.

I love harmony.

I also love finding a new song I've never heard before.  Choir practice and our Sunday morning performances are a complete time of worship for me.  When I connect with a song, I feel like I'm standing in the sanctuary alone with God and it's all I can do to not fall to my knees as I sing.

And, I'm sure it will come as no surprise when I say that many, many times I'm brought to tears as the choir sings.

This was the case last Wednesday at practice.  We had a few new songs to start practicing, one being Mandisa's, "Not Guilty."

This song spoke STRAIGHT into my heart.  How many times in our lives do we walk around with shame and guilt because of something we've said or done even AFTER we've asked wholeheartedly for forgiveness from God?  I know I do it all the time.  Thoughts flash into my mind, sent straight from Satan himself, and I'm instantly back in the moment when I said or did something I shouldn't have.  Cue the guilt and shame.  

OH MY...there are no words to describe these lyrics accurately, so I will leave you to read them for yourself and let them bless you like they did me.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded that ONLY because of His sacrificial blood, we are...

NOT GUILTY

(turn up your computer volume so you can hear the song play as you read the lyrics)

I stand accused

There's a list a mile long

Of all my sins

Of everything that I've done wrong

I'm so ashamed

There's nowhere left for me to hide

This is the day

I must answer for my life

My fate is in the Judge's hands

But then He turns to me and says

I know you, I love you

I gave My life to save you

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty

How can it be?

I can't begin to comprehend

What kind of grace

Would take the place for all my sin?

I stand in awe

Now that I have been set free

And the tears well up

As I look at that cross

'Cause it should have been me

My fate was in the nail scarred hands

He stretched them out for me

And said

I know you, I love you

I gave My life to save you

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty

I'm falling on my knees to thank You

With everything I am I'll praise you

So grateful for the words I heard

You say

I know you, I love you

I gave My life

I know you, I love you

I gave My life just to save you

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty

Love paid the price for mercy

My verdict not guilty, not guilty

A new year...a new focus.

**CLARIFICATION**:  I've gotten some questions and concerns about some of the things in this post, so let me clarify...

First, no, I am not quitting my job.  The business we are looking into is something for Richard and he won't be quitting his job, either.  It will be something he does on the side, but something that he has really been researching and praying about.  

Second, we are not moving away from Childress.  We are always looking for the possibility of a good business deal by getting into another house.  Plus, eventually we are going to need more room and our house is TINY!  So, we're considering putting our house on the market and seeing what happens.  Again, right now, just a good possibility, but things we are praying about

 Today is the first day of 2010, and with it comes great promises and hope for our family.  Here are a few of the things I am looking forward to in the coming year.  These aren't necessarily resolutions, just things on my heart and in my prayers.

-a successful school year

-a possible new business

-a possible move (in town)

-pregnancy

-a trip to Peru

-getting back in shape again

-learning a little more Spanish

-being a more attentive wife

-working another Emmaus walk

And most importantly...

-growing in, with, and through my heavenly Father, holding TIGHT to the joy he has buried deep in my soul.

Go here to read a short piece on Christ in 2010.

Here's a little excerpt to pique your interest.


God does his greatest work on the anvil of our afflictions. Out of the fiery furnace of your trials, your faith produces an imperishable spiritual treasure. So Christian, look to the future with the utmost confidence knowing that God is at work. He will have His glory and will work all things together for your good.

A Long Story Short and Full of Pictures

Beginning Friday about 1:00 p.m., my view looked like this...

 We were headed here...

To stay here...

In a room that looked like this...

So we could attend this and be BLESSED EXCEEDINGLY AND ABUNDANTLY by the teaching of these ladies...Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer...

Not only do they love the Word of God, they also love to rap!  Yes, you heard me right...in the picture to the right you will see all 3 ladies performing their rendition of "You Praisin' G-O-D?  Yeah, you know me!"  Yes, like a rewrite of the Naughty by Nature classic, "You Down With OPP" which any mid-30's or younger will appreciate and any late 30's and older should be thankful they have never heard! 

 We unabashedly worshiped as this guy led us in music (along with his praise team)...

Okay, so that's not really us...but that's what we looked like.  Kay Arthur said you will either be an observer or a participator, so we all decided we would rather be the latter!

but we weren't the only ones immersed in worship...10,000 women praising God and singing in unison, sometimes a cappella...

 
We did this alot...(remember, the rap?)

And quite a bit of this, too 
(the overwhelmingly thankful, sentimental, worship kind)...

We went deep in our studies of this (hence, Deeper Still)... 

We ate here and it was SO yummy, of course...

And before we left we absolutely had to stop by here and make a few after-conference purchases...

such as this...

 and this...

and this...

Oh, and we absolutely could not leave OKC without a trip here....

with one of these in it, of course (which is really the only reason we stopped there, for a quick roadie)...

We got home Sunday morning at 12:15...yes, it was a LONG weekend, but it was one of the greatest I've had in a long, long time.  I have said to many since we got home that this was probably the most intense worship experience I've ever had, the second being my Walk to Emmaus weekend. 

And I got to spend it with these two LOVELIES...(from l-r, my SIL, me, and B).  And if you look REALLY closely, you can see da MAN, Travis Cottrell in the background. 

I've Always Wanted To

If you know me, you know I'm a reader.  I've pretty much always been in love with reading and I often talk about the books I've read on my blog.

A couple of days ago, I received an email from someone in the Nonfiction Trade Marketing department at Thomas Nelson publishers. They are a Christian publishing company and are spreading the message of Christ through the books they choose to publish.  They began 200 years ago in Scotland!  WOW!  Check them out HERE to learn more.  I was fascinated to read about them online.

Anyway, a representative from the company said she saw the review I wrote on my blog about Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  She thanked me for the review and then asked if I would be interested in receiving a complimentary copy of their second book/sequel, What Difference Do It Make?.  Are you joking?!!  Fo Sho, my Sista!  I would absolutely, definitely, no-doubt-about-it like a FREE copy of, what I expect will be, a FANTASTIC book!

So, I was a little excited and said yes right away!  Well, guess what showed up on my doorstep today?

I can't wait to start reading!  A letter was enclosed thanking me again for reading and writing about the first book and saying I didn't have to write a review of this one, but if I chose to do so, they would send me some information to add to it (pictures and such).

Please know that I do realize I am not the only blogger they have contacted to do this and that I am in no way trying to brag or anything of that nature...not in the least.  All of the avid readers out there understand how exciting it is to 1.) get a free book offer and 2.) be asked to write a review.  It's just so fun!  I've always wanted to do this kind of thing for a living and while I'm not making any money (except the dinero I saved by not having to buy the book), I'm still pumped!

So, I'm going to start reading sometime this week (I'm trying to finish up this book first), and soon I will post a review!

While I was visiting Thomas Nelson's website, I discovered Donald Miller has a new book out.  I can't WAIT to read it!  You might remember, I posted about his Blue Like Jazz which I LOVED!  If you haven't read it, do so!  It will really get you thinking, which I'm always for!  His newest book is called A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.  It sounds so interesting and thought-provoking.

Only 2.5 more weeks of school until Christmas break and I have a feeling I know what I will be doing once we're out!

Titus 2 Tuesday and Her Thoughts

Would you like to participate in Titus 2 Tuesdays? Go here and happy blogging!

Titus 2 says: Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Today my Titus 2 Tuesday woman is Daphne Delay. I had the opportunity to get to know her better this weekend as we both worked as servants on a Walk to Emmaus. Where do I start with this woman? Her testimony is an amazing one. She was saved in her early twenties and has spent her life since then spreading the Word of God through her own ministry, Mirror Ministries. She and her husband, Todd, have 3 sons and pastor Family Harvest church in Seminole, Texas.

I could list off all of these facts and accolades about Daphne, but they really do not capture her essence. In her humility, I know she would give all the glory to God for her personality and the way she has about her because that is who she is.

She is soft-spoken, yet not shy. She is a hugger, a smiler, and just makes you want to be a better person. And most of all, she radiates the love of Christ to all those around her. And she is R-E-A-L, real! Even though she is a published author, a pastor, and could easily be put on a pedestal, she would have none of that. She is here to be Christ's hands and feet to His people and she has been just that for me in so many ways.

I am getting all choked up just thinking about her and her sweet, soft voice. She is a prayer warrior and when she lays her hands on you and opens her mouth, the Word of God flows abundantly and easily.

Oh, and isn't she beautiful? Uh-huh, I told you!

I've also included an excerpt from a book of hers that I'm reading presently.

I have been blessed to get to know Daphne Delay a little bit better this weekend. I first heard of Daphne through my sweet sister-in-law, Dawn. Dawn and Ronnie lived in Seminole for a few years where Daphne and her husband Todd are pastors at Family Harvest Church. Dawn would talk about Daphne all of the time and what a woman after Jesus's own heart she was. And she is. Oh my goodness. Daphne was on the clergy team this weekend during the walk to Emmaus, and I was blessed to get to know her better. She is the kind of woman you want to be around all of the time. She has a quiet nature about her, but isn't shy in the least. She is humble but proud of her relationship as a daughter of the King.

She has published a few books, one of which Dawn gave me for Christmas this year. It is called I Will Ascribe Righteousness to My Maker: A truth from the Book of Job. I started it today in my quiet time and I just had to share something with you. She starts the Preface with this story.

There was a man who went to a barbershop to get a haircut. while he was there, the man and the barber began making small talk about everything from politics to religion. On the subject of religion, the barber commented that he did not believe there was a God. "How can there be?" he said. "If there is a God, then why is there so much pain and suffering in our world? What kind of God would allow His people to hurt?" The man didn't know how to answer the barber. In his heart, he knew that God was very real but he too had wondered about the pain and suffering in the world and what its purpose was. Observing the barber's demeanor, the man decided it would be fruitless to argue with him, so he said nothing. After paying for his haircut, he stepped outside to go to his car. As he began to cross the street he noticed a dirty, unshaven man pushing a shopping cart filled with what seemed to be his life's belongings. The man then turned around and stepped back into the barbershop. He looked at the barber and said, "You know, I don't believe there is such a thing as a barber." The barber was quite puzzled by the man's comment and said, "of course there is, I'm one." The man then pointed out the window at the dirty, unshaven man and said, "How can there be? Just look at that man." The barber laughed sarcastically and said, "That's simple. He just doesn't come to me." The man looked the barber in the eye and said, "I think that's God's problem too."

Hello, My Friends!

Well, I'm back from what I can only tell you was one of the best weekends of my life.  I went on a Chrysalis during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school and it was life changing.  Then, last summer I was given the great blessing of attending a Walk to Emmaus, the adult version of a Chrysalis.  And this past weekend, I was given the absolute honor and blessing of working as a servant on the team for Women's Walk #36.  I cannot even put into words what an amazing weekend it was.  I never thought anything could top MY OWN weekend as a pilgrim on Emmaus, but being able to serve the pilgrims in the prayer room was overwhelming.  Coming home was bittersweet, but it sure was nice to kiss on that sweet man of mine and snuggle with the pups.  God is SO good, he blows my socks off!  

Scroll down to see more updates in the posts below.  

Because We Believe

In choir, we're practicing a beautiful song called Because We Believe. You might have heard it before. It was released in 1996, so it is fairly contemporary. Anyway, we started practicing it yesterday, and I just love the narration, so I thought I would share it with all of you.

The song is based on 1 John 5:13:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.


Here is the narration:

That which is held sacred by the Body of Christ is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. Why do we believe the Scriptures are indeed the Word of the Lord? Because we refuse to believe that an Almighty, All Powerful, Omnipotent God is not capable of Almighty, All Powerful, Omnipotent deeds. God's Word is a miracle. The same hands that sculpted mountains and galaxies that were pierced by nails on our behalf--guided the hand of His servants, as the Spirit breathed into the language of Man the eternal Word...created by the Father, revealed by the Spirit and fulfilled by the Son.

There are those who claim that many paths exist that lead to whomever we believe or define God to be. However, we do not define God---He defines us. There is only One path to the Father and it is clearly marked by a bloodstained cross and an empty tomb. Those who claim the Master are reborn into a bloodline that does not trace its origin to a culture but to a cross...does not depend upon what we bring but upon what He freely gives...not based in trying to know about God---but actually knowing God.

How can we believe something so unimaginable? We take the courageous, cognitive leap of Faith...and by His power at work within us---this is what we believe.

My favorite part of this is at the end of the second paragraph where it says that our claim to the Master is not based in trying to know ABOUT God, but actually knowing God; this means we have a personal relationship with Him, and that we strive to grow this relationship, not just study and read books ABOUT Him.

Do You Know What Today Is?

Yes, it is February 25th, but that wasn't what I was asking. Today is the first day of the Lenten season, which will last forty days, through April 11th, the day before Easter, the day of Christ's Resurrection. Many of you know, I was raised in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and am very proud of those roots. My ancestry goes back generations in the church, all the way back to its origin in Scotland. And, my parents were both raised Presbyterian, so it scales my genealogy on both sides of my family.

So, when I married a Southern Baptist man, and we decided to become part of the First Baptist Church in College Station, I was conflicted to say the least. That's an entirely different post, and I will get to it someday. The point is, I had to give up some of the observances and traditions I was so accustomed to in the FPC because they weren't part of the FBC.

One of these customs is observing the Lenten season. (There are some Baptist churches that do observe Lent, but the church, as a whole, does not). Most people associate Lent with Roman Catholicism, but this is not entirely accurate. So, I did some research and found several explanations of Lent, what it means, and who observes it/doesn't observe it and why.

I love the ancient tradition and the implications of the Lenten season. I like the idea of observing, just as our Christian predecessors did, the act of giving something up (in their case it was food in the form of fasting), for forty days. I always saw this as a way to sacrifice SOMETHING of myself, as Jesus sacrificed ALL of himself. I am not equating the two, mind you.

So, I am posting below the information I found and I hope it helps you to better understand, if you don't already, what Lent is all about and how it can be a time of personal growth.

Also, I am going to join a Lent Reading Plan on Biblegateway.com. It is a daily reading from the Bible (40 days total), starting in Matthew and reading through the Gospels and ending in 1 Corinthians. I am excited about starting my days reflecting on these passages in anticipation of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday! I encourage you to join, too!


Please read:

The information below was taken from Chris Bonts's blog, senior pastor at a Baptist church in Auburn, Alabama.

Isn't Lent a Roman Catholic thing? The answer to this question is Yes and No. Yes, Roman Catholics observe Lent, but so do Presbyterians, Methodists, Anglicans, and Lutherans. Just because the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) observes Lent, however, does not mean that we are somehow sacrificing the gospel or identifying with the RCC with our observance. Lent, as a church observance, actually preceded the formation of the RCC by at least 200 years. The early Christian theologian Irenaeus (who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was himself a disciple of the disciple John), wrote of the early church's observance of Lent in the mid-second century. At that time Lent did not last forty days, but it was a pre-Easter time of preparation and focus for the church. Granted, Baptists have not traditionally observed Lent (this reality is owed to our free church tradition and general eschewal of all things liturgical), but that does not mean that we should not or cannot take an extended period of time to prepare for our Easter celebrations.

The Who, What, When, and Where of Lent When Lent first began to be observed in the church, it was common practice to baptize new Christians once a year. The baptisms took place on Easter. All new Christians were discipled (catechized) from the time they trusted in Christ until Easter when they were Baptized. The early churches, in an effort to help these young Christians grasp the significance of both their baptism and Easter celebrations, required them to fast for forty hours prior to their baptism. The fast was then broken after their baptism when the church celebrated its Easter feast. Gradually the entire church began to observe Lent as a way to prepare for their church's Easter celebrations. The length of time gradually was extended from forty hours to forty days. The number forty was intended to remind the Christian of the forty years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness and the forty days Jesus spent fasting alone in the desert prior to the public launch of his ministry that would carry him to the cross. The Israelites wandered because of their disobedience; Jesus purposely sought out the desert to fast and pray in preparation for his ministry, a ministry that would ultimately reconcile us to God the Father. The observance of Lent has remained forty days since that time.

But Why Lent? Just because we have answered the question of the origins of Lent does not necessarily mean that we should observe it. We first need to answer the question of why. There are two reasons why I desire for CrossRoad Church to observe Lent. The primary reason has to do with the original intent of the observance. The early church asked new Christians to observe Lent to impress upon them the significance of their redemption and the celebration of Easter. Eventually it became important enough that all Christians were asked to observe it. I want the members of CrossRoad Church to use the next few weeks as a time to accomplish the same objective in their lives. That is why we have chosen the specific Bible studies and sermon emphases we will be following in the next few weeks. The second reason why I desire for CrossRoad Church to observe Lent is because I want our folks to grasp the fact that we stand in continuity with early church and all those that have been redeemed by Christ in the past 2,000 years. The church did not start the day we were redeemed, it started the day of Pentecost. I want our church to develop a sense of their spiritual heritage.