For Those Who Observe Lent...

[patiently_waiting 0]

For me, the fast food is going. I am a drive through person bc of my line of work. So for me it will be a huge sacrifice. Also, I will add daily devotion.

[Autumnchik 6]

I am giving up fried food...living in the south it will be difficult

Gee, I could give up fried food too. That would be much easier for me since I moved from Rome GA to New Hampshire 8 months ago .... no fried dill pickles or anything like that up here

Last year, in memory of my grandmother (who was a devout Catholic), my mother and I decided to give something up for Lent. I gave up soda, which was much harder than I had expected. The worst time was when I was visiting my then fiance's parents for the first time and they had stocked up on my favorite soda just for me.

[Scott & Lai 12]

I'm giving up guilt

It's about dying to your flesh . The only thing that interferes with one's relationship with God is sin.

Yes. Which is why it is something one must reflect on. My understanding of committing a sin is anything that interferes with one's relationship with God. As my Dad explained it once - even a prayful person could be sinning if they are praying to the point of neglecting their family. It's never easy to determine when something becomes an obstruction but we know ourselves best if we take the time to reflect.

Our church does observe Lent, but there is no proscription to give up anything in particular, that is left up to the individual. The focus is placed on what Christ did for us, and on deeper reflection on what is in us that made what He did necessary. Our worship services are somewhat subdued, and perhaps a bit somber, which helps prepare us for when we pull out all the stops at our Easter Festival Service. The Lent/Easter season, and particularly the Easter Tridium (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, are my favorite time of the year, even ahead of Christmas. Christmas, after all, has little meaning unless the Child grew to die and rise for the sin of the world.

[no name 1]

My family encouraged us kids to do something to better yourself, instead of giving something up.

That said, once I did chocolate & it was hard but I lost some weight!

And we always ate tuna fish casserole on Fridays.

I personally don't subscibe anymore these days to the Catholic guilt/etc.

Edited February 21, 2007 by devilette

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

i'm giving up eggplant

[eric&gen 0]

i'm giving up eggplant

I'm giving up something too that is sex lol not

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

i'm giving up eggplant

I'm giving up something too that is sex lol not

ok you twisted my arm, i'm giving up voting democratic

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm giving up guilt

It's about dying to your flesh . The only thing that interferes with one's relationship with God is sin.

Yes. Which is why it is something one must reflect on. My understanding of committing a sin is anything that interferes with one's relationship with God. As my Dad explained it once - even a prayful person could be sinning if they are praying to the point of neglecting their family. It's never easy to determine when something becomes an obstruction but we know ourselves best if we take the time to reflect.

Our church does observe Lent, but there is no proscription to give up anything in particular, that is left up to the individual. The focus is placed on what Christ did for us, and on deeper reflection on what is in us that made what He did necessary. Our worship services are somewhat subdued, and perhaps a bit somber, which helps prepare us for when we pull out all the stops at our Easter Festival Service. The Lent/Easter season, and particularly the Easter Tridium (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday, are my favorite time of the year, even ahead of Christmas. Christmas, after all, has little meaning unless the Child grew to die and rise for the sin of the world.

I honestly have fallen out from going to church for awhile with the hope that when Jinky is here I'll get back to going. The few times I've gone, I felt really awkward to be there by myself in the pews, surrounded by people with spouses and children. Not an easy thing for me to swallow.

i'm giving up eggplant

I'm giving up something too that is sex lol not

ok you twisted my arm, i'm giving up voting democratic

It's gotta hurt, Charles...no pain, no gain.

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

i'm giving up eggplant

I'm giving up something too that is sex lol not

ok you twisted my arm, i'm giving up voting democratic

It's gotta hurt, Charles...no pain, no gain.

not as much pain as voting democratic

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Me, all solid food for the full 40 days.

Pras, non-veg items (chicken, lamb, fish).

(btw charles, the item to give up can't be something you hate )

[Ban Hammer 14,286]

Me, all solid food for the full 40 days.

Pras, non-veg items (chicken, lamb, fish).

(btw charles, the item to give up can't be something you hate )

i musta missed that rule

[Saddle Bronc 124]

...

But re: fasting: I found a flyer at my church defining a fast: 1 meal and 2 small 'snacks' Seriously, how is that fasting? Do you fast? And if so, do you really fast or just go by church guidelines.

Many Protestant churches don't even HAVE guidelines for Lent (I know the LEF doesn't; though Palm Sunday is marked on a Beautiful Books Calendar, Ash Wednesday isn't).

So I made my own, deciding to give up solid foods for the 40 days. We bought some creamy tomato soup (completely liquid) and cran-raspberry juice yesterday from Costco.

("Beautiful Books" is LEF's bookstore, of which one is located on Brixton Station Rd., London)

[Scott & Lai 12]

I honestly have fallen out from going to church for awhile with the hope that when Jinky is here I'll get back to going. The few times I've gone, I felt really awkward to be there by myself in the pews, surrounded by people with spouses and children. Not an easy thing for me to swallow.

I can understand that....that was my life for 39 years till Lai was here with me, though not going to church was never an option for me.

[chri'stina 190]

I don't observe lent, as I think withholding something from yourself can be done any time of year and we should every single day try to find out what we need to change in ourselves and every day focus on Christ's sacrifice for us. I am not much into rituals. Some people follow rituals out of tradition and not because they really want to please God. But I do think it's good when people are willing to give up something for a while, if it makes them realize how blessed they are in some areas and what needs to be made better in themselves. So to those observing.

(yes I'm Protestant )

Edited February 21, 2007 by stina&suj

[Traviesa 0]

I don't observe lent, as I think withholding something from yourself can be done any time of year and we should every single day try to find out what we need to change in ourselves and every day focus on Christ's sacrifice for us. I am not much into rituals. Some people follow rituals out of tradition and not because they really want to please God. But I do think it's good when people are willing to give up something for a while, if it makes them realize how blessed they are in some areas and what needs to be made better in themselves. So to those observing.

(yes I'm Protestant )

I'm with you on that one Stina. I once heard a really good sermon on this. It's basically that, we don't do it because the Bible doesn't tell us to, but if someone else does it and they're doing it to the glory of God, then for them that's right. Like for example, I will eat meat because the Bible tells me all food is good to be consumed, but if my brother doesn't eat meat, and he needs to do that to be closer to God, then for him that's the right thing to do. I hope I've explained myself well.