Anyone Interested in the Blog Continuing?

It’s been a lot of fun to write this blog over the course of Lent this year. Many of you have let me know that you’ve been reading this blog and have found it enjoyable. And while some of you have been commenting, I know (because you’ve told me!) that many more of you are out there who haven’t been commenting but actively reading.

Anyway – I’m wondering if there is any interest in seeing this blog continue throughout the year. And if so – what would you be interested in seeing posted here? Devotional type of posts? Interesting questions and discussions? Reviews of books or articles that we might be able to read together?

I’m open to any and all ideas. But see – here is where you HAVE to comment so that I know what you’re interested in. If we don’t continue the blog, we can just leave it up and active until Advent, and then the following season of Lent and use it again for another Lenten iStudy. Anyway – let me know what your thoughts are. Thanks!

Adam

Session 6 Reflection

Before we begin our last blog before Easter, please join me in prayer:

God, we gather today to learn from the example of your Messiah, Jesus. As we move into this final week of the season of Lent, show us how rightly to use the power you give us. Give us ears to hear your word, eyes to see your face, and courage to follow the path you set before us. Through Christ we pray. Amen. 

In my sermon for this past week, you heard me talk about the theater group Improv Everywhere. You can learn a lot more about them on their website, including a list of their missions. If you want to see the video I referred to of the founder, Charlie Todd, talking about why he does what he does, you can check that one out here on YouTube, or on my blog. Also – if you want to read my sermon from Palm Sunday 2012, you can find it here.

Session 5 Reflection

Please take a moment and pray this prayer with me before we begin this reflection:

God, we gather today in gratitude for all the good gifts of creation that declare your praise. As we move deeper into this season of Lent, show us how to recognize your beauty and to offer praise. Give us ears to hear your word, eyes to see your face, and courage to follow the path you set before us. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

If you’ve never seen the movies Babette’s Feast or Chocolat, I’d highly recommend checking them out. To get a feel for what they’re like, I put one clip below; it is part of the feast portion of Babette’s Feast.

The theme from this week’s lesson was really about maintaining the balance between the spiritual and the material. We learned about the Gnostics, early Christians who had a strong desire to clearly separate the material world and the spiritual world. You can learn a lot more about Gnosticism here on Wikipedia if you’d like. Have any of you heard about the Gnostics before? If not, what about that idea that material things are bad and spiritual things are good?

Session 4 Reflection

As the author points out, “This is perhaps the most well-known, well-loved, and, some would offer, most ‘sophisticated’ of all of Jesus’ parables.” For many of us, when we start to read the parable of the prodigal son, because it’s so familiar, we may tend to gloss over certain parts…to read through it rather quickly…so, right now, I’d encourage you to step away from your computer. No really. Do it. Step. Away. From. Your. Computer.

Go find your Bible, and read Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32, the parable of the prodigal son, and when you read it again, try to do it with fresh eyes. Try to pretend like you’re reading it for the first time. Alright, I’ll give you a few minutes to do that.

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So – how was that? Did you notice anything different in that reading of the parable? Did anything stand out to you that hasn’t in the past?

Session 3 Reflection

Please join me in this prayer as we get into Session 3

God, we gather here to hear your word and respond to it together. As we move deeper into this season of Lent, help us to ask hard questions, to listen for your voice, and to turn toward you with all that we are. Give us ears to hear your word, eyes to see your face, and courage to follow the path you set before us. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

So…repentance. Like the handout discusses, this is not always a fun topic. When you hear the word repentance – are you inclined to think about the definition that the author mentions: “get on your knees, blurt out your sins and say you’re sorry”? Indeed that seems to be the general thought around the issue – especially if you do a Google Image Search for repentance, you get a lot of those types of images (see here).

Or does the idea of repentance as metanoia, of turning around 180º, make the idea of repentance more palatable? (Note that it’s 180º degrees, and not 360º. I always love when someone is talking about how much they’ve changed and say “I’ve made a 360º change!)

Session 2 Reflection

Why the cross?

I’m sure this will prove to be an interesting discussion, as the cross and all of the different atonement theories often prove to be fodder for some rather intense conversation…so, let’s see where all of this takes us. But first, let’s take a look at some images of the cross – some of these may be familiar, and some may be new. Take a look through these, and share  any thoughts you have on specific images. What do you think each artist is trying to say about the cross in a specific image?

Is there anyone out there?

I’ve heard from a few folks who have read the first reflection yesterday, which is wonderful. Thank you so much for joining along – however, we will all benefit and grow more in our relationship with God if you leave comments and answer the questions from the reflection in the comment area at the bottom of the posts.

So – let us know you’re out there. Say hi – say what you’re hoping to get out of this Lenten study this season of Lent, and let’s have a conversation online (which we can continue when we see each other around town and at worship on Sunday) that will benefit our spiritual lives.

So – are you reading this? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Session 1 Reflection

Welcome to the first reflection of our online Lenten iStudy. As we get started here, I’d encourage you to leave a comment below with your name and what you’re hoping to get out of this Bible study during this period of Lent. Perhaps it would be helpful to share if you’ve decided to give something up, or taking something on, for Lent this year. That way we can join together and support one another through this journey of Lent.

I hope you’ve all had a chance to go through and read the materials from Session 1. If not, why don’t you go here (the password for the page is lentenstudy), download it, and read the materials. Then come back and join us for the discussion.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday – the day when Lent “officially” begins, and a day when we are reminded of our finitude: “Remembering that we are but dust, and to dust we shall return.” Kind of an interesting thing to think about, as I sit here getting in my morning play-time with Caleb…watching him begin to smile and interact more with his playmat…thinking about death and dust while watching all of the energy of his new life.

But it is a reminder of how short our lives are….how little time we have in the grand scheme of things. And it’s also a reminder of our reliance on God and how important a relationship with the living God is in our lives.

I hope you’ll join us tonight for a contemplative and interactive Ash Wednesday Service in the Chapel at 7pm. I’ll be leading some Taize music on guitar, we’ll join in prayer, have the imposition of ashes and have some other creative ways to engage with this significant day in the church calendar. See you tonight.

Welcome to our Lenten iStudy

Welcome to our iStudy. If this is your first time here, please read about the study here.

If you’d like to download this week’s study, please click here (the password to open that page is lentenstudy).