John Katz ,Editor The American Dossier
In this country we have the freedom to walk with God how we choose. Last week I was net surfing and came across one of my favorite verses from the Old Testament of the Bible:
Micah 6:8 …He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
I find this verse fitting as today is Ash Wednesday. We begin the yearly cycle again as Christians our Lenten Journey to remember with humility and to ponder God’s promise.
During Lent, we are called to repent and practice fasting, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline. In short of setting aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ—his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus in his incarnation humbled himself and lived as what is prescribed in Micah.
In the modern world in which we exist, it is all too easy to ignore Jesus, and this prescription from Micah as the devil has sharpened his tools to tempt us to despair and doubt.
There is much noise we are confronted with on a day to day basis in the secular world. We almost start to believe that we are gods unto ourselves.
Part of Lenten tradition is a call to self-sacrifice…often in the form of giving something up such as candy. A good friend of mind once said to me don’t let the ‘candy’ of the world …worldly possessions possess you. We are called to live and remember that God’s greatest gifts are our mind. Body and soul. Kind of like an oil change every 3000 miles that we often forget to do Lent gives another chance as it re-affirms the importance of seeking grace rather than being consumed by the ‘candy’ of the world.
Do we really need to have the best possessions or ‘candy' at the expense of losing our souls? Don’t get me wrong I enjoy the gifts of the world God has given us whether it be worldly items or technology etc. However, I am guilty and forget to pause at times to remember what really is more important.
The thing that immediately comes to mind personally every Lent are the 7 deadly sins of pride, greed lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Yet at the same time, I can t help but ponder and seek hope in Christ’s command and promise to be able to be given grace and forgiven 7x70.
Like many people at times, I am troubled by the fact of keeping asking God for forgiveness. And the same time worry that God will grow weary of my repeatedly coming back. However the humbling gift is that God does not keep a precise count of 7x70 as He is not like that nor should that be taken for granted.
At Lent, we are called to walk in our individual deserts and let Christ carry us with this gift of Hope as we seek to be transformed and dig deeper to be reconciled and welcomed at the His Banquet table when we leave our earthly bodies.
In closing next week I will be joining our friends at the King’s Men for a Samson Retreat
( and with light laughter hope to escape the electronic leash of my Samsung phone) Mark Houck, the King’s Men Founder has been a personal friend for several years now. He best describes this retreat as healing outreach designed to offer men hope and healing from past hurts, pain and current struggles in their lives an invitation to be set free from the chains that have been keeping them from coming alive. Stay Tuned For Part 2
All men over the age of 18 are welcome to attend this retreat; the sole requirement is that each man comes to the retreat with the deliberate intent to invite Christ’s healing into a wound or struggle in his life. Men today encounter a myriad of trauma and abuse, most of which goes unrecognized or ignored.
To find out about the Samson Retreat contact Mark Houck <mark@thekingsmen.org
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