Are you a Hobo or Bum

First of all, what exactly is the difference between a hobo and a bum? Simply put, "a hobo is willing to work along the way, a bum is not. Anyone unwilling to work daily to make his or her loves vibrant and alive is a bum who only wants a free handout and refuses to work. We can be will-dressed bums, unwilling to labor at love, only looking for handouts, free gifts or love from others and from God... but love strives to express itself by giving more than is received."

Take a look at your life? What is it that you are living as...and is this what your heart desires?

3 John: a grassroots journey to a firm foundation

thanks Lilly for the SHOUT OUT!

***

the book of 3 John [NIV] [MESSAGE]

1-4The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!

It's neat to see how excited John is about the steadfast faith of his friend, Gaius. it made me think back to high school youth group. how many of my peers, my friends are still faithful to Jesus - striving to be the disciple God wants them to be? i don't really know the answer - but i would guess there aren't as many as i would hope. i wonder why that is? did the church not equip them? did something happen that made them 'walk away'? was their faith their own or their parents?

as a youth pastor - i often think about those who have come through our youth program. how many of them could i write the same letter to that John has written to Gaius.

verse 5: Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible.


i love that statement. during this lenten season - i wonder if my faith is visible... i wonder more about what my faith will be like after lent. i don't want this to be a mountain-top (with a valley to follow). i want it to be a period of time in which ground work is being laid for a firmer foundation of faith in Jesus.

when you read much of the letters of John, Paul & Peter you see the foundation of the early church. The Way, as it was often called, was very grassroots. i suppose that was the only way, but it was grassroots none the less.

we see the messages of Christ shared via:
-word of mouth
-hospitality
-fellowship over a meal
-worship in one's home
-giving to those in need

this grassroots journey was fruitful in spreading truth + love. sometimes i'm a little envious or at least curious. it must have been a beautiful thing.

i wonder what kind of grassroots thing(s) i can do to spread the Word? what about you?

3rd John ends with John mentioning a man by the name of Diotrephes, a man who "loves being in charge...he loves being first" apparently he was spreading rumors (rumors + gossip in church?) and he neglected hospitality to fellow believers/missionaries. Now John doesn't call him an anti-Christ (a name often used by John in prior 1 & 2 John) - but he recognizes that a problem is present.

i think sometimes leaders + members of churches unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) let their own plans creep into the forefront, rather than the plan God has for us. (myself included)

i was talking about this to a friend recently and these words came to me...

it’s about digging deep and finding the mission of Christ instilled inside of us. it’s about letting the mission breath, rather than subconsciously choking it in the supposed name of Christ in order to get our own agendas (not truly God’s agenda) birthed into our false reality.

i am ready for the mission of Christ to breathe within me... so that i may in return breathe it out to the world. i've been on a journey for some time now. i am in the process of putting vision to paper... the vision is there inside my mind, body, heart & soul... i am processing it all. maybe i've just realized that in order for that to happen i need to open up & breathe deep Christ.

it has to be his vision... not mine. i want to be faithful to Him.

i feel alive...

Skinny Tuesday

Ahh...A day I like the sound of ; ) A week has passed since "Fat Tuesday" and thus traditionally the period of self-denial and sacrifice has been in place. Belts have been tightened and the preparation for the Holy Season has begun. Lent is all about focus and commitment and of course sacrifice. With that, these questions are brought forth... where do your priorities lie? Where do you put your time and energy? Who is number one in your life?

For me, it is easy to get my priorities out of whack. It is so easy to place my family before God, I mean- who doesn't want to be a good wife and mother? My family is my life... and I want to do all that I can for them. It is so easy to get wrapped up in daily activities that I push God out and tell Him, "We'll talk...when I have time" I so often loose sight that it is He who has given me all that I have.

I pray that during this Lenten season and beyond, I can once again arrange my priorities to give Him the respect and honor He deserves. I am tired of hearing people make excuses (and making them myself). If I am devoted, I need to give it my all. According to Merriam Webster,
devotion means:

Main Entry: de·vo·tion
Pronunciation: di-'vO-sh&n, dE-
Function: noun
1 a : religious fervor : PIETY b : an act of prayer or private worship -- usually used in plural c :
2 a : the act of a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregationdevoting <devotion of time and energy>
b : the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal devotion to the cause> devotion>
3 obsolete : the object of one's devotion.

Notice in definition B... "The fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal" Can I look at my life and say that definition is representative of who I am? Can you?
I don't just want to go through the motions but instead want His love to infest every part of my being and my devotion to be just that... devoted.

2 John: On this Journey, Don't Walk out on God

in case you forgot, this lenten journey is about love... and John speaks of love a lot throughout his 3 letters.

God's commandment to love is unifying. [2 John 1:6]

John reminds us that this commandment has not changed.
it will not change.
that is the message!

---

i begin to wonder if things have really changed after all these years. John was writing to those who were in contact with deceivers + misleaders of the truth. Gnostic leaders led believers astray - claiming that God himself was never 'in the flesh'. their false teaching seemed to blend in with other Christian teachings which created a lot of confusion. sounds a lot like things today.

here is what John had to say: [2 John 1:7-13]

7There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!

8-9And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.

10-11If anyone shows up who doesn't hold to this teaching, don't invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.

12-13I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'd rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.

interesting.

i'll be blunt. these 'religions' out there... Christianity, Mormon, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc... we are not all the same. Christianity is Christ and nothing else.

if only the church would simply preach Christ first. who knows how the world would change.

i think what John is really saying is this:
WATCH THE COMPANY YOU KEEP!

Does this mean we should shy away from deceivers or non-believers?
I think it means practice DISCERNMENT.
Be in the world and not of it. [i.e. be 'Christ' / emulate Christ among the people w/out compromising our faith/belief.]
We can not turn a blind eye to the lost just because they practice deception or carry with them evil hearts. which one of us was not evil until Christ got ahold of us?
But being All things to All men doesn't entail compromising our belief.

[EDIT: the church needs to scrap all of this 'christian-ese that we use... thank you Eli, for that discussion]

i don't think we have to compromise anyting... we just have to be ourselves.
Jesus' prayer for the disciples was that they would be protected from the evil one. the day we compromise on the simplest of things - the day we open ourselves up to more... it can become a slippery slope.

evil is at our beck-and-call. we have to watch out for that which will lead us on a journey not of love - but towards darkness... away from the honeymoon path of Jesus.

thankfully God loves us no matter what.
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

i am grateful for this lenten journey thus far. it is keeping me close to the love of God. i needed it. so do you. Good luck.

[PRAYER: Jesus - continue to reveal yourself to me in new, fresh ways... may your love abound within me... may i see you and feel you and know you so that i will have the power and ability to preach your message through action + word.]

Will your faith hold up?

It was quite interesting when I read today's reading...it was a continuation from yesterday. The thing was...today's reading was actually what I blogged about yesterday. I guess I wasn't supposed to take the "kindness" aspect of the cat yesterday, but instead look at the sinister side...and then today focus on well...everything that I wrote about yesterday :)

So... today I shall look at the sinister side of the cat...the dark, black cat that many people seem to fear. Many people associate a black cat with evil and even with the devil. In Jesus' day, he too faced evil as he was tempted by the devil, and thus the reason this day of Lent is also symbolized by a cat.

Just as Jesus was tempted in the dessert, we too are tempted daily by the dark forces in our world. Maybe the temptations in your life are small, maybe they are big...but it all boils down to one thing... temptations draw us from our faith in Christ. While we are all faced with temptation, each of us handle them differently. It is here where the strength of our faith is tested. Are we going to allow ourselves to be eaten or are we going to stand strong and turn it over to Him?

I, like everyone have of course faced temptation. I too have been eaten up with the desires temptation have brought... and have handled them in all sorts of ways. It can be so easy to take our eye of our Heavenly prize when the earthly prize shines so brightly. Though my faith has definitely had some bricks knocked out of it here and there and wobbled off and on, I can thankfully say that through HIS strength, I have always came back, and He has always welcomed me with open arms.

The question is not, "will I face temptation?" it is instead, "Where is it that I will turn when those temptations come?" May you always turn back to His love and continue on your honeymoon with Him.

1 John 5: how do they know?

Do we love God... truly love God? the example of one who loves God is one who obeys, who keeps His commands. i am reminded of that old campfire song "We Are One In the Spirit" or something like that... (if you want to read the lyrics and sing along - click HERE) The chorus of that songs says "They will know we are Christians by our love." If we keep God's commands (i.e. love) then the world will notice... not that we do things to get noticed - but how we live is an example of how much we love God.

so is that song true? - 'they' will know we are Christians by our love. I don't know if 'they' (i.e. the world) will know that we are a follower of Christ - but i do believe that 'they' will recognize something different in us.

so here's a question: can our love change the world? I've often asked my youth a similar question: what would it be like if everyone on earth put others first? the first response usually is "there'd be long lines of people saying 'you first', 'no, you first, i insist.'

so yeah, love can change the world - but maybe it's more that our faith will change the world and our faith in God compels us to love.

in 1 John 5:5 says that those who believe overcome the world. The Message translation says we 'conquer' the world and bring it to its knees. Our faith changes things.

does faith change:
our world
their world or
the world?

i think faith changes things in that order... first it changes our world. we begin to see what God sees in us. we follow Christ and strive to live out his teachings. we learn to love God, love others and love ourselves.

as a result we change their world... the worlds of those we come in contact with. we don't wear a badge that says "I'm Joe Christian", but the outward expression of our inward faith is exemplified.

collectively, as the body of Christ we can change the world. but not without unity.

somehow this all goes back to that camp song. if i recall the first verse goes this way:
"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored."

we can change our world. we can change their world. but we can only change the world if we become united in love and united in truth...

First Sunday of Lent

While not technically counted in the traditional 40 days of Lent, (it was considered inappropriate to fast on a Sunday, the day commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus), today is in fact the first Sunday of this Lenten season.

Today's hobo symbol is that of a cat (had to add that in there in case my stellar drawing skills weren't up to par ;) ). So, what does a cat have to do with Lent? For hobos, the symbol of a cat on a door is a sign to them, telling them that a kind-hearted woman lives there, and in essence will be kind to a hungry hobo.

Me, being a woman myself, started to think of whether or not a hobo would want to place this sign upon my door if he were to visit. Would he look at me and see love, or would he look at me and see contempt? Unfortunately, in today's time, I think I have become gun-shy at helping others. I mean, I will do most anything for those people that I have a relationship with, but when it comes to a stranger on the street, I more or less retreat.

Jesus tells us not to be this way, in fact, he says numerous times to "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me". How is it then that I have allowed my heart to grow so wary of reaching out? The mere ability to Love is given to me from Him and here I sit afraid to share it.

I pray that during this Lenten season, my heart will be changed and the desire to reach out to others will once again burn within me. I want the image of the hobo cat imprinted not only on my door, but also on every action that I do. I want people to think of my as being a kind woman and one that shares love with everyone that I know.

Are You in Love?

(from the book)
"The rich word, honeymoon, some scholars believe, originated with a drink composed of honey and mead, a type of wine, shared by a bride and groom each night for a month after their wedding. For some poets the term honeymoon suggests that love after marriage, like the full moon at its peak, begins to wane- it grows smaller with the passage of days. The first lunar month of marriage was seen as the sweetest, being like honeyed wine. Israel's forty years along in the desert with God was indeed a time sweet as honey. When the Exodus ended and the Hebrews abandoned their years of migration, settling down in villages and becoming city dwellers, they quickly forgot about their marriage covenant with God. As happens in countless marriages, the honeymoon was soon over!"

Unfortunately, it seems that all too often, our relationship with God also seems to wane after the honeymoon period has ended. How often do you hear about people being on the "hilltop" and then soon realizing they are once again in the "valley" that they thought they had come out of. It is so easy to revert back to the old way of life and while not completely forgetting about God, also not sharing in that same deep, devotional love that occurs soon after profession of faith. Why is it that that love seems to diminish so quickly?

I know that in my life, my love for God has definitely had its ups and downs. Just like the Hebrew people, I too easily revert back once the honeymoon period is over. Thankfully I have taken more than one honeymoon with him BUT why is it that I need more than one...shouldn't that love just continue? As Tim has already talked about, Lent is intertwined with love. If it weren't for love, would we even have the season of Lent? Lent ends with the ultimate showing of love- Jesus giving all for you and I. WOW. That is definitely the ultimate showing of love.

I want that love like that to become real in my life. I want it to spill from me and be evident in everything I do. I don't want the honeymoon to wane...but instead have that love grow stronger and stronger with each passing day. I hope that this season of Lent will help me realize the love He has for me and thus in turn be able to share that love with others in my daily live. Let me learn from the ultimate example... and let me Love as He loves me.

"Come, Holy Spirit, usher me, as you led Jesus, into these desert days. As the Spirit of Love, fill me so I can again be romanced by my Beloved God."

1 John 4: crossing the bridge

There's this story of a father who is a railroad draw bridge operator. One day his son accompanies him to work. During a cold afternoon of playing in and around the river below (fishing, skipping rocks, etc.) the boys heads back up to the bridge where his father is stationed. His son walks on the tracks near the point where the track and bridge separate. The draw bridge has been placed in the up position as a boat passes by. Dusk falls and for a moment, the father loses sight of his son.

Off in the distance a passenger train whistle is heard. The father calls out for his son to return to his booth for safety. The son replies with a cry in the distance. The father comes out onto the track - only to see his son, his only son caught in the gears of the bridge where the bridge and track separate. The train is approaching fast. in a matter of minutes it will reach the bridge.

The father has a choice to make: save his son - and risk certain doom for the people on the passenger train or sacrifice his only son by putting down the bridge so that the hundreds of people on the train will be saved.


The father's heart breaks as he sacrifices his son - putting the bridge down so that many on the train may live.






We are all on that train. Christ is the boy sacrificed. God is the father. This is love.

His love gives us life. It is through Him (Jesus Christ) that we live. It is through Him (God) that we love.

How can we not love? we were born to love... created to love...

this is the essence of 1 John 4. [NIV] [Message]




MOST (The Bridge)
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Are You Hungry?

Traditionally, the Friday's during Lent are considered days of fasting. Many celebrate the Fridays of Lent by partaking in some sort of fish and abstaining from meat products. Though not quite as symbolic as it once was, this practice of fasting is still in place in many people's lives.

While I myself do not practice the eating of fish on Fridays during Lent, I have often thought about the practice of fasting. I have attempted fasting from food, and all I end up doing is focusing on my physical hunger instead of a hunger for God. Through reading A Lenten Hobo Honeymoon, I have came to realize that fasting is not only about the physical act of non-eating, but can also be about the practice of abstaining from apathy and the injustices present in our lives.

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Here he is not talking about those who hunger for physical food, but instead those who hunger for holiness and justice. We are called as Christians to stand up against injustice, but for so many of us, it is easier to take the easy road and sit back and believe that someone else will get the job done.

I have always believed that I have a heart for those less fortunate than I and I have always wanted to reach out to others that are hurting. These beliefs were the basis of my choosing social work as my major in college. Although I didn't have everything I thought I needed, I knew that I had a lot more than so many others and some part of me wanted to reach out and give some of that back. I really believed that I could go out and make a difference- to somehow impact someone else's life.

As you can expect, my eyes were really opened and not only did I see the apathy of many inner-city teens, I also felt as though I took on a lot of the problems of others and although I wanted to make a difference, my part seemed so little it didn't matter.
I decided to leave the social work field after my oldest child was born and though my heart still breaks for others, I am not longer out in the field trying to make a difference and honestly don't pay much attention unless it happens right in front of me.

After reading today's reading, it really hit me. I really want to take something from this Lenten journey and with that must come an attitude change. I have become those apathetic teens I used to try and help, my life and my walk with God has unfortunately simmered down to less than luke-warm.
With that fresh in my mind, instead of choosing to fast from food this Lenten season, I am instead hoping to fast from my own apathy and thereby hunger for my God again. I want to be able to just Love again...to be able to reach out to others and let them see the Love of Christ in me and see my love for Him written across my face. Too long have I been in a fog and allowed myself to become blind and uncaring. I want to feel hunger and once again yearn for the closeness that we once shared, so I then can in turn reach out and simply love others in the way He has continually loved me.

1 John 3: practice what you preach

1 JOHN 3 [NIV] [MESSAGE]

is John writing this letter for my church? is he writing it for me? amazing how the scriptures come alive and speak to each of us.

John again is writing words that reinforce this message: Practice what you preach.
-i wonder: is that the single greatest problem in the church... among believers? [not practicing what we preach?]

the Litmus test: [1 John 3:10]
if you don't do right - you are not a child of God.
if you don't love your brother - you are not a child of God.

John seems to eliminate any GRAY area. Love + your with God / Don't Love + your with the Devil.

i haven't often thought about that - yeah - i know i'm supposed to love (and not just because Jesus commands it - but because i want to be his disciple so much that i can't help but emulate him). but these words from John are harsh - vs 14+15: "Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer..."

in today's world - equating not loving to being a murderer? are you kidding me? i'd like to see that one played out on Law & Order.

but i love the harshness... i love the lack of gray. there is too much gray amongst the body of so-called believers. our sinful nature has a keen way of creeping in and distorting God's truth - to fit our gain.

THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WHAT LOVE IS: (John is spelling it out for those of us who are slow learners) JESUS CHRIST LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. [vs. 16]
it's good to see that Jesus practiced what He preached. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." [John 15:13]

is it also just a coincidence that 1 John3:16 and John 3:16 are similar? Christ's love + God's love are one in the same: All For Love.

THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WHAT LOVE IS... {kind of puts to rest Foreigner's question: I Want To Know What Love Is...}

---

today's journey of love is a reminder that love is more than words. i can say 'i love you' but if my actions don't back it up - then i am a liar... a murderer, even.

one of my biggest pet peeves is when 'Christians toot their own horn - giving word to a specific mission - but leave action in the closet of their heart. i was at a conference last year when i heard a few people talking about the importance of feeding the poor. they were making a resolution that as a denomination we would 'support the poor.' everybody stood up in clapped. they sat down and i began to wonder... 'o.k... help the poor... support the poor. got it... now how are we going to do that?' there was no mention of that. on paper it will forever read that at this conference that a resolution was passed to 'support the poor.' only God knows what action was actually placed behind said motion. a 'friend' of mine called it a 'feel-good resolution'. it makes us feel good. but this is not the message of John or Jesus. i thought - if we really want to support the poor - then let us find a way for every church to open its doors to feed those who are hungry - clothe those who need garments - provide shelter to those who need a roof, etc. now i know that many churches and believers do such things - yet the righteous ones do it in secret - and seek no gain for such actions. that is love.

i, myself have a lot to learn about love. i have a lot to learn about sacrifice. i pray that during this journey of lent that my heart will be opened to the mission of Christ in new ways - and that opportunities to love others will abound.

to God be the glory.

Ash Thursday

(from the book...)

"Besides ashes, Lent could also begin with a sign usually reserved for Valentines Day- a red heart- painted on your forehead. This heart sign could be a reminder that these forty days are to be spent as a honeymoon."
...a honeymoon is a time to escape from daily life. We can see throughout the New Testament that Jesus frequently escaped from daily life to be alone in prayer...and we are called as Christians to do the same in our own lives. While most of us are not able to literally "escape" our daily life, we can make it a habit to take time to spend time in prayer...and not just practical prayers, but also devotional prayers that speak of our love of God. When Lent is seen as a honeymoon it truly parallels Mark 12:30-31 "You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind and body and your neighbor as yourself."


This reading reminded me of an assignment I had in college while working towards my youth ministry minor. While studying the spiritual disciplines, one of the assignments was to spend a day in solitude. If you have never done this, then you truly have NO idea how hard that is to accomplish. First of all, we have so many little things crammed into our days that it is almost impossible to truly just get away from it all and be able to focus on God and Him alone. Secondly...24 hours talking to no one? OK- maybe that is easy for some- but for me- who can be a very social person- that thought frightened me.
Although I didn't technically complete my assignment as I was interrupted numerous times, I did take a lot away from that time. I spent most of it in my home church's sanctuary. What an odd feeling to sit in a place of worship and be all alone. For the first few hours I think I dozed off here and there, listened to the creaks of an old building, listened to my disc man (Nope- no ipods back then ;) ) and lazily tried to pass the time away. After I got bored with that I started looking through the hymnal and softly singing songs to myself and actually focusing on the words. That led me into looking up Scriptures and then to journaling and so forth... and before I knew it quite a few hours had passed by. It was amazing what I gained from taking the time to just sit and be still. Still to this day this verse stands out, "Be still and know I am God"

Most of us probably know and believe the second half, but how often do we really focus on the first half, how often do we take the time to be "still"? Probably not often. Stillness is not a virtue in our lifestyles...everything is "go go go" and "stillness" is seen as laziness and laziness is highly looked down upon. But oh what we can learn if we only take the time to be still and just sit in the presence of our God.

While that time of stillness still stands out in my mind, I am embarrassed to say that I don't think I have really attempted it again in my life. Today's reading though has prompted the urge in me to once again "Be still" and just sit and revel in the Love of God. I want to go on a honeymoon with Him and just begin to rediscover all that His word holds for me. While I can't devote a day at this point in my life...I can take time out to sit and be still. Whether it be fifteen minutes or a half hour daily... I can at least do that and plan to make it more than just a one time thing this time around. I am excited to see what God will reveal to me in those quiet times and look forward to this journey with Him.

1 John 2: the journey begins - Walk Like Jesus

I studied 1 John chapter 2 today. Finally, the theme of LOVE comes out.

i gather that John must have encountered many who were not walking the talk... those who's actions were not being backed up by their proclamation of Christ. if we claim to be a Christian - then our behavior must be that of Jesus. This, i believe is why John, early in chapter 2 says 'here is how to know God... keep his commands.' Jesus gave us the GREATEST commandment: Love God... Love People. i believe if we follow those two commandments - the 10 Commandments fall into place as well.

so we are to Walk Like Jesus (1 John 2:6)... if we claim to live in him... we must walk like Jesus. Eugene Peterson (from The Message) writes it this way: Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

this reminds me of Rob Bell's Nooma video titled Dust. He talks, in the video, about the role of a disciple and about how they would literally follow so closely to their Rabbi that their garment would be covered in the dust of their Rabbi.

he concludes the video with this quote:
“May you believe in God. But may you come to see that God believes in you.
May you have faith in Jesus. But may you come to see that Jesus has faith
that you can be like him. A person of love and compassion and truth.
A person of forgiveness, and peace, and grace, and joy, and hope.
Any may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus.”



if we are going to claim to be a follower of Christ - then we ought to have his dust on us. at it's core, that dust is love.

love is the an intricate part of this Lenten journey.

Ash Wednesday

This Hobo marking means "Beware- bad dog" One might then ask, how does "bad dog" relate to Lent? It's use relates to the the past grimness of this day- a day when hard and grim fasting took place. Long ago, this day began forty days of serious penance. It included strict fasting and embracing the absence of all life's pleasures and enjoyments. While modern culture has tamed Lent, it still stands as a day of fasting and abstinence.
Traditionally Lent begins with the sign of the cross in ashes on your forehead. Many people, afraid of being told they have dirt on their face, immediately wash the ashes off their face once leaving their place of worship. In the process, they are also wiping away the solemness of their journey of reform...


So what would the next forty days be like if we were to keep this marking upon our face? I remember back in high school how it was "cool" to have this marking- and you would try to share it with others - not b/c of it's meaning, but b/c it made you stand out. What though would it be like if that excitement I (we) had back then were evident in our Christian faith? What if the excitement of sharing that marking were still upon me and I had that desire to instead share the message of Christ? What a difference that would make.

While I didn't even participate in an Ash Wednesday service this year (our church does not engage in this practice), the former question has weighed on my mind today as I began this journey. Though I won't be walking around with an outward sign on my forehead, I will attempt to carry it as outward as possible in all that I do in the next forty days...through study and conversation and such. I hope that although not visibly evident, my life will be a living witness of the message I carry inside and so deeply believe in.

goal: 1, 2, 3 John

this may be a little different but i think one thing that i want to do for Lent this year is the opposite of giving something up.

reading that Hobo Honeymoon book really got me thinking about what it is like to be on a honeymoon w/ Christ... sort of a journey of self discovery of my ultimate reliance on his love.

one thing i think i am going to do over the next 40 days is read 1st, 2nd & 3rd John over and over and over... i know that 1,2, 3 John all speak volumes on Love and God. if i read and study even just a chapter a day i will have read the those 3 books 7 times over. but i am committing to not just read the words. i want to digest the word. i imagine i'll be using Lectio Divina and other practices in order to help me see Jesus through the Word.


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i read through 1 john 1... (for the sole purpose of understanding God's love... a lenten goal of mine, so to speak...)

ironically the word love is not mentioned by written word in 1 John 1 - but the personification/example of love has left its mark.

i love the imagery of of 'walking in the light'. i picture this spotlight shining down... moving forward at our pace (so long as we maintain forward movement). to step out of the light naturally leads to a stumble. i picture how often i like to hang out on the fringe of the light - and then when that leads to me stumbling - how i never fall back into the light. i often crawl back - sometimes quickly - but light is only where Christ is. nowhere else.

to be in the light means to be surrounded by forgiveness. vs. 7 speaks of the blood sacrifice purifying us / or purging us of all sin.

i looked up the definition to purge: to be free from; to be clear of guilt; free from punishment; evacuated.

how often do we allow a false sense of guilt to remain - even after we've sought out forgiveness. that guilt feeling is false! we have been purged!

the journey is about to begin.

our Christian heritage is filled with individuals who were nomads... those who wandered... who ventured out onto great journeys. sometimes the physical journey was a companion to a spiritual journey as well.

Dueteronomy 26:5 - Moses speaks of his father being a wanderer or journeyman.
Matthew 8:20 - Jesus had no place to call home... he was on a continual journey.

now, Lent is upon us. it's time for me to go on a journey. the first step, in preparation for lent is to set a few goals. i think the my first goal is to take on the role of a hobo. not literally. i'm not planning on jumping into the boxcar of the next train that comes through town. but need to go on a journey - and my journey is strictly spiritual. my desire is to fall in love with Christ at a whole new level.

ironically - this is something i've been thinking about for a while. i've been thinking about it and now here we are... lent begins tomorrow. and i feel like i'm not ready for it. i realize, though - if i'm not ready to take this journey seriously - then i will not be a hobo - o will be a bumb. a hobo works... a bumb does not.

this journey is going to take work.

i still haven't decided what it is that i may give up for this 40 day lenten season... or rather than giving something up - if i will add something of value to my life during this time. i don't want this time to be a joke.

i look forward to the challenge... i look forward to honesty.

A Lenten Hobo

So what is a Lenten Hobo? From the back of the book, "A Lenten Hobo Honeymoon" this description is given...

"To spend Lent as a honeymoon might seem to be a contradiction in terms. Yet these forty days call us to a renewal of our romance with God. Jesus journeyed through life as a hobo, as one with "nowhere to lay his head." Lent, likewise, calls us to be hobos..."
"Hobos have secret signs, which they write on barns and fences as coded messages to their hobo companions..."


So the plan is to embark on this journey and see where it takes us as we venture along the path to Easter Morning.
I'd love to have companions on this journey... join me if you will :)