Giving Something Up?

Have you ever given anyting up for lent. Well if you haven't been paying any attention yesterday was Ash Wednesday the first day of Lent. It is the 40 days prior to the Crucifixion and Ressurection of Jesus Christ. It is a time that many peopel enter a time of reverance and solomen reflection on what the season means and what will occur.

However for us Prostant Christians it is something that we struggle with. We either don't observe or we halfway observe. I find it so weird that people go around and ask each other, "so what are you giving up for Lent?" Then they work so hard to abstain from that one thing only to pick it right back up again after the six weeks.

This past week I was reading in Matthew 6:1 which states, "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." We need to be cautious in our giving up and acts of righteousness this time of Lent so that we don't draw attention to ourselves but only that our attention in on Christ.

I this year am not going to give anything up for Lent. However I am going to add something to my life. And hopefully at the end of the 40 days that this might become a habit. It is a spiritual discipline between me and Lord. I encourage you to do the same. To find something that you need more in your life to help you grow in Christ or to serve Christ or to reachout with the Love of Christ.

Good luck! And may the next 40 days be our 40 days closer to Christ! Closer to the meaning of this season, closer to the cross and closer to the reason for our Hope, Jesus Christ.

More writing & thouhts from Scott at http://ignitingvision.blogspot.com/

NEW BLOG SITE

For all my blogging friends out there. Just wanted to let you know that my new blog site as launched. It will be a place where I flush out all that is going on within my soul. We will deal with life issues, passion for ministry and searching for this thing that we just quite haven't found yet. I encourage you to continue to love, share and live out the life God has called you to do. I will continue to keep this xanga site active so that I may here from friends. Also stay tune to the launching of the new ministry site soon.

Igniting Vision can be found at http://ignitingvision.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Scott

It has been forever since I have updated. I have become a exclusively myspace addict. There is currently constrction taking place at my ministry website for a weekly blog that will most likely terminate my xanga account. But I will let all of you subscribers know where you can find the ramblings of my crazy thoughts in the future.

Found a great article today here is the opening statements."The Question of Chritmas" by Kristen McNulty you can read the whole article at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7269 

Evidence of the rapidly approaching Christmas season can be seen everywhere. Radio stations are blaring Christmas music, malls are packed with people doing their shopping and neighborhoods are lit up with Christmas lights. For most people, the Christmas season means the onslaught of extreme busyness. This isn't something new.

When Jesus was born, everyone in Israel was busy traveling to their hometowns for the census. Things were so chaotic that, in Bethlehem, only a few shepherds noticed the arrival of the Son of God, and that was only after they were summoned by a host of angels.

Right there in Bethlehem one of the most amazing events in history was occurring, and it received very little attention. What an accurate reflection of what is happening today.

So in the spirit of Christmas. Take a moment to reflect. Reflect on the beauty that Christ has brough in the past year of your life. Reflect on the accomplishments that would of been impossible without His Grace. Reflect on the moments of protection that He saved you from making a complete disaster of what He has give to you, Life. And remember that without His Breath your breat would of never happened. May you find the true meaning of Christmas this year and celebrate with those that you love. And then get ready for what God is going to do in your heart, your life, our Country and World in the next Year. It shall be exciting times.

God Bless You, and Merry Christmas...

-Traveling along with you

Scott

Currently Reading Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die: Or the Eschatology of Bluegrass By David Crowder, Mike Hogan see related

Hello Everyone...

It has been about eternity since I have written anything on my XANGA site. I have been doing the myspace thing lately. All the students are into that now and I have been neglecting my Xanga friends. Sorry. Well as most of you know that I packed up my life after seven years in the Burg and moved South. I am now a southerner, at least one who lives in the south. Actually I am what you would call a true southern person. I am south of I10, which is pretty far. I am about 40 minutes from the gulf of Mexico. Would be closer if there was a straight road there. I have settled and have been adjusting to my new environment and making all new friends at the church. Yes it is true I am now a Methodist. I am no longer Baptist but have changed ships. But who cares, I really am just a Christ follower. There is a cool video on my myspace about being a Christian or a Christ follower, YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH it. Remember that you have to be my friend to see myspace. So if you are not already my friend sign-up to be one! My site is www.myspace.com/wootwhoot

My duplex is great. I have plenty of room and it is totally me everyone that has seen it says. Tall cellings, gray walls with all white trim. I even ended up having a garage for the motorcyle and all. I have been really enjoying riding that everywhere down here. Took it the other day to Cameron down my the gulf. This is where the mass destruction happened when Rita came through last year. This is absolutley nothing left, very sad. The land down there is very beautiful and all the nature and wetlands. But you can also see how God's creation can leave behind destruction very quickly as well.

Well I have been busy getting to know people, working on next years plans and budget and just getting use to the area. So far I am loving it! Hope you are all well. I plan on getting a camera soon so that I can show everyone pictures. I always used the camera from church and now I don't have one. Hope you all are well. Stay in touch, sorry for not posting in a long while.