Author: Wick

Literally – “Fat Tuesday”

The day before Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the season of Lent. Traditionally, the day you enjoy whatever it is you’re going to be sacrificing during Lent to make room for God in your life. The painful thing is – how much humanity embraces Mardi Gras – compared to how much humanity embraces Ash Wednesday.

Many evangelical churches even – have lost some connection to the Church calendar, simply as a reaction of “not wanting to look Catholic” (as if it’s a religion other than Christian?), and as if they’re history is somehow not our own? How many Jesus-seeking, Easter celebrating Christians will go out and get free pancakes today, or enjoy indulging a bit more than usual; and tomorrow will simply resume life as normal?

We are a Mardi Gras culture. A people that love to indulge. We love to party. We do not enjoy remembering that we are human/dust. We cringe to remember that we are limited. We want to be heroes. We want to be above natural limitations. We want to pretend we control our lives.

I guess that’s a lot of “we” statements.

Not sure what I’m trying to say, other than I wish Mardi Gras was the day we’d forgotten about.

But that might be weird. An “Ash Wednesday Party” probably would be awkward:

“Hey.” “Hey.” “Nice ashes.” “Thanks.” “So how are you celebrating Lent?” “I’m giving up cheese.” “Whoa, that’s intense.” “Looking forward to Easter, for sure….”

So maybe no parties or beads for Wednesday. I’m not against Mardi Gras – as long as it happens with the perspective of Ash Wednesday and a 40 day journey towards celebrating Easter as the focus. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Then again, I suppose waking up with a hangover will remind many people on Wednesday that they are limited/human.

May we love those around us by speaking of our need for the “other” this week…

So I finally watched the movie recommended by some, warned against by others, made fun of by me up to this point simply for having Kirk Cameron in it: Fireproof

Wow. This was really in theaters?

Problems on many levels. I’ll leave the movie critiquing for others. Bad acting, writing, lines, characters, scenes, etc. But that much is obvious.

So let’s focus on why Christians would be motivated to mass-market a movie like this in main-stream theaters? It definitely doesn’t do anything positive in regards to convincing the world we Jesus-followers can make a decent movie. So why, then?

1. To watch in Sunday School – maybe. There are some good reminders that love is purposeful, takes work, and Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. I can get down with those messages, although I’d rather just have those statements made, and study scripture and real life stories.

2. To watch as a married couple – eh, maybe. Reminds me to do something nice for my wife once in a while, because my heart is in it. Made us feel like we have great communication skills, especially in the beginning where even the slightest thing set them both off. Ridiculous. Though I’d still rather simply talk about these concepts directly, without watching a painful acting job.

3. To save a marriage in trouble – hah….not likely. Remember the guy Kirk Cameron was playing in the beginning of the movie? Do you think his character would have said, “Hmm…Fireproof…maybe my wife and I should watch that together cause ____ recommended it would help our relationship.” I think a marriage in trouble is where accountability and a supportive connected community seeking Christ together comes in….not a movie.

4. To make money off Christian culture and offer Christians who would otherwise have to help people they love through rough times an easy out – it works. “Oh, you’re having problems in your marriage? Here, I bought this movie for you. Just…um..watch it with your wife. I’m praying for you. (Oh, the movie didn’t work? Well, they sell the book from the movie in Christian book stores….why not give that a try?)

My recommendation: Save your time/money. Read 1 Corinthians 13 together, and go out to TGIFriday’s for a Chocolate Brownie Obsession, and follow God from there.

NOTE: Sorry to anyone who loved the movie, or had a transformational experience from it. I’m sure God can use anything – He’s God. 🙂 I’m sure you’d hate some of the stuff He’s used in my life. 🙂

It’s going to be a busy Monday/Tuesday for me, so I figured I would be pro-active in reminding you that this week begins the season of Lent for the Church. During this time (check last year’s post), we recognize our humanity and need for something “other”. We look forward to the work accomplished in the sacrificial death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The 40 day season begins this Wednesday with “Ash Wednesday”. Traditionally, during the Lent season we “give something up”, or live sacrificially in some new way. This can be only for the 40 days (like giving up TV or something), or can be used as a jumpstart to a new lifestyle (giving up smoking, etc.). We want to change our life in some way that makes us daily remember what we are doing, and allows God more space in our lives than usual.

The past couple years I’ve given up fiction books. I spend a lot of time reading, both fiction and non-fiction. But my wife and I have just decided to read a specific fiction book together, and I’m kinda excited about that; so I have to find something else. This morning I think I found it.

For Lent 2009, I’m going to give up being socially appropriate.

Not so much that I’m going to begin farting at the dinner table, and cussing to children. But in regards to my faith, and excitement for the Kingdom. I’m going to be more purposeful about speaking the Hope and Life that make me the person that I am. It may come as a surprise to you, but even as a youth pastor, I’m trained by life to speak about Jesus when I preach, or when I talk with Church people during church functions. But on a regular basis, it doesn’t come natural to me, for whatever reason.

So for the next 40 days, I will experiment with being more open with what God has done/is doing in my life as I go through my day.

And to make the celebration of Easter exciting to my stomach (and Fat Tuesday this week), perhaps I’ll find some sort of edible item I enjoy to give up also.

What are your lent plans?