Lent

Aphra posted about Lent yesterday, with a link to this prayer guide (it’s a pdf). I thought it interesting and it has got me thinking.

I had already planned to look at the issues of grace, guilt, forgiveness and repentance (just a few little things!), to try and see how we as Christians can let go of unnecessaryguilt. So many of us are wracked with guilt that I think the Humanist Society has half a point with their athiest bus campaign.

Some Christians worry so much no wonder those who don’t believe can’t see what the benefit of Jesus in their life would be. After all, when most Christians they know have more hangups than then, why are they going to believe that Jesus makes life so much better?

I also thought about giving something up, but in a time of recession, I’m already cutting back. So I’ve decided to give up something that isn’t material or financial (though I might fast on luncthime a week to focus on the study, and give the money somewhere): I’m going to give up talking so much and take up listening; give up focussing on me so much (don’t laugh!) and take up focussing on others.

Atonement

How would you answer this guy?

more about "Atonement", posted with vodpod

Wrong!

Further to my previous post. This is NOT what should happen.

Check out ASBO Jesus for more ‘toons about church life. And wince when you see yours.

A "chain of pain."

But perception creates reality, and false perceptions can turn into truth by way of self-fulfilling prophecies.

It’s not right, of course, but it is inherently human… We get hurt and the first reaction is to lash out and hurt those who hurt us. When they’re unavailable the urge is sometimes there to hurt others whom we feel are representative of those who did hurt us… hurt them and by proxy you hurt those who hurt you. It’s quite flawed logic, but when one is hurt and/or angry, sound logic seldom gets paid attention to. And thus we end up with the “chain of pain.”

I won’t deny that there are some folks out there who probably do legitimately deserve the shit that gets piled on them. And on the occasions when I come into contact with such people there is that part of me that would love nothing more than to give such people just what they have coming to them… But if I give them that, it just means it’s going to go right back into the chain of pain… and while dishing said shit out might not put me in the chain, I would certainly be contributing to it. And in the end, you have to ask yourself, is it really worth it?

Pieces of Perplexio π

I read this today. I don’t think there’s much more to say to this. We all do it. I know I do. There are times when I get all resentful and want to take it out on someone. Anyone.

Stepping over Our Wounds
Sometimes we have to “step over” our anger, our jealousy, or our feelings of rejection and move on. The temptation is to get stuck in our negative emotions, poking around in them as if we belong there. Then we become the “offended one,” “the forgotten one,” or the “discarded one.” Yes, we can get attached to these negative identities and even take morbid pleasure in them. It might be good to have a look at these dark feelings and explore where they come from, but there comes a moment to step over them, leave them behind and travel on.
Henri Nouwen