Ashes to ashes... / Monkeys & Fish

I'm splitting this post between Ash Wednesday and some random notes. tada!

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It's Ash Wednesday everybody!

To be honest, I didn't know much about it and havn't really thought about it until now.

So I attended the Ash Wednesday service at Newsong this evening. T'was my first Ash Wednesday service and first time observing Lent. For awhile, I thought that it was only a Catholic thing but apparently, there are a lot of Protestant Christians who observe Lent.

so What IS Lent?

Ash Wednesday marks the 1st day of the 40 day fast until Easter, not including Sundays. It's supposed to be a sacred time of fasting, personal reflection and prayer in preparation for Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, we imitate Jesus' preparation for public ministry when He withdrew into the wilderness for forty days of prayer and fasting.

Fasting is a traditional practice during Lent; the hunger for things that we usually want can instead become a renewed hunger and desire for God. The primary purpose of a fast during the season of Lent is to "create space" in our lives so that we can better focus our attention on God and hear His voice more clearly.

The practice of fasting occurs by giving something up--- something we eat, something we do, something in which we find pleasure. Forsaking certain pleasures during Lent is a practical reminder to us of Christ's suffering on our behalf.

Fasting is encouraged because it offers unique opportunities to:

-create intentional space and focused time with God

-Bring our physical desires under submission with the intent of hearing what the Holy Spirit wishes to teach us and speak into our lives

- Cultivate a posture of humility before the Lord as we pray and draw close to Him

- Prepare ourselves in anticipation of seasons of increased spiritual warfare

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Yes, so service tonight... Ed Salas spoke about God and Jesus as a fire... a magnificent consuming fire. We did the cross of ashes on the forehead deal... and had a worship band play. It was nice... i enjoyed it and God placed something new on my heart. As to what that is, you'll just have to find out later! =)

So I've decided that I'm going to be giving up my "sleep-in time." I love sleeping... and I sleep way too much for my own good. So I've decided that I will wake up early every day... even on Saturdays! Haha... that is what i'm giving up.. sleep. XD I would have said desserts, but I dont even eat desserts very often anymore so there wouldn't be a point of a "somin" fast.

Anyway, I'd appreciate some accountability with this... ask me what God's doing in my life and i shall share whether or not I'm actually being good and sticking to this. =P Jk, im going to try my best.

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Moving swiftly along...

These are some notes from "The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church" by Dave Gibbons, newsong's head pastor. Whew.. there's a LOT in that title... I've read about halfway into it.. but there are just way too many things to share so I shall just leave you with the preface.

First, this is the parable that inspired the title of the book:

(See if you can understand it after reading it once.. )

A typhoon stranded a monkey on an island. In a protected place on the shore, while waiting for the raging waters to recede, he spotted a fish swimming against the current. It seemed to the monkey that the fish was struggling and needed assistance. Being of kind heart, the monkey resolved to help the fish.

A tree leaned precariously over the spot where the fish seemed to be struggling. At considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved far out on a limb, reached down, and snatched the fish from the waters. Scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he carefully laid the fish on dry ground. For a few moments, the fish showed excitement but soon settled into a peaceful rest.

- An Eastern parable

Ahhhh yes yes, so simpo.

or not... i was quite confused when i first read it... but then he explains in the next couple paragraphs. [i'm just going to write it all down for you cuz I like the way he makes his points] :)

"Translation? The fish died!

Relevance to the 21st century church?

Everything.

Our World is changing so rapidly, and more than ever, the church needs more than good intentions. We often enter a crisis with a great deal of enthusiasm, even compassion and heroism. But so often the result is tragic. Whether we're trying to reach a new generation or foreign culture, we tend to proclaim.

We often don't listen well. Too many times we resort to yesterday's answers and methods. But today, in a world driven by the forces of globalism, the crises and issues the church grapples with far exceed our sometimes simplistic and insular, if well-intended, approaches.

To effectively carry Jesus' gospel to various places around the globe today-- more important, to be Jesus' gospel-- listening is required. We need to be sensitive and lead with an eager learner's resolve. Those who follow Jesus embody fluidity, adaptation, and collaboration. It's what we call the third culture way. Adaptable to changing circumstances. To challenging cultures. To complex crises and problems.

If there's one quality that matters most to the fate of the church in the 21st century, its adaptability.

....

The problem is that formulas and one-size-fits-all programs so often do more harm than good. We need to learn to adapt, to be fluid-- or liquid, a word i use a lot these days to assess my own abilities as a global citizen, follower of Jesus and church leader.

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think about it.

think, think about it.