Can I Die Without Regrets?

The focus in this week’s Lenten study is “Can I die without regrets?” As I was reading the beginning parts of this week, I was reminded of a song by Sweet Honey in the Rock, entitled, the Ballad of Harry T. Moore. He was an organizer in Florida in the 1930’s and 40’s who, along with his wife, worked to register more black voters in the state of Florida than all the other southern states combined. Listen to the introduction and live performance, featuring Bernice Johnson Reagon at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wEPZ0rTsHs

Originally a Langston Hughes poem, Sweet Honey puts Moore’s story to memorable music to inspire others to make a difference. Reagon shared these moving words in her introduction to the song: “We spend a lot of time tryin’ to stay this side of death, like we gonna make it somehow. You could really go for broke, you gonna die anyway, make a difference!”

In what ways do you feel like you have made a difference in your family, friendships, and the world? Whose example inspires you to try and make a difference?.

+ Pastor Virg

In What Ways are We Blind?

Our focus for this week, with Edward Hays' book, The Lenten Labyrinth, has been, "In what ways are we blind?" He encourages us to consider how we are spiritually blind to the ways of God in the world. Consider this humorous satire featuring the Reverend Tom Pittman and the Austin Lounge Lizards at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbvrRct-TXc. Visit there and then reflect on the following questions. Who are the folks about whom we would say, "Jesus loves me, but he can't stand you?" How does our behavior toward certain people, individuals or groups state this, even if we don't say it out loud?

Enter into God's Rest

This week on your Lenten journey, you will reflect on what makes you weary in life. Are you weary of seemingly unresolvable conflicts both personally and globally? Do you feel forlorn about your progress in the spiritual life? Lent is only two weeks old; are you perhaps already growing weary of it? Jesus rested at the well in Samaria when he felt weary and tired, isn't that permission for you to do the same? Without guilt and as a Lenten exercise, rest for a few hours this week. Perhaps you will meet someone like the Samaritan woman who questions you in such a way that you will discover a truth about yourself. Share with us what makes you weary. What was the result of your time of rest?