"Lent"

I got new feeds on my computer updated every few hours a day. This one I came across and like it. The title of it was: "Students give up social networks for Lent" the article can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/29/no.facebook.lent/index.html?eref=rss_education

First here is a bit about lent: "In Western Christianity, Lent is the forty-day period (or season) preceding Easter lasting from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (Easter Even) or Holy Thursday (in the Roman Catholic Church)." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent)

The girl in the article was going to give up Facebook and myspace up for the forty-days. I have not really tried this whole thing called Lent but it really makes me think maybe one year I should try giving something up for forty-days.

The reason they use forty-days is found in the Bible Jesus went in the desert for forty-days. Matthew 4:1-11 says:

"Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread." Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth." For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone." Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God." For the third test, the Devil took him on the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. 9 Then he said, "They're yours - lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours." Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness." The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus' needs. Teaching and Healing" (MSG)

Jesus went in the desert and gave up food. "For some, it's chocolate. For others, it's coffee or cigarettes. But as this Easter approaches, some young and devout Christians are anxious to return to what they gave up for Lent: Internet sites Facebook and MySpace." (Students give up social networks for Lent)

I think it cool when people do stuff like this if it gets in the way of their relationship with God, or to have a deeper relationship with God. This year I have given things up to get my relationship with God deeper and with me it was television in general. I wrote about in a past thought. For others of you who do or did Lent, may your relationship with God be deeper this year!

Thanks
Howden Matt Howden