LENT

Ideas for Lent.

Graceland will be hosting some reflections for the coming Lent season and would appreciate your thoughts/ideas.

Lent commences this year on 21st Feb.

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, fasting & praying, preparing a mission, fighting temptation, working through his calling. Then in the early church, Lent was the time for new Christians to learn the faith, & for the rest to devote themselves to prayer & fasting, a spring cleaning of the soul in readiness for the journey to come.

Maybe you’ve spent some time in a spiritual desert & are looking to press through, maybe you’ve never “done” Lent but it can be the provison of some real “soulfood”.

Should we give something up for 40 days?
Should we give something different up each day?
Should we GIVE something for Lent?
How can this season inform & inspire us in our journey back to God?

Here are some starter ideas (COURTESY OF VARIOUS BLOGS) but Graceland would love your input so let us know what you think?

Go mobile-free for a day, or better a week & use the space to be still.
Give up caffeine for 40 days & detox your body and brain!
Recycle Something
Create a moan-free zone. Refuse to complain for a day or allow others to moan around you!
Research on the internet what Lent is. Understand better.

It would be great to have 40 different things we could try for each day of Lent so get your creative thinking cap on.

Poor mans proverbs!

Funny how in the midst of the poor mans proverbs of a “desk top calendar”, little diamonds can sometimes be mined.

I was challenged by these words:

“Cherish the past, adorn the present and create for the future.”

A life-giving perspective.

(image courtesy if Jonny Baker, thanks Jonny!)

Rock N' Roll, Rock N' Responsibility

During the past week, I’ve had the privilege & pleasure of enjoying two of contemporary music’s enduring performers.

CHUCK BERRY

Standing 10ft from one of Rock n Roll’s great legends is a memory that will stay with me a long time. Last Thursday at the Waterfront Hall Belfast, every rif, every line was pregnant with the power, majesty & ministry of Rock N Roll. The man showed that even at 80yrs old, he could capture his audience with a style & stage presence often sought but rarely found. Johnny B Goode, Memphis Tennessee, Little Queenie highlighted a musical canon that can rarely if ever be matched.

Hail Hail Rock N Roll!

Then last night at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, one of Canada’s finest cast his spell of Rock N Responsibility. Bruce Cockburn’s poetic, prophetic yet humble muse reminded us that Rock N Roll not only entertains us, but also challenges us to think not just of ourselves, but of those at the bottom of the pile.

Merci Mon Ami!