I’ll be honest: I’ve never been a big fan of Lent. Before I got sick, Lent often felt superficial. Yes, I sometimes gave up sugar or TV or social media, and since these things distracted me from listening to God and were generally unhealthy, that felt right and good. And yes, I sometimes took up…

I'm excited to engage in this year's Easter festivities . There is so much to look forward to, I'm having to remind myself to slow down.

Why do we fast? Christians fast for two primary reasons: to recall our mortality and to flee from sin and repent. While these two reasons can be distinguished, they can’t be separated. Sin and death are joined at the hip, as are repentance and dependence on God. 

Join with Jesus on his road. Share with Jesus in his mission. Even when it costs. Even when our best excuses are not good enough.

Rev. Dr. Jay Wright of All Saints Church Dallas reminds us that during the Lenten season, as we do the work of repentance, as we use the activities of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, reading and meditating on God's word... we must, we must, we must do it all with the humility that is gift from God.

How do we talk about a gospel of suffering? “Gospel” means “good news.” How is suffering ever good news?? Suffering is not getting what you want and getting what you don’t want. Every single human being has both experiences.

There are certain tools I have found to be particularly helpful in focusing on Christ's victory in my own life during the season of Lent. It is important to start small.

Lent is arguably a microcosm of the whole ascetic life. It is a clear and obvious appropriation of the victory of Christ over sin and temptation in the life of the Church and the life of the Christian.

While there are many purposes for fasting found in the Bible, the primary purpose of Lenten fasting is learning to depend more fully upon God and trust him to provide for us in every way. We are learning to discipline our desires and not to be ruled by them.