Lent? x_x

[termyt]

It stinks to give up electronics. I doubt I would go that far, but then, I'm not your parents.

I know you’re just venting for the most part, but I personally think it's a great idea, especially if you embrace the decision. This is a great opportunity to reflect on what is truly important in your life.

If I were you, I’d sell out to the idea. Use the time to study God’s word and take your relationship with Him a little deeper. That is what Lent is all about. We are observing the single most important event in all of human history – the day the Living God came to Earth to redeem a lost and dying race. I know you know that even if you lost electronics for the rest of your life, the sacrifice would not come close to matching Christ’s sacrifice for you on the cross.

So, take advantage of your time away from your favorite diversions to work on the things that truly matter – your relationship with your family and with your God.

[Puguni]

I thought Lent was a Catholic thing, but I guess not. ^^; It was supposed to somewhat mirror Jesus' trial in the desert for 40 days. :O I usually pick for myself what to give up. Forced Lent doesn't seem as...self-sacrificing... ;>>

[mitsuki lover]

I think both Catholics and Orthodox celebrate Lent as do some Lutherans,Presbyterians,Methodists and other Protestants.

[Tringard]

Try to spend this time devoting extra time to God. I'd challenge you to try to memorize a passage of scripture. Heck, with that much time on your hand, you could memorize a pretty hefty chunk of the Bible. And I know a lot of people think "I'm no good at memorizing!", but everyone can memorize. It just takes some people longer. Find some passage which means a lot to you, and memorize it, even if it takes a while. I'm memorizing Phillipians and it's taking me ages, so don't let the amount of time it requires discourage you.

This seems a good place to link this article on how to memorize large sections of scripture that seemed very interesting .

[Kaligraphic]

For me, personally, instead of giving up something tangible, I'd probably try to give up something internal

That's what I do - this year I'm giving up my pancreas.

(j/k)

[mitsuki lover]

I am giving up on liver and beer and cigars and all those trips to Las Vegas to gamble at Caesar's,but since I hate liver and don't drink or smoke or gamble...
gee...I'm perfect for Lent!LOL!!!:)
Seriously though I would like to learn how to get into the sub version of all my
anime DVDs so I can watch the original Japanese with subtitles during Lent as that is something I would really love to do.

[chibiphonebooth]

I personally chose to start doing a lent fast each year during high school, but I made a point of making three rules: It couldn't damage my daily operating (no giving up talking because of interactive classes and work, no giving up computers now because I would fail classes), It has to be practical (breathing, eating, walking cannot be given up because... well... thats just dumb really) and it had to have meaning to me (giving up somthing I dont do anyways like smoking or shooting up is pointless).

The last two years I have given up video games, and candy. Both were actually quite difficult, and very effective, as well as having beneficial results overall (less wasted time, less sugar in my diet). I also felt like I did get closer to God thanks to these, and because I chose them myself they had a lot of meaning. I think if somthing were imposed on me I would take it as a punishment, not as a fast (think of the difference between the statements "I'm not going to eat for a week" and "You don't get to eat for a week!")

Lent really has meaning to me because I choose to do it, thats what I think. No church that I have attended has ever metioned lent.

i agree. i dont think it should be imposed- because it really DOES seem like a punishment. alot.

because my parents had been talking that we are too 'dependant' on electronics, so i also think that lent is an excuse to make us cut down.

[mechana2015]

i agree. i dont think it should be imposed- because it really DOES seem like a punishment. alot.

because my parents had been talking that we are too 'dependant' on electronics, so i also think that lent is an excuse to make us cut down.

I dunno...

I'm gonna get into my personal feelings here, but if I feel things unessisary to my relationship with God are being forced on me by religeous people my first reaction is to tune them out. Perminately in some cases. I've had this happen before about things I thought were pointless. This has included opinions people have thrown at my clothes, hair, facial hair, bible choice and what I do on my sundays.

I've never had as much respect for the people that did this to me, as I felt that they were questioning my faith based on my deeds vs. their deeds.

[Arnobius]

I am giving up on liver and beer and cigars and all those trips to Las Vegas to gamble at Caesar's,but since I hate liver and don't drink or smoke or gamble...
gee...I'm perfect for Lent!LOL!!!:)
Seriously though I would like to learn how to get into the sub version of all my
anime DVDs so I can watch the original Japanese with subtitles during Lent as that is something I would really love to do.

The spirit of Lent is supposed to be giving up something that is a sacrifice. Giving up meat isn't much of a sacrifice if you like fish for example.

Also, besides just the negative, there is the positive, deciding to do some volunteering with the needy for example. The idea is to get us from focussing on ourselves.

[chibiphonebooth]

I dunno...

I'm gonna get into my personal feelings here, but if I feel things unessisary to my relationship with God are being forced on me by religeous people my first reaction is to tune them out. Perminately in some cases. I've had this happen before about things I thought were pointless. This has included opinions people have thrown at my clothes, hair, facial hair, bible choice and what I do on my sundays.

I've never had as much respect for the people that did this to me, as I felt that they were questioning my faith based on my deeds vs. their deeds.

i agree. alot.

ive debated so many times on how 'you cant be goth and christian' or 'you cant do this cuase your a christian, cant wear this, cant listen to that...' etc.

ive been in many a heated debate about how you cant be goth and christian. which is really stupid- i hhave goth christian friends. >:(
but besides that....

i think i should choose what i want to give up. for example.. sugar. because.. im addicted to it? XD and also it would be good for my health and whatnot. yus.

[chibiphonebooth]

The spirit of Lent is supposed to be giving up something that is a sacrifice. Giving up meat isn't much of a sacrifice if you like fish for example.

Also, besides just the negative, there is the positive, deciding to do some volunteering with the needy for example. The idea is to get us from focussing on ourselves.

i dont want to sound like.. mean or anything.. but i hate volunteering... its not that like.. i dont care- its just like.. i find it really boring and uninteresting.

ive volunteered many times for girl scouts and stuff. dropped out of girl scouts. XD

[mechana2015]

i agree. alot.

i think i should choose what i want to give up. for example.. sugar. because.. im addicted to it? XD and also it would be good for my health and whatnot. yus.

I think that would be most effective for you. A carefully thought out sugar ban (eg. dont go overboaard and like... ban all sugars (carbohydrates are technically a sugar). I dropped candy several years ago and it was a great fast. It was great for my health (I lost my total addiction to candy), tough enough to make me think and every time I saw candy I was reminded of God). Plus.. knowing you... sugar would be an excellent fast ;D.

[chibiphonebooth]

[quote="mechana2015"]I think that would be most effective for you. A carefully thought out sugar ban (eg. dont go overboaard and like... ban all sugars (carbohydrates are technically a sugar). I dropped candy several years ago and it was a great fast. It was great for my health (I lost my total addiction to candy), tough enough to make me think and every time I saw candy I was reminded of God). Plus.. knowing you... sugar would be an excellent fast ]


LOL. *shrugs* what can i say.

good news guys, i talked to my dad last night, and we came to an agreement that i would only get 2hrs on the computer everday- instead of my..4+ hrs. XD

and im going to TRY and give up sugar.. its gunna be really hard though.

im addicted.

anyway, you guys's points really helped in my arguement.
thanks! XD

ill be on now from like.. 7-10

[TurkishMonky]

my family chose to give up all TV and video games, except for one specific instance - there was some debate on the extent of it becuse of various pre-planned events for diffeent members of the family. (mine is 1 spring break LAN party)

the one thing is, though, i don't really watch TV or play video games, so i don't know how useful it will be for me personally....

[EricTheFred]

I've never given anything up for Lent, because I've never really understood the point. To me, Lent has never been about sacrifice and suffering, it has always been about contemplation and contrition. I suppost this just reflects how I was raised, though.

My father used to joke that he "gave up Wednesday evenings for Lent" (Lutherans usually hold Wednesday evenings services throughout the Lenten season, starting with Ash Wednesday; I don't know what other churches we share that custom with.)

[termyt]

That's a good point. Observing Lent ought to be something one chooses to do out of faithful devotion to Christ. Observing Lent just because you are supposed to or you will look bad if you don't will not be an affective form of worship.

Matthew 6:16-18 (NASB):
Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

God cares a lot more about why we do things than how we do them. If we do things for the praise of men, then our reward will come from men. If we do things for the glory of God, then our reward will come from Him. So, there is little use in observing Lent for no other reason than you have to.

Chibiphonebooth, you are still under the authority of your parents, so you, of course, must obey them. I hope you will throw yourself earnestly into the Lenten season. Perhaps you will be able to enjoy some electronic diversions on the Sundays and be able to focus on the important things that are normally overlooked during the other 40 days.

EDIT: Of course, you probably aren't reading this as I just figured out - today is Ash Wednesday. Happy Lent, everyone.

[Sweet Mercury]

Having been through lent of this very nature, I feel your pain. However, if your parents are requiring that you do it, may I suggest you not make my mistake? When I did lent, I spent all the time thinking about the first movie I'd watch when I go back, or the first website I'd hit when I had my computer back, so forth and so on. It simply defeates the purpose.

Try to spend this time devoting extra time to God. I'd challenge you to try to memorize a passage of scripture. Heck, with that much time on your hand, you could memorize a pretty hefty chunk of the Bible. And I know a lot of people think "I'm no good at memorizing!", but everyone can memorize. It just takes some people longer. Find some passage which means a lot to you, and memorize it, even if it takes a while. I'm memorizing Phillipians and it's taking me ages, so don't let the amount of time it requires discourage you.

Another thing I think I'd mention is that the kind of things you're sustaining from are huge priviledges. Having been in a third world country where sewage runs down the same muddy paths where children play barefoot, computer and video games are a shocking and huge gift which the majority of the world's population can only dream of. In light of that, while you're abstaining from these incredible gift-- I suugest you take the oppotunity to thank God for them. And not just some wimpy "Well, I'm supposed to be thankful so. . ." kind of prayer. I'm talking about an on-your-face-carpet-fibers-up-your-nose kind of thankful. Everytime you're all "ARGH! I wanna play my [insert object]!" try to turn it around and say "Gosh, God, thanks for giving me the kind of ridiculous wealth which allows me to have all these things."

Suffering is something that we are called to. I'm not going to debate about the value of lent, but I will say that if you don't spend the entirity of lent being mad about it-- it could be awesome.

Does abstaining from electronics make "sense?" No. But did God's commandment that the Isrealites not wear clothes made from fabrics which were wool/linen mixes make sense? No (except that it WOULD shrink up kind of funny in the wash). But was there a purpose for it? Most certainly. One purpose that I and my pastor discussed was that it was simply to be different. To ask people to say-- so, what's up with that? This could be an opportunity to be different and to share your faith.

And that, boys and girls, is the true meaning of lent. (Just kidding)

Very well said. It's amazing how quickly we, as a people, forget how very privilaged we are.

[Arnobius]

i dont want to sound like.. mean or anything.. but i hate volunteering... its not that like.. i dont care- its just like.. i find it really boring and uninteresting.

ive volunteered many times for girl scouts and stuff. dropped out of girl scouts. XD

Actually I also never felt comfortable with this either. I just threw it out there to clarify what it was about