I considered giving up coffee, but that would be a sacrifice for not only me, but everyone around me that has to deal with me!
Dude, I gave up soda one year. Everyone around me told me I was a miserable SOB for weeks. I used to regularly drink at least a 6 pack of pepsi a day at the time.
In high school, my breakfast consisted of a can of pepsi each morning. So giving that up was a painful shock to my system.
Sorry, but 1) what are you talking about and 2) what does any of this have to do with Lent?
Give up something?
I'm giving up fear. What is the real story behind Lent? Is it to give up a thing (I think that's a little shallow), and whoever started that stupid tradition really had a lot of people run with it. I mean, really, any tradition within a religion based on God should remind you of God. If we are to remember what was happening during that time when Christ was suppose to die was he giving up coffee, chocolate, or dancing the rumba? He knew he was going to die. He had to face a challenge. That's what should bring us closer to God. To face a challenge, and to rely on God's strength to see us through. If giving up chocolate is the challenge that brings a person closer to God then more power to that person. I'll believe it, no problem. However, the blanket *I'm giving up* stuff that I consistently hear about year after year is never followed by how it's getting the person closer to God.
What challenge would get me closer to God? When I overcome fear I'm closer to God. Hence, these are two ways I'm closer to God by *giving up* fear.
On a yearly basis I seem to spout religion Yikes!
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
I'm giving up fear. What is the real story behind Lent? Is it to give up a thing (I think that's a little shallow), and whoever started that stupid tradition really had a lot of people run with it. I mean, really, any tradition within a religion based on God should remind you of God. If we are to remember what was happening during that time when Christ was suppose to die was he giving up coffee, chocolate, or dancing the rumba? He knew he was going to die. He had to face a challenge. That's what should bring us closer to God. To face a challenge, and to rely on God's strength to see us through. If giving up chocolate is the challenge that brings a person closer to God then more power to that person. I'll believe it, no problem. However, the blanket *I'm giving up* stuff that I consistently hear about year after year is never followed by how it's getting the person closer to God.
Okay, you are really missing the point behind Lent. This is okay, because maybe you just don't know.
You don't just "give up something" for the heck of it. The idea is to give up something that you believe/know is bad for you. In theory you strive to give up bad things all the time, but the Lent season traditions are there to remind us each year to continue on. Again there are times we feel closer/less close to God, but the season is there to remind us and hopefully bring us back.
That's why, in theory, it brings one closer to God.
Also, the 40 day Lent season is to remind us of the 40 days that Christ spent in the desert, enduring being tempted. So you have the traditions of prayer, charity, fasting, and self-denial to focus your thoughts on that.
It's deeper than that but that's a summary in a few sentences.
The idea is to give up something that you believe/know is bad for you
So, fear is good for you? Give up something *bad* for you, why? Take the giving up idea one step further. Really think about God as you do it. It's not as shallow an experience as it's marketed.
You're right, a few sentences doesn't do it justice. Maybe you don't know how to write it as a deep spiritual experience.
Don't worry, I've been Catholic all my life.
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
I've been in RCIA classes since November, so I'm still learning. I was merely responding (to the best I could) to your question about why do people give up things for Lent.
I guess fear could be good or bad, depending on what you are fearing. I fear heights. I don't know if that'd good or bad but all I know is that if I'm on a ladder, I am a bit nervous!
Also, the 40 day Lent season is to remind us of the 40 days that Christ spent in the desert, enduring being tempted. So you have the traditions of prayer, charity, fasting, and self-denial to focus your thoughts on that.
He did this why? Because he was going to die. It's the challenge, testing your limits as Christ did. It's not about giving up, to be less than. It's about walking into that spiritual desert as Christ did, and face a great challenge as he did. It's about being more at the end, closer to God, knowing that anything is possible when the spiritual desert is walked into, and out of. Being ready to be a better person.
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
The way I always interpreted Lent is that it symbolizes the 40 days that Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil while he was fasting for atonement.
Now, to bring this into our lives, Lent is supposed to be a period of reflection in which we are supposed to be preparing for the biggest day in the Catholic year - Easter in which all of the teachings of Christ are put into fruition.
Giving up something that means a lot to us is supposed to symbolize that we can resist temptation much like Christ did and allow us to reflect on our sacrifice as way of getting closer to God.
Of course, I'm not a practicing Catholic, but that was my whole take on Lent.
I've been in RCIA classes since November, so I'm still learning. I was merely responding (to the best I could) to your question about why do people give up things for Lent.
I guess fear could be good or bad, depending on what you are fearing. I fear heights. I don't know if that'd good or bad but all I know is that if I'm on a ladder, I am a bit nervous!
Don't worry. Most people don't agree with me
Most people don't agree with me on how to write Haiku either, so it's a consistent theme.
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
He did this why? Because he was going to die. It's the challenge, testing your limits as Christ did. It's not about giving up, to be less than. It's about walking into that spiritual desert as Christ did, and face a great challenge as he did. It's about being more at the end, closer to God, knowing that anything is possible when the spiritual desert is walked into, and out of. Being ready to be a better person.
Well technically, this fasting period by Christ was before he started his ministry.
His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane were more about his imminent death after the Last Supper.
Well technically, this fasting period by Christ was before he started his ministry.
His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane were more about his imminent death after the Last Supper.
Point taken
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
Okay, you are really missing the point behind Lent. This is okay, because maybe you just don't know.
You don't just "give up something" for the heck of it. The idea is to give up something that you believe/know is bad for you. In theory you strive to give up bad things all the time, but the Lent season traditions are there to remind us each year to continue on. Again there are times we feel closer/less close to God, but the season is there to remind us and hopefully bring us back.
That's why, in theory, it brings one closer to God.
Also, the 40 day Lent season is to remind us of the 40 days that Christ spent in the desert, enduring being tempted. So you have the traditions of prayer, charity, fasting, and self-denial to focus your thoughts on that.
It's deeper than that but that's a summary in a few sentences.
I totally disagree that the point is to give up something that you think or know is *bad for you.* It's supposed to be a SACRIFICE, not a new year's resolution. It *is* to symbolize Christ's 40 days in the desert when he fasted. Christ didn't believe that eating food is bad for you, he was fasting, sacrificing. the giving up is supposed to be a fast of sorts.
I totally disagree that the point is to give up something that you think or know is *bad for you.* It's supposed to be a SACRIFICE, not a new year's resolution. It *is* to symbolize Christ's 40 days in the desert when he fasted. Christ didn't believe that eating food is bad for you, he was fasting, sacrificing. the giving up is supposed to be a fast of sorts.
that's how i understood it....you sacrifice because jesus did for you....
Althought it looks otherwise, I'm not doing it for the wedding - I'm doing it for me. I won't be ready by the wedding anyway. I've always been a Christian as far as believing, but always fell short on the practicing end. I was raised Protestant (kind of), and know I don't fit in there. Catholicism teaches love and tolerance, not anger & self-righteousness. It just makes sense to me and I want to learn more.
What wedding? Did I miss something? This is a HOT NEWS FLASH.
9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
10/10 - Brad in B'more
Reading 2004
Albany 2006 Camden 2006 E. Rutherford 2, 2006 Inglewood 2006,
Chicago 2007
Camden 2008 MSG 2008 MSG 2008 Hartford 2008.
Seattle 2009 Seattle 2009 Philadelphia 2009,Philadelphia 2009 Philadelphia 2009
Hartford 2010 MSG 2010 MSG 2010
Toronto 2011,Toronto 2011
Wrigley Field 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Philadelphia 2, 2013
Philadelphia 1, 2016 Philadelphia 2 2016 New York 2016 New York 2016 Fenway 1, 2016 Fenway 2, 2018 MSG 2022 St. Paul, 1, St. Paul 2 2023 MSG 2024, MSG 2024 Philadelphia 2024
"I play good, hard-nosed basketball.
Things happen in the game. Nothing you
can do. I don't go and say,
"I'm gonna beat this guy up."
had a burger for lunch.....:eek:.....but i'm catholic so i can go tell some dude in a closet (in more ways than one) and say some silly prayers and it's like it never happened....:D
Comments
Dude, I gave up soda one year. Everyone around me told me I was a miserable SOB for weeks. I used to regularly drink at least a 6 pack of pepsi a day at the time.
In high school, my breakfast consisted of a can of pepsi each morning. So giving that up was a painful shock to my system.
- 8/28/98
- 9/2/00
- 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
- 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
- 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
- 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
- 8/2/07, 8/5/07
- 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
- 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
- 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
- 9/11/11, 9/12/11
- 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
I'm giving up fear. What is the real story behind Lent? Is it to give up a thing (I think that's a little shallow), and whoever started that stupid tradition really had a lot of people run with it. I mean, really, any tradition within a religion based on God should remind you of God. If we are to remember what was happening during that time when Christ was suppose to die was he giving up coffee, chocolate, or dancing the rumba? He knew he was going to die. He had to face a challenge. That's what should bring us closer to God. To face a challenge, and to rely on God's strength to see us through. If giving up chocolate is the challenge that brings a person closer to God then more power to that person. I'll believe it, no problem. However, the blanket *I'm giving up* stuff that I consistently hear about year after year is never followed by how it's getting the person closer to God.
What challenge would get me closer to God? When I overcome fear I'm closer to God. Hence, these are two ways I'm closer to God by *giving up* fear.
On a yearly basis I seem to spout religion
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
HAHAHA! That was awesome!
Okay, you are really missing the point behind Lent. This is okay, because maybe you just don't know.
You don't just "give up something" for the heck of it. The idea is to give up something that you believe/know is bad for you. In theory you strive to give up bad things all the time, but the Lent season traditions are there to remind us each year to continue on. Again there are times we feel closer/less close to God, but the season is there to remind us and hopefully bring us back.
That's why, in theory, it brings one closer to God.
Also, the 40 day Lent season is to remind us of the 40 days that Christ spent in the desert, enduring being tempted. So you have the traditions of prayer, charity, fasting, and self-denial to focus your thoughts on that.
It's deeper than that but that's a summary in a few sentences.
You're right, a few sentences doesn't do it justice. Maybe you don't know how to write it as a deep spiritual experience.
Don't worry, I've been Catholic all my life.
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
I guess fear could be good or bad, depending on what you are fearing. I fear heights. I don't know if that'd good or bad but all I know is that if I'm on a ladder, I am a bit nervous!
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
Now, to bring this into our lives, Lent is supposed to be a period of reflection in which we are supposed to be preparing for the biggest day in the Catholic year - Easter in which all of the teachings of Christ are put into fruition.
Giving up something that means a lot to us is supposed to symbolize that we can resist temptation much like Christ did and allow us to reflect on our sacrifice as way of getting closer to God.
Of course, I'm not a practicing Catholic, but that was my whole take on Lent.
- 8/28/98
- 9/2/00
- 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
- 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
- 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
- 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
- 8/2/07, 8/5/07
- 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
- 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
- 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
- 9/11/11, 9/12/11
- 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
Most people don't agree with me on how to write Haiku either, so it's a consistent theme.
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
Well technically, this fasting period by Christ was before he started his ministry.
His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane were more about his imminent death after the Last Supper.
- 8/28/98
- 9/2/00
- 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
- 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
- 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
- 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
- 8/2/07, 8/5/07
- 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
- 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
- 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
- 9/11/11, 9/12/11
- 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
I don't know that I disagree with you. I'm not sure what your point is regarding the Lent traditions and how or why people practice them.
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
I totally disagree that the point is to give up something that you think or know is *bad for you.* It's supposed to be a SACRIFICE, not a new year's resolution. It *is* to symbolize Christ's 40 days in the desert when he fasted. Christ didn't believe that eating food is bad for you, he was fasting, sacrificing. the giving up is supposed to be a fast of sorts.
that's how i understood it....you sacrifice because jesus did for you....
What wedding? Did I miss something? This is a HOT NEWS FLASH.
8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
10/10 - Brad in B'more
(guilty!)
Albany 2006 Camden 2006 E. Rutherford 2, 2006 Inglewood 2006,
Chicago 2007
Camden 2008 MSG 2008 MSG 2008 Hartford 2008.
Seattle 2009 Seattle 2009 Philadelphia 2009,Philadelphia 2009 Philadelphia 2009
Hartford 2010 MSG 2010 MSG 2010
Toronto 2011,Toronto 2011
Wrigley Field 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Philadelphia 2, 2013
Philadelphia 1, 2016 Philadelphia 2 2016 New York 2016 New York 2016 Fenway 1, 2016
Fenway 2, 2018
MSG 2022
St. Paul, 1, St. Paul 2 2023
MSG 2024, MSG 2024
Philadelphia 2024
"I play good, hard-nosed basketball.
Things happen in the game. Nothing you
can do. I don't go and say,
"I'm gonna beat this guy up."
had a burger for lunch.....:eek:.....but i'm catholic so i can go tell some dude in a closet (in more ways than one) and say some silly prayers and it's like it never happened....:D
Since giving up fast food and red meat, I'm down 12 pounds and a waist size. And feeling much better. But I'm really craving a nice steak ... lol
- 8/28/98
- 9/2/00
- 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
- 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
- 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
- 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
- 8/2/07, 8/5/07
- 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
- 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
- 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
- 9/11/11, 9/12/11
- 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13