TGFS

easter atonement theologies

thursday

is for friends,

honestly. OK, honestly betraying, honestly bad praying, honestly

take, eat,

this is my body

(atonement in community)

friday,

is for Passover,

liberation rescues us

crossing seascape, crossing sandscape

Kingdom coming

(atonement as liberator)

saturday

is for pain,

honestly. In, Darfur and in child abuse, God why have you

abandoned me, him, them

gone God

while innocents die

(atonement as crucified God)

Thank God for Sunday - Resurrection, new life & an invitation to partner in God's redemption strategy!

Giving Things Up is so Last Millenium...

People don't give up stuff for Lent much any more. I once went to a luxury chocolate shop and asked them whether they sold less chocolate during Lent - they noticed no difference.

We ran a poll on Christian Connection, 40% said they didn't believe in doing anything for Lent, and about 20% said they tried to give things up, and another 20% tried to do something spiritual. That's apparently active Christians - so for the other 90% of the population, it's probably even lower.

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I missed Shrove Tuesday

I wasn't paying attention and missed Shrove (aka pancake) Tuesday & Ash Wednesday. Thanks to Mike's Facebook I steal his post:

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

That's one reminder worth coming back to!