Vol 4 No 10 - Another Season Comes...

Seeing the coverage of a number of Mardi Gras parades over the past few days has gotten me thinking about what it is that gets the human spirit so festive - people line the streets for hours to watch a parade that involves a lot of music, some costumes, immaculately decorated floats; it seems that a truly good time is had by so many during this time.  I hope and pray that if you are participating in the Mardi Gras activities that you have a wonderful time and are truly an example of Christ's love in the midst of all the frivolity.

I remember as a child participating in the Mardi Gras parades in Lake Charles, and how much fun it was to get dressed up, hang out with so many different people, and throw the various beads, doubloons, and candy to my friends in the crowd (and occasionally try to peg someone that I wasn't so fond of - yes, confession is good for the soul)...it is truly amazing to see such a diverse group of people gather together for this purpose.

Imagine, if you will, the sheer joy that accompanies pretty much any Mardi Gras parade out there, and think of this:  Wednesday, we will start the observance of Lent with the Imposition of Ashes at 6:00PM.  This season that we are starting will lead us down roads of introspection and commitment, and will culminate with celebrations (on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday) that make any Mardi Gras celebration seem tame, for what can you possibly get more excited about than the life, death, and resurrection of Christ?

Near the end of this week you will get via snail-mail our monthly church newsletter with a special insert concerning our Lenten activities.  Please make sure to note the various things going on in the life of our congregation and make them a central part of your Lenten observance.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 9 - Super Restraint

Well, as I believe you all know by now, my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl champs again.  All is right with the world.  However, I know that many of you really don't care about this, and would just as soon the pastor not write a column about one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history, so, rest assured, I won't.

I will resist the urge to draw parallels between the greatest play of the game, James Harrison's 100-yd interception return just before the half, about how he had to put everything he had to make it the 100 yds (to the point of needing oxygen) as well as the help of teammates to keep at bay those forces that were trying to drag him down.  There's no reason to draw a parallel between this play and the life of the Christian within the church - the whole 'we all have a goal in life (life lived to the glory of God), know it will take us emptying ourselves completely to make it happen, and how, though life in the body of Christ, we can have the help of friends to keep at bay those things that are going to do their dead-level best to keep us from doing what needs to be done.

Further, I will resist the urge to draw another parallel about how it was simply by paying attention and being in the right position to make a play that can completely turn around a truly historic contest (like Mr. Harrison) to the good.  To sit here and talk about how he took a chance to do something different and how taking chances can lead to great things occurring...I will resist the urge to talk about how when we allow ourselves to fully pay attention to God's will for our lives and are willing to take a chance on doing something different we have no idea how God might use it for the furthering of the Kingdom.

So, since I know many of you are glad the Super Bowl is gone and don't want to hear about football in a pastor's article, just allow me to wish you a most blessed and holy week, and that the From the Pastor column for the Mid-Week Message will return next week.

See You Soon!

Lamar