Ash Wednesday.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of lent. Lent is the 40 day journey leading up to Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. As a church, and a people of God, we surrender something from our lives, and embark on a journey of suffering for the sake of growing closer to Christ. Here in lent, we give up something valuable to us, so that we may rather find value in Christ alone. As an American culture, we are crutch seeking people. We pour so much effort into finding something to lean on. We cling to social networking, wealth, convenience, and the American dream, seeking to fill the void in our souls, and support our crippled condition. None of these things can support us. Christ alone is the solvent for our blotted condition. Lent is a time to look forward to the cross, and the resurrection, giving up our crutches to lean fully on Christ. Through suffering, we are greater conformed to the image of Christ. On a personal note, I thought long and hard about what to give up for lent. After much prayer, I have decided to surrender my diet. For these forty days, I have decided to give up all red meat from my diet. In this holy time, remember, look to the cross alone for your support. Grace and peace be with you!