traveling together to the cross

We often think of Lent as a season of “giving something up,” which is okay but this does not capture near the scope of the season.

If we think of this next spiritual season we will walk together in relation to the theme of light that we have been working with since before Christmas (Christ as the inextinguishable and ever brightening light that has come into the world to provide warmth and new vision); the Lenten season becomes a time for us to realize the manner in which Christ warms us with his presence but also exposes our human faults and calls us to consider anew how we can change our lives for the betterment of this world and for the deepening (or reconciling) of the relationships that we share in our day to day lives.

As we journey together we will look at the ways that we TURN in our lives as individuals and as communities.

We are going to experiment with a little different type of journey together. If the application of ashes to your forehead on Ash Wednesday is part of your annual journey to the cross we will be gathering Wednesday February 6th from 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm at John and Kate Sandberg’s home. (19765 Erin Ave, Prior Lake) Come any time within this window and we will perform a brief service with you and your family and any who happen to be gathered there at the same time.

If this is totally foreign to your tradition, brings back bad memories of being dragged to church for no apparent reason, or seems really strange to go to someone’s home for a religious rite, exercise your freedom in Christ and pass on this opportunity. Action without meaning for the sake of the action alone is empty and worthless. If you have never participated in such a ritual you may want to try it. In either case, start your journey on Wednesday the 6th.

We will journey together for the next forty days as we listen to some of the same music, watch some of the same films, and read some of the same books. Each of these media focus on the theme of change or turning in one way or another. I would encourage you to acquire all of the music CD’s (in whatever format you do your music), watch all of the movies (save The Passion of the Christ for the week before Easter), and pick one of the books that might interest you.

So here are the books, films, and music.

Music

Derek Webb, The House Show. This is a recording of a house concert with plenty of dialogue between songs about Christ’s call to us to turn and to change both individually and as the church.

Jonny Lang, Turnaround. As the title indicates, this CD marks a change in the life of this Minnesota raised bluesy rocker. A star at 14 and realizing the brokenness of life by his early 20’s, this CD is out of this world in its honesty about life and the hopefulness we have with Christ as a guide.

U2, The Joshua Tree. A classic by a band that has been shaping the imagination of our culture (spiritually and prophetically) for the last two decades.

Books

Brian McLaren, Everything Must Change. If you haven’t read McLaren he pointedly asks the question, what does the teaching of Jesus mean for us as we live our lives and look at the global issues of today?

Par Lagerkvist, Barabbas. This Pulitzer winning novel takes a fictional dive into the life of the actual person for whom Christ died. As you read it, you will see that we are all Barabbas and be forced to consider how we keep the Barabbas’s we know out of many of our Christian communities.

Will and Lisa Samson, Justice in the Burbs. I have not read this but have been waiting for it to be published as it was recommended to me by Doug Pagitt at Solomon’s Porch.

Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Another book I have not read but have heard good things about it as a resource for women in their spiritual life as they juggle schedules that are way too busy and taking the life out of life.

Films

Amazing Grace. The story of abolitionist William Wilberforce and his fight to end the slave trade.

Everything is Spiritual. Rob Bell (from the Nooma series) takes a look at the depth of spirituality in all of life. On sale this week at NW Bookstore.

The Passion of the Christ. Mel Gibson’s depiction of the last days of Jesus’ life. Not for the faint of heart and probably should wait until the week before Easter for this one.

So there you go. Let the journey begin next Wednesday. If you got to this site from the ROJ update, we will have some of these resources available to take home from worship and return the following week for fellow travelers. Peace and joy as we journey together.

I will post here every day during Lent drawing on some of these resources as we look at the ways that we TURN in our lives as individuals and as communities. I welcome your comments and thoughts as we travel down this road together.