Lent is coming

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May 22, 2014
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#1


[h=2]sunday, february 16, 2014[/h][h=3]OUTSIDE THE BOX: 66 THINGS TO GIVE UP OR TAKE UP FOR LENT (IN BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, AND ADVANCED)[/h]

Through my various Lenten fails over the years, I've learned a different way of approaching Lent. In our house, we now view Lent as a time to try adding or taking away things from our personal and family lives to see if we are improved. We make it a time, not of suffering (necessarily) but rather of increased focus on God and others and decreased focus on self and personal comfort. I have found that I can take up or give up just about anything, no matter how big or small, and use it as a reminder to pray more and love more. With that in mind, here are 66 ideas of things to consider giving up or taking up, in beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, for beginning, intermediate, and advanced Lents.





1. Don't take the best spot available in the parking lot
2. Take the worst parking spot you can find
3. Don't drive: walk or take public transportation


1. Make the bed everyday
2. Make the bed everyday before you leave the bedroom
3. Put the throw pillows on and everything


1. Go to daily Mass once per week in addition to Sunday Mass
2. Go to daily Mass 2-3 times per week
3. Go to daily Mass every day


1. Don't leave dishes in the sink overnight
2. Do the cooking dishes before dinner and the dinner dishes dishes immediately after dinner
3. Don't use the dishwasher


1. Don't use credit cards, spend only cash
2. Keep a list of things to buy and only shop one day per week
3. Don't buy anything (except maybe food)


1. Don't eat out at restaurants
2. Make all your food from scratch
3. Grow/raise all your own food


1. Watch only specific, preselected movies or TV shows, not just whatever is on
2. Watch TV and movies only as a planned family event, not spur of the moment, not alone
3. Don't watch TV or movies


1. Say a family Rosary once a week
2. Say one decade of the Rosary as a family each day
3. Say a family Rosary every day


1. Only listen to audio books or Classical music in the car
2. Turn off the radio in the car
3. Say a Rosary in the car or listen to a spiritual audio book


1. Get up at a specific time each morning
2. Go to bed at a specific time each night
3. Be in bed for a set amount of time each night


1. Get dressed before 8am
2. No stretchy pants
3. Take up Jenna's Rule of Three for Dressing for Staying at Home


1. Have dinner as a family
2. Have a family game night
3. Read a book aloud as a family


1. If you like email, make phone calls
2. If you like talking on the phone, write letters
3. Go visit someone in person


1. Know what you're going to make for dinner by 10am
2. Start a meal-planning system
3. Teach your kids to meal plan and cook


1. Clean the house each week
2. Clean the house before bed each night
3. Clean the house before dinner each evening


1. Eat more simply
2. Eat up the food that's in the back of the pantry and freezer
3. Eat only soup


1. Give up one particular type of treat
2. Give up all sweets
3. I'm pretty sure there's nothing harder than that


1. Switch from coffee to tea or vice versa
2. Limit yourself to one cup of coffee or tea per day
3. Give up caffeine


1. Turn the lights off in empty rooms
2. Have lights turned on in only one room at a time
3. Don't use electricity


1. Say the Morning Offering when you wake up
2. And the Angelus at noon
3. And do an Examination of Conscience and say the Act of Contrition at night


1. Read the Sunday readings before Mass
2. Read the Bible for 10 minutes each day
3. And read the Catechism for 10 minutes each day


1. If you like TV, read a novel instead
2. If you like novels, read a classic
3. If you like the classics, read great Catholic nonfiction

If you've got any ideas for an out of the box Lent, add them in the comments . . .










 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
113
#2
(This one's not original, but I like it!)

For Lent, I'm giving up.
 
M

MsKy

Guest
#3
Several years ago I hired a nice woman to join our team. She was a fairly new Christian and Lent was coming up. She came in and asked me if she could talk to me about Lent. I said sure. She went on to say that she had been saved for six years then listed five things that she had given up for Lent last year. She asked me for suggestions for what to add to her list. Each year she carried over her list from the year before and then added something new. She thought that was how it was supposed to work.

Poor girl… there wasn't much left that she could eat or do. We had a good discussion about how it wasn't a legalistic fast and that she didn't have to give up anything and that she certainly didn't have to keep a running list. I suggested that she pray and seek God and whatever that she felt the Holy Spirit was leading her to give up to replace that time and energy with studying the Word and getting closer to God.

Personally, I usually do a certain meal or types of food because I love good food. More than the sacrifice I think it's important to be mindful to why we are fasting and to be purposeful in our studies. I usually choose one characteristic of God and try to meditate and act on it during Lent.

For several years I went through Corinthians 13:4-7. Each year I focused on one characteristic of Love and tried to act on it to the best of my abilities. Love is patient and always trust were the most difficult for me.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,939
113
#4
Hmm! Please post the verses about where "Lent" is found in the Bible. We have an interim pastor, not a Baptist, and is is pushing our church to celebrate Lent.

Being Baptist means following the Bible. And Lent is an invention of the Catholic Church, as it is pretty obvious in the OP about attending "mass."

Really, it is never about what we give up, but what Jesus gave up for us.

He gave up a throne in glory.
He allowed himself to be born as a baby.
He grew up and shared his life and ministry with the people of Israel and beyond.
When they carried him off to prison, he gave up his right to an honest trial.
He gave up his right to live without a terrible scourging.
He gave up his life on the cross for you and me!

There is nothing I can give up that will in any way shape or form help me to serve and love God more. These petty sacrifices of Lent are tantamount to denying the only sacrifice that really counts - Jesus death on the cross.

So no, I will not be celebrating Lent. I will instead, be looking forward to the remembrance of Jesus death and resurrection. Because that is the what being a Christian is about.
 
M

MsKy

Guest
#5
I'm not Catholic and I participate in the recognition of Lent. To me it's just a time to focus on the cross and the love that Christ has for His church. I also like the idea that Christians all over the world Catholic and Protestant alike are focused on the death and resurrection of Christ. Only good can come for the church (meaning believers not a denomination) focusing and fasting.

I feel the same way about Christmas. I love that Christians everywhere are celebrating the birth of Christ. It helps me feel connected to the family of God as a whole instead of just in my church or my denomination.

There is so much that divides the church, anything that brings unity and a greater awareness of the cross in my daily life I'm for.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
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#6
That box of yummy chocolates nullified the large list of Dos and Don'ts :p
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#7
The only time lent is in the bible is in the context of "He lent me his coat." These are things taught by demons according to 1 Timothy 4:1-4.
 
M

MsKy

Guest
#8
The only time lent is in the bible is in the context of "He lent me his coat." These are things taught by demons according to 1 Timothy 4:1-4.
You aren't being serious? I hope….
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#9
I am serious. The bible says they will forbid people to marry (like catholic priests), and order people to abstain from certain foods- these are things taught by demons. These words come from the bible. There are many verses against Catholicism. It is a false religion, and I try to show people that.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#10
The only time lent is in the bible is in the context of "He lent me his coat." These are things taught by demons according to 1 Timothy 4:1-4.
Where does the Bible say it's taught by demons? (And yes, I read your reference, but am still asking.)

I suspect blaming every little thing on demons teaching us is also covered in 1 Tim's "latter day" verses, because that's newer than lent.

If you're going to preach against doing something at least don't do that something in the preaching against it.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#11
I'm against lent for the same reason I'm against Valentine's Day. There is no reason to have a period of time to boast of one's achievements when those achievements are supposed to be a daily walk. Giving out cards never made me love someone more. Giving up chocolate never got me closer to God.

(And, yes there is irony since my avatar has a reference to Valentine's Day. The reference is we bought that stuffed rabbit while grocery shopping on Valentine's Day so named her after the holiday. She really is Valentine. lol)
 

Yet

Banned
Jan 4, 2014
3,756
69
0
#12
Use a vacuum and get that lent outta your life. It is pagan. All pagan observances are of lucifer. Why give Satan an inch. Google it. I'm surprised that the subject is even considered.

Im not surprised about Christian ignorance on the devilish tithe and satanic cleric system and pastors lying about both but 'lent'?? Come on guys...draw a line somewhere. Next you'll be saying the veneration of Mary/Semiramus is okee dokee! Yes I'm pushing hard. Somebody's got to.
 
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3Scoreand10

Guest
#13
If you take the LINT out of the filter of your dryer it works really,really good when starting a fire.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#14
1. Don't use credit cards, spend only cash
2. Keep a list of things to buy and only shop one day per week

- Fair enough

3. Don't buy anything (except maybe food)


- Clearly this guy doesn't use toilet paper, soap or underwear :p

1. Get up at a specific time each morning
2. Go to bed at a specific time each night
3. Be in bed for a set amount of time each night

- I see, this guy is the kind that thinks being in bed = sleeping,.... I wonder if he'd feel this way it it took him two to five hours to fall asleep each night

1. Get dressed before 8am
2. No stretchy pants
3. Take up Jenna's Rule of Three for Dressing for Staying at Home

-What?

1. Clean the house each week
2. Clean the house before bed each night
3. Clean the house before dinner each evening

- does God care about your house being spotless?

1. Eat more simply

2. Eat up the food that's in the back of the pantry and freezer
3. Eat only soup

- Again: What? Why?

3. Don't use electricity
- Ah, he's Amish






..............



[/QUOTE]
 
May 22, 2014
94
1
8
#15
1. Don't use credit cards, spend only cash
2. Keep a list of things to buy and only shop one day per week

- Fair enough

3. Don't buy anything (except maybe food)


- Clearly this guy doesn't use toilet paper, soap or underwear :p

1. Get up at a specific time each morning
2. Go to bed at a specific time each night
3. Be in bed for a set amount of time each night

- I see, this guy is the kind that thinks being in bed = sleeping,.... I wonder if he'd feel this way it it took him two to five hours to fall asleep each night

1. Get dressed before 8am
2. No stretchy pants
3. Take up Jenna's Rule of Three for Dressing for Staying at Home

-What?

1. Clean the house each week
2. Clean the house before bed each night
3. Clean the house before dinner each evening

- does God care about your house being spotless?

1. Eat more simply

2. Eat up the food that's in the back of the pantry and freezer
3. Eat only soup

- Again: What? Why?

3. Don't use electricity
- Ah, he's Amish






..............



[/QUOTE]
A few of these baffled me quite trivial and add more confusion to the event.
 
S

sealabeag

Guest
#16
Hmm! Please post the verses about where "Lent" is found in the Bible. We have an interim pastor, not a Baptist, and is is pushing our church to celebrate Lent.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
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#17
I don't see anything wrong with Lent. It's like Sunday School, not commanded in scripture and yet a very good tradition. No one has to, but if you want to it can be a good thing. I'm afraid some christians miss out on some great traditions simply because they are frightened of tradition. Just to clarify before all those who are against everything, I don't mean tradition as in the way RC use it.
 

santuzza

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
38
48
#18
I was recently hired as a music minister in a United Methodist Church, and they do Lent. It will be my first true experience with it. I will not be "giving up anything" for Lent, however. It will be interesting to see how people observe it and how it affects their walk with the Lord.

If this man-made tradition helps them to be closer to God, then there is nothing wrong with it. But if it's just an excuse to somehow make themselves worthy or to do good works for good works sake, then it's a bad idea.
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#19
Where does the Bible say it's taught by demons? (And yes, I read your reference, but am still asking.)

I suspect blaming every little thing on demons teaching us is also covered in 1 Tim's "latter day" verses, because that's newer than lent.

If you're going to preach against doing something at least don't do that something in the preaching against it.
In 1 Timothy 4:1-4 it says that some of the practices of Catholicism are things taught by demons not by the bible. And although lent is not mentioned in that verse, lent still falls into that category. It is not from the bible (which contains everything we need, says the bible) it is a false doctrine. God says they worship Him in vain- teaching as doctrine the commands of men/ merely human rules.

Man-made doctrines (human rules) will NOT result in salvation, but the opposite of salvation. You must do what the bible says, not what people added to the bible and count as scripture- which God severely warned not to do. So when I see someone following falsehood or teaching others to do the same, it is my Christian duty to make a stand against it.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
2,111
113
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#20
In 1 Timothy 4:1-4 it says that some of the practices of Catholicism are things taught by demons not by the bible. And although lent is not mentioned in that verse, lent still falls into that category. It is not from the bible (which contains everything we need, says the bible) it is a false doctrine. God says they worship Him in vain- teaching as doctrine the commands of men/ merely human rules.

Man-made doctrines (human rules) will NOT result in salvation, but the opposite of salvation. You must do what the bible says, not what people added to the bible and count as scripture- which God severely warned not to do. So when I see someone following falsehood or teaching others to do the same, it is my Christian duty to make a stand against it.

So would fasting be included in your list?