LENT...

I JUST REALIZED IT'S ASH WEDNESDAY TODAY!!! well, not that it matters much. i haven't been a practicing Christian for quite sometime now but my faith haven't wavered one bit :D.

anyway, just in case if any of you out there who are ignorant of what lent is all about, here are something for you peeps to read:

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, The Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

(from about.com.Christianity)

Ash Wednesday is the official start of the Lent season (although some denominations start the Sunday before). Traditionally, during Ash Wednesday services, the congregation receives the sign of the Cross in ashes on their forehead from the priest as a sign of repentance and a reminder that we came from dust which God breathed life into so without Him we are nothing.

Lent then runs for 40 days (although, again, it should be pointed out that some denominations don’t count Sunday’s during that time as they are considered mini-Easter’s so lent is actually 46 days long) until Holy Saturday. The significance of 40 days can be found throughout the Bible:

• After His baptism, Jesus was taken into the desert for 40 days to be tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke:4:1-13)
• Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the ten commandments from God (Exodus 34:28)
• God flooded the earth for 40 days saving only Noah and his family (Genesis 7:10-12)

(from Dating God)

okay, from what i can gather is that the Lent season is the time where we be less indulgent on the things we do or like, in other words, to give up on our vice and do something good which will bring us closer to God.

all my 31 years of living, i thought Lent is the time when we refrain from eating meat on Fridays until the 40days is up. believe me, trying not to eat meat one day in the whole week can be quite tough, not because of the craving or temptation but because we are too conditioned to eat anything on any day that we tend to forget that friday is a no meat day hahaha.

okay yeah, you caught me...i didn't know about giving up our vices during this season was part of the preparation and i can tell you beforehand that i'm doomed to fail even before i begin hahaha.

now let's see, what are my vices?..
a) smoking
b) drinking
c) porn
d) procrastinating
e) selfishness
f) etc, etc

hahahaha, man..this is going to be tough, especially the smoking part hahaha. but since this is lent, i think i'll try once again to MINIMIZE smoking since that is my current major vice :p. and the good deed that i'll be acting on is to see nothing but good in people regardless of how obnoxious or annoying they are (okay, i can say that because it's not valid until later this evening hahaha)

so for you Christians who will be taking part in this year's Lent, have a blessed lent and GOOD LUCK! cheers :D

the denominations of faith...

I'm not a religious person and i don't go to church unless there's a special celebration going on (i.e Christmas or Easter haha). it's not that i don't want to, but i feel unworthy to step into His holy place because of the things i've done. Only until my burden of guilt has been lifted, then maybe i would start going every week. But if i do go to church, it wouldn't be for the sermons. the songs can easily put me at ease rather than listening to the priest preach...so that only goes to show what kind of Christian i am haha. just because i don't go praying every week doesn't mean i don't have any faith, because i do and no one can take Him away from me :).

For some people, i may be seen as a bad Christian for not doing my weekly responsibility..the heck, i don't really care what other people thinks. I have nothing against Christianity, but i do have something against the institutions which makes up the different denominations there are for the contradicting opinions on how the Bible should be interpreted. i mean, it's bad enough that nearly all religions are claiming the ultimate rights to be the one and only true way to God's promised kingdom that we still have to fight amongst ourselves, the Christians, to claim the right to be the one and only chosen denomination.

maybe it's not my place to argue about this, i just feel like sharing my two cents worth (which is quite worthless in a literal sense haha) on this topic. i may not be religious, but i've read the bible cover to cover on numerous occasions and there isn't one single paragraph which mentions anything about denominations...so it's quite sad to know that these differences existed only because of some pompous guys who claimed or thought they were chosen to be His shepherd. my deepest apologies if i have offended anyone, but it would really be appreciated to have an open mind when reading this entry.

i've been listening to gospel songs quite a lot nowadays, maybe it's a sign for me to start being a practicing Christian haha. As i listened to the songs, a realization which has been buried for more than a decade resurfaced; why do we need several denominations (or religions for that matter)? Put aside the difference of opinions, it doesn't change the fact that we believe in the One and Only Creator of all things. so then, why can't all of us work towards the same goal?

Speaking of religion and God, there is one thing (among others haha) which can easily piss me off. i somehow hate it when people blames Him for all the shit they're going through and when they are doing really well, they somehow conveniently forget that He exists...a real shame.

Then again, we are only humans who are constantly on trial...not to mention confused. so if you're not sure on where you stand or what to do, just try not to think too much about it. instead, do the basic thing on what He would've wanted us to do, which is to have faith.

Our God is a jealous God, and yet at the same time very forgiving for His love knows no boundaries.

darn it...i'm rambling again aren't i? hahaha. it's already 1.41am and the grogginess from the lack of sleep is killing me hahaha. Goodnite and ciao peeps :).