tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post800909932770296346..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: Observing LentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-23420229244638249562014-04-18T11:34:29.407+10:002014-04-18T11:34:29.407+10:00So true, Narelle. I find there is such pressure on...So true, Narelle. I find there is such pressure on the Church to conform to modern ways so as to "attract" and stimulate an audience but I still find the Word has the most power to do both.<br /><br />I particularly miss singing some of the old hymns so find myself often searching for them on YouTube and singing along.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and wishing you and your family a wonderful Jesus-filled Easter.<br /><br />PS. As I write this comment, Fiona my wife, is sitting opposite me reading "Falling for the Farmer". She started it last night.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-65861315097606713582014-04-18T11:30:03.092+10:002014-04-18T11:30:03.092+10:00Love that you are intentionally seeking a deeper r...Love that you are intentionally seeking a deeper relationship with God. I worked through 'Trail to the Tree" last year and found it very useful in letting go so I could be more present with the Lord.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-69919955997578457352014-04-12T21:17:01.708+10:002014-04-12T21:17:01.708+10:00Ian, thanks for your challenging post. It can be t...Ian, thanks for your challenging post. It can be too easy to cast aside traditions as out-dated rather than investigating their spiritual significance.Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-48905538452314058092014-04-12T14:43:39.708+10:002014-04-12T14:43:39.708+10:00Hi Ian, thanks so much for you post. I too am star...Hi Ian, thanks so much for you post. I too am starting my journey into discovering Lent and I loved Ann Voskamp's book, which was recommended to me a couple of years ago. I am going through her 'Trail to the Tree' this year. Before Christmas last year I observed advent for the first time. I have also been challenged recently, while I was doing a study on the Holy Spirit, about intentionally observing Pentecost. I never really took much notice of the day, it came and went. I'm excited to be taking part in these celebrations and the intentionality of seeking a deeper relationship with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).Linseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15238030299971383153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-20924777466216329232014-04-12T11:46:51.047+10:002014-04-12T11:46:51.047+10:00Thanks Dotti for the encouragement. May you have a...Thanks Dotti for the encouragement. May you have a blessed Easter with your family.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-36201173012249134132014-04-11T21:52:22.952+10:002014-04-11T21:52:22.952+10:00oops.... *Lenten traditions. oops.... *Lenten traditions. Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622521834128746217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-30696690659241354292014-04-11T21:50:19.131+10:002014-04-11T21:50:19.131+10:00Great post, Ian. I'm not from a background whe...Great post, Ian. I'm not from a background where we observed Lented traditions. But I can see, as with advent, the blessing of deliberate sinking into 'heart preparation.' Thanks for the encouragement. I will have to ponder this some more. Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622521834128746217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-89235716156702034472014-04-11T12:16:40.171+10:002014-04-11T12:16:40.171+10:00Hi Annie, the "count our blessings" them...Hi Annie, the "count our blessings" theme has become popular these days. Great that your church is getting around such a theme. Rita, below, refers to Ann Voskamp's book which opened my eyes to the importance of counting blessings.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing once again, Annie.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-4752918406945188372014-04-11T12:14:13.423+10:002014-04-11T12:14:13.423+10:00Hi Jo-Anne, Ruth's study that I referred to wa...Hi Jo-Anne, Ruth's study that I referred to walks you through those "stations". That was all new to me. Funny, I grew up in an Anglican church and still missed out on the Lenten experience. <br /><br />Great idea to read one of the Gospels and reflect on Jesus' journey.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-39007730950982361272014-04-11T12:11:34.972+10:002014-04-11T12:11:34.972+10:00Rita, I'm a big fan of Ann's work and that...Rita, I'm a big fan of Ann's work and that book in particular. Changed the way I approach my dialogue with God. I tried commenting on Alice's post the other day but it disappeared as it sometimes does. You've reminded me to pop back over.<br /><br />Thanks Rita for sharing Alice's comment & thoughts on "One Thousand Gifts".Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-41698571920603451992014-04-11T11:37:57.602+10:002014-04-11T11:37:57.602+10:00I'd like to pass on a post from Alice Valdal o...I'd like to pass on a post from Alice Valdal of ICFW. This book has blessed her and would be an excellent read over Easter and beyond.<br /><br />'One Thousand Gifts is by Ann Voskamp. Here the author recounts how she challenged herself to write down one thousand blessings that she already has, one thousand ways to find grace and soul-joy in the midst of every day life with all its hurts and ugliness as well as its moments of beauty and peace.<br /><br />The writing is dense, layered and poetic. This is not a book I can read in a few sittings. I read two or three pages, then put it down and contemplate Ann's words, taking time to process and discover the deepest meaning. This book took me deep and then deeper, into the heart and mind of a true follower of Christ. No mere "pursuit of happiness" here. On these pages, the reader follows the struggle to find Christ in moments of pain or disfigurement or bereavement. <br /> This book has enlarged me, opened me, filled me . . . and I can't stop talking about it.'<br /><br /><br />Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-20613072380513696522014-04-11T09:28:17.140+10:002014-04-11T09:28:17.140+10:00Our church does have a tradition of observing Lent...Our church does have a tradition of observing Lent - however, in the past few years, instead of "giving up" something we've been doing a programme called <i>Count Your Blessings</i>. which is put out by Christian Aid - http://www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/lent-2014/count-your-blessings/ It makes us conscious of how much we take for granted in the developed world and asks us to put a small amount of money away for each item. (How I cringe at the book or reading days - even at 10c for each book I've read in the last year, it's a substantial amount! I know I should be counting my blessings, but I still cringe!)Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02264631051671432037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-35715859824558175892014-04-11T08:13:57.375+10:002014-04-11T08:13:57.375+10:00Thanks, Ian, for reminding me about the positive b...Thanks, Ian, for reminding me about the positive benefits of observing Lent. I haven't done that per se since my days of growing up in the Anglican Church in Queensland. Yet somehow, in the lead up to Easter, I just want to read one of the Gospels closely and follow Jesus' journey to the cross and beyond. Very sobering and precious. I remember when I was around 12 attending the 3 hour Good Friday service at our local church where we meditated on the stations of the cross via paintings around the church. Others went home after a while, but I wanted to stay and follow it all even then.Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.com