PREPARING FOR LENT

It is hard to believe that the Lenten season begins next week on Ash Wednesday! Unless you are more dedicated than most, Lent will pass you by with no real tread marks of change left upon you or your life. In today's culture, we seem to think we meet Lent's expectations of us if we "give something up" for the forty days prior to Easter. People give up Diet Coke, candy or coffee as if doing so really changes their lives. Instead, the only thing it usually does is give people something to talk about if the topic happens to come up at lunch with co-workers.

Lent can be relevant in today's world and in your life if you let it and if you do the real work required. Lent comes form a German word for "springtime." In other languages the name for the season before Easter comes from the Latin word for "40," and gives us a clue that there is something much more important than giving up Diet Coke. Lent has significant themes: prayer, fasting, penitence, the number 40, wilderness, journey, covenant, almsgiving, temptation and the presence of God.

I was once told that adding something positive to your routine during Lent was a better idea than subtracting something. For example, add a scheduled prayer time every day. Or, add service and mission projects. Fast one day each week. Step outside of your routine and comfort zone in order to serve others, your family and God.

The idea is, of course, to purge ourselves of the habits, lifestyles and routines that lead us away from the presence of God, and to develop new behaviors or disciplines that lead us to a better relationship with Him. So whether you "give up" something or "add" something isn't nearly as important as WHAT you are giving up or adding. Do you really think giving up chocolate or Diet Coke for Lent will lead you to a better relationship with God and to greater spiritual maturity? Really?

Making Covenant with God during Lent is an activity that far too few people consider, and yet it is a critical process and component of a successful Lent. During these 40 days you are, in a sense, "in the desert" wandering and being tempted in ways that are real and yet often ignored. Lent becomes relevant and its effects permanent only when you experience transformational change through walking the season out in covenant relationship with God, just as Jesus did.

For most people who give up Diet Coke, coffee or chocolate, as soon as Lent is over they gulp down a Coke or gobble up the chocolate again as they had customarily done before Lent began. They missed the point! Lent is much more about permanent change than it is about temporary sacrifices. Lent means taking a journey in the metaphorical wilderness, just as Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert preparing Himself for His public ministry. 

Easter arrives every year on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. When it arrives this year, how will you have prepared? What will be the remaining elements of good in your new routines and approach to life that will carry on through the year and beyond? Will you be able to say that you spent 40 days and 40 nights developing a deeper spirituality and a closer and more meaningful relationship with God?  Will you be able to claim that you embarked upon a journey with fasting, almsgiving and covenant that changed and deepened you?

Or, will you rush to Starbucks for a cup of coffee or to the fridge and gulp down a Diet Coke? Let me invite you to ADD something to the Lenten season. Let me invite you to enter into a journey of covenant. Let me invite you to do things during this season that translate into true spiritual growth and lasting transformational change. Let me invite you to go beyond the Coke can!

For information on these requests, please submit them to:    

Email: atlantatemplecorps@gmail.com

      
Peggy Robbins, mother of Major Roni Robbins, has been transported to Piedmont Hospital.  She was on the floor with slurred speech and may have suffered a stroke.

Mark and Heather Goodier & Family, who received confirmation that Mark's next three-year tour of duty will be served in Germany.  Stephen will stay behind as a student at Toccoa Falls College.

The Goodier Family, as they continue to mourn the loss of a precious saint, Mrs. Commissioner W.R.H. (Renee) Goodier.

Major John Merritt, as he mourns the loss of his beloved wife, VaLeta.

Lt. Colonel Fred McClure, who continues daily rehabilitation and has been transferred to Gwinnett Extended Care Center located at 650 Professional Drive, Lawrenceville, GA.  Visitation hours are from 4-8pm.   

Ken Brewer, who has suffered from two recent falls in the past week, resulting in a broken collar bone and a wound to the head requiring multiple staples.

Lt. Colonel Bea Combs, who was diagnosed with leukemia and had a bone marrow test recently.

Lt. Colonel Lou Arrowood, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. 

Snooky Ange, uncle of Major Richard McConniel, who had quadruple bypass surgery.
 
Peter Horn, father of Lt. Emily Horn, who is recovering from surgery.

William Pruitt, who is experiencing ongoing health issues.

Eddie & Elga Cantrell, Janet Mills, and B.C. Preece, all for whom general prayer has been requested. 

Lt. Colonel Jean Jaynes, who is recovering from gall bladder surgery.

Mrs. Brigadier LaRue Kinley, who has been experiencing severe back pain.

Major Margaret McGourn, who continues to recuperate.

Dennis Damskey, as he continues to seek employment commensurate with his education and experience.

Bill & Kathryn Owens, who continue to struggle with health issues.  

Roger Munro, who is under hospice care. 

Robin Munro, who continues to experience health concerns. 

Teresa Hawley, for ongoing health concerns. 

Major Fiona Hofer's mother, who has cancer. 

Military

Matthew Atkins

Staff Sgt Chance Crossland

Capt. Jeff Edelman 

Jimmy Eldridge (Army)

Mark Goodier

Jason Livingston (Marine)

Christian Riesebieter (National Guard)

David Simms (Navy)

Jonathan Stanley (Air Force)

Dale Stevenson (Marines, Afghanistan)

Capt. Jared Tharp, his wife Capt. Kaci Tharp & 2yr old son Kyle

Matthew Walker (Marine)

  Sgt Cliffton Atkins (Marine)

Unable to Participate With Us

Major Gladys Bergen

Brigadier Faith Childs

Brigadier Estelle Hall

Major Virginia Lynch

Ongoing Issues

Bill Pruitt
Cynthia Coles

Ron Conley

David Holmes

Major Polly Elder

Lisa Jordan Mayo

Major Bill Meeks

Viola Sanders

James Snider

Billy Southwood

Gary Stepp

Janet Street

Major Randall Wilson

Richard Fraley
Lt. Colonel Harold Anderson

Unspoken Requests

Major Betty Campbell

Michelle Germany
Atlanta Temple Corps Staff

If you need any of the bio sheets for your missionary prayer boards, they are available at www.salvationarmymissions.org or through emailing Major Evelyn Repass.

Announcements

• If you see a problem in our ATC building please make us aware of it by sending us a note at the following address:  Repairs@AtlantaTemple.org
• The SALT'D (Shower And Laundry Time and Devotions) Ministry is in need of: Blankets, jackets, CANNED GOODS, NON-PERISHABLE FOODS and socks!

STATISTICS