St Paul's This Week
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8:55 am & 10:25 am

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10:00 a.m.

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1st Sunday of each month - both services

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Pastor Pat's Corner Pastor Pats Corner Saint Paul’s U.C.C. Fleetwood

ARE YOU IN DENIAL?

Lent is forty weekdays before Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday, which happens to fall on February 17th this year. Each year when we observe and participate in the Lenten season, we are reminded of the temptation, the suffering and the death of Jesus. The life of Jesus was a life lived in complete denial. Jesus denied himself in order that he could be the complete manifestation of God on earth. In the desert, Jesus was tempted by the evil one with food, physical power, and earthly dominion. He denied the devil and himself in order to be obedient to God. His lifestyle was a life lived totally in service to God. It is unclear as to whether or not Jesus had much earthly wealth. I am sure he was not a poor man, and I am equally sure he was not rich either. It is also obvious to me that he denied himself the pursuit of worldly fortunes to establish God's kingdom on Earth. He did so by making the ultimate sacrifice, the giving of his own life.

 

Lent prepares us, therefore, for the passion and the death of Jesus. We are reminded that a life lived in obedience to God is a life lived in denial. It is a life that calls upon us at times to deny ourselves of our earthly pursuits and comforts in order that we may pursue a life lived in service to God.

Have you ever taken an inventory of those things you could live without, things you could deny yourself? What I mean is, what is it that we really have to have to survive in this world? Just think of all the electronic gadgetry we have in our homes that feeds us and entertains us and makes our lives easier. What is more, if the closets in your house are anything like the closets in mine, you realize that you have an abundance of clothing. The point is that we have a lot of things we could do without.

The other side of the coin is this: if you had nothing in the world but the clothes on your back and a shack to live in, what one thing would you want? This was the case for many of the people I met while I was in Ghana two winters ago. I would talk with them and they would ask me about life in the U.S.A. They were not concerned about T.V. or cars or video games. They would ask me what it is like to be able to drink fresh cow’s milk anytime I wanted to or how far I had to carry water to my house.

I guess denying ourselves is relative. I could give up a lot of what I have and still be better off than the majority of people who live in this world. I am glad to experience Lent each year. I am glad to be reminded of the denial our Lord endured. I am glad to be reminded of how I have been blessed. And I am glad to be reminded of my responsibilities to share my blessings with others.

As you and your family observe this Lenten season, think of ways you can deny yourself. I encourage you to think of ways you as an individual or as a family can use denial to enrich your Lenten experience.

May God Bless You,

Pastor Pat

 

Pastor Pat's Verse For Thought: 
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.   Isaiah 32:17