Laptops and Lent

After a cup of water was spilled on my laptop I realized how dependant i am on my computer. Maybe I should give up technology for lent instead of coffee. I have been able to fire up the antique in our basement so I can get back to posting.

On Tuesday night I had an excellent conversation with RW. The kind of conversation that breaths life into my dying and fire into my fading. I was struck by how lazy I have become. I am physically lazy (anyone want to play racquetball?) and I have become spiritually lazy. I was challenged to be more intentional and disciplined with reading scripture. So part of my Lent resolutions is not what to give up but what to embrace. For the next forty days I am going to post a scripture each day in the box on the side. I will sometimes also post my journaling re. that scripture on the text. Of course the trick will be trying to add another side bar without mucking up the formatting. So today I will just plunk the text in here.

I read the book of Colossians, its not that long only 4 pages, and Chapter three is powerful. I will post part of it, but you can click here to read Colossians from the beginning.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians ch 3

My thoughts on the scripture –

what do I need to “put to death”?
what do I need to “put on”?