Of Lent and Ashes
Believe it or not, Lent is almost here. It seems as if it was just yesterday that Christians around the world had gathered in churches for Christmas Eve services. With the beginning of Lent we begin to look toward the holiest time of the year for our faith- the events surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection. All four Gospels devote far more attention to Jesus' road to Jerusalem and the cross. Paul wrote that he "resolved to know nothing but Christ and him crucified." If you're not familiar with Lent, it is the forty days leading up to Easter. The term "Lent" is not found in the Bible, but the broader church has observed it as a practice for over 1800 years. In the very early church, in the days when it was a persecuted faith, Easter was already the most important celebration of the church. From the earliest days, new believers were baptized on Easter Sunday. Those who had renounced their faith in the face of persecution, or who had for some