Fat Tuesday

How many of you kept tabs on the events surrounding Mardi Gras this year? 13 shot in New Orleans and one killed.

The history of Mardi Gras is church related you know. Fat Tuesday (the English translation of the French phrase) is the day before Ash Wednesday which begins the forty day sojourn to Easter. The concept is that we are to spend these forty days in prayer, penitence and preparation before we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord.

Somewhere in the midst of all of that repenting and self-denial, someone decided that there should be a blow-out day before hand. A day to partake in all of the things that you are going to deny yourself during the upcoming month plus. Sounds so spiritual, doesn't it?

I know God has told us to consecrate ourselves - a little birdie told me your band was challenged to partake in some consecrating rituals before they play on Sunday. Joshua 3:5 says: "Consecrate yourselves because tomorrow the Lord will do great things among you." It does not say - party hard today so that tomorrow, the day before God is going to do great things, you can make a mockery of your faith.

Be careful Fairy Followers for the world will lead you astray if you let it!

37 days until Easter. How will you consecrate yourself? Give up chocolate? Caffeine? Meat? (that's where Friday night fish fries started) Maybe something less concrete...give up sarcasm? give up TV? Computer? Facebook? (oh the horror!) The idea is to restrict the influence of something less than spiritual in your life. I'm sure you could find something.

I know I need to partake in this myself but the Lord hasn't given me the what yet. I'll let you know.

Blessings,
The B.D.F.