Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Etymologically speaking, the word ‘lent’ has Anglo/Saxon/Germanic roots, and is connected to the word, ‘lengthen,’ as in the lengthening of days. (By the way, I believe that is the first time I’ve ever begun a sentence with the word ‘etymologically,’ and therefore I wish to get credit from all the English majors out there.) But back to the point: We are on the cusp of Lent, a special time in our Christian year. Sunlight is lengthened day-by-day, and our walk of faith may also be lengthened by taking on extra disciplines over these next 40 days.

This blog is an encouragement to take advantage of a few EXTRAS that we are offering during our Lenten season. These are interesting short-term undertakings that will certainly enhance your walk of faith, preparing you for the upper room on Maundy Thursday, for Golgotha on Good Friday, and for the empty tomb on Easter.

Teaming up to make a difference

During the winter, we enjoy watching our son, Manny, play basketball. He enjoys playing, Gregg enjoys helping the coaches, and I enjoy watching. This is his third season, and it’s fun to see how the kids have progressed from hovering around the ball to actually running some plays.

It takes time to learn a sport. This year, the boys are learning to play man-to-man defense and to set screens. They are learning about pivoting and handling the ball. But they still like to rebound the ball, dribble the length of the court, and shoot. Manny’s coach is trying to get the boys to “look up and find the open man;” in other words, to pass to a teammate rather than take a shot themselves. This seems to be difficult for the boys, perhaps because it takes some coordination and development they don’t yet have, though more likely because they want to be the one to score a basket!