But here's the point: The "giving-something-up-for-Lent"

routine can be a wonderful spiritual discipline OR it can be just a farce,

a meaningless outward show that is no sacrifice at all, nothing sacred

or spiritual at all.

Maybe there's a better way

to keep this ancient sacred ritual. Maybe there is something much more

meaningful to "give up" for Lent.

See what you think about this

list I found and put in my files a long time ago:

Give up grumbling. "In

everything give thanks."

Give up looking at other

people's worst points. Put the best construction on everything.

Give up speaking unkindly.

Let your speech be generous and understanding.

Give up your worries.

Trust them with God.

Give up hatred, prejudice

or dislike of anyone. "Love one another."

Give up the fear that

prevents Christian witness. Seek the courage to speak of your faith to

others.

Give up spending so

much time reading newspapers and magazines for a few weeks. Read your

Bible.

Give up some specified

amount of television. Visit a lonely or sick person.

Give up buying anything

but essentials for yourself. Give that money to God's work or someone

in need.

Give up judging by appearances

and by the world's standards. Learn to give up yourself to God.

What will you give up for Lent?

The Rev. Dr. Justin Kollmeyer

is senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, which

invites those without a church home to worship Sundays at 8, 9:30, or

11:15 a.m.

Give it up for Lent

I shared a story with you last

year about "giving things up for Lent."

So many commented about its

appropriateness for the season and the lesson to be learned that I'm going

to tell it to you again this year.

The story goes like this:

An Irishman moves into a tiny

village in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three

beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers,

which he drinks quietly at a table, alone.

An hour later, the man has

finished the three beers and orders three more. This happens yet again.

The next evening the man again

orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times. Soon the entire

town is whispering about the "Man Who Orders Three Beers."

Finally, a week later, the

bartender broaches the subject on behalf of the town. "I don't mean

to pry, but folks around here are wondering why you always order three

beers?"

"'Tis odd, isn't it?"

the man replies. "You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America,

and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always

order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the

family bond."

The bartender and the whole

town was pleased with this answer, and soon the "Man Who Orders Three

Beers" became a local celebrity and source of pride to the village,

even to the extent that out-of-towners would come to watch him drink.

Then, one day, the man comes

in and orders only two beers. The bartender pours them with a heavy heart.

This continues for the rest of the evening: he orders only two beers.

The word flies around town. Prayers are offered for the soul of one of

the brothers

The next day, the bartender

says to the man, "Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer

condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know - the two beers

and all ..."

The man ponders this for a

moment, then replies, "You'll be happy to hear that me two brothers

are alive and well. It's just that I, meself, have decided to give up

drinkin' for Lent."

I hope I have not offended

anyone. Please forgive me if I have.