A Lenten tidbit
I read an interesting commentary piece recently and thought I would share it. 
It seems that an ESPN college basketball analyst appeared on the air last Wednesday with a sign of his faith smudged across his forehead.
Folks in the Christian faith community know that it Ash Wednesday, which marks the season of Lent. The ESPN commentator and former coach, Digger Phelps (pictured), still wore the ashes that a priest had smeared on his forehead in the shape of a cross.
To read the commentary about Phelps’ public display of his faith, written by David Wilkinson, executive director of Associated Baptist Press, click here: “Digger’s Forehead Smudge.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Ash Wednesday 2011 style
Planning on attending an Ash Wednesday service tomorrow?
Take a picture of yourself with ashes on your forehead and send it to a website that is compiling such photos through Thursday.
It’s all part of BustedHalo.com’s Third Annual Ash Wednesday Challenge. 
The challenge is one of the more unique spins on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season.
It is the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday.
Ashes used to observe the day at Christian churches come from the burning of palm leaves used during Palm Sunday services the previous year. The ashes are placed on the forehead of congregants in the sign of the cross.
The words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” remind believers of their mortality — that they are on Earth for a short time.
The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday tomorrow.
Take up the Ash Wednesday challenge by visiting www.BustedHalo.com. Readers will be able to vote for their favorite Ash Wednesday photo posted to the site. BustedHalo also offers its “2011 Fast Pray Give Lenten Calendar.”
Or perhaps you might be interest in the following tidbits of news and information, all related to the observance:
– Eternal Word Television Network, the cable channel known for its Roman Catholic-themed programming, offers an online daily Lenten calendar with Lenten reflections: Lenten calendar
– Here’s a link to a printable Lenten calendar for children. The calendar comes courtesy of a website called Catholic Icing: Printable Lenten Calendar for Children.
– Beliefnet.com offers several stories, commentary and other features about Lent, plus a Lenten calendar: Lent 2011
– Loyola Press has a variety of online resources for Lenten observers, including screen savers and an interactive calender, among other things: Lenten resources
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Alcohol Free Lent
It’s that time of year — next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.
The date marks the beginning of the Lenten season. 
Here’s a Lenten challenge from one faith group.
The General board of Church & Society, one of four international general program boards of the United Methodist Church, is encouraging United Methodists to have an “Alcohol Free Lent.”
The challenge is inspired by Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C. whose members responded to just such a challenge several years ago. The congregation created a “Spirit Fund” and members contributed the equivalent cost of “spirits” or liquor that they did not drink during Lent.
The Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of the General Board of Church & Society’s work area on alcohol, other addictions and health care, is encouraging congregations and invididuals to establish a Spirit Fund in conjunction with their Lenten challenge. Proceeds could benefit a local recovery/addiction prevent program or project of their choice or one of the national projects listed in the general board’s Alcohol Free Lent section on the organization’s website.
For more information about the Lenten challenge go online to www.umc-gbcs.org/alcoholfreelent.
P.S. I don’t drink, but I’d probably accrue a fortune if I donated money every time I drank my favorite diet tea drink. I may find a way to participate after all.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Fasting for real
So I’m thinking that my columns in The Oklahoman have jinxed me.
I wrote a column before Christmas about being thankful for things that money can’t buy, things that I think come from God, like love and compassion. Then my house was burglarized and some items were taken that I had bought for my children.
Recently I blogged about possibly fasting or abstaining from some of my favorite old sitcoms like “Frasier” during Lent. Then this past Saturday, I wrote a column about being mindful of the spiritual premise of fasting.
Well Sunday my own pastor called an all-church fast for one week.
We are to abstain from meat, breads, sugar or sweetener, fried foods and soft drinks. Add to this list items with sugar – and there’s to be no salt to season the food we do eat.
I’m going to be straight — the food part is something that my family has adjusted to pretty well. We can eat fruits, vegetables, 100% fruit juice and whole grains. We can use herbs for seasoning. It has definitely given us a new appreciation for all the splendid varieties of fruits and vegetables. And salt — I never knew I loved ya.
Here’s the kicker: We also are fasting from television, movies and the Internet, although the Internet can be used for Bible study.
We are to use this time of fasting to pray, particularly with our families.
Without the TV and Internet (this includes video games, I had to tell my son) , there should be ample family time and moments to reconnect and explore biblical teachings and each other.
So my plan to possibly abstain from sitcoms became a literal fast. I have to tell you, I don’t think I would have done it all by myself. It’s one week and I’m sure I will make it. One loooonnngggg week, but yes, I will make it through.
Who can ever question whether or not God had a sense of humor?
Of course He does!
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Lent: Have a pretzel
Some people may not realize that the pretzel is a Lenten food.
According to a variety of different sources, pretzels were viewed as Lenten treats for several reasons.
They were made from a special dough consisting of only flour, salt and water since fat, eggs and milk were forbidden during Lent. They were shaped in the form of two arms crossed in prayer to remind people that Lent was a season of penance and devotion.
Often, pretzels were distributed to the poor during Lent. And one Web site says that the three holes in the pretzel are to represent the Trinity.
Obviously pretzels are now a year-round treat.
However, it’s interesting to realize that this particular treat, dubbed “the world’s oldest and most popular junk food” by the Web site newyorkcarver.com, is especially favored during the Lenten season.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Pope’s message for Lent 2009
It’s the first Sunday of Lent.
See what Pope Benedict has to say in his message for Lent: Lent 2009
(AP PHOTO: Pope Benedict XVI is seen in Santa Sabina Basilica for the Ash Wednesday service in Rome on Feb. 25. Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.)
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Internet fast anyone?…
I don’t know about anybody else, but for the last year or so the arguments at my house tend to be related to the computer.
The more I think about the so-called Facebook Lenten fast, the more I think that it is an idea whose time has come.
Here’s what I think about it.
At my house, my teens are often arguing about computer usage.
Who’s getting on the computer?
Who forgot to turn off the monitor? … the printer?…
Having more than one computer doesn’t help either.
You see, one teen wants to get on the computer that his sibling is on for any number of reasons.
And so it goes.
Sometimes, I play referee by just shutting down all the computers.
So, I look at the idea of adults fasting from Facebook this Lenten season with a new perspective. Plus I just read a story about school students in England who are fasting from the social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace during Lent: Schoolchildren fast.
I like this idea! I LOVE this idea!
Not that my kids are all that into the social networking sites. I’m just thinking that perhaps an Internet ”fast” could be in order. Limiting the amount of time spent on the Internet isn’t a bad idea anyway, particularly if there is no homework involved.
I’m going to broach the subject with the teens, see what happens.
I’ve already got another idea: How about a fast from video games?
That should go over well with my son …
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Feast or fundraiser? Church offers both for Lent
Christ the King Catholic Church has come up with a fundraiser designed with the Lenten fast in mind.
Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, the 40 days before Easter Sunday.
Christ the King is selling Lenten enchilada dinners from 3 to 6 p.m. today and Friday, April 3. The dinners include 12 cheese enchiladas, rice, beans, chips and salsa. Cost is $20 per order and folks interested in the Mexican fare can pick their orders up at the church in drive-thru fashion. The church is at 8005 Dorset Drive in Nichols Hills.
All proceeds benefit the church’s Peru Mission Trip Maintenance/Expenses Fund.
For more information, call the church at 842-1481.
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Have a green Lent
The Natural Resource Defense Council has compiled a list of “green” resolutions for the environmentally conscious individual observing Lent.
Lent, the 40 days preceding Easter Sunday, is a time when many Christians from some faith traditions abstain from certain things. Some people abstain from certain foods or perhaps they abstain from certain behaviors during a season marked by prayer, reflection and pentinence.
The suggestion on the council’s list is to give up plastic and paper bags.
“Do you opt for paper or plastic when at the grocery store? Neither is a good choice,” the council says on The Daily Green’s Web site. “Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags consumed in the United States last year. And it takes four times more energy to make paper bags.
The best choice is reusable shopping bags made of cotton, nylon or durable, meshlike plastic. Put a few reusable shopping bags in your car so you have them handy on your next shopping trip. And if you happen to forget your reusable bag (as we all do!), choose paper if you will recycle it or plastic if you will reuse or recycle it.”
This is a simple tip, definitely something to think about.
Get more tips on the council’s complete list by clicking here: Green Lent.
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Meat-less recipes for Lent, courtesy of Humane Society
Many Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Friday’s during Lent.
The Humane Society of the United States offers meat- and dairy-free recipes on its Web site.
A message on the site reminds those who fast thatchoosing meat-less meals during Lent “is not only a symbol of self-sacrifice but is a means to proactively help millions of animals who suffer on factory farms in the United States each day.”
For meat-less recipes from the Humane Society’s kitchen, click here: Veggie recipes for Lent. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
