Aaron Damiani, The Good of Giving Up: Discovering the Freedom of Lent (Chicago: Moody, 2017). Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a 40-day season of fasting formalized by the Council of Nicea is A.D. 325, though based … Continue reading Review of ‘The Good of Giving Up’ by Aaron Damiani
As executive editor of Influence magazine, I have the privilege of interviewing Christian leaders on a wide variety of topics. Here’s my podcast interview with Alicia Britt Chole, author of 40 Days of Decrease. The focus of this podcast is decluttering the soul by means of fasting, not just fasting food, but also fasting unChristlike attitudes and actions. Continue reading #InfluencePodcast with Alicia Britt Chole
Alice Britt Chole, 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger, A Different Kind of Fast (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016). Sometimes, it takes a crisis to force us to think deeply about life, what matters most, what deserves our best efforts. Alicia Britt Chole (pronounced SHOW-lee) opens her new book with a personal health scare. “A high fever, a few scans, multiple masses, possibly a lethal abcess…the specialists convened, conferred, counseled me to cancel all engagements and began cutting.” Doctors released her from the hospital eight days after surgery. One specialist said, point blank, “At this point, I … Continue reading Review of ’40 Days of Decrease’ by Alicia Britt Chole
No one enjoys conflict, but sometimes is helpful if it clarifies choices we need to make. Mark 2.13–3.6 records four conflicts Jesus had with Pharisees. over (1) eating with sinners (2.13–17), (2) fasting (2.18–22), (3) picking grain on the Sabbath (2.23–28), and (4) healing the sick on the Sabbath (3.1–6). Each conflict clarified Jesus’ identity and mission, as well as our response to him. First, the conflict over eating with sinners (2.13–17): Jesus called Levi son of Alphaeus to follow him. Levi was a tax collector. Then as now, no one likes a tax collector. In Jesus’ day, tax collectors … Continue reading Who Jesus Is. How We Should Respond. (Mark 2.13–3.6)
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