Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in drupal_random_bytes() (line 2268 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/bootstrap.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DateObject::__wakeup() should either be compatible with DateTime::__wakeup(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in include_once() (line 143 of /home/cafechur/public_html/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date_api.module).
Deprecated function: Return type of DateObject::format($format, $force = false) should either be compatible with DateTime::format(string $format): string, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in include_once() (line 143 of /home/cafechur/public_html/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date_api.module).
Deprecated function: Return type of DateObject::setTimezone($tz, $force = false) should either be compatible with DateTime::setTimezone(DateTimeZone $timezone): DateTime, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in include_once() (line 143 of /home/cafechur/public_html/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date_api.module).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property SelectQuery::$alterTags is deprecated in SelectQuery->addTag() (line 978 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/select.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: rtrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in url() (line 2349 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property SelectQuery::$alterTags is deprecated in SelectQuery->addTag() (line 978 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/select.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in url_is_external() (line 2393 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in url_is_external() (line 2395 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in url() (line 2311 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property SelectQuery::$alterTags is deprecated in SelectQuery->addTag() (line 978 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/select.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property SelectQuery::$alterTags is deprecated in SelectQuery->addTag() (line 978 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/select.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property SelectQuery::$alterTags is deprecated in SelectQuery->addTag() (line 978 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/select.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property SelectQuery::$alterTags is deprecated in SelectQuery->addTag() (line 978 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/select.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property PDOException::$query_string is deprecated in DatabaseConnection->query() (line 770 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property PDOException::$args is deprecated in DatabaseConnection->query() (line 772 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: Creation of dynamic property DatabaseCondition::$stringVersion is deprecated in DatabaseCondition->compile() (line 1865 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/database/query.inc).
Deprecated function: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in url_is_external() (line 2393 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in url_is_external() (line 2395 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
Deprecated function: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in url() (line 2311 of /home/cafechur/public_html/includes/common.inc).
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’
Starting with Mark's version of the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, we touch on the film 2015 Wild (starring Reese Witherspoon), and examine the links between wilderness, suffering, and the way Lent works as a sort of portable wilderness, teaching us the importance of travelling light.
Spiritus et Locus #light is open for submissions! A photo, a reflection, a simple upload. Exhibition on Thursday 26/9/19 at Chalice - 251 Northcote High Street Preston. See www.spiritusetlocus.org for more.
I suspect that for most people in Cafechurch, Lent is a bit of an unknown. It sounds boringly self-denying, isn't part of our tradition, and flirts dangerously with works righteousness. I hope that this presentation might go a little way to counteract that. Fun fact - mega-evangelist John Wesley used to fast weekly.
However, having said that, wherever spiritual practices are, um, practiced, there is the opportunity for irritating levels of self-righteousness, dull legalism, and the attempt to make God love you (you know that God already loves you anyway, right?)
Preparation: You may wish to light a candle. Do whatever helps you to experience unconditional love. For example, imagine yourself in a favourite place with someone whose love you trust, such as a friend, Jesus or God as you understand God. Put your feet flat on the floor; take a few deep breaths from the bottom of your toes, up through your legs, your abdominal muscles and your chest. Breath in that unconditional love, and when you breathe out, fill the space around you with it.
Take some time to read this through, quietly, meditatively, slowly - prayerfully on a quiet evening, or early in the morning. Light a candle if you like - that always make me feel spiritual - and hence helps me to concentrate, and to be present in the moment.
This exercise is also available as a pdf attached to this page. Print it out and read through it at leisure, away from your technology!
Gratitude is a worthwhile thing to cultivate. The Bible seems keen on it
("Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances", 1 Thessalonians 5:!8.) Your life, the universe itself,
is nothing but a free gift from God. There are times in life when it is hard to do, but those are also the times when
it is most important. As we see below, the science backs this up. Let us learn and practice gratitude.
What-Went-Well Exercise (Also Called “Three Blessings”)
