I resonate with your desire to give something back: that to me is much more what Lent is about. My own definition of Lent is simple: living on borrowed time - and I want to give some it back. I have friends who’ve given up facebook and blogging for Lent; others who’ve given up chocolate. Me: I gave up Lent for chocolate - fair trade chocolate, specifically; and I’ve taken up twittering.

Have the people who give up chocolate for Lent thought through the economic impact of that on the chocolate producers? Suddenly, they’re faced by 40 days of economic downturn as all these people who want to reJesus their lives try to boost their spirituality. No: don’t give up chocolate - change your chocolate habit; and make it a permanent change!

As for giving up facebook and blogging, cutting off friends and family: how does this help to build community? How does less facebook and less blogging help us love our neighbours more?

In Lent, ask not what you can give up but what you can give back!

As we progress beyond the half-way point of lent, I’ve come across a little gem of wisdom: God is best heard in the silence.  Silence consists of a lack of sound.  It’s like a blank page waiting for writing.  When you fast, you clear out some of the clutter inside of you because your initial wants and self-interests can get in the way of God’s voice.  Clear that up a bit and you allow God to speak to you.  Happy fasting!
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OliviaB.
San Diego DUI lawyer

i no longer give up anything for lent as i don’t really believe that helps develop my relationship with God.

some times i take on extra things in lent like making a more conscious effort of attending a weekday service and the lent group - though this year it got stopped very abruptly for reasons not needed here.

but i think it is more important to remember that lent is a period to enhance our relationship with God.  To say sorry for our sins - if we don’t do so as a matter of course, and understand the suffering Jesus went through so that our sins are forgiven.  Giving up chocolate etc to me hardly constitutes understanding what Jesus did for us.  Good tool for children to experience but as adults we need to be looking deeper than giving up something.  May be saying sorry a whole lot more be something to think about for next year :-}

Call me old fashion, but I gave up soda for lent. I know a lot of people do this, but it was particularly hard for me. I seem to drink about 3-4 sodas a day! Plus, I think I am addicted to them now, so this is a good thing to give up for a while.

first bread is not a major heath risk- it has been part of historic diets becuse it is a good source of carbohidrates which are needed for energy. Just worry about your calorie in take and keep your diet balanced.
Don’t forget historical bread fruit and vegtibles are the core of the human diet.
Oster Bread Maker

I think the Lent’s purpose is to make us reflect on our sins. A least for this short period we should be more careful about our behaviour. Showing compassion and praying more should be the right way to wait for Jesus resurrection, although people these days forget about this aspect, especially youngsters who can hardly wait to have the greatest Easter party in the neighborhood.

I am abstaining from bread and any products containing yeast.

It has been part of historic diets becuse it is a good source of carbohidrates which are needed for energy
Infrared Sauna