THE CONE OF SILENCE

Hello friends and neighbors...are ya ready to GET SMART. This is one of my favorite shows that first appeared back on April 12, 1969. This show was an answer to the James Bond craze that was sweeping the nation. Buck Henry and Mel Brooks took note at the success of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command of Law and Enforcement.)

When ever the Chief of CONTROL (who are fighting the bad guys of CHAOS) wanted to talk to Agent 86...aka Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) and he wanted to make sure it was just between him and Agent 86...he would bring down the CONE OF SILENCE. Of course there would always be some type of comic interaction or something would go wrong with the CONE OF SILENCE. Well...I am ready to pull down my personal CONE OF SILENCE where it will be me and God...without the distractions of the world. I am about to enter THE LENTEN SEASON.


Lent...is a time within the Christian community around the world where there is time set aside to seek God. Usually it is found within the liturgical community in churches like the Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, etc...but it is not exclusive to these types of churches.

NOTE: First...let me state...that observing Lent does not make someone a more superior Christian compared to someone who does not observe Lent. Secondly...It is not Death, Burial, Resurrection PLUS Lent.

LENT: The period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The word Lent means the lengthening of season.

PURPOSE: The preparation of the believer through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial. Usually it is 40 days long from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The 40 days represent the 40 days of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness...where the end is coming out of the wilderness filled with the Spirit.

This year Fat Tuesday (the last day of indulgence/feasting)...aka Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday...which falls on February 16th...followed by Ash Wednesday on February 17th...ending on April 3rd...the day before Easter...aka...Resurrection Sunday.

Usually...people in preparation for Lent...commit to "give up something for Lent". For example...they may give up chocolate, or meat, or whatever.

This year...I am pressing into God...with a focus on (1) my spirit (2) my soul (3) my body (I Thessalonians 5:23).

NOTE: I know that we are "suppose" to being doing this 24/7...365 days a year...however...in my life...it does not happen this way. There are times throughout the year (separate from Lent)...that I must withdraw away...seek God's face...be restored and refreshed...and Lent is just one of those times.

One of the things that I will be giving up for Lent (there are many things that you will never know about)...is writing online. That means from Wednesday February 17th to Saturday April 13th...I will not be on FACEBOOK or writing the RUMINATOR RAMBLINGS. Hopefully...under the CONE OF SILENCE...I will attune my ears to the voice of God...and come out on Resurrection Sunday refreshed and renewed with more stuff to Ramble on.

I will still be teaching the Ruminator Sunday School class...and will be sending out the Ruminator Class Updates...but again no Ramblings and no Facebook.

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY...no really...FINALLY

I covet your prayers during this time...and I will be praying for you during this time.

Love and Lenten Kisses
Rodney "Get Smart" Boyd