Romans 12:11: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
I have had the luxury of traveling all over the country these last many years, and the one lesson you learn is that on a journey, you don’t have the luxury of bringing everything you want. You may not be able to take those cherished books or favorite snacks. It would be best if you learned to be precise and strategic.
The season of Lent reminds us that the journey is about bare minimums. What do we truly treasure in this life? Do I love the wrong things? Where do I see myself at the end of this journey? What kind of person will I be? What kind of person am I now? What areas have I indulged in that have not brought me closer to Jesus but taken me farther away? All journeys call us to examine what we need and how we want to travel.
This is a season of self-examination. Don’t end this journey the same way you started. Journey to Easter poorer in worldly fashion but richer in the treasures of Jesus. Do not lack in zeal; prepare wisely in the remaining days.
Prayer: O, Father, I am selfish in so many ways. I seek only after my well-being before that of my brother and sister. Change me to see that my pride is destroying my relationships and communion with you. Bless and enrich me with zeal for your service through Christ our Lord, amen.
Notations
I have been on Chase’s podcast numerous times and spent time with Chase on numerous occasions. He’s a true and faithful brother. Here’s our latest:
My interview with the St. Barnabas Podcast was also delightful. These guys are doing great work on the Island of Cyprus, and I can’t wait to follow up with their work:
Nuntium
I am camping today with my boys, and there is no phone reception. Taking time from posting on FB and X has enriched my opportunities to reflect on things and make this Substack account more meaningful. At one point, I stated that I'd leave Facebook altogether if I had 5,000 subscribers on Substack. I still feel the same way today.
I finally had the chance to meet Saurabh Sharma, who is taking over D.C. by storm. He’s a household name among many of Washington's conservative politicians and donors, and it was an honor to watch him in action.
I am looking forward to a short season without flying anywhere. It will be good to enjoy the remaining part of Lent with my whole tribe here in Pensacola.
While the D.C. trip was phenomenal and added an enormous storyline to my resume that I will surely tell my grandchildren, my real passion is training pastors and being in their midst. There is nothing like pastoral camaraderie. There is a mutuality of understanding. The colloquium style allows for teaching and deep interaction:
My kudos to Pastor Kasey Horvath and his team for putting on a unique two days with high-quality accommodations, and the printed word/image was just phenomenal:
Lenten Cheers,
Uriesou Brito