The (Lieben)GOOD LIFE

  Putting Lent in Its Proper Place. A Homily for Ash Wednesday February 18, 2026 By Kelly Liebengood Lent is dangerous if we do not put it in its proper place! If we do not engage this season within its larger context, we run the risk of either agitating our propensity toward self-absorption and/or self-loathing; or even worse, developing a confidence that we have achieved God’s favor through performance. So, putting Lent in its proper context is critical if we are going to benefit from it. That is to say, if we are going to be healed, if we are going to mature, if we are going to be more conformed to Jesus and what he wants for us during this season, we will need to grow into what Jesus knows about us; we will need to embrace what is most true about us. And what does Jesus know about us? What is it that is most true about us? That before we are anything else, we are first loved. Before we are sinners; before we totally depraved; before we were in need of forgiveness and redemption...

  Practicing the True Life in the Midst of the False One 1 John 3:16-24        Acts 4:5-12        Psalm 23        John 10:11-18 Prayer of Invocation Our Father, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer of Illumination Father, through your Son Jesus, we have passed from death to life. Enable us to practice a life of love that both demonstrates that we belong to You, and that also destroys the works of the devil. In the name of Jesus.  Proclamation Back in the day, just after they transitioned from leather to plastic helmets, I played football at San Jose St. (And yes, the older I get, the better I was!) My first two years, we ran a unique defense (The Buddy Ryan 46) th...

  Prayer of Invocation Father, because without you we are not able to bear fruit, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Prayer of Illumination   Father, open our eyes to the ways that we are deceived and enticed; enable us to trust in your goodness and provision; grant us patience as we wait for You to teach us and make us what you want us to be.  Teach us to keep in step with the Spirit, who is conforming us to Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.  Proclamation At many times, and in many ways, we come to a fork in the road,  where we ask ourselves, Is God good? Should I continue to trust him? Does he really have my best interest in mind? Is he really going to deliver on his promise?  Sometimes that junction comes in the form of a disorienting event that seems to contradict God’s pl...

  Proverbs 31.10-31; Psalm 1; James 3.13-4.3, 7-8a; Mark 9.30-37   Prayer of Invocation   Father, teach us to trust in you with all our heart, and to not lean on our own understanding, but in all our ways to acknowledge you and to live faithfully according to  your calling on our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.    Prayer of Illumination   Father, in your Son Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.   Proclamation   In our modern world, wisdom is different from knowledge. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that you don’t put a tomato in a fruit salad just because it’s a fruit! Wisdom is applied knowledge; it’s ...