Giving up complaints, condemnation,
criticism for Lent helps focus on positive

This Lent has been hard for me. Instead of giving up chocolate and sugar, I gave up the three Cs: I will not criticize, condemn or complain. That is one of the first rules in Dale Carnegie training, and as you may imagine, it is not easy to do.
I can’t claim complete success, but I am at least more aware of the frequent temptation to engage in these thoughts. Tagging the thought gives me at least the awareness that I have a choice to make: The idea could stay a thought, or I could say it out loud.
Of course, my hope is that these Lenten disciplines will become a habit.
I remember when I told my mother about the three Cs, she said, “If you give up criticizing, condemning and complaining, what do you have to talk about?”
The answer, of course, is positive things! 
Here are the things I am talking about in Lent:
> The District Transformation process is continuing to make an impact on the participating churches and, indeed, in the whole district. As a part of the Transformation Process, Don Nations brought in his student ministry resource person, Dave Stewart, who led an evening training session for volunteers in student ministry, followed by an all day session for our district youth professionals.
Twenty-three district youth professionals attended that daylong event.
In Austin we have an influx of young people to the University of Texas campus and a generally younger demographic than other areas of Southwest Texas. We need to strengthen our outreach to our Methodist boys and girls. 
> The P.E.T. project! The P.E.T. project answers the need of 21 million people worldwide who have lost the use of their legs because of landmines, disease, accident or injury.
The P.E.T. (Personal Energy Transportation) is a hand-cranked wheelchair with solid rubber tires for use on dirt, rock and grass areas. The P.E.T. is sturdy, simple and easy to maintain, and low-cost (about $250). P.E.T.s are built by volunteers.
For more information about P.E.T.s contact Joe or Karen Svoboda at jsvoboda@bcsnet.net.
I am asking each church in the Austin District to sponsor a P.E.T. this year. What a great project for youth groups, Sunday school classes of United Methodist Men. The Advance Special number is 2269.
> Another exciting thing is that Bishop Joel N. Martinez has announced his intention to appoint the Rev. Kyle Toomire to start a new church between Kyle and Buda. While Toomire’s appointment begins in June, there is much to do in terms of planning and gathering resources in the meantime. I ask for your prayers as we start this new ministry together. 
Will I give up the three Cs next year for Lent? I don’t know. It depends on how much of a habit I can make it this year.