Prayer & Fasting

OH YEA! I want to talk about FASTING!

Of course there are people in third-world countries that have
never eaten a hot-fudge chocolate brownie sundae ... its true!
In fact, many in those places go without food for long periods
of time. So the fact that our bodies CAN go without food for
extended periods is well documented. But somehow we
'civilized' people are above all that. And we can't 'stand'
missing a meal. Except for a few nutritionists who are into
homeopathic treatments for the body, its unthinkable among
most Americans in the 21st Century. Sadly, that goes for the
church as well.

Throughout recorded history, believers in God have
recognized spiritual benefits of fasting. Biblical characters
of the Old Testament abstained from food to commune with
God. And Christ taught his disciples that some spiritual
conflicts could only be won through prayer & fasting combined.
Other heavyweights in a more recent times like Martin Luther,
John Calvin, and John Wesley made it a reoccurring part of
their personal disciplines. I remember reading that Mother
Teresa, known for her tremendous humanitarian work in of
Calcutta, required nuns serving in her convent to take a vow of
poverty - including certain dietary limitations.

I'm not a nutritionist, and don't pretend to be. But I have read
some on the subject, and know that most would name several
benefits of going without a meal or two - especially when
accompanied by drinking plenty of water. And God knows
many Americans could stand to lower their caloric intake for a
while. But physical benefits are not what interests me.

As a pastor and follower of Christ, I am interested in the
spiritual value associated with fasting. In times of intense
physical hunger God speaks to me in crystal clear tones.
And the deepest need of my soul is satisfied in Him.
There is something about denial of basic need that helps me
be better focus. And THAT kind of intensity with God yields
big spiritual dividends.

From this pastor's perspective, our churches need the fresh
wind of God to blow. We need the collective affect of His
undeniable presence. So if fasting makes God more real to
us (in a sense), why the aversion to it among believers today?
I'm thinking maybe we can't handle the intimacy. Maybe we
don't want God speaking AT ALL! I hope its not true.

MI-5 ... Back Together Again

This week’s questions have to do with scrapbooking---well, not really, but kindda. Today’s questions have evolved from those five themes.

1. BACK COUNTRY –
   

Tell us about your furthest excursion from “civilization”. How far
away into the Back Country did you go? What did you miss most
about civilization? Can you give us a tip about survival?

I've been to South America a few times. One of the most "back country" places was Yarina Cocha, Peru. Its a missionary camp in the Amazon River Basin - way out near the jungle city of Puculpa. I was younger then, but missed what I would miss today, CHOCOLATE! However, it was there that I learned about "cacao" (pronounced ka-cow') which is now used by some American candy companies. South American natives have been making a chocolate-like substance using the cacao plant for generations. How did I survive that experience? ALWAYS BOIL THE WATER!

2. MOON DOGGIE –

This is a kind of a Hawaii/Surfing/Being Carefree/Relaxing kind of theme. Tell us about Hawaii, surfing, being carefree, or relaxing.

The term "moon doggie" takes me back to childhood on Florida's East Coast. Surfing was huge when I was a kid. Although I only surfed a few times, my older brother was really into it. So I was around surfers quite a bit, and I definitely got into the lifestyle. Back then, moon doggies were 'beach bums'. And in tropical climate, one can 'bum' around the beach year-round. It was definitely "carefree" - except when we needed money.

3. ANIMAL COOKIES –
   

Tell us about your favorite snack food as a child. Is it still around to buy today?

At one time I LOVED a certain kind of moon-pie. You can't buy them from the same company anymore ... they probably contained some cancer-causing carcinogens. However, a good Maine 'woopie pie' is very similar in texture and tastes just as good.

4. TINKERIN’ –
   

Do you like to tinker with things? Do you like to take things apart and put them back together again? What has been your biggest tinkerin’ project?

I DO like to tinker now & then - usually on my motorcycle. And I seem to be doing basic home improvements quite often, I suppose that could qualify as tinkering as well. But I don't like to tinker just for the sake of tinkering. I like to have a goal or reason to tinker. Like when I rebuilt the engine in my 1977 Honda Accord. But if its not productive in any way, I 'm ain't "tinkerin".

5. BELLA –
   

This paper is very feminine. Bella is also the main character of the “Twilight” books, which are very popular right now. This question will take us from one extreme to the other---first, tell us about something (or someone) that is very “feminine” and then tell us something about “vampires”. Extra points if you can weave the two themes into one answer.

WOW, that's a word I haven't seen for a while. Well, I think my wife is quite feminine. She has soft skin, sometimes wears girly dresses, and has a wonderful nurturing side to her personality. She has always been a TERRIFIC mother to our children. But injure her children in any way, and she may draw blood!

Well, what will we do this year? This Thursday will be a special day established for Americans to pray. The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 7th. But will we Americans pray? ... and to whom will we pray?

Last week I found a picture posted (Associated Press) of President Obama being depicted as America's savior - complete with out-stretched arms and a crown of thorns. I was SO offended by the sacrilege, I refuse to post the picture here. But I fear THAT depiction expresses what many Americans believe.

In May of 2007 I was on the front lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. I went there for a 24 hour prayer vi dual being advertised by an on-slaught of radio spots and e-mails I had received in weeks prior. What I found when I got there I will never forget! The District was full of excited tourists spending a sunny day strolling the mall and visiting memorials, but NOBODY was praying. It's true! There was chairs and tables set out with temporary signs about prayer, but nobody was there to pray. I sat down and cried.

So to whom do Americans pray this Thursday? The picture mentioned earlier suggests that we pray to our President. Does that offend you? - I HOPE SO! Is any man the ultimate power source in the world today? I think not! At least that's not what the Bible says.

So let's TURN TO GOD, AMERICA !!!

The Beloved's Five

The rules are simple: You MUST pick one of the choices.
You can explain your answer in more detail if you wish.
Would you rather:
1. Be able to stop time while you slept, OR Never have
to do laundry?
Since my wife & I both do laundry, its not a big thing 
... especially since the kids are gone. So, I guess I 
would rather "stop time". At least my hair wouldn't 
gray so fast.
2. Hit every red light for the rest of your life, OR
always be wrong?
That's easy, I choose "hit every red light" because I 
do that anyway. It was a running joke between me & my 
father, I inherited that from him.
3. Be debt free (except for your house), OR eleven
years ahead of schedule on your mortgage?
I'll take 11 years off the home mortgage. Since I'm
only 1 year into a 30 year mortgage, that's a given!
4. Always take a cold shower OR sleep an hour less
than you need to be fully rested?
I'll take cold showers. I'm ugly when short on rest. 
Nobody could live with me if I was sleep-deprived
every day.
5. Always have to say everything on your mind OR never
speak again?
Always have to say everything on my mind. Though it 
could be embarrassing at times, I believe most people 
who seldom speak their mind or express what's on 
their heart struggle with emotional health. I have
enough emotional baggage without the inability to
communicate it. I feel sure that would cause serious
trouble for me.

I just LOVE this depiction of Mary, mother of Jesus, in an effort to capture her state of mind after the resurrection of Easter. If the resurrection of Christ really happened (and I believe it did), one should be 'taken' by the impact it would have had upon those closest to him.

The Easter Story of Christ's resurrection has "impacted" people for a few thousand years. I'm glad to see debates about this most astounding historical claim taking place in my lifetime. For it is a pivotal consideration in religion among true skeptics. And smart people are still seeking truth - no matter how difficult it might be.

Its AMAZING to me that such rigorous challenge to spirituality is taking place in the public squares of the USA ... especially when it comes to the truth-claims of Christianity and Easter. It seems that all other world religions are somehow "acceptable" in American culture - EXCEPT the one in which most of the founding fathers of America believed. Were they intellectually weak or something?

My observation is there are some really "brilliant" men and women who believe the story of Easter. And debate over the truthfulness of this event goes on. I think 2000 years of debate and academic energy expended on the subject is a testimony to its importance. For me, the recorded history of people being burned alive for claiming to believe anything is most disturbing to my logic. I don't know why anyone would go through that kind of agony for a lie - or even something they had significant doubt about. But martyrdom seems to be readily accepted as a real part of history in the Ancient Roman empire. Amazingly, there a still people giving up their life for Christian beliefs in our day.

As a Christian, I just LOVE Easter! Here in Maine, the celebration is heightened because the Easter season also welcomes a pleasant change in the weather. But THIS holiday is celebrated by Christians all over the world - in all kinds of climate. And not all of these people are intellectually weak. Is there really something of substance to this holiday? A good place to start looking for answers to THAT question might be this online interview between opposing minds: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6080701868320096275&ei=dqDcSamiJ4bSqQKQ1bTMCQ&q=resurrection%2BHabbermas&client=firefox-a

HAPPY HUNTING!

Billy Rhythm's MI-5

4/3 asks 5 party themed questions and because its April
3rd, I am going to ask you to give 4 answers followed
by 3 details.

WOW ... feeling ambitious eh?  OK, here goes;

1. Just recently I started holding a monthly 'Game
Night' to help give friends an excuse to get out of the
house and get together. We kicked it off with a Murder
Mystery Party which was great fun, most recently we
gathered to play a game of cards called "Bull Donkey"
the laughter went on all night. Tell us 4 games you like
to play and include either 3 things (memories, feelings,
skills, commonalities etc.. related to them).
I must confess, I am NOT a game person. My family NEVER
played games while I was growing up, and I very seldom
played them with my kids. The only game I can remember is
one we played recently when we had company for supper ...
and I only played for the enjoyment of my wife and company.
The game is called, Apples To Apples. It requires no skill
(another reason I played), so people of all ages can play.
I must say, I enjoyed seeing young and old-er playing and
laughing together.

2. When thinking of throwing a party what 4 people are
always at thetop of your list and tell us 3 things about
them that put them there.
#1 on my list would be my wife - the proverbial "party
animal". She loves to party- for any reason. She is very
creative with activities. She does not get drunk and throw
up in my bathroom.
Second would be my friend, Rodney. He always has a joke.
He has a wonderful sense of humor. He has a very distinct
laugh.
Next would be Rodney's wife, Allison. She has a gift for
entertaining. She is the best cook I know. She's a really
sweet lady.
#3 would be Michele ... an old friend from Virginia. She
loves music (as I do). She's a fantastic dancer. She's a 
great dance teacher.
#4 is Donald Trump. The man knows how to throw a party.
He is extravagant. He keeps great company!  

3. Most parties include food, share with us 4 favorite party dishes
but only 3 adjectives to describe each one.
#1 My wife's cheese & scallion spread; sharp, spicy, smooth.
#2 Smoked Salmon & cream-cheese; stinky, smokey, cheezy.
#3 Nachos; colorful, spicy, caliente!
#4 Caviar; fishy, squishy, delicious.

I'LL HAVE TO FINISH THIS ONE LATER ...

Shopper's MI-5

I’ve been shopping a lot this week, so this week’s 5 is inspired by several of the stores I have been to:

TJ MAXX – I have no idea what the “TJ” in TJ Maxx stands for. Do know of someone who goes by his/her initials, instead of his/her full name? What is their full name? Why do they prefer initials? Tell us a little bit about this person. I think it might stand for Tijuana (Mexico) where much of their apparel is produced. BTW; I'm not knocking it, we clothed three kids through school there. I know two individuals who go by "T" and they do not have the same first name. I don't know why ... I suppose I should ask.

TARGET – Tell us a story about target practice, hunting, or some sort of “shooting” activity. I haven't done much target shooting because my wife hates guns. But I found it interesting that the Greco-Roman world used a word for "sin" which also meant "missing a target".

DOLLAR TREE – What’s the best bargain going nowadays? Is there anything you buy that is really only $1.00 (or less)? A "Dollar Tree" ... we might start a frenzy saying those words during these times. NO, I don't know of anything I buy that costs only a dollar these days. And it seems like prices just keep getting higher. O-O-O-H ! I'm feeling old right now.

BIG LOTS – What would your perfect house lot look like? Would it be big? Smaller, with less lawn care? Water feature? Stone wall? Fenced in yard? Wooded? Well, I had it once ... that is, a lot (and eventually a house) that was "just like I wanted". Funny how fleeting satisfaction with 'things' can be. Our perfect homestead once was totally covered by two feet of flood water. We later learned that civil engineers who designed the storm drains had a liquid lunch the day they worked on our street. Massive rain water didn't seem to want to run uphill ... H-m-m-m.

WENDY’S – When you have an “all-day” excursion planned, do you prefer to sit down and eat a meal at a restaurant, or do you prefer a drive-through type experience in order to save more time for other activities? I like to sit and relax for a nice meal - even when I have other things planned. Never been much for fast food joints. Most of that food gives me the "coli-wobbles". That's my mother's word for a stomach ache. I would rather save four trips to Mickey-D's for one meal at Primo. NOW THAT'S LIVIN !!