circularthoughts

an old fashioned foot-washing...

I preached on foot-washing from John 13:1-20 yesterday. This is the passage where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. I focused on three main points (don’t all preachers make three main points?) from the 20 verses.

1. Jesus washed Judas’ feet knowing that he would be the betrayer. I told the story of how I had someone betray me once and while I was working through my forgiveness of this person I read what Jesus did with Judas in this passage. It was a major push in helping me reach a point of being willing to forgive this person.
2. Peter’s shenanigans in verses 6-9 was evidence that the disciples still did not understand the nature of the kingdom that Jesus was initiating. They were still thinking of a kingdom from an earthly perspective, i.e., it is only the servants who wash feet. To have Jesus, as their leader and teacher, stoop to wash their feet was outside the paradigm of power they were living under. I love Peter’s response! If that’s the way it is, then wash all of me! What a great picture of repentance (turning or changing of mind) in how Peter responded.
3. I then concluded by talking about how there seems to be two main paths that the church has taken in response to Jesus’ suggestion of how we ought to follow his example (verses 14-15). One group, the larger of the two, has symbolized this act and emphasized Jesus’ modeling of servant leadership. By following Jesus’ example in this way we are following the oughtness of his suggestion. The other group has taken Jesus literal and incorporated washing feet into their regular form of worship. I suggested that somehow there was an synthesis between these two extremes. Yes, Jesus was modeling servant leadership. But, the act of washing someone’s feet is an incredible picture of the reversal of structure and hierarchy of the kingdom of God. It is something that we all need to experience.

What do you think? Have you ever taken part in a foot-washing service? If not, why not?

Alleviating poverty, one loan at a time...

Have you heard about Kiva? This non-profit organization is one of my favorite ways to give. 

Kiva’s mission is “to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.”

Kiva lets you join in micro lending to some of the world’s poorest people. The minimum loan that you make is $25.00. Your loan gets combined with those of other folks and the combined amount is used to fund a micro loan for an individual or a group of individuals in numerous places around the world. It is a great setup, easy to do and the results have been phenomenal. 

From the Kiva website, since Kiva was founded in 2005:

596,151 people have made loans through Kiva

$224 million in loans have been funded

98.79% repayment rate on these loans

As a former banker, I can say that the repayment rate is amazing!

May family has made 78 loans over the years. We chose to loan only to women. This is one of the ways we have chosen to flesh out our love for our neighbor.

Check it out here. This is my official invitation to you to join Kiva.

If you want to know more about micro lending and the work to alleviate poverty I would suggest the following books:

UnPoverty: Rich Lessons from the Working Poor

When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Yourself

Sympathetic reading...

I like to read. I read a lot. In fact, I’ve read twenty books in the last sixty days. Assuming an average book is two hundred pages long, that means I’ve read four thousand pages in sixty days. 

I say this not to boast. You see, reading for me is essential to my mental and spiritual growth. In all reality, it probably hampers my physical situation as instead of exercising I read. Anyway, if I’m not reading, I’m not growing.

I mostly read books on theology and missiology. I currently have nine books on my desk, four of which I’ve started and the rest of which I plan to start in the next couple of weeks. In addition, I have at least eight books on my Kindle app on my iPad that I’m either currently reading or plan to start reading in the next couple of weeks. Almost all of these are on theology or missiology.

One of my favorite ways of reading is what some call sympathetic reading. This happens when I read something I don’t agree with, something that challenges my current thinking. I have found that this way of reading is crucial for my spiritual and mental growth.

Sympathetic reading helps me to understand the point of view of the author; what is driving his or her thinking. In seeking to understand a different point of view I often find that weaknesses in my own understanding are revealed. I also often find where my own way of thinking, and those who think it with me, may have contributed to the reaction of the author I’m reading. 

Sympathetic reading is not reading for the sake of tearing apart an author’s argument. Instead, it is for seeking to understand in the hopes that you might learn something, either about the subject of the read or yourself.

Try it sometime. It can be very enlightening...

Evangelism as initiation...

Yesterday, I began reading the second book for my Art of Evangelism course at Fuller. The book is called The Logic of Evangelism and was written by William J. Abraham. 

The main thesis of the book is that evangelism should be understood as the primary initiation into the kingdom of God, as opposed to simple proclamation of the good news or as a means for church growth. To throw a spark on this idea, Abraham suggests:

any vision of evangelism that ignores the kingdom of God, or relegates it to a position of secondary importance, or fails to wrestle thoroughly with its content is destined at the outset to fail. This is so because the kingdom of God is absolutely central to the ministry of Jesus and to the mission of the disciples that launched the Christian movement into history. (17)

I have always been taught that evangelism is the way we go about letting others know of their need for salvation. We tell them the good news that Jesus has died for their sins and that he rose again, from the dead, conquering death so that we might have eternal life. If we have been well trained we say that eternal life begins here and now, but, most of us focus on the afterlife part of eternal life. In other words, evangelism, I have always been taught, is the process of telling others how to get to heaven.

In recent years, my problem with the above is that it really offers nothing for the here and now. This, I think, is what Abraham is talking about when he suggests that evangelism is the primary initiation into the kingdom of God.

If the kingdom of God is seen as the reign and rule of God, in and through Jesus, both now and in the future, then, evangelism should be seen as the process of leading others into such reign. It is the process of helping others see that there is a different way to live in the here and now. This way of living has less to do with our performance or compliance with a list of rules. Instead, it is centered in our pursuit of God’s will, here on earth, of heaven in the here and now.

So, yes, evangelism is about the cross and what Jesus accomplished on such. But, it is about so much more.

I think I’m going to enjoy this course!

Conversion: Fast Food or Fine Dining?

My current course at Fuller is called The Art of Evangelism. The first book we are reading is called Conversion in the New Testament: Paul and the Twelve, by Richard V. Peace, who just so happens to be the course Professor. In this book, Peace compares the dramatic, single-point-in-time conversion of Paul to the slow, progressive and even fuzzy (when it comes to when it happened) conversion of the Twelve. In doing such he is asking the question of which one is the norm. 

In Western Evangelicalism, the norm seems to have always been that of Paul. I was taught that I needed to be able to identify the specific point in time that I prayed to receive (trust) Christ. Failure to be able to do this was seen as a potential weakness in my own testimony that might cause doubts as to my actual salvation at some point in the future. Thus, our western evangelism is designed to fit this paradigm, in that we push for a decision.

Peace suggests that the conversion experience of the Twelve was more like a pilgrimage. It was a progressive revelation in which they first saw Jesus as a Teacher, followed by a Prophet, on to Messiah and then to God incarnate. In other words, he argues that the Twelve would have been hard pressed to pick out the specific point in time when the actually trusted Christ, but, their conversion was just as valid as that of Paul’s.

I’m intrigued with this idea of progressive revelation and progressive trust. I think that this “both/and” understanding of conversion might open the door to a more gentle, less confrontational/polemical form of evangelism, which would be a good thing, especially for those on the receiving end.

Taking the Lord's name in vain...

I hate it when a director feels the need to fill their movie with the disrespectful and profane use of God's name.  That particular combination of words makes me cringe, probably more than any other.   I once had a boss who used this phrase in almost every other sentence.  It was so hard to be around that guy. 

You shall not take the name of the LORD you God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.  Exodus 20:7

The third commandment; right behind no other gods and carved images.  Given that context, surely God had more in mind than the Hebrew people's use of salty language.  Surely this is more than just a command to watch my mouth.

My good friend, John Willis Zumwalt, in his book, Passion for the Heart of God: Making His Heart Completely Yours, puts it like this:

"Don't cuss...it's vulgar, and besides you shouldn't take the Lord's name in vain," a thousand mothers have screamed...and then threatened a bar of soap.  If that were all there was to it, then we would have already mastered this original member of the Ten Commandments.

As a Christian (which really means a "little Christ" or a "little anointed one"), this becomes a troubling issue.  Much like marriage, the two are becoming one: Jesus and me.  When people see me, they see all they know of Christ.  I am the human representative of Christ, much like an ambassador.  But more than that, He lives in me, and I am His body - His hands and His feet.

Rev. Hal Perkins, my friend and former pastor, explained it to me this way; "The Lord's Name is His nature and character.  When we take His Name, we take His nature, His character, as our identity."  It is not so much that we need to put on a show for the world, but that the world will honor or despise the Name of Jesus because of our lives.  If we claim to know Him, yet persist in sin and self-rule, Christ is shamed, and we have taken the Name of the Lord in vain.  However, if we walk in the Spirit and live a life of His love and His holiness, then His Name is known and honored everywhere. (page 4)

I think John has it right.  The key words in the third commandment are take, name and vain.  Take, in this verse, means to lift up, to bear or carry, to support or sustain.  I think carry and sustain fit best, in this context.  Name means reputation, fame and glory.  I like all of those meanings.  Vain means emptiness, nothingness or worthlessness.  Again, all of those fit this context very well.  So, we could say that the third commandment means something like this:

Do not carry or sustain the reputation, fame and glory of God in emptiness, nothingness or worthlessness...

In other words, who we are is just as important, if not more so, than who we say we are.

Have you ever noticed the last half of the third commandment?  I think we would rather ignore this part.

...for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Reminds me of Jesus' words in the sermon on the mount:

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" And then will I declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."  Matthew 7:21-23

What we do with our confession of Jesus is very important.  We are his ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Who we are, not just who we say we are, has eternal implications.  Is it enough to make the claim that Jesus is Lord, but never live as if he is?  Is it enough to give mental ascent to the right doctrine?  Is it enough to take a stand for what is right?  Is it enough to give lip service to the mandate to make disciples of all nations but then never actively do anything to do so?

These are questions we all need to ask.  I do not recall ever having said the type of words referred to in the opening paragraph of this post.  I am quite sure, however, that this does not exempt me from the warning at the end of the third commandment and in the sermon on the mount. 

Father, help me to know and to do your will...

Standing in the gap...

Would you be willing to give up your salvation so that an entire people group could be made right with God?  I am not suggesting that this is theologically possible, but I do think it is a question we all need to ask.

I have been reading in Exodus.  This week I came to the story of the golden calf, in Exodus 32.  You remember the story.  Moses had gone up Mount Sinai to meet with God, but had not come down as quickly as the Hebrews thought he should.  They went to Aaron and requested that he make them gods that they could follow.  Aaron gathered up all of their golden earrings.  He threw all of the earrings into a fire and, poof, out popped a golden calf.  The Hebrews started worshiping the idol and they had a big party.  God told Moses what was going on and then said that he was going to destroy the Hebrews and start over with a great nation from Moses.  Moses stood in the gap for his people:

But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.  Exodus 32:11-14

I have read this story many times and have always been intrigued by the fact that Moses changed God's mind.  I have not explored the theological implications of this, but it is truly amazing and it does speak to the impact our fervent prayers must have on God. 

I have read the rest of chapter 32 many times over the course of my life.  This week, however, I noticed something I haven't noticed before:

The next day Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin.  And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."  So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, this people have sinned a great sin.  They have made for themselves gods of gold.  But now, if you will forgive their sin - but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written."  Exodus 32:30-32

Did you get that?  Moses not only stood in the gap for his people, he also offered his own salvation in their place.  I immediately underlined this passage and wrote a note out in the margin:

Would I be willing to do this for Muslims, or Hindus, or Buddhists, or...?

The Holy Spirit then reminded me that Moses was not the only example of this kind of sacrificial prayer.  I remembered that Paul prayed a similar prayer.  It took me a day or two to find it, but Paul prayed this about his own people:

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.  Romans 9:1-3

I know what most of you are thinking, because I thought it too.  I mean, this is Moses and Paul and, well, these guys were spiritual superheroes and we can't be expected to live up to their standards, can we?  Oh, the slippery slope of dualistic thinking...

Father, help me to walk in this way.  Help me to love my neighbor as I love myself.  Here am I, send me.  Do your work among all Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and ALL who have yet to hear of your great love.  Do your work in me until my heart breaks with great sorrow and unceasing anguish for the unreached.  Father, forgive them, but if not, please blot me out of the book you have written...

Go here for a good place to begin praying for the unreached...

What are we going to do today?

This cartoon, from the crazy folks at The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus, reminded me of something that happened several years ago.  I was in a position of needing a fairly large sum of money for a ministry project.  My former life, as a banker, meant that I had several friends and acquaintances who had access to large sums of money.  I made an appointment with one and went to visit him in his office.

We caught up on things and I shared my need.  He then looked at me and said something like this:

I like what you are saying, but before I can give I need to know your five-year ministry plan and how this project works to fulfill your plan.

I was shocked.  I didn't have a five-year ministry plan.  I had never even thought about having a five-year ministry plan.  I didn't know what to say.

I took a deep breath and offered up a quick prayer.  I opened my mouth and out spewed something like this:

My five-year ministry plan is this, to do my best to wake up every day and ask God what he wants me to do that day.  I figure if I am able to do this on a fairly consistent basis I will be exactly where God wants me to be in five years.

My friend smiled and said that he both understood and didn't understand, all at the same time.  He then pulled out his checkbook and wrote a check for a sizable donation.

This is still my five-year ministry plan.  Some days I am more successful than others.  I have learned that God is always waiting for me to ask, and as depicted in the cartoon, God is continually asking me to join him in what he is already doing...

The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing.  You can count on it.  From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it.  That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.  I mean it.  Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.  John 14:12-14 (The Message)

Fast food on hold...

My friend Kris posted today that he is going to give up fast food.  What a great idea.  I've thought about it but haven't had the guts.  Kris, I think I'm going to give it a try. 

I love fast food.  I love cheeseburgers.  I love french fries.  I love anything greasy and bad for you.  I'm 42, I weigh too much and I have a family history of heart disease.

I need to keep myself in a position to travel around the world five or six times per year.  Fast food doesn't help.  In fact, it hurts.

So, those of you who know me and love me and see me on a regular basis, as of December 1, I'm going to give it a try.  Pray for me...

Until ALL Have Heard,

jeg

Purpose?

I was going through some old files today and found this article I wrote in late 2004.  It spoke to me as I read it so I thought I would post it.  jeg

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Much has been said and written recently on purpose.  It seems that Christians everywhere are looking for purpose.  Why are we here?  What is God’s will for my life?  What is it all for?  Is there any meaning?  Can you relate?

Would you allow me to be so bold as to say that I know my purpose, I know your purpose and I know the purpose of every Christian?  Stick with me!

The 15th chapter of John records one of the last teaching times of Jesus.  He was hanging out with His disciples.  Jesus had just washed His disciples’ feet.  They had just eaten the Passover meal.  Judas had just left to cut his deal with the Chief Priests.  Jesus knew that His time on this earth was drawing to a close.  He was imparting some of the most basic and most important truths that He gave to His disciples, and to us.  This chapter holds the key to our purpose.  It holds the clear teachings of Jesus Christ on why we are here.  This teaching can be summed up in three words; Remain in Christ.

Jesus used this phrase five times in the first eight verses of this chapter.  “Remain in me,” He said, and you “will bear much fruit.”  “Remain in me,” He said, and “ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”  He goes on to tell us in verse 8 that bearing “much fruit” is a sign of being His disciple.  He also tells us that bearing “much fruit” is to His Father’s glory.  My paraphrase of what Jesus was saying would be, “Hey guys, do you want to glorify my Father?  Then remain in me and bear much fruit.”

So, let’s back into this.  Do you want your life to glorify God?  I am assuming that you are nodding yes as you read this.  According to Jesus’ teachings in these verses the way to glorify God is to bear “much fruit.”  Notice that He did not say that bearing fruit or some fruit glorifies God.  It is “much fruit” that we are after.  Let’s keep going.  How do we bear “much fruit?”  Jesus tells us in verse 5, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  Do you see how clear that is?  Remain in Christ and you will bear much fruit, and God will be glorified in and through your life. 

I think it is incredibly interesting that Jesus did not give us a list of things to do.  He did not tell us to go out and be missionaries.  He did not tell us to go out and witness.  He did not tell us to give our tithe.  He did not tell us to be good, moral citizens.  He did not tell us a list of things to do in order to bear much fruit and glorify the Father.  He did not give us a program to follow.  No, He told us to hang out with Him.  He told us to stay connected to Him.  He told us to remain or abide in Him.  This, my friends, is our purpose in life as Christians.  Any other purpose will result in nothing.  Any other purpose will not bear much fruit.  Any other purpose will not bring glory to God.

Do you see how this works?  When we remain in Christ we are able to allow Jesus to live through us.  When we remain in Christ, knowing His will is not an issue.  We will simply be in and do His will.  When we remain in Christ we will be exactly where He wants us to be.  When we remain in Christ we will know exactly what He wants us to do.  When we remain in Christ we will obey His commands.  When we remain in Christ, we will bear much fruit and God will be glorified.  This is my purpose.  This is your purpose.  This is the purpose of every Christian.

So what does it mean to remain in Christ?  Some translations use the word “abide.”  Another translation uses “dwell.”  Here is how John 15:5 reads from The Message; "I am the Vine, you are the branches.  When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.  Separated, you can't produce a thing.”  I like that.  To remain in Christ is to be in relation with Him.  It is a relationship that is intimate.  It is a relationship that is organic.  It is a relationship that is alive and growing. 

If remaining in Christ is the Christian’s purpose in life, wouldn't you want to know how to do this?  The answer I have found is to hang out with Jesus.  Spend time with Him.  Any vibrant, growing and intimate relationship requires time.  This means we must spend time in the Word.  We must read it.  We must meditate on it.  We must study it.  We must memorize it.  We must do all of these things and then do them again.  We must also talk with Him.  We must converse.  We must ask Him to reveal His Truth to us.  We must ask Him to show us things in His Word that we have never seen before.  We must ask Him to help us overcome our unbelief.  We must tell Him where we are and ask Him where we should be.  Finally, we must wait on Him.  We must wait on Him to show us where to go, what to do and when to do it.  We must wait on Him to lead us.  We must wait on Him to guide us.  We must never get out in front of Him and ask Him to bless us.  We must wait on Him.

You may be thinking, “But my life is crazy.  My life is busy.  My life is hectic.  I don’t have the time to make time.” 

I know.  So was mine.  So is mine.  However, what I have learned and experienced is this; when I spend time with Jesus, much fruit happens.  When I do not spend time with Jesus, nothing happens.  It is cut and dry.  It is black and white.  It is God’s Word.  There is no other way.  It is my purpose.  It is your purpose.  It is the purpose of every Christian.  Remain in Christ and you WILL bear much fruit!  Remain in Christ and the Father WILL be glorified!  Any other purpose leads to nothing!

Rule of Life

The ancient monastics lived under a Rule of Life, which was a set of guidelines for living in community.  The purpose of these guidelines was to help articulate the disciplines needed to live a balanced life, one in which God is truly center.  I am seeking balance.  I am seeking God.  This is my personal Rule of Life:

My desire is to be and continue to become the man of God I have been called to be.  “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12) I want this so that I can be used to the full in leading others to live in the Kingdom of God.  Therefore, I choose to live out the following Rule:

Key
Normal Text – Guidelines I already practice.
Italics – Guidelines I seek to implement by the end of 2007.

Seeking God

• I will read at least seven chapters from God’s word daily; five from the Psalms, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.

• I will seek to see God’s activity in all things, whether good, bad, inconvenient or difficult.

• I will learn to be thankful in all things.

Prayer

• I will pray without ceasing.

• I will pray daily with my wife and son.

• I will rekindle the practice of writing my prayers.

• I will make time for quarterly prayer retreats.

Work

• I will see my work as an act of worship.

• I will take a Sabbath day from my work.

• I will spend less time checking emails, and will answer them promptly.

• I will not let my work take priority over my family.

Study

• I will meditate on God’s word daily.

• I will do word studies and topical studies as the Spirit leads.

• I will study God’s word with a community of believers.

• I will seek to study what those who have gone before me have done and said, i.e., I will read at least four biographies per year.

Spiritual Community

• I will worship and participate in Holy Communion on a regular basis.

• I will meet with Matt Mosler weekly and will talk via phone with Mark Carter at least once a month.

• I will seek out strong mentors who I can meet with periodically.

Care of Body

• I will jog at least three days per week.

• I will eat a more balanced diet, including more fruits and vegetables.

• I will fast at least one day per week and seek to fast for an extended period at least quarterly.

• I will seek to get more sleep.

Reaching Out

• I will cheerfully give to support missionaries and other Kingdom work.

• I will be intentional with the international community in the Little Rock area.

• I will seek to be more intentional with the local community in the Little Rock area.

• I will seek ways to fight injustice.

Hospitality

• I will continue to have an open door policy with those in my community.

• I will set reasonable boundaries for those in my community so that my family is not sacrificed by my process of reaching out.

• I will learn to say no.

Accountability - How I will help keep my Rule

• I will post my Rule in my office so I can read it regularly.

• I will post my Rule on my blog so others can hold me accountable.

• I will discuss my Rule with my wife and ask her to hold me accountable.

• I will ask my mentors to hold me accountable to this Rule.

Breaking the fast...

I broke the fast last night.  I made it 4 days.  We were hanging out with our friends, Doug and Aimee.  Around 8 p.m. I began to feel really nauseous and weak.  I mentioned it and we all decided that it would be wise to drink some apple juice, which I did.

As the evening went on I knew it was time to break the fast.  I sensed that the Lord was pleased and freeing me to stop and then try again later.  I sensed He was teaching me to take it slow and to trust Him more and more each time I fasted.  It was good.  I had some toast this morning and just finished half a sandwich and a cup of soup. 

What did I learn?

1.  I learned that I could do it.  Up until this experience, the longest I had ever fasted was 48 hours.
2.  I learned that the hunger cravings reminded me to focus on King Jesus.  This was a wonderful thing to learn.
3.  I learned that there really doesn't have to be a reason to fast; that God will always reveal Himself when we seek Him.

Thanks for the comments.  I hope to make fasting a regular part of my journey.  I truly hope to try a 40 day fast sometime, hopefully this year.  I know I have a lot to learn about fasting before I can do that, but that is also part of the journey.

And when you fast...

Until ALL Have Heard,

EG

And when you fast...

I have never been one who practiced the spiritual discipline of fasting.  Somehow, I overlooked the words of my King in Matthew 6:16.  He said, "And when you fast."  I guess I always read it as, "And if you fast."

Anyway, I started a fast on Sunday evening.  My goal is to go until Sunday lunch, after I preach a sermon at Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas. 

So far, so good.  The first three days were tough.  Today has been pretty good. 

I took my son to eat pizza Tuesday night.  That was my hardest struggle.  I kept trying to justify breaking the fast because I needed to be with my son.  Some friends encouraged me and I stuck with it.  I sat and watched my son eat pizza while I drank water.  The Lord is good!

My son asked me why I wasn't eating.  I told him I was fasting.  He asked me why, to which I said I wanted to be more like Jesus.  His reply?

"Dad, if you want to be more like Jesus, you need to fast for 40 days!"

Ouch!  Well, he is right.  This is something I want to do.  I don't know when, but I want to do this, and soon.  Pray with me that my King will make it very clear as to when I should do this.

As for waiting on the Lord to lead us to fast, I just can't reconcile that with "And when you fast."  I really want fasting to be a regular part of my walk with Jesus.  I really don't need to wait on Him to tell me to fast.  Maybe a 40 day fast, but not regular fasting. 

What do you think?  What is your experience with fasting?  Do we need to wait on Him to lead us, or do we simply need to obey His presumption that we would?

Until ALL Have Heard,

EG