Week 1-September 4, 2007

Scripture Readings
Day 1 Psalm 24, Luke 1:1-25
Day 2 Psalm 29, Luke 1:26-38
Day 3 Psalm 8, Luke 1:39-56
Day 4 Psalm 84, Luke 1:57-66
Day 5 Psalm 56, Luke 1:67-80

Fasting/Abstinence
My kids enjoy watching the movie "Over the Hedge". If you've seen the movie you know that in the beginning the animals comment that one thing humans can't do without is food. They love it, worship it, consume it, and then give all the leftovers in wonderful silver platters to the animals. Humans are so consumed with food that it even rules our language according to the movie-we even refer to ourselves sometimes as 'couch potatoes'.
The movie is true to a degree. One thing most of us don't need immediately is food. In fact most of us could go without for a week and though it would be very hard, no permanent damage would be done. Though people certainly had less in Biblical times, food was clearly one of the items that people abused. All too often they consumed too much. But fasting took on importance not only in the Christian tradition but in many other religious movements, not because most people consume too much, but because food is the one thing that if we miss a regular partaking, we immediately notice. We could all do without TV or radio for a day and though we might wonder what was wrong with us, we would not really miss it (Though Anna would miss Desperate Housewives.) But if we skipped one meal, we would notice before the next one. If we missed two we would be famished by the third, and most of us woudln't even think about going a whole day without food.
That is the importance behind fasting from food-we notice when food is absent. In the Bible, the purpose of fasting is not to lose weight or get healthy, but to notice something is absent and return our hearts and minds to God. And most of us do need reminding. In the history of the Church, fasting is often an important part of growing in the Christian life, for most of us need to be shocked into remembering God periodically. Going without food is one of those ways.
As you begin the practice of fasting know it looks different for different people. Some will fast from everything but water one day a week. Others will just drink juice. Still others will fast for one or two meals. Some will find fasting from something else like TV, radio, driving, as a more important reminder. But for most it is food.
If you can't fast from food for health reasons fast from something else. If you are like me and can't fast all day, have one meal, but skip the other two. I have breakfast each Thursday, but then do my best to fast the rest of the day. I don't always do it perfectly, but it does accomplish its purpose-namely every time I want to go to food to fill my hunger, at least on that one day a week I remember that there is only one eternal source of nourishment and I return to God in my prayers. Give it a try one day this week.

See you, Jack

Remember the other practices:
1. Weekly Christian worship.
2. At least weekly communion.
3. Daily private prayer.
4. Weekly family or community prayer.
5. Five days of scripture reading (to be posted) and prayer.
6. Fasting/Abstinence.
7. Living by the Methodist Rules of the Societies. (See other blog.)
8. Weekly commenting on this blog of our experiences with God, both joys and concerns.