Fasting

Fasting has ancient Biblical roots.  The Israelites, as part of their Old Testament covenant with God, had prescribed days of fasting, most prominent the Day of Atonement.  Often practiced during times of mourning or national calamity, fasting played other roles too, and had a part in the lives of many famous Bible characters.  At times, the entire Hebrew nation participated in a special fast (I Sam. 7:6).  Joel proclaimed, “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (2:12). 

Jesus expected that His disciples would fast when he instructed them -- “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father which is also in secret” (Matt. 6:17f.).  He also said that His disciples would fast when he (the Bridegroom) would be taken away from them (Matt 9:150 and answered their question about their inability to cast out a demon by saying, “This kind goes out only by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21).  Jesus often connected the discipline of fasting with giving and praying.

At Antioch, the believers were praying and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke and led them to send Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2).  Later, as Paul and Barnabas appointed elders, they did so with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23).  Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 6:5 and 11:27 that he practiced fasting often. 

During the Middle Ages, fasting fell somewhat into disfavor as it became linked with excessive ascetical practices.  It was seen as meritorious and demanded by God (i.e. legalism).

In our Lutheran Confessions we read,  “Fasting and bodily preparation are a good external discipline,” (Small Catechism), praising fasting as a fine Christian custom, while at the same time carefully excluding such a practice as meritorious of salvation.  “We believe that God’s glory and command require penitence to produce good fruits, and that good fruits like true fasting, prayer, and charity have His command.”  (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XII, 139)  In a sermon on Matthew 4 (Jesus 40 day fast in the desert).

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the spiritual discipline of fasting.  In the strictest sense, fasting as abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose.  We may also consider fasting as abstinence from anything that takes our heart and mind away from God.  There may be other things in our lives that draw us away from hearing God’s voice than food.  A friend of mine does a “technology fast.”   

The blessing of fasting is that It may sharpen our spiritual focus and strengthen our prayer, help us to identify with the poor and hungry, aid us in repentance or discerning God’s will, assist us in expressing grief, and be a way of expressing our desire to obey God’s will.  Try a fast and journal what you feel God is teaching you.

Life Lessons

I always enjoyed David Letterman’s “Top 10” list and there’s that wonderful movie “Bucket List.”  I am a list maker and have been at it for some time – 10 most influential people in my life, 10 messages I received growing up, 10 life-changing moments, and 10 life lessons.  The "10 Life Lessons" turned out to be a very helpful exercise for me.  I encourage you to give it a try.  Mine include:

1. God is good.  He gives to me in abundance.
2. I can’t control or fix anyone.
3. I am responsible for myself.  I can’t blame anyone for my circumstances.
4. I have choices.  I can change my life.
5. I want to forgive and let go of resentment to be whole.
6. Pain is my teacher.
7. Walking in someone else’s shoes helps me to be more accepting and understanding.
8. My parents did the best they could for me.
9. Loss is a normal part of life.  Grieving my losses contributes to my health.
10. I am grateful in every circumstance, even when I don’t feel like it.

What’s your list look like?

Christian Marriage Top 10

What constitutes a Christian marriage?  In a recent wedding message I shared my “top ten” list. 

I believe a happy, healthy, Christian marriage ….

1.    Has a shared faith in Jesus, which is expressed in prayer and worship together, and a love modeled by Jesus.

2.     Has no “Exit” signs, but is a life long commitment.

3.     Nurtures open and honest communication.

4.   Is a “safe place” where two hearts touch, are present to each other, and become best friends.

5.     Deals with conflict by heart-felt listening and forgiving.

6.     Does not keep count of wrongs nor of contributions to the marriage.

7.     Makes the other a better person.

8.     Does not set out to change the other, but focuses on changing ones self.

9.     Does not take the other for granted, but freely expresses appreciation.

10.   Intentionally and daily “blesses” the other for who they are as well as what they do.

St. Paul’s says it this way …. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude.  love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.  love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (I Corinthians 13).   Jesus modeled this love for us and empowers us to live it. 

On our own we wouldn’t get very far with any of this, but with the wind of God’s Spirit filling the sails of our marriage with His love, we can enjoy happy, healthy, Christian marriage. 

Keeping Your Life Focused

I was 6 years old when my father and I were out on Houghton Lake, Michigan and I asked if I could steer the boat back to the dock.  Dad and I exchanged seats---he came up front and I sat sideways in the back seat.  I grabbed the motor arm, moved it a little to get the feel of the boat and off we went.  The only problem...I was distracted by the fish we had caught that were wiggling in the bottom of the boat.  Then the vibration of the motor--a steady hum--caught my ear.  Then a speedboat went by.  I had kept the motor steady and straight.  I hadn't moved it a speck.  But dad finally pointed out we were just going in one big circle.  He told me to keep my eye on the big tree next to the dock, then to make adjustments to the motor, thereby keeping us on course.  It was only then that we made it back to shore. 

Do you want to live the life Jesus wants for you?  Then keep your eye on the big tree ahead, the one on which Jesus hung and not on all those things the devil would use to distract us and keep us going in circles.  Of course, we need to wrestle things through, make decisions, set directions and goals, honestly confront one another, ... but if we focus on the noise around us or on what we are doing, rather than on what God has done and is doing in and through us, we will go in circles.  But when we keep our focus on Him and His will for us, we are empowered to love each other and reach the lost.

One Life-Changing Message

It was Easter Sunday at Luther Memorial Church, located near Concordia Seminary in Clayton, MO.  Pastor Hohenstein had invited Ofion Idiong, a graduate student from Nigeria, to preach.  I remember the “spirit” of Ofion and how he loved life and people.  He was one of those people you wanted to ‘hang around with.’  There are very few sermons I recall, but Ofion’s was different that day.  He began speaking in beautiful King’s English:  “I have a lot to say today, but don’t need many words to say it.  I have come to tell you there is one message that changed my life and that of my tribe.  There is one message that caused my tribe, who were known as fierce warriors who practiced head-hunting, to change into a peace-loving people.  There is one message that caused me to study hard so that I could come to the seminary to prepare for the ministry.  There is one message that caused me to leave my tribe, my family, my land to travel all the way to the US.  There is one message in my heart, which I am preparing to carry back to my people.  There is one message that brings tears of joy to my eyes.  There is only one message that I want to share with you today, because someone cared enough to share it with me and my people.  And that message is contained in three powerful words:  “HE IS RISEN!”  And then he sat down with tears in his eyes.  His sermon was no more than 3 minutes long, but those three words he brought us that day said it all.  And out of the stunned silence, the people responded as never before, RISEN INDEED!  ALLELUIA!

Why is "X" a kiss?

An "X" for a kiss:  Our custom of putting X's at the end of letters and notes to symbolize kisses grew out of medieval legal practices.  In order to indicate good faith and honesty in those days, the sign of St. Andrew--a cross--was placed after the signature on all important documents.

Thereafter, contracts and agreements were not considered binding until each signer added St. Andrew's cross after his name.  Then he was required to kiss the document to further guarantee faithful performance of his obligations.  The cross was drawn hurriedly, and often it was tilted and looked much like the letter "X". 

Over the centuries, the origin of the ceremony was forgotten. But people still associated the "X" with the kiss instead of the pledge of good faith, and the custom has continued into modern times.

Our heavenly Father puts an X, the cross of Jesus, over our lives.  It is His “pledge of good faith” that we are His beloved sons and daughters.

Opa's Forgiveness

Opa, my grandpa and best friend, had a beautiful O gauge model railroad he built from scratch.  It filled the basement of the parsonage in Frankenmuth, Michigan.  When we visited, the basement was the first place I headed for.  I loved to stand at the controls with Opa and make the trains go.  Unfortunately, they didn't always run the way I wanted them to go.  I couldn't have been more than five years old and I remember the train wasn't moving, so I decided to push it.  Now Opa had told me never to touch the trains.  With his back toward me, I pushed it and it went crashing to the cement floor.  A whole years work lay there on the floor, broken and bent.  Opa turned and I will never forget the look on his face.  Without a moment's hesitation I started to cry...."I'm sorry."  He put his arms around me and said, "I know.  It's OK.  I can fix it.  I love you."  And that was all that was said.  That said it all.  I never pushed a train again because of that love.  And several months later he had a surprise for me - he had repaired that engine and it was running again.  It looked like new….and so was our relationship.

Be Yourself

Often we want to be somewhere other than where we are, or even to be someone other than who we are. We tend to compare ourselves constantly with others and wonder why we are not as rich, as intelligent, as simple, as generous, or as saintly as they are. Such comparisons make us feel guilty, ashamed, or jealous. It is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life what nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete context of the here and now.

We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!    (Henri Nouwen)