Hey, are you Calling me?

What kinds of things can you fast from?
Does it just have to be food?
What about fasting from all forms of Media?

Dallas Willard’s “Great Omission” says that it is about training ourselves to not have what we want, and thus helps us overcome anger which is a response to frustration of the will - i.e. not getting what we want.



For more info check the links below.

Fasting for Dummies

Nutrition
FUNNY-Click HERE look up fasting, watch the fast

MC

Jewell's Fund

They have a 503C and will give you a receipt if you need one.



Blog

Make out checks to
Springtown Church of Christ
PO Box 96
Springtown, TX 76082
Brazil mission fund

MC

Converse

What kind of conversations did you have this week? Who did you talk to? What did you talk about?

This week I had a great conversation over a meal with a good friend. It is so refreshing and uplifting to share a meal and have good conversation with a good friend. I it is like the desert after the meal. My friend and I have been too busy to talk here lately and had a lot of catching up to do. While reflecting about today and the conversation I can't help but think of Jesus. Jesus spend much of his ministry hanging out, sharing meals, having good conversations.

During our conversation we spent a great deal of time talking about religion, faith, who God is. . . We don't often talk this way, today he wanted to talk about these things, so I went with it. I believe this was a God ordained moment, not by chance. There were words that we both needed to hear.

These opportunities happen around us, we may never know the impact our conversation can have on someone. You never know if your words could send someone on a journey towards God.

Look, listen, and speak with grace and love to those that you are surrounded by. God will give the increase, just be you, let God be God.
Matt

God's Peace

The Theme of the week this week has been peace. I have run into several people this week struggling with decisions. In each case the parties involved chose to leave something, they were pursuing on their own outside of God's will. They both were in great turmoil, they could not rest at night, and their thoughts were consumed by the situation they created for themselves.

Have you ever been there? I sure have, it is a miserable place to be be. I only can ask, "Why do I continue to do things that cause some much headache?" We so often want to do our will, what seems right to us at the time, we force ourselves into situations God never intended on us being, and then He will come and bail us out time after time. My humanness thinks God must think like:

Mr. Incredible: No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!

I know God is not this way; this would be us if we were in His shoes, and thankfully, you and I are not!

The picture at the top comes from 2 kings 2:1-2, 6-14. I began thinking of Elijah today and how when he experienced God, God was in the peace and not in the storm.

I have learned this year that obedience is not going to church, reading my bible, singing songs or taking communion. Obedience is Listening to God's voice and doing what He ask you to do. There is nothing I can do to make God love me more or less. I look at Abraham. God asked him to do something and he did it. THAT made him Righteous. It was his Faith, His belief that GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS!

I thank the people in my life this week for being real, letting their guards down, allowing me to help in prayer and a listening ear. I thank them for showing me another example of faith and God’s goodness. He is a good God, a loving God, he longs to walk and talk with us like Adam, and Eve did in the Garden. May we learn to walk in God’s peace, walk everyday in His Garden, and find rest in his Peace.

Are you walking in God's garden of peace today? If not why not, what it is in your way? Leave the slavery of Egypt and run in to God's Promised Land.

MC

2007 GONE

Every year we say it, "I can't believe this year has past by, where did the time go?" We are all so caught up in the "rat race" to pay our bills that it becomes easy for our stuff to own us. I often wonder who is in control here, me, God, or my stuff. What really dictates my life, is it the workload at my job, the debt that I am trapped by?

Materialism is the Baal worship of our times. We are so caught up in maintaining and growing our little kingdoms that we are driven to neglect our own health, our spouses and our families.

We countdown the days until deadlines, holidays, vacations. . . If we are not careful we wish away our lives.

This year make your New Years Resolution to make the most of every second, live here and now, be fully present every second, take life in, and live it to it's fullest. Live a life of no regrets, no should haves, could haves. . . No regrets. Live a carpe diem life.

I think Switchfoot put it best in their Song Gone.

Every day we borrow (listen here)
Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)
Where's your treasure, where's your hope
If you get the world and lose your soul
She pretends like she pretends like she's immortal
Don't say so long
You're not that far gone
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today will soon be

Gone, like yeterday is gone,
Like history is gone,
The world keeps spinning on,
Your going going gone,
Like summer break is gone,
Like saturday is gone
Just try to prove me wrong
You pretend like your immortal your immortal
Switchfoot's Gone

MC