Solitude - Like a Rolling Stone

This week we are practicing solitude. Here is a definition of the discipline of solitude:

The creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposefully abstaining from interaction with other human beings, so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God. From the Life With God Bible.

Solitude is purposeful. You can be alone for long periods of time and never practice solitude. Because it's purpose is to focus on God and then to be found by God. Many great moments in ministry were preceded by someone practicing solitude. For example, Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Paul. All of them practiced solitude. What great moment in ministry awaits you?

Wednesday morning we are going to practice corporate solitude in the sanctuary at 6:45-7:15 am. In the words of the great theologian Bob Dylan - "How does it feel? To be on your own." Why not find out? Who knows what will happen. Give it a go. Decide today that you are going to create that open space in order to be found by God.

And now "The Boss" and his thoughts on Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone."

Simplicity Sale

Today I am practicing simplicity. We are having a yard sale or better yet a "Simplicity Sale." Already sold some wheels, a bike, a rocker, and a painting. Stop by and buy some stuff. Or, if you really need to, take it!

So what did you do this week to practice the discipline of simplicity?

Sunday's topic - Solitude. I will be attempting a version of Bob Dylan's song - "Like a Rolling Stone." See you in worship or at our simplicity sale.

Simplicity

The Discipline of Simplicity may be new to you. It could be you have been practicing simplicity for a long time and have never given it a name. Here is a definition, one that I found in the Life With God Bible.

The inward reality of a single-hearted focus upon God and his kingdom, which results in a outward liftestyle of modesty, openness and unpretentiousness and which disciplines our hunger for status glamour and luxury.

In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster offers 10 Controlling Principles of Simplicity that condition the inward reality of a single hearted focus. Here they are:

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status. “Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your life.”

2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you. In our media saturated culture it can be hard, but “any of the media that you find you cannot do without, get rid of.” And, “if money has a grip on your heart, give some away.” “Refuse to be a slave to anything but God”.

3. Develop a habit of giving things away. De-accumulate!
4. Refuse to be lured into the need for gadgets and “new” everything.
5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation. “Simplicity means to discover once again that ‘the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof’.”
7. Look with healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes. Be extremely cautious of incurring debt.
8. Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech (Matthew 5:37).
9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others. “In a world of limited resources, does our lust for wealth mean the poverty of others?” Consider buying food and other items that are “fair trade”.
10. Lastly, shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the Kingdom of God. This is ultimately where the heart of true simplicity lives. “always hold the Kingdom of God as the number one priority of our lives. To do so is to live in simplicity.”

These are not rules. Resist the temptation to make them laws. It is about the heart.

Yesterday, a few people asked me if I was serious about having a yard sale this week and getting rid of my "stuff." The answer is Yes! so come and buy my stuff from me. The proceeds are going to missions. Now here are the Supremes for your enjoyment.

Fasting for Lunch

Yesterday I fasted giving up lunch. My original plan was to use the time in prayer but God had other plans for me. There were some urgent needs of others that needed tending to. So, honestly, it wasn't a big deal. I was consumed by the immediacy of these pastoral moments that I wasn't thinking about the fact that I wasn't eating until I had time to sit down and rest. Then I was consumed by the desire to consume - a twinkie! Part of fasting is taking the feeling of hunger, the "I need desperately to eat" kind of feeling and comparing it to a spiritual hunger for God. Did you know that when people fast from food for long periods of time that they eventually lose their hunger pangs? Maybe it is the same way in our spiritual lives. When we go for long periods of time without feeding on God's word we lose our appetite for God. It is time to get that feeling back! I am going to try fasting again this week. I will report back. Check out the blog entries of Donna and Jenn on Unifyer. Feel free to leave a comment here. How is your practice of the spiritual disciplines going?

Satisfaction - Fasting?

On Sunday, Eryn Mera preached on fasting. It is the third spiritual discipline we've explored this summer. Spiritual disciplines are door ways to freedom and a deeper relationship with God. Hopefully, you have taken the opportunity to practice the disciplines of prayer and meditation. Tomorrow morning there will be another morning prayer and meditation at 6:45-7:15 am. Give it a try. No one is going to make you pray out loud! Faith without prayer and meditation is like watching TV without a picture. Something is missing.
Believe it or not, the same can be said of fasting. Give fasting a try this week. Today, I am going to start small and skip lunch. Ask anyone at the church office and they will tell you that this is a sacrifice. During the time I would normally eat I am going to spend reading scripture and praying. Will you join me today? Tomorrow we will try something different.
Now here is Mick Jagger who can't get no satisfaction. Maybe he should try to go deeper. Deep Man!

Fasting today for lunch