February 29, 2016 Happy Leap Day
The gift of silence may be one of the most difficult of the disciplines since we live in such an oral culture. With the advent of social media and the social practices of “Skyping” and other “face-to-face” communications over our devices, we have become accustomed to constantly be communicating, especially orally, with the world.

The discipline of silence, including Not speaking and/or spending time in a quiet place in order to quiet our minds and whole self and attend to God’s presence can be a true blessing in this noisy world. Silence in the form of “Not” speaking also allows us to have some silence so that we can listen to others and bless them.

Taking on this discipline can be “off-putting” to those we encounter. Most people will not know what to do if you inform them (I suggest a card where you have written an explanation of your discipline) that you have taken a day of “silence”. I think it would benefit all of us to take a day where we listen more and talk less, if not at all. I don’t think any of us understand how much we crave having others listen to our stories, our encounters, and our problems. Wouldn’t it be great to purposely close our own mouths and open our ears to the concerns, the blessings, the needs, and the struggles of the others in our lives?

Of course, I don’t think I have to tell you how wonderful it is to be in a quiet place. I remember being in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on a hiking trip, and listening to the “deafening” noise of silence. When we are accustomed to the constant whirring of machines and the buzzing of devices, silence becomes foreign to our lives. But silence should be a blessing. It is in the silence of the world where we possibly might be able to engage with the still small voice of G-d speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.

Take some time to immerse yourself in silence this Lent – it may just open you up to a voice you have been craving to hear for some time – the voice of G-d that rings clear in silence.

Pastor Dave

February 28, 2016

Fasting is not one of the gifts that Paul mentions in his writings, but I have learned that those who have been able to use fasting as a part of their faith disciplines, well, these people view fasting as a gift.

What is fasting? I think we all have some idea of what we might think it entails. In the Lutheran Church, there has been a movement that many churches have participated in called the “Thirty Hour Famine”. Under the title “Go hungry to help hungry kids”, students grow closer to Christ and each other as they fast together for 30 hours and raise funds to fight hunger. It allows students to be part of something bigger than themselves by experiencing hunger in a different way and then to take action for God’s kingdom to help save the lives of hungry kids.
That is one way our students can experience the issue of hunger, but a spiritual discipline of fasting is completely different. Fasting by definition, is going without food and/or drink for a period of time. The practice of fasting is mentioned numerous times in the Bible as a reaction to various circumstances. Fasting was an act of repentance, as when the king of Nineveh ordered a fast after the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:5-9). Fasting was also a reaction to intense grief, as when the bones of Saul and his sons were buried (1 Samuel 31:13). We also find people fasting when God’s deliverance was needed, as when Jehoshaphat was approached by a large invading army (2 Chronicles 20:3).

So, typically fasting was practiced for religious purposes like of focusing our energies and minds on G-d, but in this day and age, sometimes we need to refrain from both food and drink for health reasons as well, like if you have a medical procedure or a surgery.

Fasting is not easy, especially if you do it for an extended period of time. However, it may prove to be a temporary discipline that can challenge you in this season of Lent as you take time to refocus your attentions on your relationship with G-d. As always, if you choose to try fasting, be sure you do not have medical conditions that would preclude you from such a discipline. After all, we all want to be closer to G-d, but not to the point where we cross through the pearly gates before our appointed time.

Pastor Dave