Some thoughts on fasting

Just to recommend some interesting ideas from Dallas Willard (one of the co-founders of Renovare), here's some excerpts from an article in his website:

"Fasting is another long proven way of finding our way into Sabbath, where we live and do our work from the hand of God. In fasting we abstain from our ordinary food to some significant degree and for some significant length of time. Like solitude and silence, it is not done to impress God or merit favor, nor because there is anything wrong with food. Rather, it is done that we may consciously experience the direct sustenance of God to our body and our whole person...

"Fasting is, indeed, feasting. When we have learned well to fast, we will not suffer from it. It will bring strength and joy. We will not be miserable, and so Jesus tells us not to look miserable. (Matt 6:16) Was he suggesting that we fake a condition of joy and sufficiency when we fast? Surely not. He knew that we would "have meat to eat" that others "know not of." "

Interesting isn't it? The idea that fasting will bring strength and joy! That is why clearly those who put on a show of suffering while fasting clearly miss the point. They do it for merit. But in fact, the act itself brings us closer to God and we dwell in His presence... which is the reward itself! Not that we are legalists who try to "earn" grace, but that carrying out such activities like fasting is ITSELF beneficial and a vehicle for God's grace - i.e. His power acting in our lives.

For full article (also covers solitude & silence) : http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artid=40

Here's also another quote from a Christianity Today article (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/september/28.49.html):

"Fasting is "prime self-denial," a way to expose "how much of our peace depends upon the pleasures of eating."

So when we abandon the pleasures of the flesh as a form of satisfying ourselves (i.e. the pleasures of eating), we can experience the joy of fellowship with the Lord, accessing the strength that comes from the Kingdom. Again another illustration of what Jesus described as trading our heavy yokes (of bondage of pleasures of eating) with his yoke which is light (freedom from bondage of eating pleasures and strength from His presence).

Of course, everything in context. There is a time & place for feasting, and some people need to eat more. But for many of us in modern city life, we have way too much to eat for our own good, and put too much primacy on a good meal.

Spiritual Discipline - The 12 Disciplines

Hi guys,

Just to give you some info as to what all the 12 spiritual disciplines we will be studying in the next couple of months or so...

INWARD DISCIPLINES
1. Meditation (done)
2. Prayer (done)
3. Fasting - Jenny
4. Study - Janet

OUTWARD DISCIPLINES
5. Simplicity - Ginny
6. Solitude (done)
7. Submission - Jenny
8. Service - Janet

CORPORATE DISCIPLINES
9. Confession - Ginny
10. Worship - Jenny
11. Guidance - Janet
12. Celebration - Ginny

Dear Encounters,

Our beloved CG leader is having his exams in just under a week. Those of us at cell yesterday decided to create a prayer chain for him this week. Please feel free to slot yourselves in anywhere you can:

Thursday 12April - Jenny
Friday 13April - Lydia
Saturday 14April - Irwin
Sunday 15April - Ginny
Monday 16April - Charles
Tuesday 17April - Hanna
Wednesday 18April (EXAM DAY 9:30-12:45) - Charmaine, Sunny

Love, Hanna.

I can post!

At last! I have figured out how to post using my own name! yay!
I have sent out some invites to the rest of the cell so if you follow the link on the invite e-mail, you should find yourself here.

Meditation on Ps 119:23-24

These verses read: "Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors."

Since taking up the role of acting manager at the office, I've had to face the reality of office politics in a much more concrete way than before when I was an executive. I've been tempted often to perceive colleagues/superiors' actions as being prejudiced or skewed. When I started meditating on the recommended list last Thursday morning, these verses hit me just at the right time.

Of course, my situation wasn't as dire as having "princes" plot against me - but it did seem as if people who had influence over my career were working against my favour. So these verses comforted me, and reminded me that there is a higher ultimate authority to which I'm answerable above all else, that it is His opinion that counts above all and it is His power that puts the earthly authorities in their place. I know some of you will have "enemies" in the office. But this reminded me that Jesus taught us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES because at the end of the day, they're NOT our enemy - our ultimate enemy is satan and the ones we think are our enemies are as much under satan's yoke as we are. So, since we're ALL in the same boat, we should encourage and love each other - even the ones who plot against us.

Reflecting on office politics, this is where I'm convinced that there are principalities and powers above/within/underlying the whole organisation. 99% of people in the office are not evil. In fact, they're created good but have a fallen nature. Somehow, the way organisations are structured, people are often put in a position which brings out their fallen-ness. When this is widespread throughout the organisation, it seems to create a culture that takes on a life of its own. So people start behaving in ways they would never have dreamt off when joining. That's why I think we need to be generous towards "difficult" colleagues - remind ourselves that we all (in general) want what's best for the organisation. Just that we disagree on how it should be achieved.

Ps 119:23&24 also reminded me that having His word & His law written in our hearts is the only way we are going to deal with our sticky situations. It's only as we breathe in His words & have them brought alive by the Holy Spirit as we meditate daily, only then will be able to build the sort of characters that will respond neither with violence nor building walls - but to reach out in vulnerability, to reach out for reconciliation.

Meditation

Encounters has recently embarked on the 12 Spiritual Disciplines Programme based on a book entitled Spiritual Classics published by Renovare group. The first discipline studied was “Meditation”.

The Author
The selected reading was by Joyce Huggett, an internationally known author, speaker and broadcaster, whose teaching focuses primarily on the application of language and communication in one’s prayer life.

What is Meditation?
In the selected reading Huggett explains the meaning of Meditation – contrary to the world’s perspective of meditation i.e. “emptying one’s minds”, the Christian meditation involves fullness. This means being completely attentive to God by engaging every part of our being to Him. Meditation requires stillness and involves repeating/reflecting in our minds biblical verses/thoughts and listening to Him.

Why Meditate?
To let the Word of God work in us – not partially in our minds but holistically in our emotions, our behaviours and in our heart. Secondly, we meditate to encounter the Living Word, Jesus himself – that in everything we do and feel has a purpose, that is, to honour and glorify Him. Thirdly, and may also be the most important reason is so that we become familiar with the Word, and therefore know His will.

How to Meditate?
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalms 46:10. That is Step 1. Focus away our worries, troubles and the million thoughts in our minds and instead direct our focus onto God. In your own quiet time, or space (whether in the car driving home in one lane, or during your regular bio activity if you know what I mean), anywhere or time that you can find stillness.

Read a passage of the Scripture or your daily devotional book, or even recall a verse that you previously studied. We may find a passage or verse which draws you to it.

Using the same passage or verse, reflect on those words and like coffee beans in hot water (you’re the hot water), let the beans soak in until the true sense of aroma is experienced. You may not experience the first taste of the aroma immediately, it could take hours, days, months or even years, depending on depth of the subject matter and the individual. But that doesn’t mean you stop meditating and wait until you smell the aroma. Meditation is ongoing… a discipline that one practices on a daily basis.

Contemplation vs Meditation
Comparing Contemplation with Meditation, Huggett tells us that both are very similar – surrendering ourselves to God, listening and requires stillness. So then, what exactly is contemplation? Contemplation goes further and deeper than meditation. It is all about encountering God, His love, becoming aware of Him, letting God fill your thoughts as opposed to you controlling your thoughts and mind. More often than not, we structure our thoughts and mind, listing the prayer items before we even start to pray. Contemplation is letting God into that space. It is giving Him the opportunity to set the agenda for you.

Selected Verses to Meditate
Psalm 119:12-16, 23-34, 33-34, 58

Hello everyone and welcome!

Everyone must be wondering what this blog is all about? Well, basically after last night's cell, we decided that we should start a blog to jot down all our thoughts and meditation on God's great words. Everyone will be given free access to this blog (Encounter's cell members, that is). With this blog, we can all also give a shout out to cell members on our upcoming events and also to share our grief and joyful moments in our personal lives. It will also be an avenue for us to put down our daily or weekly preayer request for each other. So, welcome to Encounter's official blog (official cause its the first) and have many blessed reading moments. Cheers!