Too often a “spiritual practice” may be assumed to be something “private” or “personal.” This was not the view of OT Israel, or God’s covenant. John Goldingay has an interesting insight: People in Jerusalem were particularly interested in the spiritual practice of fasting and were puzzled as to why it didn’t work. It’s obvious whyContinue reading “What is a spiritual practice?”
Tag Archives: fasting
Lessons from Isaiah 58
I have touched Isaiah 58 from time to time in my journal during this Lenten season. Currently, I am finding a couple of things that stand out.
Prayers, Lent, and Justice
There are two different threads I have been thinking about in the past few days. One is concerning prayer and Ukraine. We pray for the people of Ukraine. We pray for the million plus refugees. How do we pray for Putin. There are some guidelines in Scripture.
Fasting and freedom
This Lent has been a challenge in my heart to not focus as much on my personal piety and fasting as it has been on setting the captive free. Isaiah 58 has been my base text. This is a note from a study Bible I reference from time to time on Isaiah 58:6. Fasting andContinue reading “Fasting and freedom”
Setting the oppressed free
Is not this the fast that I choose:to loose the bonds of injustice,to undo the thongs of the yoke,to let the oppressed go free,and to break every yoke? (Isa. 58:6) Let the oppressed go free. Israel had those definitions set early in their history and it was repeated through the generations.
Regaining the power of the Church
The rebukes of Jesus to his disciples constantly challenge me. I am especially challenged when he points out their “little faith” or “no faith.” In Matthew 17, after Jesus has come down from the transfiguration event, the disciples have been confronted with a situation they can’t handle. The trouble they have is they experienced theContinue reading “Regaining the power of the Church”
There are certain actions in the Kingdom
Some text notes from my studies on the Sermon on the Mount:
New Wine, New Wineskins
The new wineskin is this: knowing how to use good forms in timing with the rhythm of the Kingdom.
What I’ve been missing on social media
To this point I’ve done somewhat well on “fasting” from social media. But it doesn’t mean I still don’t catch “what’s hot,” because even the “news” has to report it. I only read the headlines because I just don’t get it. Something about a dress. I may never go back to social media again. 🙂
The social media “fast”
I am working hard to be away from social media, in that I’m not checking it. My blog posts show up. But I’m trying to save a lot of hours, literally, by staying off social media. But I couldn’t resist this comic strip.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 