The beginning of 7
So here it is...
I jumped into The 7 Experiment last week, the intro anyway, as I prepped for leading our Monday night women at Bethlehem Lutheran Church--Twin Cities (BLC) this fall. Chosen primarily because one of the pastors asked if we had ever heard of/studied under Jen Hatmaker, Deb (my ministry partner) and I looked a bit at her available writings. I was drawn to 7 because of the chance to look at fasting as a spiritual discipline. We (the ministry team) are always trying to focus on discipling and discipleship, as the Lutheran denomination has really veered from raising up parishioners in their personal faith in favor of serving/doing. Now before you start freaking out, let me elaborate. Over the years of our ministry (a conservative estimate at 15+) we have really noticed that while so many of our church are busy "doing" literally all over the world, they have lost the "why." In fact, many of them haven't any idea what the why is. James MacDonald, pastor out of Harvest in Chicago, would describe it as having lost the vertical. So many are all about the horizontal that the reality of serving as an act first and foremost as a form of worship of God doesn't exist. The serving loses the essence of the Gospel and the Great Commission when the majority of it results in "look what I did...see how good I am." (careful you don't pull a muscle patting yourself on the back). It isn't even an issue of doing good works to be saved, because they don't have an inkling of what it is to BE saved. (Using the word SAVED in and of it self will throw the Lutheran community in a coronary fit.)
But I digress (getting off soapbox before the tomatoes are thrown).
Long story short, I went through the intro of the 7 group study and after discussion we decided to jump in with both feet, with a trial run, before diving in with a study group in the fall. Interestingly, I started without having a real strong feeling or direction about where this would be leading me personally. I do know that this would certainly be something that would be tempting me to move quickly from an emptying of myself for more filling of God and His kingdom, to that whole back patting thing and a legalism of what is being done. It was going to be an experience of temptation that I would battle, and then need to be willing to share with our women later.
And so with prayer and a bit of self challenge, I mulled over the biblical reasons for fasting and felt somewhat led to preparation and inquiry-- PREPARATION to lead biblical study for the 2016-17 year with four (yes FOUR) different studies in three different churches; as well as INQUIRY, as in okay God where are you leading me now.
DAY 1-3
And so as of Tuesday, July 26 I have been eating seven foods for seven days: Fish (any type that falls under kosher--scales and fins), egg whites, humus, tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, and peaches. I've also allowed myself salt and pepper, and balsamic vinegar. And, like Jen, I drink only water. At this stage its getting a bit old.
Then today, I received a copy of the full book of 7...the original trade book. It is flushed out more fully the process Jen went through. Plus it gives me ideas on how to expand it into a fuller group study. One of the suggestions was just this....blogging or journaling each evening on the trials, struggles and successes of each day. As I didn't think to record of the first few days, this will then be my official beginning.
DAY 4
I just couldn't bring myself to eat another spinach salad with tomatoes and cucumbers for lunch today...partly because Deb was here when I got home and we had to work on video editing for Garden to Garden (the second bible study with 3 locations this year). I probably ate more humus today than I should have....some for lunch, some for a snack, and some for supper. Ah well...only three more days. I have struggled a bit when the others are eating or drinking...especially when Jeff offers me something....anything.... wine, cheese, bread....without thinking so that I have to turn him down. The store is a great challenge, because I walk through looking for dinner options for the others, while I know I will try and be content with tilapia, or smoked salmon or some pickled herring. At least I gave myself the option of fish that could change. That legalism thing. How in heavens name did Jen do it for 4 full weeks. However, each time I have a bit of a struggle I am turning to think of God first and serving him just through getting the temptation. The Philippians verse--4:10ff--keeps popping up. I've decided it will be one that I will memorize with this project. That is one lesson that I intend to continue on: memorization of the Word so that I have his Word as an anchor in my heart. My learning of the book of James has been a blessing, even though I don't have it quite on the tip of my tongue as I did. (hmmm...I think I should work on recalling that)
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 10-13
Until tomorrow---
I jumped into The 7 Experiment last week, the intro anyway, as I prepped for leading our Monday night women at Bethlehem Lutheran Church--Twin Cities (BLC) this fall. Chosen primarily because one of the pastors asked if we had ever heard of/studied under Jen Hatmaker, Deb (my ministry partner) and I looked a bit at her available writings. I was drawn to 7 because of the chance to look at fasting as a spiritual discipline. We (the ministry team) are always trying to focus on discipling and discipleship, as the Lutheran denomination has really veered from raising up parishioners in their personal faith in favor of serving/doing. Now before you start freaking out, let me elaborate. Over the years of our ministry (a conservative estimate at 15+) we have really noticed that while so many of our church are busy "doing" literally all over the world, they have lost the "why." In fact, many of them haven't any idea what the why is. James MacDonald, pastor out of Harvest in Chicago, would describe it as having lost the vertical. So many are all about the horizontal that the reality of serving as an act first and foremost as a form of worship of God doesn't exist. The serving loses the essence of the Gospel and the Great Commission when the majority of it results in "look what I did...see how good I am." (careful you don't pull a muscle patting yourself on the back). It isn't even an issue of doing good works to be saved, because they don't have an inkling of what it is to BE saved. (Using the word SAVED in and of it self will throw the Lutheran community in a coronary fit.)
But I digress (getting off soapbox before the tomatoes are thrown).
Long story short, I went through the intro of the 7 group study and after discussion we decided to jump in with both feet, with a trial run, before diving in with a study group in the fall. Interestingly, I started without having a real strong feeling or direction about where this would be leading me personally. I do know that this would certainly be something that would be tempting me to move quickly from an emptying of myself for more filling of God and His kingdom, to that whole back patting thing and a legalism of what is being done. It was going to be an experience of temptation that I would battle, and then need to be willing to share with our women later.
And so with prayer and a bit of self challenge, I mulled over the biblical reasons for fasting and felt somewhat led to preparation and inquiry-- PREPARATION to lead biblical study for the 2016-17 year with four (yes FOUR) different studies in three different churches; as well as INQUIRY, as in okay God where are you leading me now.
DAY 1-3
And so as of Tuesday, July 26 I have been eating seven foods for seven days: Fish (any type that falls under kosher--scales and fins), egg whites, humus, tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, and peaches. I've also allowed myself salt and pepper, and balsamic vinegar. And, like Jen, I drink only water. At this stage its getting a bit old.
Then today, I received a copy of the full book of 7...the original trade book. It is flushed out more fully the process Jen went through. Plus it gives me ideas on how to expand it into a fuller group study. One of the suggestions was just this....blogging or journaling each evening on the trials, struggles and successes of each day. As I didn't think to record of the first few days, this will then be my official beginning.
DAY 4
I just couldn't bring myself to eat another spinach salad with tomatoes and cucumbers for lunch today...partly because Deb was here when I got home and we had to work on video editing for Garden to Garden (the second bible study with 3 locations this year). I probably ate more humus today than I should have....some for lunch, some for a snack, and some for supper. Ah well...only three more days. I have struggled a bit when the others are eating or drinking...especially when Jeff offers me something....anything.... wine, cheese, bread....without thinking so that I have to turn him down. The store is a great challenge, because I walk through looking for dinner options for the others, while I know I will try and be content with tilapia, or smoked salmon or some pickled herring. At least I gave myself the option of fish that could change. That legalism thing. How in heavens name did Jen do it for 4 full weeks. However, each time I have a bit of a struggle I am turning to think of God first and serving him just through getting the temptation. The Philippians verse--4:10ff--keeps popping up. I've decided it will be one that I will memorize with this project. That is one lesson that I intend to continue on: memorization of the Word so that I have his Word as an anchor in my heart. My learning of the book of James has been a blessing, even though I don't have it quite on the tip of my tongue as I did. (hmmm...I think I should work on recalling that)
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4: 10-13
Until tomorrow---
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