You're Going To(o) Fast!

One of the ancient practices that is often combined with prayer is that of fasting. Throughout the Bible we find people combining prayer and fasting for special seasons or needs. Jesus assumed his followers would fast when he gave instructions on fasting in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:16-18). In a culture that is accustomed to three super-sized meals a day, fasting can be a refreshing change.

It’s important to pay attention to our motives in fasting. We aren’t primarily trying to draw attention to ourselves, or to coerce God into doing something. Neither are we trying to see how much weight we can lose in a short period of time. Rather, we’re trying to refocus our hearts and lives on God, and on his purposes. Here’s how it can work:

• Fasting helps us slow down and reflect. There is more time to pray when that time is not set aside for preparing, purchasing, eating, and cleaning up.
• The physical sensation of hunger puts us in touch with our real needs, and helps us pray for the basic needs of life.
• Fasting helps remind us of how much our appetites drive or control our lives. We can pray that God would be the one in control.

If you’ve never fasted for the purpose of centering your life on God, here are a couple tips:
1. Seek a physician’s advice if you have any type of medical condition that may be affected by fasting.
2. Try a one day, or 24 hour fast. This would involve skipping two meals, and resuming eating the next day. (E.g. Eat lunch on Friday, skip dinner and breakfast, and eat lunch again on Saturday)
3. You can try drinking fresh fruit juice during this time if you want to ease into the practice of fasting.
4. When your body begins to alert you to its demands, use that as a reminder to spend a few minutes in prayer for our church, or for other prayer needs you’re aware of.

During Chapter Two we’re asking God to speak into our lives. You may just find that during a time of fasting and prayer God connects with your heart in a way you will never forget!

For more detailed information, you may want to pick up Richard Foster’s, Celebration of Discipline. It’s an excellent introduction to fasting as a spiritual practice.

Don't miss this...

Last Sunday afternoon was a raucous, fun-filled event for all the Powerhouse Parents and their kids. As part of Chapter Two, we hosted our first “Can’t Miss Event” with almost 200 people attending! The games, crafts, and pumpkins were everywhere. The grills were sizzling, and the food was delicious. And while the little people watched a movie, the parents began to catch the vision for how God could use the building at Firstfield to help draw parents and kids to himself. It was an inspiring glimpse into the future of our amazing church!

If you weren’t at that event, don’t panic. There are four more “Can’t Miss Events” coming up. These fun-filled events are designed to help you connect with a larger group of people at Seneca Creek, and catch the vision for what Chapter Two means for you!

For Young Adults, don’t miss this Friday, Oct. 26^th, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at Dave & Busters Ultimate Arcade at White Flint Mall in Rockville. Join us for a great evening. Dessert and game cards are FREE!

For Career Adults (yes, that means when you’re no longer able to pass as a young adult) we’ll meet on Saturday afternoon at the Willow Tree Inn in Montgomery Village Golf Club from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. We’ll have a piano/jazz/open mic night (you don’t HAVE to use the open mic!). Dinner is included.

For information on the remaining two “Can’t Miss Events” (Empty Nesters, and Student Ministry Parents) see the column on the right, or check back later in the week.

Here’s the catch: to prepare well for these events we really need to know who’s coming. So if you’re planning to attend ANY of these events, could you please RSVP to rsvp@senecacreek.org and let us know? That would be awesome!

BONUS: If you’d like to see the progress I’m making in unpacking my office, see the picture below! J

Writing Chapter Two…with you,
Mark Tindle

Closing and opening

Chapter Two update...

Last week we went to closing (settlement) on the building at 13 Firstfield. It was the culmination of years of praying and searching and waiting on God. And it was one more confirmation that God has truly brought this building along for us to use in our ongoing mission right here in our community. The writer of Psalm 71 says, "Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things." Indeed, God has done a great thing.

At closing I met Mr. Lee, the seller. He's a Christian man who is "retired" from business and working in full-time missions work in Mexico, where he has helped build a school and Christian college to train students at no charge. Check this out: As we pay down part of our mortgage, we'll be helping advance the work of God in another corner of the globe. And Mr. Lee, by his decisions to help us purchase this building, is advancing the work of God right here in our corner. Only God could work out something like this! Then on the way back to my truck after closing, I caught up with Mr. Lee and his wife, and had the privilege of praying for them as they head back to Mexico. Totally a God moment. If your Korean is up to speed, you can actually visit the mission web site here. The pictures look really good, even though I don't know one word of Korean.

But God is not just about closing on a building. He's about opening doors of opportunity. We'll be holding our first outreach event at the new building on Sunday, October 28th. Yes, it's Trunk or Treat time! Check out the pictures from last year's event. And speaking of opportunities, in true Seneca Creek fashion, it took about 8 hours for someone from our missions team to start asking me about the possibility of sending a team to Mexico to partner with Mr. Lee and the work there. You gotta love this church!