Fast or Faster

"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail me now" Elwood (Blues Brothers 1980)

This month, we are highlighting the Matthew 25 ministry, 

but first a word about how fasting relates to their ministry!

Since Fasting has been the focus of this Summer's Soul & Service, I thought it prudent to give you a warning about fasting. One of the purposes of fasting is to starve sin in our lives, not our stomachs. And one of the greatest sins of American is "busyness", busyness to the point where we are never still before God in way that our Sunday worship affects our Monday work. We may outwardly pause and go through the motions, but our inward thoughts are racing. In other words, if your Sabbath fast from working to attend church and worship God leads to a hectic Monday and a fast paced stressed life, then something is wrong and you have to ask yourself, "have I really worshiped, have I really fasted from work and worshiped"? If your fast, of any kind, leads to a faster life, then you need to reevaluate your fasting/worship. Consider the following passage from Isaiah... 

    they delight to draw near to God (WHY?).

 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?

    Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,

    and oppress all your workers.

 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

    and to hit with a wicked fist.

Fasting like yours this day

    will not make your voice to be heard on high.

Isaiah 58:2b-4

You see, one of the benefits of fasting is that it is supposed to help you slow down those thoughts and put you into a healthier and more holy spiritual rhythm. If that's not happening for you, then perhaps you need to consider a fast from your work to serve (work for) others.

“Is not this the fast that I choose:

    to loose the bonds of wickedness,

    to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

    and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

    and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:6-8 (ESV)

One way you experience the kind of fast that we see God expects in Isaiah is your involvement with Matthew 25 ministries.

The VISION of M25

The Matthew 25 Ministries of Adventure Christian Community desires to humbly honor our Lord Jesus Christ through obedient and joyful service to the least of us.

M25M initially was focused on feeding low-income and homeless people on the West end of Davenport.  While that has continued to be the main focus, it has been involved elsewhere too.  We have had a few "clothing/shoe drives", been involved serving at Kings Harvest homeless shelter, helped people move, found furniture/appliances for those in need, met transportation needs, delivered meals, special event (Thanksgiving, Christmas) meals (we made 7 turkeys last Christmas!).  We installed a small deep freeze chest at the Sugar Shack with pre-cooked meat that allows this food to be handed out as needed during the week.  There is a huge need for this!

Current needs!  We need people who are willing to prepare the food (again, enough to feed 30-40 (usual attendance, but varies.  (We have served over 140 MANY times!!!)  Now, what we would LOVE is for a few couples to say yes, we'll cook.  This way, we can rotate them around, perhaps only needing to prepare food every 6 weeks.  As it is now, Marty Hesseling does a lot of the cooking. If you or your family are interested helping the M25 ministry. Contact Kenny Bailey at kbaileyhunter@gmail.com or 319.470.1930

Parents, even if you cannot commit to this ministry part-time, it would be a good experience for the whole family to help M25 one Sunday and it will help teach your children about serving others.

I would be remiss not to add that another part of starving your busyness of life with fasting includes the practice of rest and learning to take a true sabbath. This will be the focus of next month's Soul & Service, so in the meantime remember, we’re on a mission from God!

I'm a Soul Man,

Jason