Listening

I just read that the losing party in this most recent election here in the U.S. is changing its stance towards immigration to appeal to a demographic that they are losing.  The truth is that when it comes to politics the losing party will always make some change, more or less, to appeal to more people than it currently does so as to do better the next time around.

What about the Church of Jesus Christ?  We can't just change our stance on a position to suit the latest trends.  To do so would be to obviously put the truth of Scripture into a subservient position, which must never do.  However what we can do is communicate in a more relevant way to a culture that still needs to hear the truth, whether or not it wants to.  Here are a couple of thoughts I think we need to implement going forward:

1. We have to become better listeners.

           I was hopeful that here in Minnesota we would pass the amendment that defined marriage as one man/one woman.  It failed, but since Tuesday evening I have been taking the time to ask people who are against it what their reasons are and how one might show opposition without being labeled a ''person of hate".  The best I have come up with so far is that listening is the best way to show that I am not all about hate.  It might be helpful for us to slow down a little bit and not be so hasty to talk about our position.  Perhaps the very act of listening will break down some walls, and then we will be able to go to the next step.

     2. We must become better speakers.
       
           A good speaker is one who knows their audience well.  I can tell when I am speaking to a group of people or to an individual when I am connecting with their world because their is life to the speaking and listening.  If we can become better listeners, then there is hope that we can become better speakers, actually engaging in conversation.  The bottom line is that a bunch of words aren't much good anyway if no one cares what it is we are talking about. 

     3. Love must permeate everything.

         A noisy gong...a clanging cymbal?  Yes, that has been pretty discriptive of how people view those of us who have a message from God.  The antidote is really quite simple according to the Apostle, start with love. 

My goal is to love people enough to listen.  When I can get inside their world and gain a hearing, then perhaps my speech will make more sense.  To the glory of God.

What are you doing in Pankow?

Untitled from Carlyn Cole on Vimeo.

Untitled from Carlyn Cole on Vimeo.

Lifelong Learning

Many of now concluded their Daniel Fast for this Easter Season (me included).  I realize some are still continuing and for those we send our commendation.  What I would like to know and hear from you about is:  what did you learn from this particular fast?  What we learn through a spiritual discipline can sometimes seem mundane, like 'I was constantly hungry', or it can attain moments of true connection with our Creator God.  But what was it for you?  I would like to hear and it would be a blessing to others as well.  Leave a comment or send me an email, pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org

Is this it?

For a while it seemed as though it would never arrive, but here it is.  Day 21!  I don't actually know how many are still fasting but if you are, thanks and congratulations.  I have heard of some going on further, for some today is the end.  What a great day to give God thanks and praise for taking us through with Himself.

I was thinking again of the passage in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus talks about fasting.  In Matthew 6:16-18 we get the attitude Jesus would have us to display, which is to keep it before the Father.  For those of us who are coming to the end of our fast, let us not make a display of it...let us not make sure that everyone around us knows...no, rather let us be fulfilled with the knowledge that God knows.  We could settle for the praise of man; let us rather take our joy from the reward of the Father. 

Today let us praise Him for molding and making us into the people He wants us to be.  To the praise of His glorious Name.  Amen.

The Vision to See

What a great celebration it was in Melrose yesterday.  Not because any of the things said was extraordinary, and not because of some technical wonder during the service; the music was very good.  What made it great was the obvious work of God that is going on in Melrose.  The first thought is to think, hmmm, too bad they don't have more people.  But then it becomes clear that this is a solid base from which to go forward.  I am more encouraged than I have ever been been with the work that God is doing in their midst.  It was a fantastic time to interact with several of the Birch Hills people during the potluck!  I was reminded of the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6 where he tells his servant to not be afraid for "for those who are with us are more than those who are with them".  If only we would get that vision in our mind.  God is doing far more than what we can see with our eyes.  The fast that you are and I are engaged in ought to be one that would move our fixation away from the things that are seen, to the things which are unseen.  Lord give us eyes to see the reality, not simply what is.

Let us be in prayer for the future direction of Harvest Community Church.  He has us on a path that only He knows, but the final result will be to the praise of His glory, of that we can rest assured.

A Daniel Fast recipe from Sue:

Oriental Hotdish

Stirfry-

sesame oil

1/2 red pepper, chunked

1/2c.mushrooms, sliced

broccoli, chopped. 

steam/fry until slightly tender

add:

1c.blanched sliced carrots

and 1c.blanched asparagus stems

and 1/2 pkg. cooked brown rice pasta shells

sprinkle with garlic powder, salt,pepper and

 Lemon and Herb Mrs Dash

seasoning. Add 1/4 cup olive oil/

balsamic vinegar blend. 

Warm through.

Got both of our approvals!

I really like the brown Rice Pasta Shells

bought in the Natural foods section

at Coborns.

(Measurements are guessed)

Married and Waiting

Today I was meeting with some men and talking about the topic of improving our marriages.  As we were talking and praying, I was struck by the fact that Jesus is our groom, the One who has sacrificed Himself in order to brought into a right relationship with us.  The One we long for is coming again, and how do we want to be found when He does?  I also thought of the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) who are waiting on the bridegroom.  Only half were ready when the announcement came that they could enter.  I think these thoughts help to put the idea of fasting into perspective.  Fasting is simply preparation, it is focus, it is desire for the One that we long to return to take us to be with Himself from this day now, and forevermore.  The true value of fasting is not in losing some weight or in healthy living, its greatest value is not in a detox of the body or the elimination of a caffeine habit.  No, the value is that it would lead us in the path of longing for and seeking after that which truly satisfies.  Let us be of those who are led into longing and looking for our Savior.

Let us be in prayer for our spouses today.  God, may I not elevate my spouse and my desires for my spouse above my desire for you.  May You be the One I long for this day more than any person or any food.  Amen.

Worship Me?

In the last temptation in the Wilderness Satan invited Jesus to 'fall down and worship me' in exchange for all the glories that the world has to offer.  Of course Jesus would have none of it telling the Evil One that all are to 'worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve'.  How tempted we are to pursue the glories of this world, and it can happen even in the midst of a spiritual fast before the Lord our God.  The temptation becomes to pursue notice, to want more strongly the trinkets of this world, to pursue the platitudes of the masses, rather than to worship the Lord our God.  The chief aim of mankind must be as the catechism states 'to love God and enjoy Him forever'.  May that be our focus today.

Let us be in prayer for those who lead us in Worship in our weekly Worship gatherings.  May they be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit to usher us into the presence of the King of Kings, may they draw our attention to the One who is Lord of Lords.   For His name's sake.  Amen.

Protected!

I was reading in my devotions from Psalm 3..."But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head."  The context states that there are those who rise up against me, maybe even seek to do me harm.  But through it all, and not necessarily taken out of the difficulty, the Lord is my shield, my protection.  He is the One who encourages and carrys me through.  Thank you to all those who have encouraged me in this fast, but thanks be to God who alone can lift my head and place me on the pathway to glory, which ultimately sounds to His Great Glory.  "Salvation belongs to the Lord, your blessing be on your people".

Let us be in prayer today for those who ignorantly live in opposition to the Lord our God.  Pray especially concerning whomever comes to mind as you read the previous sentence.  God would you change their heart, would you bless them with a relationship with You.  For Your Glory and Praise!  Amen.

What is needful

Proverbs 30:8-9 ...feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "who is the Lord?"  Isn't it interesting how our attitudes can change when we are denied something?  Even something as simple as our morning coffee?  This proverb is a reminder that it is when we are denied something, or simply given that which we need, we are in an appropriate place of recognizing God as the giver of all things good.  When I have plenty I am in danger of thinking that I attained something on my own, or that I can manage things well enough without God.  We may not say it in so many words, but our attitude can oh so quickly shift.  May a little going without draw us to our God as needy people.  Sustained wholly by Him.

Hey, variety is the spice of life, so if you have found a way to maintain some variety during the fast please let me know.  Personally I can get in a rut of the three things I like...but seriously how many plates of rice and beans can one person eat in a row?  Anyway, email me with your ideas on maintaining variety in your Daniel Fast diet.  pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org

Let us be in prayer for our elected leaders today.  Election years have their own drama, but let's pray that those who make the laws of the land be confronted with the truth of the gospel and respond in faith.  God may you not be a political plaything, thrown about according to the whims of the user, but rather may you be recognized as Lord, sustainer and giver of Life and all things good.  Amen.

It's not just a physical thing

When Jesus was tempted by the devil after He had just completed a 40 day fast (upon which the idea of Lent is based) He responded with the Words of Scripture.  Jesus reminds us that it isn't simply about the physical, but rather that there is a Supernatural reality that God calls us to.  "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God". 

By not perhaps you are like me in that the mechanics of the Fast are less on the mind.  We now have food around here that I can eat, some recipe ideas, and now some successful days from which to take encouragement.  But let's not stop there and feel good about how we are doing/feeling physically (not to take away from the physical, but not to stop there either), but let us now move on in the midst of the Fast to consider the Words of God.  May that be our true sustenance, may God's Words be our meat.

Let us be in prayer today for the proclamation of the Gospel from the Churches of our town/state/country.  God let there be a revival of interest in Your Word, rather than the words of man.  Amen.

The Faithful Lord

...great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-27).  Jeremiah has seen his share of affliction and yet he is able to count on the steadfast mercies of our Lord.  I especially like the last part of this passage where he encourages us to wait on the Lord, to wait, and to 'bear the yoke in his youth'.  Jeremiah is encouraging us to look upon our waiting on the Lord as a yoke, as something that we are tethered to in order to bring us to a place where we have been trained to peer beyond the circumstances of life and rather to see into the perfect eternal and supernatural realm of our Lord.  He is always there, He is always faithful, He is always merciful.  There is no reason to simply grit ones teeth until an ultimate and final day, rather we can rejoice in His goodness and wait for the unfolding of His good and perfect plan.  May our fasting lead us to a patient waiting!

Let us be in prayer today for those who are sick or infirm.  As they are forced to wait patiently, let us lift them up and ask that God would shower His mercies upon them today.

Encourage One Another

Being with God's People is an encouragement as we become aware that the battle we fight isn't ours alone, but rather the battle belongs to the Lord.  Gathering with God's people reminds us of this and gives us the resolve to fight on another hour, another day, another week.  I was especially encouraged in my own spirit today...I hope you were as well.

More recipe info:
Here is an update from Annie on the Udon Noodle Recipe she shared earlier.
for the Udon Noodles recipe: after tossing veggies and noodles, the mixture should be stir fried in wok or large skillet on med-high heat for about 15 minutes or until veggies are cooked but still slightly crunchy.

Jessica has this to add after the Women's Fellowship Time Friday evening:

My contribution to the get together last night was refried black beans with baked vegetable corn chips and sun dried tomato basil hummus with assorted vegetables for dipping.  Both tasted great and I would recommend them to Daniel Fasters and non.

Slow Cooker Refried Black Beans

1 lb dry black beans, rinsed and sorted

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 large onion, chopped

1 tsp cumin

4 14oz cans vegetable broth

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine.  Cook on low heat 8-10 hours or until beans are tender.  Remove excess liquid and then mash with potato masher or electric mixer.

Sun Dried Tomato Basil Hummus

3 garlic cloves

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tsp sea salt

3 Tbsp tahini

1/2 cup olive oil

2 15oz cans garbanzo beans

1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes (either oil packed or dry)

2 Tbsp minced fresh basil

In a food processor combine cloves, lemon juice, salt and tahini until smooth.  Add beans and olive oil, process until smooth, scraping sides as needed.  Add in tomatoes and pulse until minced well and mixed throughout.  Finally, add in basil and pulse to combine.  Serve with assorted veggies, chips or crackers.

Weekend!

Keeping up with a fast (or any personal commitment really) can take on added difficulty when our schedule gets changed up like it probably does for you on this weekend.  Make a strategy for how you will keep to the fast!  You may need to be sure you have some appropriate snack items around.  One thing I am trying to do is to have some 'free' foods; something I can have whenever so that I am not tempted with something I shouldn't have.  So far for me that has been grapes and pistachio nuts...that may not be your choice but it works for me. 

Let us also remember that all of life is life before our God.  When the schedule changes or we are just plain hungry for something we can't have we need to turn our focus Godward.  Psalm 121 starts out, "I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth".  The tremendous value of any fast is that when we feel the lack, it can be a driver to look to the Lord.  May that be our focus today whenever we are tempted otherwise!

As a special point of prayer today let's pray for those who continue their jobs through the weekend to take care of us.  I am thinking today especially of those in the medical profession who maintain care around the clock.  Thank you to those who are doctors, nurses, support staff and EMS personnel...we are praying for you!

Another recipe:
Tried a simple recipe from www.ultimatedanielfast.com that Jami and I both enjoyed.  If you look under recipes/vegetables there is a dish called pan roasted broccoli and cauliflower.  Mmm.  I recommend it!

Taking up the Cross

Hurray!  Survived day two!  I had a couple of ideas for Daniel Fast food sent to me yesterday so I will copy those at the end of the blog post.  Great ideas...send me yours at pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org

Here is what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me...".  Now of course for those of us on some sort of fast during this Lenten season we can be pretty sure that we are following our Lord's instruction.  Or are we?  The reason that may not be the case is that there is a gulf a mile wide between self denial and denying self.  Let me see if I can explain.  I would put self denial in the category of giving up things or going without with a view toward something better.  It is kind of like driving my old pickup around another year or two so that I can save up for a nicer one later.  Giving up certain foods can be in that category too.  Perhaps we give up certain foods with a view toward knowing our God better.  So, self denial can be good...it can be selfish too because it stays in the realm of the external. 

But look again at what Jesus is asking for.  He wants us to 'deny self' which is way more difficult and cuts to the core of our being.  Denying self is to actually set self aside; to take up the cross gives it the imagery of death.  What Jesus is asking is no mere setting aside but is in actuality a call to die, to in fact take up the Christ life as opposed to continuing on the self course.  This is all of life, not just a steak or two here or there.

Let us think on this today.  I am ecstatic as I have heard of the number of us who have embarked on some form of self denial.  May it be part of the formation of Christ in us that finds its way to denial of self, death to self, and the Christ life in us.

As a prayer focus today let's be in prayer for our teens.  The pressures to conform to a life that asks for and gets whatever it wants, when it wants, how it wants it is enormous.  However, nobody is telling them that in all that getting they may in fact miss the Savior.

The Recipe Ideas

From Annie

The following is a family favorite from our CSA this past summer.  To accommodate the Fast, delete the brown sugar.  Rice vinegar and Sesame Oil can be found at the health food area at Coborns and don't let the peanut butter throw you!  I also exclude the red pepper paste etc. and use a variety of veggies.  Instead of the Asian noodles I use whole wheat spaghetti. 

Udon Noodles with Asian Vegetables and Peanut Sauce

The combination of peanut butter (peanuts being a legume) and udon noodles provide complementary proteins in this quick-to-make entrée.

• YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)
• COURSE: Main Dishes, Side Dishes/Vegetables

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon chile paste with garlic (optional)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces uncooked udon noodles (thick, round fresh Japanese wheat noodles) or spaghetti
• 4 cups sliced bok choy
• 2 cups snow peas, halved crosswise
• 1 cup shredded carrot

Preparation

Combine first 10 ingredients in a small saucepan; stir with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Set aside.

Cook noodles in boiling water 8 minutes. Drain well. Combine noodles, peanut sauce, bok choy, snow peas, and carrot in a large bowl, and toss well to coat.

Note: Chile paste with garlic can be found with other ethnic foods in the supermarket. It can be omitted if you perfer a not-so-hot sauce. If udon noodles are difficult to find, try an Asian market.

Cooking Light APRIL 1997

From Emily

One approved food that many may not know about are Triscuit Original crackers.  Their only ingredients are whole grain wheat, soybean oil, and salt.  Thought you might want to pass along that tip!  It's a lifesaver around our house during the Daniel Fast!

Plain Rice Cakes are also ok to have on the fast!  They only contain whole grain brown rice and salt.

Day 2

How are you feeling today?  I heard reports of headaches yesterday and so it is likely that the euphoria of participating in the fast has now fully worn off and you are not looking forward to today.  The good news is that day 2 seems to be about the hardest in any fast so if you can make it through today (and you can) it will get progressively better.

I was thinking about 2 Corinthians 4 (I would commend it to your reading) where Paul is talking about the proclamation of the gospel in or through these bodies that he calls 'jars of clay'.  But since it all comes together when we are raised up to be with Christ he says that we can endure what he refers to as 'light momentary afflictions'.  Perhaps today as we endure what may be the most difficult day of the whole fast we can use that headache, or that hunger, or simply that desire for something we have committed to not having; perhaps we can take our difficulties of the day and redirect that desire to a thinking about the bigger picture.  Today let us remember that in this life there will be difficulties yes, but that as we seek our Lord we can know that the glory will be far beyond anything we have endured here.  Instead let's turn our attention to thanksgiving for all that our God has accomplished.

Hey, if you have a recipe that you have enjoyed let me know and I will repost it.  Shoot me an email at pastorcarlyn@harvestcomchurch.org and we will let everybody in on the news.  For our part there was a bunch of black beans in the crock pot last night and I heard rumors of black beans and rice today, so I am looking forward to that!  How about you?

As you are in prayer today, please remember our military stationed overseas.  Talk about going without!  Our food is one thing but to be apart from family seems to me to be an even greater sacrifice.  Lord, keep our men and women of the military out of harms way today, and more than that would you give them a sense of laboring for a larger cause.  Lord I would pray that in the midst of separation from loved ones that each person stationed overseas would have a sense of your love for them, and that it might in fact be through this separation that many come to find their ultimate satisfaction in a relationship with you.  Amen.

Ash Wednesday - Be prepared

The beginning of Lent is upon us.  Our Shrove Tuesday celebration was a lot of fun and the food was great.  But today we begin a time of going without...a time to reset our focus on the One who gave His very life that we might obtain life which is life indeed.

I was thinking today about this time and for those who will be fasting and am reminded of a wise Missions guy who with his wife and family served for a period of time in Iran.  One of the things I recall him saying was that it wasn't the size of the storm that really mattered.  The truth is you can't do anything about the storm anyway.  Rather the important thing is to be prepared for the storm.  He quite humorously (and memorably) illustrated it by suggesting that a person walking along the road and hit with a 100 mile an hour wind gust would be knocked off their feet (at which time he proceeded to roll head over heels on the ground).  Not pretty.  However if the same person were walking along and found something sturdy to brace themselves by it would fare much better for them.

The same thing is true as we enter this season of fasting.  1 Peter 4:13-14 says "Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."  Though we certainly won't suffer like Christ did, yet through fasting we are entering into His suffering in order that we might rejoice at His coming.  Therefore we ought to think ahead to all that may confront us in the days ahead and to begin to prepare our hearts and minds for all that may come our way.  In that way we won't be knocked off course when something comes up, but rather we can brace for it and bring it to Jesus as the One who has been there, done that, and will carry us through.

Let us be in prayer today for our own right attitudes and preparations of the heart as we embark on this journey closer to Him. 

Lent Begins February 22nd

Today is the day before Lent, a day of partying one last time in many places and for many people before the season of deniel begins.  While I recognize that for many there is no reality behind it all, it is simply an excuse to party.  (And who doesn't love a party!)  Yet if we can get beyond the formality and tradition of it all and get to the meaning of it and the intent, I think we find something rich and rewarding.

My intent is to here offer some reflections and encouragement for those of us who are choosing the 'feast of fasting' as one author calls it.  A time to go without for the purpose of getting more of our God.  I realize that all of our motivations aren't 100% pure.  I for example am curious how I will feel as I go without some of the normal foods and beverages I am accustomed to having.  Yet at the bottom of it all I hope that you will pray with me this simply prayer:  "Lord, break down whatever it is in my life that keeps me from having more of You".  May we seek His face and allow are hunger or our feelings of being deprived be met instead by the One who 'fills all in all'.

I and others are engaging in a 21 day 'Daniel Fast' for the first 21 days of Lent starting February 22nd.  Some are choosing a shorter time frame, some even to fast in a different way.  It is all good.  In the days ahead we will look at Scripture and attempt to refocus on the One in whom our desires belong.