First Baptist Church of Ojai, California

The Fast: Day 4

Finished the two-day Covey seminar today.  It was a blessing to be able to attend with Zac and Dan.  There is lots to process.  One "aha" moment came as we were working on personal mission statements.  While mine is far from a finished product, a common theme surfaced in that I am passionate about coaching.  John Wooden is one of my heroes.  I love his approach to using athletics to shape people.  In essence, I want to be a spiritual John Wooden.  Coaching relates a whole lot to pastoring.  It is even an appropriate picture of parenting.  So, maybe this passion for all things sports isn't a waste of time after all.  It makes me feel better about it anyway.

Tomorrow's message wraps up the five-part series on Psalm 15.  Holy people evidence holines by how they handle money.  It is always interesting whenever the subject of finances comes up.  God has a lot to say to us on this issue, even in a recession.

See you in the morning.

The Fast: Day 3

Philip. 3:10-11 (NIV) 
    I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Today's prayer emphases:  Holy Attitudes, Evangelism

So far I am struggling with the "adding something" part of the fast.  I am doing the Bible reading and the praying, but feel that I need more time to just be still and wait on the Lord.  The seminar I am attending the next two days will help with that, but I need to do something different in the days to follow.  The "subtracting something" part is going well.  "I want to know Christ..."

The Fast: Day 2

Matthew 16:24 (NIV) 
    Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Daniel 1:8 (NIV) 
    But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Today's Prayer Emphases:  Holy Speech, Spiritual Growth

Actually had a really good dinner last night.  Christy made a spinach salad with avocado, tomato, peppers, tossed in oil.  Just the raw stuff.  She also made some homemade apple sauce.   

Unfortunately, Christy has gotten sick just as the fast begins.  She has that cough thing that is going around and it has taken the wind out of her sails.  Please pray for a quick recovery so that sickness will not interfere with what she hopes to experience during the fast. 

I really need to have a productive day, especially in the are of sermon prep. for Sunday.  Friday and Saturday I will be in Santa Barbara for a Covey Leadership Seminar.  It is a unique opportunity I am very much looking forward to.  It should be a great environment for me to be able to listen to God speak into my life as a leader. 

Mark Batterson on Fasting

I have a goal-oriented personality. Without goals I'm no good. So I try to leverage things like birthdays and New Years and Lent and Pentecost to set new spiritual goals or reestablish some God habits. A few years ago I started observing Lent and it's made Easter so much more meaningful. Can't wait for Ash Wednesday.

Here's an equation: -++=x.

Translation: subtraction plus addition equals multiplication.

What do you need to subtract from you life?

It might be a bad habit or waste of time or something that is permissible but not beneficial. Last year I gave up television for forty days. This year I'm giving up soda and candy. I know that doesn't sound super spiritual, but if you knew how much I love vanilla coke and gummy bears...

What do you need to add to your life?

You can't just subtract something. You've got to add something to your spiritual routine. I'm going to add an hour to my day. How? I'm setting my alarm clock an hour earlier than I normally do. I want to give God more of my most precious resource: time.

I'm believing that subtraction and addition will result in multiplication. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been filled with more holy anticipation about what God is doing in my life and the life of National Community Church. But I'm believing Him for greater things! I want Him to multiply what He is already doing!

Question: what are you subtracting or adding for Lent?

Here's an equation: -++=x.

Translation: subtraction plus addition equals multiplication.

What do you need to subtract from you life?

It might be a bad habit or waste of time or something that is permissible but not beneficial. Last year I gave up television for forty days. This year I'm giving up soda and candy. I know that doesn't sound super spiritual, but if you knew how much I love vanilla coke and gummy bears...

What do you need to add to your life?

You can't just subtract something. You've got to add something to your spiritual routine. I'm going to add an hour to my day. How? I'm setting my alarm clock an hour earlier than I normally do. I want to give God more of my most precious resource: time.

I'm believing that subtraction and addition will result in multiplication. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been filled with more holy anticipation about what God is doing in my life and the life of National Community Church. But I'm believing Him for greater things! I want Him to multiply what He is already doing!

Question: what are you subtracting or adding for Lent?

The Fast: Day 1

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) 
    You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Today's prayer emphases: Holy Thoughts, Revival

So far so good with the modified Daniel fast.  Breakfast was a banana and some dry homemade granola.  I had an apple for a mid-morning snack.  Lots of water.  I am hungry but excited about what God has in store this month. 

I did the Bible reading with Christy this morning and we prayed together.  Praying with my wife is something I know is absolutely essential, yet I struggle with consistency.  Alright, honestly, I am pitifully inconsistent.  I believe that the fast will be a help in this.  There is something very unifying about doing the fast together.  So there is already a huge benefit on day 1. 

I mentioned before that the 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays because they are "mini-Easters" for celebrating the Resurrection.  Christy wants to continue the fast on Sundays because she thinks it will be too hard to start and stop.  Personally, I am looking forward to "celebrating" on Sundays.  We'll see...

If you haven't made a plan to fast yet, jump in when you are ready.  (See Jeremiah 29:13 above).   

Highlights From Today's Bible Reading

Psalm 40:17 (NIV) 
    Yet I am poor and needy;
        may the Lord think of me.
    You are my help and my deliverer;
        O my God, do not delay.

Great verse heading into the fast. 

This Week's Bible Reading

Tuesday, February 24th
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Mark 7:1-23
Psalm 40:11-17
Proverbs 10:13-14

Wednesday, February 25th
Leviticus 16:29-18:30
Mark 7:24-8:10
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 10:15-16

Thursday, February 26th
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-9:1
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17

Friday, February 27th
Leviticus 20:22-22:16
Mark 9:2-29
Psalm 43:1-5
Proverbs 10:18

Saturday, February 28th
Leviticus 22:17-23:44
Mark 9:30-10:12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 10:19

Sunday, March 1st
Leviticus 24:1-25:46
Mark 10:13-31
Psalm 44:9-26
Proverbs 10:20-21

Monday, March 2nd
Leviticus 25:47-27:13
Mark 10:32-52
Psalm 45:1-17
Proverbs 10:22

Message Rewind

Psalm 15:  Pursuing Purity
Part IV:  Holiness is evidenced by how we handle commitments.

Psalm 15:4 (NIV) 
    who keeps his oath
        even when it hurts,

1. Holy people make commitments.  God's Word is full of promises (commitments) to us.  Every commitment is an opportunity for Him to display His character of faithfulness. 

2. Holy people keep commitments.  See Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  "even when it hurts."

3. Holy people make fewer commitments.  Overcommitment is the result of a crisis in the areas of prayer, pride, and priorities. 

Softball?

A new season of Church League Softball through the Ojai Rec Department is upon us.  Play will begin in early March on Thursday nights.  We had a great time of fellowship last season and look forward to softball being a place to have fun and connect with one another.  There is a place for players of all abilities and the league is co-ed.  Please sign-up on the sheet in the church lobby if you are interested in playing.  The player fee will be about $30 depending on the number of players plus the occasional provision of the umpire fee.  Contact Chad for more details.

Men's Small Groups Forming

At Saturday's Ironworks breakfast I put out a sign-up sheet for men to express interest in being a part of a mid-week small group Bible study.  The response was overwhelming.  If you have not yet signed-up to find out more about this opportunity, please contact me ASAP as I am excited to get these groups up and running.  I anticipate both an early morning and an evening option, so let me know what works best for you.