Fasting

What is a fast? The connotation of a fast would vary with the culture, native place and even age of a person. For an American, avoiding non vegetarian food would imply a fast, whereas in India many people are vegetarians throughout their lives. Does this mean they are fasting lifelong? The deviation and contradiction in the connotation is not restricted to countries alone. In India, within the same religion, a few people consider themselves to fast when they have only fruits and liquids, some others take the liberty of consuming semi solids to if they are without onions and garlic, some other devotees are rigid enough to consume only water when they are fasting. How do we comprehend a single word in different connotations? Medically, a person is fasting when he consumes only water and noth

Traffic is the holy grail of blogging - everyone body wants it but it’s more of a myths sometimes than actualy fact. Read a couple of blogs on the Internet now and you’ll know what I mean - everyone has their own theory but for the most part it’s just a theory. So before you go “grail [...]

Fasting; should Christian people fast today? For faith, and power with God. Matthew 17:21 KJV “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” As workers of God II Corinthians 6:1-5 (The Apostle Paul-Fasted)[1] We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.[2] (For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)[3] Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:[4] But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,[5] In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;”

In the beginning of January of this year, I decided to do a little experiment on myself. I have read about the benefits of fasting for many years, and was determined to experience them for myself. I went four days without eating, and the only things I consumed were water, and a 8oz vegetable/fruit juice [...]

The entire Tamil film industry have started the Unnavirutham (fast) today (April 4), morning from 8 a.m to express solidarity with Tamil Nadu on the Hogenakkal drinking water project issue. Actor Sarath Kumar, on behalf of the Tamil Film Producers’ Council has insisted that all actors, producers, directors, in fact everyone involved in the industry should turn up at Chepauk today morning. Right now (9.30 am) stars who have come are seated under a shamiana erected opposite the Chepauk cricket stadium are Nadigar Sangam chief Sarathkumar, Ajit, Manorama, Satyaraj, Arjun, Sibiraj, Sneha, Vadivelu, Parthipan, Brinda and Kala master, Prasanna, Sita, and SA Chandrasekhar.Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Vijay, Vikram, Trisha, Nayanthara are all expected to join soon. Remember that in 2002, Kollyw

It’s such a fun and popular subject! Who doesn’t love to talk about fasting?! Fun. Fun. Fun. Or rather… Awkward. Awkward. Awkward. Why are we so weird about fasting? Why is it so rarely talked about? The Matthew 6 Passage A lot of people were taught that we aren’t supposed to talk about fasting because of Matthew 6: 16-18. But the verses right before that passage (5-6) say the exact same thing about prayer. Yet we fight for prayer in schools and pray in public before our meals. So, something is out of balance there. Either we need to talk about prayer less or fasting more. The Real Reason We Don’t Talk About Fasting I think the real reason we don’t talk about fasting is because we don’t really like it and we don’t really do i

I have often had clients who had cholesterol tests come back well out of the normal range and blamed it on forgetting to fast, or in the case of a recent client, a nurse that called and said it would be better for her if she came that particular evening instead of the scheduled next [...]

So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." Mark 9:29 NKJV This verse is the response of Jesus Christ, when he was asked by His disciples, why they were not able to cast out the demon that posessed the mute boy that also had seizures, as a result of this demon. Nine of Jesus' disciples were left behind, while Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the mountaintop. When the multitude came upon them, while Jesus was away, they were unable to cast out his demon. After He had done so, they were confused about why they were unable to cast it out, as He had given them the power to do so. Here Jesus explains that only through prayer and fasting can "this kind" be cast out.Now, lest you think that "this kind" is referring to the demon, I want to be sure to inf

The 5 Levels of Fasting Pastors G12 Meeting / July 31 @ TRCF The 5 Levels of Fasting: 3 days full fast (drink 3 liters of water a day)7 days partial fast (soft diet before heavy dinner)14 days partial fast21 days partial fast40 days partial fast Do’s & Don’t: No fats, milk, sodas during the fast.Break for 1 week between each level.Ask whatever you want during this time of prayer & fastingMandatory for all church leaders to pray & fast. This is to test their commitment. If the emerging leaders pass the test, then they have the right to lead a cell group or to be in leadership position.The ancient Jews fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. The ancient church fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, becau

This passage from Pope Benedict's Journey Towards Easter has had me thinking ever since I read it night before last.The truly central actions of human biological life are eating and reproduction, sensuality. Therefore virginity and fasting have been from the beginning of the Christian tradition two indispensable expressions of the primacy of God, of faith in the reality of God. Without being given corporal expression also, the primacy of God with difficulty remains of decisive moment in a human life. It is true: fasting is not all there is to Lent, but it is something indispensable for which there is no substitute. Freedom in the actual application of fasting is good and corresponds to the different situations in which we find ourselves. But a communal and public act of the Church seems to

In India, feasting very often follows fasting. It is customary to observe fasts on numerous days throughout the year. Indeed, people fast on particular days of a week, month, and year to please and honour particular Gods and Goddesses, to give thanks for blessings received, or to pray for that their wishes be granted.A fast usually begins at dawn and broken at dusk. During this time those undertaking the fast tend to partake of only water, fruits, nuts and milk. Yet, the entire day is often filled with the joy and camaraderie that accompanies a shared kitchen. Family members regardless of age come together to prepare for the feast that inevitably accompanies the successful completion of a fast. Some feasts are humble and traditional meals where only certain categories of foods permitted on

In this busy world, so many people are suffering from overweight. To avoid this problem, you can follow one method that is fasting for weight loss method. Some fasting for weight loss methods allows you to drink water, take fruits, fruit juices and some solid food. If you follow fasting for weight [...]

Fasting Blood SugarBUN, CreatinineSerum LipidsCholesterol / TriglyceridePhosphorusTo remember: FBS-CellphonePatient is under NPO 12 hours before blood extractionhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/FESA http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/nAuu

By: Bradley It sounds so simple – no choices, no counting calories, no cooking. Just say 'no' to food, and start fasting for quick weight loss and other health benefits.After all, Beyonce did it. She said she lost 20 pounds by fasting (and using a concoction of syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper)for her role in Dreamgirls. Do you want to lose your weight quickly? Then, fasting is the best tip for quick weight loss. Overweight people can benefit a lot by weight loss fasting. Normally, slim people are considered as perfect beauty and fat people ugly. So, if you are overweight you have to lose weight fast and look slim soon. Stopping eating much is considered to be the best and easiest way to loose weight.Fasting has become a very popular weight loss method that people are claiming they have lost 30-40 pounds in only a 30-day fast that is pretty incredible. Some even have dropped 3-4 pounds in a single day. Is fasting really the best weight loss solution or is it just anothe

[be sure to read the first part of this series - “Fasting (Part I)”] Jesus didn’t say “if you fast” he said, “When you fast.” In this statement Jesus put fasting up there with praying and giving to the needy. Fasting is the physical way in which we can change our inner personality. As Christians we understand from scripture that our “old nature” or “our flesh” is always at war with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is not just our physical nature, but rather all of who we are in mind, will, and emotions. This is all the stuff we inherited from Adam, our first father, way back in the Garden of Eden. Through salvation our lives are transformed, and we receive a “new nature.” This new nature is the Spirit of God present and at work in us. Unfortunately, the old person is always trying to come back in and take over our lives. Salvation doesn’t mean that magically all of our old nature is washed away, and we never have to deal with it

Sometimes you just don't realise how fast the time flies by.. Without even realising it, tomorrow, or shall I say, today (since it's 12.25am), is the last day of "puasa". Then the day after tomorrow, we'll be celebrating Aidilfitri. How nice~~ The hubby will be working on Raya itself.. So kesian him! But that's the price he has to pay if he wants to be around for the birth of the baby. The

Was wondering if anyone out there was losing weight while fasting. I am on a medically supervised fasting program in my city. It’s actually called a Protein Sparing Modified Fast, which only permits protein powder shakes and soups (which they supply), skim milk, sugar free jello and other non caloric substances. I lost 15 pounds [...]

There's hidden sweetness in the stomach's emptiness.We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundboxes stuffed full of anything, no music.If the brain and belly are burning clean with fasting,every moment a new song comes out of the fire.The fog clears, and new energy makes you runup the steps in front of you.Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry.Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen.When you're full of food and drink,Satan sits where your spirit should,an ugly metal statue in place of the Kaaba.When you fast, good habits gatherlike friends who want to help.Fasting is Solomon's ring.Don't give into some illusion and lose your power,but even if you have, if you've lost all will and control,they come back when you fast,like soldiers appearing out of the ground,pennants flying above them.A table descends to your tents, Jesus' table.Expect to see it, when you fast,this tablespread with other food,better than the broth of cabbages.~ Rumi ~. Salutation of peace, salaam to the

Oh what a lazy Friday afternoon!!! YAWNS I feel so lethargic. I ponned one particular lecture today (I'm not telling which one), and decided to celebrate 'Engine Day' at home with Jenny! Wheeeeheeee Oh and everyone's raving about BlogRush now. Basically you do a free registration, then install their widget on your site. Their policy is: the greater the number of refreshes of your widget plugin, then the higher the chances of your blogname appearing within that widget. Basically, anyone in the world who has installed that widget (Yes, everyone's using the same widget customed to their site) will be able to see your blogname. This in turn, possibly equates to MORE traffic! So please everyone, go register using the link above! That aside, I feel so lazy…I was talking to my sister about fasting, and it came to this: Me:  I hate fasting for only ONE reason, that is, I find it very hard to 'pang sai' (also known as egestion, or berak, whichever

Medina 626 CEThe sun blazes down in the desert, upon the heads of the goats and camels. Herders watch the animals, sheltering under the sparse shade of date palms. Despite the blistering heat, they have had nothing to eat or drink since the morning. They are following the new rules of their prophet Mohammed, and, like him, they will not eat till sunset, when they will break their fast with a little water and a few dates.Qatar 2007 CEAs I write it is the end of summer here in Qatar, and the outside temperature, though not matching the height of summer when it could reach a humid 50 degrees Celsius, is barely bearable.Yet the majority of people in Qatar are fasting. Not only do they abstain from food, tobacco and sex, they will also not touch a drop of water from dawn to dusk, for this is Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month.Not only are Muslims fasting. Many non-Muslims, often motivated by curiosity are fasting too. One question that has arisen in recent online discussion in Qatar Living

I’ve received many questions regarding my sermon comment about “fasting on Fridays.” (note: You can listen to Jody’s Podcast from September 16 to hear what he is referring to.)  The cool thing is all of the questions have been followed by “I think God is leading me to join” the Friday fast. So why the “Friday fast?” John Wesley fasted on Friday. He would begin on Thursday evening after the evening meal and continue until mid-afternoon on Fridays. During this time Wesley would not eat solid food, and he spent his time in prayer and seeking the presence of God. Wesley wanted all of the Methodist ministers as well as church leaders to practice the spiritual discipline of fasting. Wesley felt so strongly about the spiritual discipline of fasting that he would not ordain ministers who would not agree to do it. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus said, “When you fast…” not “If you fast.” Fasting, for me, is the way I

Contrary to reports in the media (just chuckle along with me, OK?) I have not keeled over and passed out from the effects of nicotine withdrawal on this first day of fasting, but simply been too busy to post anything. I think I can hear wild applause mixed with snickering and a dash of “Hah!! Serves him right!!” when I say that it hasn’t been easy for an addict like me today. For those of you who have never experienced any sort of withdrawal syndromes (nicotine, caffeine, drugs, sex …. ), a lack of your drug of choice in your system can do weird things to your body. If you had noticed my mini-blog on the sidebar, you would know that at around 2pm I was feeling the effects of missing my darling Mr Marlboro in a bad way and my throbbing head gave me the impression that the room was swaying. Not another tremor, I thought, which by the way I DID feel earlier in the morning. Trin was getting worried when she felt the tremors just before 8 in the morning. I asked her

Happy Fasting and Selamat Berpuasa to all Muslim and Muslimah. Since my friend Cometh had pose the scedule for “berbuka puasa” for his area - Kuching. Here I am going to post the scedule for my area - Selangor (Petaling Jaya). Hehe… Puasa will continue for 30 days start from 13rd September. For me, it is a tough mission. I really respect those who can follow it. After all, Happy Fasting in the Month Of Ramadhan! For other area, check this site.

Fasting (Sawm) carries a two-fold meaning - two seemingly opposing definitions combined into a single word. And sawm, as described in the Qur’an and the hadith, simultaneously fulfills both of these definitions. The primary meaning is to hold back, to refrain from, to abstain - the further meaning is to rise beyond, to move past [...]

Fasting is a shield for a person which protects them from Shaytan, Allah's punishment and Jahannam. However, one needs to make sure the shield is not damaged in any way. otherwise it will not be effective in doing its job.

Welcome Bulan Puasa!... Comes again the month that provides an opportunity for Muslims to get closer to God. This is a month when a Muslim should try to: - See not what displeases Allah - Speak no evil - Hear no evil - Do no evil - Look to Allah with fear and hope "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become God-fearing." (The

The holy month of Ramadan (Ramzan) is to arrive to us in just a week or so. According to Southern California’s Surah Council its gonna start on 13th September this year 2007 in this part of the world (US west coast). No doubt this month will be observed as always, with much respect and religious observances by faithfuls across the globe. This particular month is singled out and portrayed the most blessed month in terms of spiritual benefit through different actions and worship in Islamic faith probably than any other time in any other religion including other Abrahamic faiths.But how can we achieve the essence of fasting and how can we not limit to it to mere abstinence from food, drink and sexual engagements - is something different. Before going into - its worth remembering one warning regarding ritualistic fasting void of connection to sincere heart. God definitely doesn’t want our empty, “go with the crowd styled” abstinence from food or drink while we are constantly unawar

How to do Juice Fasting?The old classic form of fasting was a pure water fast, most of the leading authorities on fasting today agree that juice fasting is far superior to a water fast.Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements in fresh, raw vegetable and fruit juices are extremely beneficial in normalizing all the body processes. They supply essential elements for the body’s own healing activity and cell renegeration and thus speeding the recovery. All juices should be prepared from fresh fruit immediately before drinking.Canned or frozen juices should not be used.A lot of energy is spent during the fast in the process of eliminating accumulated poisons and toxic waste materials. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that the patients gets as much physical rest and mental relaxation as possible during the fast.Benefits of Juice FastingJuice fasting cleanses the body while supplying a remarkable increase in vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Cancer cells, toxins, built-up chemical

During the ninth month of the Muslim calender, falling between mid September to mid October, Ramadan is a time where Muslim followers around the world abstain from all food and drink (including water) each day while the sun is up, for an entire month. As I understand, Ramadan is about focusing less on the daily rigors of everyday life, and more on what matters the most: God. It is about the realization that we are all on this planet together, with some more fortunate than others. The aim of Ramadan is to experience suffering, like so many people are forced to live through, and to understand that we are no better than anyone else. All of us are same in God’s eyes. While in Shenzen, China, I fasted with the some Muslim friends for one full day, but the idea stayed with me longer than the 24 hours. It was something I wanted to do again in the future, when the time was right. As it turns out, being stuck in the middle of Hanoi, Vietnam with just a few dollars in your pocket is just su

According to the folks at http://www.watercure2.org/ the best way to keep your liver from dumping glucose into your bloodstream at night is to eat *GREEN BEANS* right before bedtime. Go ahead, have some butter - just a little - on them, too.The green beans have tryptophan, an amino acid that makes serotonin, which, in turn, keeps the water balance in your body steady. They also have fiber and no carbs.I tried the green beans, and I am happy to report that my fasting blood sugar the next two mornings was under 125 - in the non-diabetic "normal" range.So, my liver wants green beans at bedtime! Hah! Guess I will give it what it wants.And the water cure continues to work well for me, making my post-prandial readings less than 140 on average - again, totally normal. But this assumes that I am eating 5 small meals per day, sticking to my 25gm fat, 100 gm carbs, and 100 gm protein on a daily basis, and taking my alpha lipoic acid and reishi mushroom and a good multivitamin/mineral complex, an

Monks,Fasting and Bad Breath. Diet and Bad Breath. Have you ever thought of bad breath as an occupational hazard? In a recent book, Scenting Salvation: Ancient Christianity and the Olfactory Imagination by Susan Ashbrook Harvey, she talks about how early Christianity associated good and sweet smells with a person's moral state - how close to God they were.

I have been struggling with a bunch of things for a while now, and I feel like I’m being pressed and crushed on all sides. A month or two ago in a dream or a vision I was reading a letter from God. The letter was from the Lord and was written to someone else, I’m assuming one of my angels. In the letter God confirmed a lot of things for me..He said something like this (I dont remember every detail word for word).. “Yes Scott has my high calling on his life. Yes he is going to perform many signs and wonders and see many come to me. Yes everything he wants to happen in his earthly ministry is going to come forth. Yes he is called to be a prophet, but he needs to groan more..“. As soon as I finished reading this letter in a weird state of sleep, or something like that, I literally felt something shift inside of me. It felt like I was pregnant, and I began to groan inwardly and to cry out in pain..like I was giving birth to something. Suddenly I woke up sayi

And so the qur'anic command is issued - "...fast until the night...." (Qur'an 2:187) Fast from what the nafs needs and desires. Let the nafs know that there is a truer aspect of yourself, a center capable of overseeing and stabilizing all the intersecting mental systems of the mind and all the material/chemical/habitual/hormonal systems of the body. Proclaim to it that there is a guardian and owner and ruler over the nafs and over the physical form with which it is integrally co-mingled. Let it know that the form and the stirrings of need and desire within the nafs have to submit to this guardian in seeking their satisfaction. The wants, needs, and desires that spring from the material form must submit to the governance and tutelage of a higher form - to the spiritual form indicated by the hadith that states: "God created Adam in His own form...." (hadith)....