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   June 23, 2008

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   1 Polly Hansen said:
   

   Brad,
   Glad to see you onboard. I am doing July 7th and I am really looking forward to it. I will be happy to work with you too. Let me know what you need.

   Polly Hansens last blog post..A Challenge

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   June 23, 2008

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   2 Mandy said:
   

   I’m the day before you!! I’m so excited to see what this fast will bring.

   Can’t wait to see your completed project. =)

   Mandys last blog post..Class of 1994 Reunion

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   June 23, 2008

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   3 euphrony said:
   

   Great to see you’re on board. We’re actually up to something like 71 bloggers right now – amazing!

   Hey, I sent you an e-mail (I’m organizing the block or days you fall into) but did not hear back. Could you e-mail me so I make sure I have the correct address? Thanks.

   euphronys last blog post..The 40 Day Fast (6 billon or One?)

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   June 23, 2008

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   4 jud said:
   

   This will probably come off as legalism but it’s not my intent.

   I am a bit alarmed on a regular basis as I see churches, leaders and “joe” christian publicize their mission efforts. It’s very common in emerging and emergent churches as well but it has always been common in the SBC of my present day/ youth.

   I think it speaks volumes as to the depth of Biblical illiteracy within the Church Body. I present for your edification Matthew 6:

   Giving to the Poor and Prayer

   1″Beware of practicing your righteousness before men (A)to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
   2″So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they (B)may be honored by men (C)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

   3″But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

   4so that your giving will be in secret; and (D)your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

   5″When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to (E)stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners (F)so that they may be seen by men (G)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

   6″But you, when you pray, (H)go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and (I)your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

   7″And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their (J)many words.

   8″So do not be like them; for (K)your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

   9″(L)Pray, then, in this way:
   ‘Our Father who is in heaven,
   Hallowed be Your name.
   10′(M)Your kingdom come
   (N)Your will be done,
   On earth as it is in heaven.
   11′(O)Give us this day our daily bread.
   12′And (P)forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
   13′And do not lead us into temptation, but (Q)deliver us from (R)evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]‘

   14″(S)For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

   15″But (T)if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

   Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)

   16″(U)Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting (V)Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
   17″But you, when you fast, (W)anoint your head and wash your face

   18so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your (X)Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

   19″(Y)Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

   20″But store up for yourselves (Z)treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

   21for (AA)where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

   22″(AB)The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

   23″But if (AC)your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

   24″(AD)No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and [a](AE)wealth.

   The Cure for Anxiety

   25″(AF)For this reason I say to you, do not be (AG)worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
   26″(AH)Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

   27″And who of you by being (AI)worried can (AJ)add a single hour to his life?

   28″And why are you (AK)worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

   29yet I say to you that not even (AL)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

   30″But if God so clothes the (AM)grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? (AN)You of little faith!

   31″Do not (AO)worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

   32″For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for (AP)your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

   33″But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and (AQ)all these things will be added to you.

   34″So do not (AR)worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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   June 23, 2008

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   5 jud said:
   

   I should have added in my original post that I have been guilty as charged on this many a time.

   -Jud

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   June 23, 2008

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   6 Brad Ruggles said:
   

   Jud – I don’t want this to be a forum for debate so I’ll give you my opinion and response to your comment and we’ll leave it at that.

   If we are only doing our good deeds to be seen of men then you are absolutely correct, our reward will be the praise we receive from the people who see it.

   However, we’re also told in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that they may SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

   What it boils down to is a heart issue and that is something only God can judge. Are there people going on missions trips and supporting charities for the wrong reasons? Absolutely. But God is the judge of our hearts.

   If I can write a post that motivates and encourages others to take action for the sake of those in need, then I will most definitely take the opportunity to do so.

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   7 jud said:
   

   Oh I agree Brad, this stems from moments I had with an old and dear friend who would go on ridiculously long fasts …. and then let me and others know all of the details agony and all. Much to the wonderment and distraction of many young believers.

   If we abide in God’s Word then we will abide in God’s will. When we are there good “works” just happen. What I see happening is churches chocked full of young believers who go on “missional” ventures that end up being well documented and publicized. Many of these churches are doing a poor job rooting people in the Word, what results is an errant “works” based faith despite the obviously positive needs being met results. This is what I see predominantly among Emergent friends.

   I respect your space and your wish to avoid debates in this space so I agree to leave it alone from here on out.

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   June 24, 2008

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   8 Mike Paschal said:
   

   Brad… send me that official email if you don’t mind bro. I would be honored to hop on board with you and others. let me know how i can help