I remember a time several years ago when the pastor of the church I was attending called a fast. I can't remember what the fast was for but aside from the few times I have felt to fast on my own or with my wife, I don't really like it when someone else decides it is time for "us" to fast. It all sounds so not like what I want to do and so inconveinent.

I do remember thinking that even though I didn't agree with his timing there was probably some benefit that would come of it anyway if I was obedient to the purpose—that is to get closer to God or get His attention or something like that.

So, I decided to fast ice cream. At the moment of conception it seemed a little surreal to me as well and quite laughable in some sense. I think what the pastor was looking for was a little more substantial like giving up TV for a period of two weeks or missing lunch or dinner—something that would really hurt and mean something and be super effective.

I think there is some sort of agreement (scripturally based of course) that says you tell no one while you are fasting what it is you are giving up.

In conversations after the fact (fast) people would look at me in disbelief and almost laugh out loud when I told them what it was I "fasted". It was almost as if to say..."How spiritual can you be if all you gave up for two weeks was ice cream—anybody could do that."

What they didn't know was that was what I thought at first as well. They also didn't know that every night at nine o' clock sharp I had to have a bowl of ice cream—it was my reward for being a good guy and making it through the day without harming myself or anyone else. I liked Breyers and of course Hagen Daz—the more calories the better. This habit had a hold of me and had been going on for a couple of years—I was an ice cream junkie.

Well wouldn't you know it that after the two week fast I didn't need ice cream every night any more. I could take it or leave it and mostly left it alone for awhile. Now when we get it I eat it for a day or two and then don't think about it for several weeks—a much more rational path I am sure you will agree. And to the point of what a fast is really supposed to do...break the chains of things that bind us and hold us back from being free to serve the Lord and hear His voice.

So, a week ago I gave up wine for a two week period as well. I do like a Merlot or a Cab or a good Zinfindel...maybe a little too much. So once again I strive to find a balance between pleasure and over-indulgence—God gave wine to make glad the hearts of men it says in the King James version and the balance to that is Paul's admonition to be not drunk with wine wherein there is excess but be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I like a glass of wine and I like being filled with the Holy Spirit and balance is important in life as it is in riding a bike—you only get to where you are going if you pedal straight and stay on board.