Almost no Christians I know fasts anymore. Oh, maybe at Lent, or on a special occasion for decision-making. Fasting is out of vogue.

And one reason might be that although Jesus encouraged it, and instructed us how to fast in Matthew 6, he gave no grave warnings if Christians didn’t. His disciples were even criticized for not fasting and Jesus defended them. So, it sometimes feels like an optional command or good suggestion. But God, through Isaiah did command a radical type of fast that is anything but optional.

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The following is a blog written by Rob Parsons, an author and blogger at www.careforthefamily.org.uk.

The ten-second rule – preventing the affair
Over the years, I’ve talked with many men and women who have been involved in affairs. One of the most salutary things is to realize that with many of them, they didn’t intend to be unfaithful to their partners. They sometimes blurt out, “It just happened.” They will normally go on to talk about some innocent event in which they were involved (often a genuine desire to help the other person in some way), and then go on to say, “It suddenly got out of hand.”
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The Senior Pastor of my church takes a one-month “study break” every year. But that’s not a sabbatical. A sabbatical is an extended period of time when a pastor or full time Christian leader is released from their “day job” to get away, to grow spiritually, relationally and emotionally and perhaps to study a spiritual topic of personal interest.

A friend of mine is the founding pastor of a large church, Christian school and several other ministries in California. In response to a family crisis, his church gave him a sabbatical. That time away was so powerful and refreshing that upon his return he wrote the following open letter to his church.

This blog is super long, but I’m praying that if you are a leader in your church you’ll invest the time to read it and then ask the Holy Spirit if you should be an advocate for your pastor to him/her one of the greatest gifts a grateful and wise congregation can give your pastor – rest.
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Oprah Winfrey popularized the slogan, “Follow your heart.” It sounds so romantic, inspirational, American and even Christian. But should Christians always follow their heart?

Christians should always follow God. Our hearts cannot always be trusted. Os Guiness gives us this great word picture I often use with the men I mentor.
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