January 1-21 Prayer and Fasting

According to the Bible, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast. Fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength – strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you rewards in Heaven, says Matthew 6.

Several years ago, I had a meeting with Pastor Jentezen Franklin which happened to be during his 21 day Fast. I will never forget the powerful Spirit that I sensed which I later attributed to an on-going 21 day Fast. As we embraced, I also could not help but notice the frail skeleton of a Godly man disciplined to fasting.

January 1-21 is the best time of year to conduct a 21 day Fast. It will certainly set the tone for the year and I encourage everyone reading this Blog to join in the spiritual discipline.

The kind of fast you choose should be based on the leading of the Holy Spirit and your particuluar circumstances. Generally, I would encouarge you to embark on a food fast of some form. When the Bible speaks of fasting (as it does consistently) it is almost always referring to a fast regarding food. There is a powerful spiritual release when we deny ourselves in this fundamental way.

You are heavily encouraged to participate in what is commonly known as a "Daniel" or partial fast. The focus here is not on a complete abstaining from all food, but on the restriction of one's diet. Generally, this highlights a fast from meat and seeks instead to focus on fruits and vegetables. Another form of the partial fast might include omitting a particular meal each day, thus limiting the quantity of food consumed.

CGP General Overseer Randall Howard & Bishop Don G. Brock

[Click on image to enlarge it.]

Dr. Brock in Grant, AL Last Sunday

Revival

REVIVAL

Evangelist Don Brock

Wednesday - Thursday - Friday
April 23-25, 2008

7:00 PM Nightly

Mentone Church of God of Prophecy
Highway 117 Across From The Post Office
Mentone, Alabama

Church Training Assistance

Could you use a qualified instructor to come to your location and teach on one of the following subjects?

Team Building, Servant Leadership, The Biblical Office of Deacon, Conflict Resolution, Church Administration, Church Technology, Good Communications, Spiritual Gifts and Callings, Every Member Participating, History of Christianity, Spiritual Discipline, and many more.

Could you use a qualified consultant to come to your location to consult about ...

Church Structure, Assessing Your Location, Understanding Other Cultures, Leadership Assessment, Church Review (for growth), and many more.

Contact Synergy Church Consulting at DGBrock@aol.com. We are here to work with you. We understand what you are facing, and we care.

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Thank You - Lee's Chapel United Methodist Church

I had a marvelous time today at Lee's Chapel United Methodist Church in Remlap, Alabama. The congregation was so kind, the praise & worship music was inspiring, and lunch was unforgettable. I know they missed their pastor, Jonathan Herston today, but I certainly enjoyed the experience of ministering.

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March Winds

Don Brock

Personal (Sabbatical) Update

Yvonne and I are on sabbatical. I cannot express how important it is for pastors to take a sabbatical from time to time. When I am away, in the mountains or on the ocean, I can think so much more clearly and focus so much better on the real priorities of life and ministry. A sabbatical must be longer than a few days. We must disconnect from the world as we know it in order to reconnect with God. Jesus set the example. How often did He retreat or get away during His three years of ministry?

Most congregations do not understand the importance of sabbaticals. It will take good communications and teaching to change this culture. But, it must be done to preserve and improve pastoral leadership. It will pay great dividends to the pastor and the congregation.

A sabbatical (from Greek sabbatikos) is a prolonged hiatus, typically one year, in the career of an individual taken in order to fulfill some goal, e.g., writing a book or traveling extensively for research. Some universities and other institutional employers of scientists, physicians, and/or academics offer a paid sabbatical as an employee benefit, called sabbatical leave. Some companies offer an unpaid sabbatical for people wanting to take career breaks - this is a growing trend in the UK, with 20% of companies having a career break policy, and 10% considering introducing one.

Sabbaticals are often taken by professors, pastors, cartoonists (e.g. Gary Larson and Bill Watterson), musicians (e.g. Cindy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin) and sportsmen (e.g. Alain Prost). Academic sabbaticals are typically for one year following six years of full-time employment. Also taken by those young professionals who just need a break from work to determine if a career path is correct for them.

In UK and Irish students' unions, particularly in higher education institutions, students can be elected to become sabbatical officers of their students' union, either taking a year out of their study (in the academic year following their election) or remaining at the institution for a year following completion of study. Sabbatical officers are usually provided with a living allowance or stipend.

As Yvonne and I spend this time alone with God, we are already seeing things differently. God is restoring our divine vision.

We may take a little longer - until April 8 or so.