end of day nine

End of day nine.

So you go to the house of the Lord on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns. (Jeremiah 36:6)

Class tonight. It was alright. We had seven attend, but discussion seemed forced. Sometimes Wednesday night class is better than Sunday morning. When it is, it is great. I love discussing anyway and try to teach as Jesus did: asking questions and sitting quietly while people talk about the answers.

Sitting still and not talking is something that was hard won for me. It didn’t come easily. As a younger man, I felt compelled to share my wisdom with everyone and answer the questions people had.

I guess that started back a few years ago when I went to a seminar on teaching. A man named Robert K Oglesby taught a class on teaching a class. He used the question/answer method, asking leading questions and waiting for people to answer. He also had rather detailed questions, much more detailed than I was used to.

And people talked. So I started using it and have refined it over the years. I think I do pretty well at it some of the time. I would like to integrate it more into the sermon times. More interaction from the listeners to what I have to say.

But today, I have been becoming hungry. It has been just a gnawing feeling, but it is there. Last time I fasted for any great length of time was 14 years ago. I am a good bit older now and it has wrecked some havoc on my body. My digestive system has not thanked me.

But to choose not to eat is strange, when it comes down to it. It has made me a little hungry – no gnawing pangs or anything, just a mild push – but it has also made me cold. I am always cold.

I get to feeling a little goofy in that. I am the one who is always warm-natured and who doesn’t like heaters. Now I am cold. Comeuppance, I guess.

The alertness is something. I am so alert. I like that and would like to have it and still eat. I am also losing some of my desire for coffee. It just tastes strong and at times, almost unpleasant.

If that goes, I do not know what I will do. I love coffee. My coffee desire will probably come back when I start eating again.

I wait for the Lord to tell me what he wants. It feels like it is just over the hill, just over the next rise. I hope so.

Father God, I ask you for protection for those working in that most dangerous of places, Asia. It is so full of people who are antagonistic to Christianity, even to the point of violence. Bless those Christians there and keep them safe. Bless the ministers and missionaries. Guard them with your righteous right hand. Thank you for your presence in my life. I praise  you. Amen