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By Brad Bloom, Publisher
After more than 30 minutes of total silence I ventured a peak to see what everyone was doing. They were all still there sitting in the circle --- praying. My wife, who knows me very well, was praying too, that I wouldn’t fall asleep. “This is totally outrageous”, I thought, not in a bad way but “Seriously who prays this long?” Surprisingly I had. I’d gone through my usual list of personal prayer requests. Then I sort of ‘increased the weight’ by praying for family, friends, and all kinds of people more deeply than I had in a long time. Like walking around the gym, to switch up the same old workout by trying equipment I’d seen but never used, I started praying for other needs, people and opportunities in ways I never had before.
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To LIKE And To LISTENMy, “Oh yeah, I guess I could pray for that person too. I’m not going anywhere”, reminded me of the times I go to the gym and just don’t feel like it. Gradually though it started to feel good. Part spiritual endorphin rush and part swole, I was experiencing a vasodilation of my faith. I was breathing deep God’s oxygen and it was breaking down the fats and carbohydrates for energy.
Then, like a person in the weight room who comes up to you while you’re busting a really good set and asks, “Can I work in”, someone finally broke the silence and prayed aloud. “Hey wait, I’m not done yet”, I thought. A few minutes more and it was over. We had been invited to a Quaker friends meeting, in a nicely air conditioned room of a beautiful barn at Dayspring Farm, a CSA in rural Virginia. Now it was time to transition to a delicious shared meal.
The farm owner suggested we join them for fellowship and food since we’re researching and expanding the Gardening department of Faith & Fitness Magazine. We’re exploring how we can do some local garden ministry where we live at the Bloomshire. Like digging for potatoes we’ve found some great finds. I see a growing number of people wanting ORGANIC.
They don’t just want to eat organic, they want to buy, share, and grow organic food. The good news is that it doesn’t stop there. More people want to LIVE organically. They want to know a simpler way of life. They want to have more authentic relationships. They want each day to be more pure --- free from artificial additives, distracting clutter and life’s empty calories.
Conditions are right for all of us to discover the organic and outrageous nature of God. You just have to be persistent in prayer - the work of being quiet. Dig and feel around for the fruit that is hidden. Listen and look for it.
God’s big master plan isn’t restrictive and controlling like so many fear. Instead it is infinitely WOW! We’re made without the use of artificial anything and designed to exceed the limits of conventional. “Made in His image” is so simple and sooooo beyond anything you can ever ask or hope for.
Train strong in Christ,
Brad Bloom, Publisher
