Daniel Diet For Fasting

Pirate Monks

A small group of students at Abilene Christian University have banded together in a group known as the Pirate Monks, but they don't carry knives and kidnap people for ransom or rob ships like pirates.

Neither do they sit in a monastery and mediate all day as monks might do.

They do try to practice a daily ritual of being kind to others, loving all people, and being true to Christ and his teachings.

"Our aim is to each live in the image of Christ and to serve others," said Jordan Bunch, a graduate student and residence director of Edwards Hall.

One of the Pirate Monk rules, Bunch said, is to take the Gospel to the world — and especially to the men of Edwards Hall, a dorm for freshmen and sophomore students. The rules also urge the practice of committing to a "soul friendship" with someone and having a regular time for prayer and confession.

Hart Mendenhall said he joined the group because he wanted to let Jesus guide his life.

"We have daily periods of silent meditation," Mendenhall said. He said meditation could take place in the dorm room or some other setting.

The group met weekly for at least an hour while school was in session. Bunch said the meeting might go a little longer depending on what things members brought up.

"We share where were we are emotionally and spiritually," Mendenhall said. "We sometime talk about things facing us personally," such as school problems or family issues.

"We don't have an agenda, but sometime we may sing a couple of songs," Bunch said. He said the whole concept is based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters five through seven. At each meeting, they read parts of it and discuss how it applies to their lives.

Asked if the group was a church, Bunch said it was not and that most of the men had their own church families.

"We went on a camping trip one week," member Daniel Marolf said. "We fast at least once each week."

Some members fast together, he said, but sometimes it is just something each one decides to do for himself.

"Fasting brings me closer to God," Marolf said.

"Jesus addressed most of our life's issue," Bunch said. "The main idea of the Pirate Monks is to build our lives on Jesus just as the wise man builds his house upon a rock."

Marolf said the group had made him want to live more under the rules of life as taught by Jesus. He said it is easier to do by teaming up with others who are trying to do the same thing.

Ultimate Daniel Fast: Daniel Fast Training for Your Church

Our pastor, John Lindell , invited the congregation to join him and the leadership team in a 21-day fast as we prepared to launch our second location in Republic, Missouri. We believed that God was leading us to minister to this area of town but also recognized that we desperately needed His help. For three weeks, we prayed fervently, asking God to go before us and give us favor. My prayer is that your church experiences the Lord in a miraculous way as you seek Him. I would love the opportunity to visit to encourage you and help you prepare for your Daniel Fast. Members will receive the practical tools needed to make the fast more effective. Most of all, they will be motivated and well equipped as they begin their 3-week journey with the Lord. Kristen Feola is the author of the blog, Ultimate Daniel Fast, which provides Daniel Fast recipes (Daniel Fast snacks, Daniel Fast breakfast dishes, Daniel Fast appetizers, Daniel Fast soups, Daniel Fast salads, Daniel Fast vegetable dishes, Daniel Fast main dishes, Daniel Fast desserts), as well as Daniel Fast daily devotions. The Daniel Fast is a 21-day fast for those who hunger for the Lord through prayer and fasting. Recipes include vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes, juicing recipes, raw recipes, gluten-free recipes, sugar-free recipes, diabetic recipes. Kristen's book, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, is available in stores and online.

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