From History.com In Islam, Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer.
To my followers who celebrate this Holy time I wish you grace, peace and love. May God bless us all as we find ways to come together and to love one another. I look forward to you sharing your stories during this time.
As-salāmu ʿalaykum good people!
In the food world terms like organic, free range, farm to table, locally sourced and the like are buzz words that seem to be what many people want these days. Then there are others who struggle to put food on their tables and they have to get it where they can at a price they can afford. So many people in the world go hungry and do what they have to do to put food on their table.
This morning at church my Sunday school/small group were talking about that today after watching a video that discussed about how in many areas there are two food communities where you have people who have it and those who struggle. In many places of faith they offer a food pantry to those who are in need. Some people are limited to what they can have because of how much they make. Before you share your faith some folks need to have basic needs taken care of and food is one of them.
Food is a spiritual thing. In the Christian faith bread and wine are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Spiritual food does much to keep us sustained through the times of famine and struggle. Communion is about connecting with Jesus and others.
Many other faith traditions embrace food as a way to bring people together. It’s something that they use to observe their faith. For example the Seder at Passover and eating after fasting during Ramadan. Wine is also used to bring couples together during wedding ceremonies. Food is important to begin the building of community at a potluck dinner.
The key thing about food is that everyone needs it to sustain their lives. It’s also a spiritual connection to one’s higher power and to others in your faith tradition. No one should ever go hungry and the creator made not only us but the food to keep us alive, kicking and praying.
Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago.
To my Jewish friends and others celebrating I pray for the peace of God to be with you during this celebration. May your Seder and other observances be filled with a remembrance, reflection and love.
I find it sad when Atheists, Agnostics, people of other faiths and people in corporate America start reflecting the love of Christ more than people who profess to call him their Lord and Savior. Many people have been run off from the church because of fundamentalism and legalism. Some religious people just need to shut up and sit down. Old time American religion leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.
I am a follower of Christ in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition. Our faith and practice is ancient but also relevant. We seek a 3rd way that balances scripture, reason and tradition. I am glad to be a part of a community that believes with our hearts and heads and our lives.
There is a bill waiting to be signed by the governor in the state of Tennessee making The Bible the official state book. You would think I would be for this being a follower of Christ but I am not. This is just plain wrong. Using the Holy Texts of one faith tradition as a cheap way to get political points from ones base of supporters is prejudiced and is borderline theocratic. We live in a country made up of people from all faiths, creeds and culture. To elevate just one faith’s holy book is short sighted and does not speak to being good neighbors. The whole thing is about pandering and posturing and picking up political points with ones constituents. My country is founded in part on the notion of a separation of church and state.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
By Thomas Merton from “Thoughts In Solitude”
At church we say this prayer in my Sunday school class we call The Table. It’s a special prayer that anyone can say. The language is very inclusive and one of hope and faith.
The Tony Burgess Blog 