1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Internet Fast

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by Tom Bryant, Jul 15, 2013.

Top Posters
  1. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    To me the reason for any kind of fast is to spend more time in prayer or searching for God's will. We've probably had a food fast or a sleep fast, but any one ever done an internet fast? Or maybe a fast away from a particular site?

    I love the internet. I think it can be a real tool that God can use in our lives and the lives of others, but sometimes i wonder if it has taken on more importance in my life than it ought. So I was thinking about it.

    Any thoughts?
     
    #1 Tom Bryant, Jul 15, 2013
  2. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,912
    Likes Received:
    1,663
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Im with you brother...as long as you come back refreshed & with a more mature prospective. Like I actually gave up my smart-phone (people constantly e-mailing, texting & calling me...it was a distraction) ....actually, I dont want it back....felt I was enslaved to it. Now there is a more relaxed me. Go figure.
     
    #2 Earth Wind and Fire, Jul 15, 2013
  3. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    I think that it's a great idea - as long as you let people know that you will not be answering e-mails for a specific period of time. I find that even congregants will contact me by text or e-mail for advice and I had one woman think I didn't like her because I didn't respond - but the texting app that I was using hadn't been working and I didn't know she contacted me!

    I go internet free when I go to camp but it's forced because - there is no internet there other than for the office. Since it's satellite and expensive, they limit how much data they transfer so you can't just use it whenever. :) That means no internet for me for next week!
     
    #3 annsni, Jul 15, 2013
  4. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Email is the problem for me about the fast. But I think letting people know about it will care for the problem.

    Another problem is trying to determine how long?
     
    #4 Tom Bryant, Jul 15, 2013
  5. Gib

    Gib Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2003
    Messages:
    27,256
    Likes Received:
    14
    At any given time, if I'm in my office, my laptop and my cell are in arms length, on and connected to the internet. Even so, I miss several texts and phone calls a day. I could probably live without both of them for a day, but so many of my conversations with our folks are via email and cell phone usage. Having said that, I'd rather see people than talk to them through the internet.

    Out and about, I will leave my phone in the truck, unless I'm waiting on a call. When I get home, I'm on the internet off an on until bed time. I usually surf while multi-tasking on the computer. Blazing speeds is the way to go.

    We went on a youth retreat a couple of weeks ago. No internet and sketchy cell reception. We all survived and found other ways of entertaining ourselves during free time.

    Do I spend too much time relying on fast internet? Probably
     
    #5 Gib, Jul 15, 2013
  6. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    Why not just try a day to start? A day usually isn't that bad to miss - often we do that anyway. Then try a weekend. That might be a bit harder. :)
     
    #6 annsni, Jul 15, 2013
  7. Gib

    Gib Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2003
    Messages:
    27,256
    Likes Received:
    14
    I will start Friday as I am taking the 3rd-6th graders to Centrikids that day. I heard there was no internet there. :thumbsup:
     
    #7 Gib, Jul 15, 2013
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,030
    Likes Received:
    3,657
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I am going camping this weekend so no internet then. It is a Christian ranchmans camp so we will have plenty of the word and good biblical fellowship.
     
    #8 Revmitchell, Jul 15, 2013
  9. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I have done it for a day and for a weekend, but it was more because I couldn't get on. :laugh:

    The more I think about it, the more I am planning on a Saturday to Saturday.

    I'm getting the shakes already :eek:
     
    #9 Tom Bryant, Jul 15, 2013
  10. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    3rd to 6th graders... you're a better man that me. lol
     
    #10 Tom Bryant, Jul 15, 2013
  11. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    I've also heard of people deciding to fast the internet on Sundays. They choose to leave the focus on the Lord and their family and so I know that I won't hear from them until Monday morning. Maybe that is an idea!

    I can safely say that not having it is hard. I'm addicted. I admit it. If I don't have access to it, I'm OK but if I'm home and have it sitting there, no way can I ignore it!
     
    #11 annsni, Jul 15, 2013
  12. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    4,521
    Likes Received:
    43
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I know what you mean. I am sitting here waiting for the Home Run Derby from up your way, so what do i do while my wife works on the crafts she so enjoys... I go on the internet. :smilewinkgrin:
     
    #12 Tom Bryant, Jul 15, 2013
  13. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    Maybe it's time to read some books!! That's my second choice of things to do. Last on the list is housecleaning. LOL
     
    #13 annsni, Jul 15, 2013
  14. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    33,912
    Likes Received:
    1,663
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Vietnam vet right...I think you could cope w/o no stinking Internet :laugh:
     
    #14 Earth Wind and Fire, Jul 15, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...