My 3 Day Information and Technology Fast
So there it is.
It has been over 20 years since I have gone more than 12 hours without some form of technology feeding me information.
Seriously. I am addicted. I am aware. And I am going to go spend some time with God where the silence will be deafening.
I lost my iPhone a few months back and literally had heart palpitations.
I am guessing that the first 24 hours will be more of a detox.
You know. Shakes, sweats, hallucinations.
The next 24 hours I think I will be better.
So I am going to break out the Beth Moore Breaking Free study.
Go ahead dudes.
Throw your stones.
But this woman is the cat’s pajamas and can preach most of you under the table.
So there you have it.
Me. Silence. 3 days. Somewhere in the southeast. No wife. No kids. No friends. Nothing but the Lord.
Starting at 3 pm…Today.
What do you think this will do for me?
What could it do for you?
Los
well done, friend. you’ll be the better for it!
i’d get fired since i’m in the information business
but, fasting from other sources of information would be beneficial. i waste incredible amounts of personal time in the search for the next interesting read.
i bet your family will love it
good luck, we’ll be praying!
btw, i suspect you will emerge with a renewed commitment to healthy “margins” in your life.
hmm I would love three days by myself no technology no kids just peace and quiet I’d sleep!
I experience a non-voluntary internet fast when I moved to a place across town a few weeks ago. Sadly, I didn’t fare too well.
It might be better though, if I actually chose to fast the tech and info stuff.
That’s sweet man. I’ve been considering doing this. When do you plan on starting? I’m excited to hear about how it goes for you.
Sorry for the double post. Just noticed that you said when you were going to come back, implying that you’re starting 3 days before that. Gotcha…
First thought was: wow I’d love to get way. I am an introvert and it has been some time since I have totally retreated.
Second thought was: Wait, what about Creative Chaos?
May God bless you in this time of fasting…
Good luck Los’.
This is going to be seriously crazy-hard.
I’ll def. be lifting you up.
http://www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com
very brave endeavor. this summer i went to Tanzania for 6 weeks. no phone. internet to check mail and a few posts 1 or 2 times a week. such a nice detox from our information-fueled culture.
heard a message from Erwin McManus about silencing the white noise in your life. so true. brings you to a closer level with God and enjoying the people and things happening around you
I would nearly kill to have that time alone.
Awesome bro, I love the transparency on this blog and the ability to be real. I just did something very similar for 24 hours and it was amazing what the Lord revealed to me in those 24 hours of just spending time with him. I’m eager to hear from you come Saturday @ 3 pm. Hopefully, by that time the Cubs will be leading the Dodgers 2-1 in the NLDS!
We’ll be waiting!
Good luck! I had a fast from my computer years ago and it was the hardest thing I had ever done but when it was over the computer no longer had a hold on me.
Of course, it’s not like that now where I pretty much live on my computer. Hmm…maybe you’re on to something…
I suppose it will be hard for you. And you will be tempted, tried and tested. I pray that you come out of it with a sense of renewal and awareness of what the Lord wants for you and from you. If anything, obviously, a closer relationship with Him. Because we can never be close enough…until “that” day.
Also praying for peace when you return….overload can be a hard thing to deal with.
Wow! Proud of you.
Knowing is 1/2 the battle…so knowing that you’re addicted is the first step- praying for God’s grace as you step out into the silence!!!!
dude… ENJOY IT! know that the technology will still be here (assuming the 2nd coming doesn’t happen while you’re out)… and that God is still the center of the universe.
i think i/we all need to do this from time to time.
Right on! I was recently told that I was addicted too. Even though I knew it…having someone else say it to me really made me think. I’ve been considering doing something like this too. It’s inspiring seeing you going for this. I’ll be praying.
It seems like this is the theme in my life lately…silence and listening to God…getting away from the moise in my life.
Ooh, and as for Beth Moore….watch out…Breaking Free was the most gut wrenching study I have ever done….she really hits hard on the idols in your life and drawing amazing links to how our relationship with a Holy God demands that we be FREE from bondage.
I will be praying for you.
have a good one.
shabbat shalom,
DEREK
The first day will be the toughest, but press on through and the last two will be awesome just hanging out with God. Fast to focus baby! It’s about feasting on Jesus rather than information. Prayin’.
Hey I think that’s great and all… but can you post your Creative Chaos first so I can get all the traffic from you?
Hugs…
In the stillness… {seesmic_video:{”url_thumbnail”:{”value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/k68bTfsUKl_th1.jpg”}”title”:{”value”:”In the stillness… ”}”videoUri”:{”value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/FN2sCWWI5B”}}}
Very cool dude, I’ve been wanting to take even a one day silent retreat for a few years now since my college professor mentioned it. Totally against my nature to be in solitude. I hate it, but I need it.
Looking forward to seeing how God uses it for you. And hopefully one of these days, I’ll get around to that personal retreat!
Love it. Have done it. You can do it. It will rock your world. And Beth Moore, she da’ bomb.
Last weekend I went camping by myself. I hiked 2.5 miles into the woods and was by myself. It was incredibly refreshing.
Have a good time
Father, pump LOS up as he pushes into you. Let his love for you and his investment in you be seen by so many others. Thank you for covering and protecting his family. Bless in big ways. Speak loud and soft. Let this be a great time for you in Los’ life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
My hat is off to you… Sounds like a Spirit-birthed idea and I am praying for breakthrough and a deepening of yoru understanding of who He has made you to be. Have fun brothaman… and don’t forget to use that journal! See below…
Habakkuk 2
1 I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
2 Then the LORD answered me and said:
“ Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
He is a rewarded of them that diligently seek Him – thanks for inspiring the rest of us to do the same…
If you’re taking Beth Moore you’re still having technology pump you information. I am not trying to be a jerk and dis you or Beth. Both of you are awesome and I wholly support you. I’m just hearing you wanting to get away from the voices. I encourage you to eliminate them all but yours and the Lords.
You’ll have a great time! My husband is leaving tomorrow morning to drive to CO. He’s climbing a mountian. I’m going to read ‘Wild At Heart’ while he’s gone since it will be 8 days until he has reception again….I guess you don’t get a good signal on a mountain… Anyway, God will speak to you while you’re there….I’m excited to read the revelations when you’re back!
Hope God speaks to you in a way you will not soon forget. Looking forward from you after this weekend.
Praying for you!
I’ll be praying for you. God will speak something fresh into your spirit. Even through the withdrawal symptoms
My husband has been out of town for 3 weeks and it’s been just me and my daughter. I have not turned the tv on in that 3 weeks and I’ve spent minimal time on the computer. My house is clean and feels amazing. Peaceful.. Between the no tv and the book Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul, I am almost 100% different that who I was 3 weeks ago. God has done, and is doing, amazing things in my life.
It will be so good for you!
No freakin’ way!
once you get past the withdrawl state you’ll be so elated to be that close and focused on God. good luck my friend.
Proud of you, Los. It’s a difficult step back, I can relate.
I had my best friend change my Facebook password. It was refreshing…I should have stayed away longer than week, though. I recently took a “blogging/photography sabbatical” too, for about a month. But that was just a fast from writing/publishing, not from reading.
I need to do it again, and more severely I think, because it’s way too easy to fall right back into the addiction.
Here is a powerful quote from Henri Nouwen:
“It is this nothingness that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work, and my distractions so that I can forget my nothingness and make myself believe that I am worth something.”
Go los! Will be excited to hear what happens — and something WILL happen. A realization, an awakening, a revitalization, relaxation, frustration (?) — but something will happen and I’m excited about hearing about it from you because I know you will say exactly what that is.
Dude, I hope it goes awesome. Thanks for leading us and challenging us.
For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon
http://www.fredmckinnon.com
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com
Does this mean you’re going to miss the VP debate?
Dude, I get where you’re comin from and I’m probably just as addicted, but I look at it like this: I don’t do any of this without the goal of bringing one lost person closer to Christ. None of it! The internet, the blog, twitter, FB, MS…all of it is nothing but an awesome tool to reach more people.
I understand everyone needs a break to refresh, but I almost feel guilty when I go a day without doing something on here.
Not being a critic brother…just givin my side. You reach a ton of peeps and I’ll pray that you come back refreshed and ready to go at it for another 20 years!!
that’s awesome, Los!
i wish i could do it too.
but….no chance.
maybe one day
i’ll be praying for you.
los, i’m so proud of you!
you can do it fo sho, i fasted from the internet & phone for 2 1/2 months, and if i can do it, you can!
prayin for you, friend!
Good for you! I’m glad that you’re getting away from life for the next few days. Rest is such an overlooked part of being a Christian in today’s culture. Good on ya for doing this.
Your a bigger man than me Carlos. I get the shakes just thinking about being away from my computer while at work. It really can become an addiction.
Oh to Love the presence of our Great God like that.
time well spent! happy for you enjoy!
My mom Dulce just got diagnosed with liver cancer last week , she starts chemo tommorow.
I’m believing for a miracle
oops, posted my prayer request on the wrong post
It will be incredibly hard and rewarding!!! We all need to be reminded to get away… thanks!
Clarity baby, CLARITY…plus it’s always a challenge for me when the wifey says, “YOU CAN’T DO IT!” Go for it HOMIE…and may God truly bless you…I think I need to fast from Desperate Housewives and 24! I renting the T.V. videos like crazy.
Much love Carlito. Very cool. Enjoy the silence. God will indeed be loud in it.
Breaking Free is such an amazing study. I think you will learn a lot from that, your time away and the solitude. God bless your journey, it doesn’t end till we die, I like seeing some of it.
You challenged me bro. Thanks for doing that. I’ll be praying for you!
jack
Hope the fast is going well. You are almost done. Can’t wait to hear about the ways God spoke to you!