My family and I had just deplaned in San Diego when we heard the news of the bridge collapsing back in our home state of Minnesota. It was a sobering time as we watched the news, wondering if we knew anyone, how many had perished, how many lives would be devastated through this calamity.

Among my many questions arose one in my heart that I needed to address. Was there a higher purpose or cause to this event that we need to understand? Was this a judgment from God? Was this an act of Satan? or do we just relegate it to human failure and join in the blame game pointing fingers at the politicians and officials who should have been more concerned for public safety?

Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!The Trumpet is being Blown! This past New Year’s Eve I was in Kansas City at the One Thing Conference and The Call with Mike Bickle and Lou Engle.  Mike and Lou both spoke to the urgency of this hour for America.  Their words reminded me of a message that God had put within me many years ago.

As a young man in high school, I clearly remember reading the book of Jeremiah and being struck with how Jeremiah's descriptions of Israel's apostasy could easily be used to describe the condition of America.  At the time, I didn't really know what to do with those thoughts. It's now over 30 years later and though for many years I’d suppressed  to the point of silence the voice of alarm within me, it has been surfacing more in recent months.

As we have discussed in prior postings[1], God created man to dwell in fellowship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. However, in His infinite wisdom[2], the He knew that man would quickly depart from this place of intimacy and choose to walk in unrighteousness that would forever keep humanity from full intimacy with Him.  This would require that a way be made for humanity to return to this eternal relationship.  In full agreement and submission, the Son would become a man and take upon Himself the sin of all mankind[3], taking not only the sin of the world, but taking on the form of a man; the uncreated God becoming the created; fully experiencing all that man would experience in the physical.  

Why am I here? Is there a purpose to life? Questions we all need to ask. I think I have often ignored these questions as being too mystical or only for those whose lives are messed up or without direction.

But until we can honestly address this question in our own life, I fear that we as Christians risk stumbling through this life being motivated by the latest fad, cause or calling (Christian or otherwise) that comes our way. For the unsaved, they arrive at the end of their days on this earth having accomplished great things or accomplishing little, but still missing the real purpose for their existence, and thus going into eternity suffering the greatest loss imaginable - eternally suffering the absolute absence of Love.

What is the Global Bridegroom Fast and Why You May Want to Fast

Maybe you have fasted before and the mere mention of the word brings to your mind all types of horrible thoughts and memories - let me challenge you - to try this fast and you will never be the same! My entire paradigm has shifted when it comes to fasting.
 
Jesus first introduces this concept to his disciples in Matthew 9:14-17 right after He has a discourse with the religious leaders about leading the sinners to repentance. They were questioning why His disciples didn't fast.
 
Matthew 9:15 And Jesus replied to them, Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

He is explaining to His disciples for the first time that they will fast once He is gone.
 
In the next verse Jesus explains to His disciples how you can not pour new wine into an old wineskin, otherwise the wineskin will burst and be unable to carry anything.
 
Matthew 14:16-17 And no one puts a piece of cloth that has not been shrunk on an old garment, for such a patch tears away from the garment and a worse rent (tear) is made. Neither is new wine put in old wineskins; for if it is, the skins burst and are torn in pieces, and the wine is spilled and the skins are ruined. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.
 
We call this the Bridegroom Fast  and it is for believers to join all around the globe together to connect to The Bridegroom Jesus to receive more of Him. I don't know about you but I must have more of Him!
 
I am motivated to enter into this fast because I have an ache inside for more of Him, what Song of Solomon 5:8 describes as lovesick or sick with love. I am sick with Love for more of Him, my longing for Him propels me to reach for more of Him. I want to understand this Bridegroom Jesus who has such a tender heart and passionate zeal for me even in my weakness. What kind of Love is this?

If you feel a pain, an ache inside for more of Him know this...you are beginning to feel lovesick! If you want to know Him as this Bridegroom God, who is tender and loves our weakness, who is transcendent in His Beauty and has a burning affection for us...please consider joining us on this fast!
 
For more info on this fast, please see watch Mike Bickle teach on this topic.