Friday, March 26, 2010

Friday, March 26, 2010..........Day 69

Day 69 of the Fruit Feast. Day of Spiritual preparation for the Sabbath of Rest. Its been a blessed week. So many have died this week, so many have had serious life changing events, so many have become homeless. i am thankful the Lord saw fit to keep us safe from harm this week. He has blessed me with life and health and Delicious fruit. i have been getting whole durian regularly (such a blessing it is). i had a very nice workout today. No leg work, just upper body but did the workout in under 30 minutes. Re-upped on fruit from the big asian market in Greensboro, NC. i am taking a business trip to Connecticut on monday by God's grace so i got some fruit for the journey and stay. i will be there for 3 days. As part of the detox i experienced this past week, i have had some sores in and on my mouth. This has happened before to me and i know it as a sign of detoxification. i thought it good to mention it in case others experience it.

We are having holy communion tomorrow for Sabbath. i will fast from the time i eat dinner tonight until dinner tomorrow to keep my head clear as i am the vessel being used by the Spirit to do the service. Communion is a very serious thing for the Bible Christian. It means a renewal of the covenant between Christ and the believer. It is a covenant in the blood of Christ unto death. Which means the person partaking of the communion agrees to put away all sin in Christ and to be His follower forever until death. In Christ this means forever because not even death can separate the believer from Christ.

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

By partaking of the bread and wine (fruit juice), the believer is making a commitment to allow Christ to dwell in them and through them forever. For me this is very serious and i approach it so. We encourage people not to partake unless they are prepared to make such a commitment because many partake not having any idea what they are doing. One thing i have learned, before getting into anything, make sure you know what you are getting into both for bad and good. Understanding all the possible consequences. i think many people would save themselves alot of trouble if they would take the time with prayer and deep thought to thoroughly count the cost.

Here was today's menu:
Breakfast: 5 mangos.1 clementine

Lunch (it was more like a pre-workout snack): Chopped sugarcane, 3 dates.

Dinner: 32oz of OJ, 1 whole durian (delicious), bowl of longan.

Spiritual bread: Hebrews 1, 2, 2 Cor 1, 2.

Exercise: 320 pushups, 58 chins.

Sabbath peace and rest to all who love Christ in Sincerity.

Grace and Peace be multiplied to all.

Have a wonderful Weekend!

todd

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Wednesday, March 24, 2010.....Day 67

Day 67 of the Fruit Feast. Ate Fruitarian Fabulous today. i actually did have a salt craving, but i noticed i was also very hungry and my wife was cooking something. As soon as i ate, the craving was gone. When i am hungry it seems that is when and temptation that wants to come, will come. But i don't want hunger to control my choices. i want my mind to control when i eat and i want the Spirit to control my mind.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.


This is why an occasional fast is probably a good thing. i am planning on Fasting for a very little while this weekend as i have a bit of a dilemma. We are having holy communion this sabbath. It involves bread. We use the bread made as the bible describes it, so it will have salt and flour in it. My wife suggested making dehydrated crackers out of vegetable and perhaps that will solve the issue. i don't know, but i will be fasting prior to it and waiting a few hours after it to eat anything regardless. Here again, i must continue to think in the Spirit and not be concerned with the flesh. The Lord will take care of the details and the blessing is always great.

Breakfast: 4 mangos, 5 clementines, dried banana.

Lunch: Non-sweet fruit salad with guac sauce. Durian.

Dinner: Durian, SugarCane.

Spiritual bread: 2 Sam 14-16

Exercise: 24 Chins, 250 pushups, 160 weighted squats, 15 assisted pistols per leg, 20 tricep presses.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Tuesday, March 23, 2010........Day 66

Day 66 of the Fruit Feast. i was feeling sort of lazy today. It was a dreary day outside, i had work that i needed to do, but i just couldn't get into it today. i did manage a descent workout, not great, but descent. i ate well and the idea of cooked food is getting to be a turnoff to me completely. i am just loving fruit. i did have a taste for the savory today though so i ate a non-sweet fruity salad with guac. The guac was the simplest of recipes. i just juiced 2 ribs of celery, i placed in the bowl of juice 1.25 avocados and mashed it up in there. That was it. i tossed that in my salad and it was totally delicious. i am still using my celery for my medicine and each time it seems to make me more secure in the Fruitarian lifetstyle. The remedies the God of Heaven provides in nature are the best of all. i continue to look forward by Faith to higher and higher heights in Christ as the living soul Temple becomes more cleansed and His presence takes over more and more.


Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
 Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

 May i stay humble in Christ as i reach towards the mark of His High Calling.

Breakfast: 32oz OJ, 7 mangos.


Lunch: Non-sweet fruit salad (1 english cuke, 1 yellow bell pepper, 3 tomatoes, 1 rib celery) with guac sauce.


Dinner: 44oz smoothie (watermelon juice, honeydew juice, mamey sapote, 3 dates). The mamey did not ripen properly so i used it in the smoothie.

Spiritual bread: 1 Cor 13-16

Exercise: 210 pushups, 38 chins, 35 assisted pistols per leg, 100 weighted squats, 58 weighted stair hops.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Monday, March 22, 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010.....Weekend Review of Days 62-64.

Weekend Review of Days 62-64. The past Sabbath was exactly 9 weeks of being 100% Raw Fruitarian. i was expecting some detox at about 8 weeks and when it didn't come i just figured it may take alittle longer. Well, i didn't have to wait that long. Saturday night, my stomach began rumbling. Actually it was in my intestines that i really felt it. By Sunday morning i was doubled over in pain. i eliminated about 5-6 times. After each time i felt like the pain was going lower in my intestinal tract. (Warning: this may get alittle gross).
Then my system seemed to calm down alittle, but i felt like i had been through a fight. i had eaten some longans, 4 clementines and drank some OJ. i had determined to rest easy on Sunday and just ride it out.

Well, then my son called. He said there was alot of guys at the park and they wanted me to come out. i really didn't feel up to it, especially since some of these kids really get up for me, but i was feeling alittle guilty since it was a beautiful day and i wanted to spend some time with my son. So i got dressed and came out. i am glad i did. The running and jumping really helped the detox symptoms. i seemed to get stronger the longer we played. i felt great. i did a few sets of chins and dips between games and we played about 2 hours. i am excited about how it went because i am still rounding into shape and as the weather gets warmer, i will be more fit. Notwithstanding this, once i returned home and showered the pains began again in my intestinal tract. All night i was feeling my abdomen heaving and i was gaseous. i awoke at about 3am with energy and pain at the same time. i fell back to sleep at about 6am and awoke again for family worship at 8am. After worship the gurgling in my intestines got worse and i had to go to the bathroom.

Now this is the nasty part. Yesterday i eliminated so much that i almost clogged the toilet once. It was the same this morning, the only difference was............some of the "stuff" was black. i mean i had seen it so nasty in quite a few years.  i immediately felt great. Light and energetic. i knew i had just gotten rid of something from my intestines that needed to go. i praised the Lord for the fruit and what it was doing in me.

After dealing with that it made me think that i don't want to ever put anything that wasn't raw fruit in my system again. i am looking forward to the continued progress in my person from the Fruitarian Lifestyle. i am again, very, very thankful to have overcome the salt demon as well as the sugar demon. i am sure there will be other mountains to conquer, but i know what the scripture promises:

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Amen.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010.........Day 60

Day 60 of the Fruit Feast. Today is officially two months as a 100% Raw Fruitarian. i have to say, i am having no cravings for anything but sweet fruit now. This time around is so much easier because of the elimination of salt cravings. After two months i have lost a total of 10lbs (as previously blogged, i weight 203lbs right now at a height of about 6 feet tall). i feel very strong, but know i will get stronger and more fit as the summer comes on. For example i did 400 push ups today along with 80 chins. It felt great! Every part of the Bible that i read is coming alive to me. Not that it wasn't alive before, but my level of awareness of the Spirit of Life in Christ is much higher. The exciting thing about that is, i know it will only increase. It is my determination to one day reflect perfectly, the Image of Christ. This diet, which i believe is the Original Diet the Creator gave to our parents Adam and Eve, is a tremendous help in this goal. i believe it helps clear the mind and souls for a stronger spiritual connection. What i am realizing though is this connection can be for either the Holy Spirit, or the spirit of the arch deceiver of all. For i see some choosing the former and others the latter. What i notice about those in the latter category is, most of them have no idea what they are doing. This is partly because when one begins to reach higher levels of consciousness, one tends to think its all good because its all new. But there are two spirit worlds vying for the control of the human habitation, of this i am always aware. One is the Spirit of Truth, the other of deception. The truth is honest, but the deception is powerful and deadly. Ask Adam and  Eve.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.


2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.



Its also interesting to me that, this April will be the end of 6 years on the raw path. May will begin the 7th year and i think it would be fitting if i began a permanent Fruitarian lifestyle in the 7th year. i think that would be very cool. If it continues as it is now, it will not be a problem at all. i have noticed my family gravitating towards increased fruit intake. The power of example is indeed stronger than words. Praise the Lord from Whom all Blessings flow!


Breakfast: 7 mangoes, 32oz smoothie (celeryjuice, honeydew, 4 dates)

Lunch: Large fruit salad with orange-date sauce. 

Dinner: Smoothie made from leftover fruit salad and orange juice. 3 mangos. Sugar Cane. 

Spiritual bread: 1Cor 3-5, 2 Sam 1-4


Exercise: 4 mile walk, 400 push ups, 80 chins. i tried a different way of doing my sets today. i did staggered sets. i started with one set of 60 pushups with 12 chins. i did this twice. Then i did the same thing twice with 50 pushups and 10 chins. The 40 and 8 and so on, ending up with 10 sets each. It took about 45 minutes and it was very satisfying. i think i will try the same principle with my leg work on the next workout. 


Grace and Peace be multiplied.


todd

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010......Day 59

Day 59 of the Fruit Feast. i am totally enjoying the Fruitarian lifestyle. The food is bringing added joy to my heart (as Christ designed it to). As the Word says:

Psalms 104:14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
Psalms 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

btw, the "wine" is the pure juice of the fruit (usually grape in the bible) and not the alcoholic beverage that is the drink of the intemperate. Its unfortunate how so many use the bible to justify ugly vices. Anyways, i am really experiencing tremendous blessings from the Fruitarian lifestyle; more than any other time in my life. i am so thankful for the fruit that is available to me, even as i understand that there are places where the fruit grows of much higher quality (like south Florida, Jamaica, Central & South America, Hawaii, SE Asia and other places). But what i am able to obtain here in the Roanoke Virginia area is a great blessing for the fact that the best of fruit does not grow here (although the area produces delicious watermelon, apples, peaches, raspberries and blackberries as well as some other fruits in the summer). i am just very thankful for what i am being provided with in general.

Here is my delicious meals for the day:

Breakfast:38oz smoothie (celery juice, honeydew juice, 4 dates), 3 mangos.

Lunch: 1 durian, bowl of longans, 4 mangos (i was hungry!).

Dinner: 16oz smoothie (grapes, oj, bananas), 3 dates (i brushed right after, no issues)

Spiritual bread: 1 Cor 1, 2

Exercise: 100 squats, 16 assisted pistol squats per leg, 48 chins, 200 push ups, 60 weighted step jumps.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Monday, March 15, 2010....Weekend Review of Days 55-57

Weekend Review of days 55-57 of the Fruit Feast. Total learning experience this weekend. First off, after nearly 2 months on all fruit i am a solid 203lbs. Thats amazing to me. i feel very strong and energetic. i am getting more knowledge from the Holy Spirit as He is preparing me for future use. i recall times past when i was 100% raw and when i lost alot of weight. Last year at the beginning of the 7 month fruit feast i was 215lbs (give or take). By the end of 7 months i was 175-180lbs. i had done some running last year and played alot of basketball with my son and his peers. i have not done any running as of yet this year. i decided to wait until sometime in April, when its consistently warmer, to begin playing ball outside. So i may end up losing alot of weight at some point, but at this point i have not. i am by no means fat or obese, but i am muscular and i can tell my body will get tighter as time goes on. So much for the fruitarian diet making one sick for lack of protein or whatever.

Recently i have been studying the book of Ephesians. This is one of my favorite gospel books of all. i have been praying a prayer said by the Apostle Paul in Chapter 3:

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

To "know" the Love of Christ and be filled with the fulness of God. The word "know", implies intimate and close personal experience with something or someone. In the bible the term is often used to describe sexual connection because its intimate in its acquaintence and holy in Christ. So to "know" the Love of Christ is to have a close, personal experience with His Love. i have been praying for more of such an experience and, as the Lord would, He placed me in a position to learn of it.

We were having an online bible study on sunday night. The Spirit was moving among us as Christ was being uplifted and the Father being glorified. The Truth of the Word was being put forth and many were rejoicing. Then the study concluded and we had our usual time of question and answer. During this time people can say whatever they wish so long as they are not profane or argumentative. Certain people, who came in under the guise of joining us in study, began to accuse me of blasphemy. i let it go on for well over 45 minutes and the spirit of peace that was among us left as the spirit of accusation and fanaticism took hold. Some urged me to put a stop to it (which i normally would have done), but instead i let it go. What started out as rejoicing turned into sadness and frustration. Thus is the damage satan can do if allowed his purpose. Afterward i was angry that i allowed it and i purposed to ban those people from our bible study in the future. But then the above-referenced verse came to me, along with the prayer i prayed for the same. i realized that, although those people came with an evil spirit, Christ died for them and loved them. i realized that, i had a long way to go before i could "know" that type of love. i went to my knees asking for forgiveness for in any ways not representing the Love of Christ. i asked the Lord to show me my sin if there was any i was not aware of (He is faithful to do so if asked). i realized that, thru the Spirit of Grace, i must come to the point where Christ was on this earth as the devil constantly attacked Him with every weapon at his dark and powerful disposal:

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Christ was so closely and firmly connected with His Father, satan could do nothing to disturb His peace or move Him to sin. i am determined thru Grace to reach that point. This is the reason for the Fruit Feast. To clear my mind and reach that spiritual connection with the Father thru Christ where "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me".

Amen.


i have eaten several mono meals this weekend. On Friday, i ate all mangos for breakfast and durian for dinner. On Sabbath i ate the same. On Sunday i ate all bananas for breakfast, but when i got to the Asian market the mono-thing went out the window. i was tasting the longan and the mangos. The atafaulos were delicious! Glory!. i got 3 cases of them along with 3 cases of kent mangos. The manager gave me a discount on a case of valencias (a case of 100 for $18.50). i also bought a sour sop and some custard apples. They were frozen the way the durian was. When i let them thaw and ate of them they were totally nasty. i am sure they taste good right off the tree but they do not well after being frozen the way the durian does. i believe the hard exterior of the durian protects the fruit more effectively. It was a shame too because one sour sop costs nearly $16. The waste left as bad a taste in my mouth as the fruit. i was even able to eat of some dates (i brushed immediately afterwards and experienced no pain). i love medjool dates. i am planning on trying the "datorade" i have been hearing so much about on 30Bad. i was thinking of using celery juice in place of the water. i will give a report when i do.

i pray you all had a wonderful weekend.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd

Friday, March 12, 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010.....Day 54

Day 54 of the Fruit Feast. i had a tremendous pain in my gums all night. It started early in the evening and when on until about 5am. i refused to take any pain medications so i kept washing my mouth out with warm water and brushing my teeth. i felt the nerve endings in my gums throbbing all night. Very painful. It died down before the sunrise. i believe it had to do with detox and dates. i love dates, but i cannot eat them straight on in too much a quantity. When i do eat them i must brush my teeth right after. i must also mention that i had this pain on day 53 of the Fruit Feast also so that this was my second night like this. The pain was so bad on Wednesday that at about 6pm i just lay down and curled up. i prayed for it to go away and when it did not cease immediately i realized i was to learn something from the experience. Well so far i have learned a couple of things. One, detox can be painful, but i know its well worth it and i don't want to put things in my soul Temple that will needs cause detox problems later. This means i may be Fruitarian for life. Second, i must brush my teeth alittle more often at least at this stage of the diet so as the resin from the fruit does not stay on my gums. Third, i must be careful with dates. They have always caused some discomfort when i eat too many of them (although never quite like this). i usually have no trouble when i blend them with other things as sweeteners, but when i eat them straight on i am asking for trouble. i hope that somewhere down the line my body is clean enough so i can enjoy them freely with no issues. i love this journey for i am hungry for Righteousness and growth in Christ.

Proverbs 27:7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Even with almost no sleep i felt tremendous energy in my body today. i had a very satisfying worktout (the best one this week). i didn't eat much as i still had some gum soreness, but i wasn't very hungry anways. Well, we go Forward!

Breakfast: 1 star fruit, 1 mini watermelon.

Dinner: non-sweet fruit salad (papaya, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper) with coconut sauce (very good).

Spiritual bread: 1 Samuel 19-21, Romans 15-16

Exercise: 100 regular squats, 16 pistol squats per leg, 200 pushups, 56 chins, 60 weighted stair hops.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tuesday, March 9, 2010.......Day 52

Day 52 of the Fruit Feast. Little bit of running about today. Had an excellent workout cut short but i believe it was meant to be and i can always do it again the next day (smile). It was the nicest day of the year today, i believe it reached 70 with abundant sunshine. My son told me that the young boys at the park were looking for me yesterday. i told him not to expect me until April when its 70s all the time. i need another month to prepare in the Fruit Feast. i can tell its going to be a fun spring at the park. Maybe i will be able to perform a muscle-up sometime this year. That is the plan anyways. i would like to order some Cherimoyas and egg fruit at some point this week. i have acquired 4 Durian this week, i ate one of them today....fabulous fruit indeed!

Deuteronomy 20:19 ........ thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) ......


Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.


i pray to the God of Heaven, that i choose trees of Life and not of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Amen.


Breakfast: 44oz smoothie (Celery Juice, canteloupe, bananas, dates). 1 mango.


Dinner: 1 Durian, 1 mango, 2 pods tamarind, 3 links sugar cane.


Spiritual Bread: 1 Corinthians 1-3


Exercise: 100 squats,  150 pushups, 30 chins, 55 weighted stair hops, 16 assisted pistol squats per leg.


Grace and Peace be multiplied.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Monday, March 8, 2010............Day 51 of the Fruit Feast

Day 51 of the Fruit Feast. This was a strange day diet-wise. i ate an excellent breakfast at about 8:30 this morning. Then circumstance had me far from home and hungry at about 3:30pm. i was at a health food store (i use the term loosely), so i purchased about a handful of dried mango (unsulphered lo-sugar is what the label said) and about 10 medjool dates. i ate the mango first and by the third date i was satisfied. Medjool dates are generally too sweet for me to eat and i can only eat a couple of them. i use them for sweetners in smoothies from time to time mostly. i bought a fare amount of them today because of all the soar atafaulo mangos i purchased. Those mangos taste like they have bitter lemon in them. So as not to waste them, i will either juice them or just drop the flesh into the blender with dates and something else. Anyways, as i had eaten that small meal i was no longer hungry. At about 6:30pm i made dinner. It was 32oz of OJ and two chopped up canteloupe with date sauce. The melon was much bigger than i anticipated and after drinking the OJ i was full again. So i didn't end up eating the canteloupe until about 9:30. Way too late. The dried fruit actually ruined my appetite and i should have stopped after the OJ. The good thing was, because the last thing i ate was a melon, it digested very well and the next morning i awoke with tremendous electrical charge and energy. Anyone who has been on a 100% Raw diet of fruit knows what i mean by "electrical charge". Its like a charge pulsating thru the body and it wakes me up. It feels fantastic. i have been having it more and more frequently now that the fruit feast is well under way.

Because of how my day and my meals went, i didn't workout yesterday. i had alot of running around to do both for my secular business and my Heavenly Father's Business.

Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Speaking of that, i enjoyed an excellent bible study with a couple i have been studying with for about a month. They are really growing in the truth of the Word and the Spirit. These things bring great joy to my heart and this had me smiling all day.

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

i say the truth in that, this round of being fruitarian is so much easier than any other time i have attempted it. i know that the celery juice has alot to do with it, but also, i believe it was just time. Everything that happens, happens in its appointed time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

From the time i was consciously aware that i was called to this lifestyle, i had to go thru certain things. i had to learn to trust the Lord more, to allow my body to go at the pace it needed. i had to be delivered from many things, anger, regret, grudges i had held. My body had to be cleansed from many things, most particularly processed sugar and salt. Now, i am not suggesting my journey is over by any means. But i know i have reached a new level of growth in this journey. i know that it was time for this level when the time came. When its time for another level, my spirit will know that also as the Holy Spirit guides me.

 Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Amen.........all praise and honor to the Lord Christ.


Breakfast:
Bowl of longans, 1 half mini watermelon, 4 bananas.

Lunch: handful of dried mango, 3 medjool dates

Dinner: 32oz OJ, 2 chopped canteloupe with date-oj sauce.

Spiritual Bread: Hebrews 8,9

Exercise: Faith and Joy

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Sunday, March 7, 2010...........Weekend Review of Days 48-50

Weekend Review of Days 48-50 of the Fruit Feast. Its happening very similar to what the process was last year in that days turn into weeks and weeks into months pretty quickly. Hard to believe its day 50 already. 10 more days and it will be two full months 100% Fruitarian. The difference this year is the lack of salt cravings. That is a huge difference for me. i am feeling in my own person, the power of the Spirit of God. i am seeing the total un-Christlikeness of my character when compared to that of the Lord. This humbles me and makes me so very grateful for His Righteousness in my place as well as His Free Grace given to me. Because of increased clarity, the events of this world, the murders, abductions, rapes, earthquakes, floods, coups...etc. i can see very clearly the need for Truth in Christ to be reflected in those who really belong to Him. While i have absolutely no belief in the mayan calender predictions of 2012 or some so-called evangelist predictions of 2011, i believe without a doubt that this world will not last much longer. For those in Christ, this is good news as we look for a New Heavens and a New Earth:
2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

And those that are fully conformed to the Image of Christ will dwell with Him in the New Jerusalem:
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

All liars and hypocrites will receive their just eternal rewards:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.


Revelation 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 
 Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Even So, Amen.

Indeed, the fruit diet is blessing my soul. i feel my body getting more fit as well. The weather forecasts sunny and 60s this week around here. i will seek to get outside and eat some air and sunshine. Welcome to Spring!

i ate like a fruitarian king thiis weekend. Longans, mangos, melons, orange juice and of course Durian.  One of the Sapodillas i bought from last weekend finally ripened. It was totally amazing. So sweet and the consistency is really something. April will begin my 7th year in the world of Raw eating. Its interesting to me how, i have been sort of struggling i guess with 100% raw from then till now. Now, as the 7th year begins, i am cruising diet-wise. Thats something else.

The Spiritual food was tremendous. i cannot fully expess in words the spiritual blessings i am receiving each weekend with our little flock. The words from the pages of Holy Writ seem to just jump out at me and speak to me. The Love in the Spirit and care among us is something i have never really experienced on this level, this consistently.
i did leg workouts both Friday and Sunday. 100 squats followed by weighted stair jumps and assisted pistol squats. Leg workouts are draining, but the strength they produce is rewarding. On sunday, i went to the Asian market and was able to get a pretty good haul for about $100.

10 Kent mangos
48 atafaulo mangos
2 Durian
5 star fruit
1 box of tamarind
5lbs of clementines
1 papaya
2lbs of Longan
1 Large stalk of SugarCane

The store gave me a free bottle of water for purchasing at least $100 of food.......LOL. So instead of a partridge in a pear tree, i got the water.

i pray all of you had a wonderful weekend as well.

Grace and peace be multiplied.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Thursday, March 4.....Day 47

Day 47 of the Fruit Feast. i am just fruity cruisin' right now. Praising my Lord Christ for His Grace (which is offered free to all). i am really into sweets these days, sweet fruits of course. My apologies for missing a day (Wednesday) as it just flew by me. This evening i had some sugar cane. i must do some more research into its benefits but my body is telling me its all good. Sure did bring joy to me this evening. Had a descent workout also, planning to do legs tomorrow.

Breakfast:
36oz watermelon-banana-orange smoothie, 4 clementines

Lunch:
Large non-sweet fruit salad (peeled cukes, sweet pepper, several tomatoes) with a sweet sauce made from dates, mango and OJ........the sauce was really good.

Later: Sugar Cane stalk.

Spiritual bread: 1 Sam 11-13, Romans 5-7

Exercise: 250 pushups, 50 chins.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tuesday, March 2, 2010........Day 45

Day 45 of the Fruit Feast. i have been having a very strong taste for sweet fruits over the last couple of days. The interesting part to me is twofold. First, i have no craving for the savory at this point. i may want a tomato, but the cucumber and sweet pepper just are not what i desire right now; and forget about salt, thats gone too. Second, it doesn't matter whether i eat little or much so long as its sweet. Once i get my fill of sweet, i don't want to eat anymore. i don't know how long this is going to last, but i like it-----mostly. It was alittle frustrating today because of the lack of very sweet fruits available. i bought 3 watermelons yesterday. This morning i was really looking forward to eating a sweet juicy watermelon. When i cracked one open, it was brown inside........BROWN! Disgustedly rotten, couldn't even juice it. Then i opened a second one and it was not brown but very, very light and mushy inside. Like it didn't ripen well at all. i juiced that one and mixed part of it with my celery juice and part of it in a smoothie. It was not a very sweet melon at all.  i had some ripe bananas and while they were good and sweet i was missing the juicy. So, after i drank the celery juice and the smoothie i was full but not satisfied. i have one whole durian left but i am saving it for my Sabbath meal on Friday evening. So for lunch i started with 24oz of fresh liquid sunshine. Now that was very good. i ate 5 more bananas and that went well. So i chopped that third watermelon. The flesh was not optimal but it was indeed sweet and juicy. i thought 'Ahhhhhhhh'. i ate half of it then and saved the rest for dinner after my workout.

But i wanted more sweet so i ate a mango for dinner and as it turned out it wasn't completely ripe and alittle bitter. i had a clementine and it was juicy but not sweet. Talk about trying the patience. But when i ate the rest of the watermelon and 3 more bananas i was totally satisfied. i think i am in a transitional season of fruit here. Its not the optimal summer fruit and we are just at the end of winter. i am glad we have a good supply of oranges and surprisingly Durian along with the staple of bananas. i am surely looking forward with earnest expectation to the sweet juicy mangos, the ripe mameys, the locally grown watermelons that the summer will bring. i am looking forward to juicy valencia oranges and of course creamy delicious Durian. Fruit, what a tremendous blessing from the Creator!

i returned the rotten watermelon to the market and got two more. The local market knows me so well they don't even ask a question nor ask for a receipt they just say "go and get another one". Very nice folks down there. i hope these two are better than their predecessors.

But just to finish up what i started yesterday. About this Romans 14:5 verse and this "day" thing.

Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Many teach and believe this is referring to the 7th Day Sabbath of the 10 commandments. According to the principles outlined in the last blog, let us show why this is erroneous. It makes it appear that the keeping holy of a day of worship is "optional". In other words, if it works for you do it, if not don't and the God of Heaven is fine with it. First off, it would contradict what was said by the Spirit earlier in the Epistle.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.


How is something "holy, just and good" optional? This would also contradict many other scriptures concerning the Covenant.

Exodus 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

So part of the Covenant is the 10 Commandments to be kept by those who serve the God of Heaven. Let us look at the 4th commandment of the 10.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

So to make the 4th commandment "optional" is to make all of the 10 commandments optional. For the Lord does not separate out one and say "keep 9 of them". That would mean to murder or not to murder would be optional. To steal or not to steal, to commit adultery or not. Of course no Christian that is at least partly serious about serving Christ believes this. It is because of sunday keeping traditions (which, by the way, have no biblical basis) that people are so hyped to do away with the 4th commandment. Also, this particular commandment was the first one given in the Garden of Eden as the Lord completed creation.

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

When something is declared by Christ to be "blessed", "sanctified", "holy" and commanded to be obeyed, i don't think its optional for those that say they worship the One who made the declaration. So what was Romans 14:5 speaking about if it wasn't the Sabbath? In the bible there were other holy days that Israelites were commanded to keep. There were 3 annual feasts:

Exodus 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.

and one holy Convocation called the Day of Atonement::
Leviticus 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 


Now with these feasts and holy convocations, there were 7 ceremonial sabbaths. At the beginning and ending of each feast and one on the Day of Atonement. Each of these feasts had certain provisions. Of these were that they must be kept at Jerusalem and there must be offered specific sacrifices (lambs, goats and bullocks) with the feasts. Each of these were a sign pointing to the coming of Christ. For example.

The first feast of the year was the Feast of Unleavened bread (aka The Passover). On the 14 day of the first month (or first new moon) of the year (that is in April usually on the Gregorian calender we commonly use today), a Lamb was killed at the end of the day. The 15th day was a ceremonial Sabbath. Christ was declared to be the Lamb.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

i can show many other scriptures to illustrate this, but i think the point is made. Christ was not only crucified on the 14th day of the first month, but actually died at the exact time of the sacrifce of the ceremonial Lamb.

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The veil of the Temple was rent in twain because the ceremonial lamb was no longer necessary, the real Lamb had come and died for all sin. Jerusalem has since been destroyed along with the temple. In the modern Jerusalem there is no Holy Temple with the Shekinah glory and the Ark of the Covenant. On the exact site is now a mosque. The Ark of the Covenant is not there anymore, but its in Heaven.
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The 10 commandments are still in the Heavenly Ark. All 10 of them. So that now, not only cannot a person kill the sacrifices for the Passover, they cannot go to Jerusalem to keep it. Most people who still keep the Passover today, do it out of a sense of community and tradition. But its not biblically necessary anymore.
So a person that wants to keep holy the time of Passover may if they wish. But its not a salvation issue. This is what Romans 14:5 is referring to as many gentile converts were wondering how to handle this situation. Many jewish believers (including the apostle Paul), still kept the Passover as a matter of tradition. But they knew it was not being disobedient to Christ if they did not keep it.

By the way, i am in no wise seeking to offend anyone for their own beliefs. Neither am i promoting any denomination or organized religion (i don't believe in them). As a follower of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, i am seeking to explain what i have learned and walk in the Light given me by Grace. As the Word says "let every man be persuaded in his own mind". 

AMEN.

Breakfast:
24oz Celery-watermelon juice (not very satisfying), 36oz of banana-watermelon smoothie.

Lunch:
24oz OJ, half a mini watermelon, 5 bananas.

Dinner:
Half a mini watermelon, 3 bananas, 1 clementine, 1 mango.

Spiritual Bread: 1 Samuel 1-6

Exercise: 100 squats, 70 weighted stair hops, 50 weighted jumping jacks.

Grace and peace be multiplied.


Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010........Day 44

Day 44 of the Fruit Feast. i am so glad its finally March. Spring is in the air. That means more sunshine, warmth, singing birds, blooming flowers and........delicious sweet fruits! Glory!

i was studying Romans 14 today. It is a chapter that is often used by those claiming that all foods are good to eat and also that there is no Sabbath to keep.  i thought it good to share my findings as some of the readers of this blog may run into such a situation (either as a raw vegan and/or a Sabbath keeper). The two texts thrown about most often are these:

Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

People take the former to imply that all the days are equal with no special importance to one above another (i.e. the 7th Day Sabbath). They take the latter to mean that we should not make any difference about what we eat because there are more important things. We will deal with the Sabbath issue tomorrow, today we will examine the food issue. 

One of the major problems many Christians have is failing to study scripture in its context. The majority of the works of the New Testament (and all of the writings of the Apostle Paul) are called Epistles. An epistle is another word for a letter. If a person has written a letter to another person (or in this case a group of persons) and one sentence is read out of the context of the letter, it can distort the whole meaning of the letter. One of the ways in which we can identify an incorrect view of a particular passage of scripture is by reading the whole body in its context. Many times we will find that, in the same body there is a text that would seem to contradict something said earlier. Now first off, i want to express very plainly, that i believe the Bible was dictated by the Holy Spirit and men were used as conduits in its writing.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.


i believe it does not contradict itself and where it appears to do so, it is because of error in interpretation. Such is the case here. Here is a passage from the same chapter in Romans just a few verses later:

Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

From this verse it appears that the apostle is advocating a vegetarian diet. It appears to contradict verse 17 in the way verse 17 was interpreted by some. What is going on? Again we really need to take more time and study the bible with prayer for guidance and these "mysteries" will be made more plain. For the same Holy Spirit that inspired it, will guide the honest seeker of Truth thru it. Verse 21 of Romans is almost an exact duplicate of a statement the apostle made in 1 Corinthians 8:13:

1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 


The issue can be found in 1 Corinthians 8: 1-8. It was concerning foods being offered to idols. Many of the Converts to Jesus Christ of Nazareth were gentiles that were once pagans. The apostles were all jewish and had issues eating things that were to be offered to an idol even if the food itself was considered clean by the Word of God. Some of the disciples who were converted from among the jews instructed gentile converts to avoid such foods altogether. These foods were usually flesh foods (a bullock or goat being the usual victim). This presented a problem as gentiles were seeking to witness to their family and friends who were pagan. When invited to a dinner at a pagans home should they eat the food if it was being offered for an idol? This was the issue:

1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
1 Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
1 Corinthians 8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

So the idol itself would mean nothing to the believer in Christ, but for the sake of conscience it was decided to not partake in such foods :

 1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

and this also,

Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Of course today, many who profess Christianity abstain from nothing. The results of this being seen in their own bodies and lives that are both sickly and without peace. Having a form of godliness by denying its power. But the Holy Spirit thru the Apostle Paul brings the point home in the proper context:

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

In its proper context we see that we should not idolize our food so much as not to be able to dispense with it for the sake of a soul. Herein lies the context of Romans 14:17
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

But we should not jump all over new believers who may have eaten such things. Let the Holy Spirit and our example be the teacher.

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Romans 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Romans 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.


That is the real point, our example is more powerful than our words:

 Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

AMEN.

Tomorrow the whole "day" thing. 

Breakfast:
Large bowl of Longans. 6 bananas.

Lunch: Non-sweet Fruity salad with celery-lemon juice for sauce. 1 Durian.

The thing about the salad is that it was not satisfying. But it was different in its unsatisfaction than before. Before i would have wanted something more seasoned. But today i just wanted something more sweet. i am glad i had the Durian after. So sweet, creamy and delicious! But i wanted more sweet so that led me to eat a dinner later.

Dinner:
2 mangos, 24oz of OJ, 2 links of Sugar Cane. Very good.

Spiritual Bread: Romans 14

Exercise: Faith.

Grace and Peace be multiplied.


















Monday, March 1, 2010

Weekend Review.... Days 41-43

Weekend Review of Days 41-43 of the Fruit Feast. This was some weekend. Very high spiritual feast. Also very high fruit feast. i ate 3 whole durians. i don't think i have ever had that much over a 3 day period. Delicious! On the Sabbath we had a tremendous Raw Remnant fellowship. The presentation was copied on video and hopefully it will be ready for distribution for those on our mailing list in a couple of weeks. Folks were encouraged in Christ and those who have not met Him were convicted by the Spirit and given hope in Christ. There were tears of joy and lots of laughter. There was prayer and communion in the Spirit. There was lots of delicious raw food and fruit. It was literally all good.

i was also able to obtain a couple of fruits i have been wanting to try. i got some tarmarind. i did not realize it would be such a hit with some of our brothers and sisters. i got it on Friday and had some. It is very sweet, but not juicy. Like a candy really as its pasty. It was pretty good. But on Sabbath i found out it was a favorite of some of our brethren. It was all gone before the end of the day (lol). On sunday i went to the Asian Market in Greensboro (SuperGMart). i was able to get some mamey sapote and sapodilla. Neither of them is ripe and i suspect they will need at least a week (maybe more) before they are ready to eat. i also got some longan, which i had never eaten before. Quite good. Small, juicy and sweet. The dry brown exterior is somewhat deceptive as the contents is juicy and grape-like in its substance. Has a sort of musky flavor to me. i like it. i also got more durian as well as a couple of varieties of mango.We enjoyed some sugar cane this weekend as well.

For dinner on Sabbath all i needed (or wanted) was a 32oz glass of liquid sunshine (aka fresh squeezed orange juice) and a durian. The durian was really good. In fact that was my dinnner on Friday also. It was slightly altered on Sunday as i had some sorrell, some longan and a durian. Sorrell is a West Indian drink made from its namesake herb, ginger and lemon juice. One of the mothers of the Body of Christ made me a large batch.

i had a good workout on Friday morning, rested on Sabbath and was so busy that i did not workout on Sunday. i will catch up though, Spiritual feasts like this weekend more then make up for a missed workout. All honor and glory and blessing and praise to the Father in heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ His Son.


Grace and Peace be multiplied.

todd