FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/...usband/1079553

Sad. This is near where I live as well.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Oh well, all things work together. Must've been God's will.

(sarcasm for anyone who doesn't recognize it)

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Of course! The husband says God ordered her to fast, and then "called her home".

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Not just a woman. A "Pentecostal" woman. I saw this yesterday and meant to post a link to the article.

What kind of a nut of a husband doesn't check on his wife for three weeks while she is locked in her bedroom???? Respecting your wife's decisions, beliefs, etc is one thing but this is nuts. Zero common sense. I hate it when a Pentecostal nut does these things because it makes everybody who calls themselves Pentecostal get painted with the same brush by some folks who don't know better.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

On the other hand, some would say that following God's leading may be contrary to "common sense".

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

So you think it was "God's leading" for this Pentecostal preacher not to check on his wife locked in her room for three weeks?. I feel sorry for you.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

That's sad. :(

I don't understand the husband, either. My husband would check on me, like it or not. However, from a biblical standpoint, she had his permission for the fast and the seclusion.

Normally going without food, even for an extended period of time, isn't lethal as long as you drink plenty of water. It makes me wonder if there was an underlying illness, or if she was already thin or malnourished.

They seem to be clear that it was no one's fault, but I can't imagine not checking on my husband for three weeks, OR in this case, I think I would wonder why it was so quiet. You should be able to at least hear someone moving around or praying.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I agree. The husband is as nutty as she was......if she was. Any chance the husband set this all up? Did anyone else talk to the lady during those three weeks? I didn't read the entire article.

But really.....and I'll get yelled at for this.....but of course she was pentecostal.:D Any chance a mainstream Christian would have done this?:lol

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

No, I don't. But her husband does.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I've never heard of this happening in Pentecostal ranks. Can you cite any cases? There are many people who incorporate lengthy fasting into their religious experience, including Catholics, Muslims, Jews & mainstream Christians.

Here's another example:

Devout Christian dies after fasting 23 days - - http://www.religionnewsblog.com/14581

"Dr Asker Jeukendrup, a nutritionist at the University of Birmingham, said it was unlikely that 23 days of starvation would kill a normally healthy and average weight person, who would be able to stand 40 days of total fasting without serious ill-effects. But he pointed out that the longer someone goes without food the more the body becomes vulnerable to illness and infection."

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Miss Bratperson,

Many years ago when I was in Bible College at JCM there was a redneck married student who broke his 40 day fast by eating pizza and drinking a chocolate milkshake (apparently the two foods he had been fantasizing about). He ended up in the hospital.

Now if he had half a brain and had listened to what was being taught he would have known the correct way to both fast and to break a fast. He had no one to blame but himself but what a terrible reflection on the Bible College and Pentecostals that something like this happened.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

That's just stupid. LOL!!!! Good grief! That kind of food makes me sick when I'm NOT fasting!

This case sounds like ignorance, and good intentions gone WAY wrong, at best. I'm still not convinced that's all there is to this story.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Yes. There are plenty of misguided people in all denominations. Pentecostals certainly have no monopoly on nuttiness/overzealousness, whatever you want to label it.

When I read of this, it never crossed my mind that she might be Pentecostal. There are a lot of "radical" Christians out there.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Yeah....see there? I think we need to hire the Hardy Boys to investigate this husband. Seriously, is there any chance he could have orchestrated this?

You've never heard of it? Wow. We used to have sectional fellowship meetings where we would have fasting contests and see how many could make it to 20 days. I once made it 71 days, my brother 38 days, my mom 104 days (she lost 112 pounds and started out at 144), but the champ was Bro. Boyardee (local chef) who went 172 days. He didn't lose any weight so some of us think he cheated. That guy could make some mean ravioli. We would keep a scoreboard on the back wall of the church.


Like I said, I knew I'd get yelled at, but I'm just saying it sounds like something a pentecostal would do. And I actually CAN cite a number of extreme cases of fasting I've been familiar with.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Case in point.... a couple recently were charged because their child died from "spanking". The couple said they were following the program outlined by Michael and Debi Pearl. The Pearls are definitely not Pentecostal. There are many other cases such as this. Very zealous people who are misguided, and end up causing catastrophes in the name of the Lord.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

It doesn't say whether the devout Christian was Pentecostal or not, but it does quote her mother saying, "She fasted frequently and would do it when the Lord told her to." If God talks to you, you might be in trouble! :winkgrin

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Honestly, when I read it, I never thought she could be anything but pentecostal. Pentecostals have mostly a completely different view of fasting than mainstream Christianity.

Off the top of my head, I can cite 7 cases in my past of people doing extreme fasts, and in my now, 20+ years of mainstream Christianity, I know of none.

I know I can't prove this and some will think it's just part of my anti-pentecostal bias, but for me, it's an easy call.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I didn't say I hadn't heard of extended fasts--I just haven't heard of anyone dying from it. 172 days? Hmmmm...I'm thinking someone was cheating and having food on the sly. :)

Personally, I think having a fasting contest seems to go against the whole biblical concept, IMO.

I didn't yell at you. :) Did you see any caps?

I've never heard of the type of fasting that you're talking about. "Extreme" fasting in my experience is 14-40 days, with 40 being the longest I've ever heard of. Those fasts were done carefully and prayerfully, and not in competition with other believers. :blink

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Your mom got down to 32 pounds???

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I don't think that's connected, though. There are plenty of nutcases the beat their children, inside and outside of Christianity. But there aren't many who fast.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Skin and bones.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I'm sorry, but you are simply incorrect on this point. MANY religions incorporate fasting into their regular practices.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Maybe it depends upon the circles you're in. Most Pentecostals I know are doing good to make it until dinner time, myself included. ;)

Fasting just isn't a major deal in my circles. Hardly ever mentioned, actually.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

32 lbs, though? LOL!!! That's how much a 3 year old kid weighs. Are you sure about your numbers? :D

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Wasn't there a Hindu guru or something who claimed he never had to eat food? If I recall, he was caught sneaking Twinkies. This would be 10 to 15 years ago, I think. Ring a bell with anyone?

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I didn't say it never happens. Look, I'll allow you to be wrong on this point!:ursofunny

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I did a couple of fasts in my AG days. It was kind of a fad, at the time. They called it a "completed fast". You take only water. After a few days, you're not hungry anymore. Keep it up until the hunger comes back. Then you break fast with a single orange or grapefruit, eaten slowly. Can't say it did me any good or bad, physically or spiritually. But, h. It was the thing to do, at the time. :lol

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Well, I wouldn't call Twinkies 'food'. ;)

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:rolleyes2

YOU are very stubborn! :smack

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Yeah, I agree. But what about you....or the others....what were the "rules" of your fasts? We weren't allowed food OR water. Brutal. I went to work once on the second day of a food & water fast and nearly passed out numerous times.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

She was such a dedicated lady. At the end of the fast, she had to go clothes shopping in the toddler department at Macy's.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Yeah, I am gonna have to doubt the 32 lbs... our three month old baby weighs over half that.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny :ursofunny


Hindu guru....................Twinkies. For some reason, that combination has me laughing til I have tears!!! I can just see the Dali lama throwing down twinkies while nobody's lookin'.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I prefer different terminologies, such as "steadfast" and/or "determined." That bible endorses those qualities but condemns stubbornness. :lol

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Could be because your new baby is a boy and my mom was a girl. Boys weigh more than girls.

Well, mostly.:ursofunny

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

I don't believe in anyone forcing anyone else to fast. It should always be an autonomous decision, just like prayer. So we don't have any "rules" about what you're allowed. I choose what kind of fast I'll go on, and what foods I avoid. Whether I do a full fast or just from certain things is up to me.

My parents always discouraged me from informing anyone about when I'm fasting, except when it was a church wide thing.

Currently our church is doing "March Impact", which is a church event of consecration, fasting and prayer. Everyone is encouraged to participate, but no one is made to feel bad if they don't or can't. In our house, we told our kids the terms of the fast, and then left it up to them whether to participate. My oldest daughter has actually fasted more than I have so far. (from food) My middle daughter isn't interested, really, so no biggie. My son tried to fast from chocolate milk, but forgot and had one his Grandma bought from McDonald's. LOL!!!!

Anyway...our pastor made it clear that people are not expected to fast above what they are able, especially children, elderly people, ill people or those who work physically taxing jobs.

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Evelyn Boyd's husband of 33 years, John Boyd started a Bartow Pentecostal church in 2003. At Higher Praise Full Gospel Ministries, Sunday services last from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are loud and boisterous, and a nearby antique store owner said congregation members were known to fast.

Did anyone else catch this?

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

Well, no one is ever forced to fast, are they? We all just get the "you unspiritual little schmuck that doesn't love God" look every time we walk in church.

But that was when I was a teen. The first time I did a total fast for two days and then threw down all the pizza I could find, I suffered severely!!:lolThe hunger discomfort was MUCH less than the food pain!

Re: FL Woman starves to death during fast
 

OHHHHHH, so you're the guy CC! was talking about....:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny

No one has ever treated me badly for not fasting (or fasting as much). I think every Christian should be encouraged to fast, just as they are encouraged to pray. It isn't about a guilt trip, or at least, it shouldn't be.