On Father's Day at Journey Fellowship we began thinking about the original Father's day. Our heavenly Father asked us to remember to "cease" once a week and make it a "holy" day for him.
The Sabbath was intended to be a "period of time where we create space for our Creator to re-create us."
One of the suggestions I [steve dye] made this morning was that we begin to DISCUSS this as a community of faith. So, let's give it a go...
Reflections? Questions? Ideas? Experiences?
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8 comments:
Ok, so I didn't hear the sermon, but we actually had a lesson on the Sabbath a couple of weeks ago at Singing Oaks. Maybe I should hold off on making comments until I listen your sermon (miss them tons) but I've never been the kind of guy to hold back... too much.
Today's world is so full of activities, work, games, more work, etc. we need a time to STOP! Be Still And Know That I Am God!
The pressures of the world make us (ok, me) want to work more and more just try and stay half a step ahead... for what? Are my kids going to remember that their daddy did 30% more freelance work in 2009 than 2008? Or will they remember daddy sitting on the computer 3 nights out of the week when he got home from work. Hey Mitch, STOP! Be Still And Know That I Am God! Enjoy the blessings I've given you!
Activities fill every second of every day. I honestly can say my personal Bible study is way off course... as in almost non-existent. I listen to the Bible at work, but it's not the same as turning pages, marking scripture and slowing down to reflect on single word. I need my time with My Sword. I need to sharpen it. I need to use it! Hey Mitch, STOP! Be Still And Know That I Am God!
The concept of sabbath never really hit home until i looked at it from an agricultural perspective. God commanded them to work the land for six years and let it rest on the seventh.
I'm certain this is an untried method in modern agriculture...so instead of letting the land rest, we add fertilizer to keep it going.
back to us...we deny the sabbath, drift from God and try all sorts of things to fill the void.
sabbath is much needed in 21st century USAmerica.
Well said Mitch and David.
Mitch, I think that it is possible that for those of us who can't pause during the week can get rebooted by a hard stop once a week. That once a week can also become so addicting that we try to catch a little of it on a daily basis.
But you make an even greater point with your lament of work time. Your kids won't care about the productivity but they will care about you. Invest your limited time well. THere will never be enough money. :)
Listen to the message at journeyfellowship.com Click media. I'd love to know what you think.
Benefited from sermon side issue of Paul not promoting that Law be dismissed except from regeneration standpoint.
From sanctification issue Law is very beneficial.
I love the discussion, yet I want to know what people say the commandment "looks like" in our lives. It is about recreation, all day worship, serving others, relationships or all of the above? How important is it to do no work every Sunday? Do hobbies count as work? Gardening?
Just curious about what others think.
I love the discussion, yet I want to know what people say the commandment "looks like" in our lives. It is about recreation, all day worship, serving others, relationships or all of the above? How important is it to do no work every Sunday? Do hobbies count as work? Gardening?
Just curious about what others think.
Well, I for one, need to push STOP! My life has been a crazy, more than full-speed rush for the last few months. The slow down in my industry has led to me cutting my staff from 27 to 5. I'm simply overwhelmed and working 12 - 15 hours a day M-F and 5 or more hours each weekend.
All of this just to say that I was really hit hard by Steve's comments about observing the Sabbath. I desperately want to lead a simple life and Beverly and I have taken many steps to get there. I've given up all but about 3 hours of TV per week, and then only as a social experience with Beverly. We don't go out much except for church, our community group and the occasional visit to our families or a movie. Yet, even after all the simplification I still feel like life is too complex.
I know it is entirely my workload. I'm always pressed with impossible deadlines, huge projects and little to no help. My three admins are each pushed to the breaking point with their own work so I feel terrible every time I ask them to help me with a project. No matter how many hours I work, I never see the finish line.
So what suffers? Although my prayer life is still strong and robust, I've completely stopped any personal devotion time, bible reading and any other spiritual growth activities outside Sunday gathering and my community group. Why is the most important thing to me the first thing I give up when times are rough? I know I'm not the only one, and I know others struggle with these same tough choices.
I'd love to commit to an observance of the Sabbath that Beverly and I could keep to honor and serve God. Yet I know I simply can't right now. Is this a season of work, or am I just letting the enemy come between me and God, or am I just making poor choices when it comes to priorities?
I don't have answers this time - only questions...
Jon
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