Thursday, February 12, 2009
Special Day
I'm struck by how much my kids look forward to their special days. There is no way that they will let me forget when it is their day. The other night was B's special day and we went shopping and then stopped by Bucers for a nice piece of colossal chocolate cake. It was fun to spend some time together. I'm really glad that we have started this little tradition in our family. So So is next.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Why is that Store Closed on Sunday?
In recent years my wife and I have had conversations about Sabbath rest. Neither of us grew up strictly observing the Sabbath day - you know, the fourth Commandment. We've changed our practices over the years to give greater honor to this day, but we are still working out the details.
It's interesting to think about resistance the heart seems to have about observing this day. Even for those who faithfully attend church every Sunday. Why is it so easy for our hearts to resist this Commandment? Do we feel like it's just one more rule that we have to follow; is it a rule that takes away our freedom and choice?
I think God knew that we would resist. For one thing, there is more explanation about this commandment than any of the other ten. We are told to work hard all week, and then rest for a day. We are also to give rest to our children, our employees, our animals, and others. And this rest is to make us remember "that you were slaves...and the Lord your God brought you out from there..." This is not really about what we can't do; it's about what we are to do. We are to give.
Our recent talks have been about things like shopping and eating out on Sundays. What's the best way for us to give rest to others? Do our consumer habits really affect other people? We think they do, and these very questions came up in a letter to Touchstone magazine from a young lady who really wished that she didn't have to be pressured to work on Sunday. After working that shift for some time, she noticed that she spent much of that day serving 'the church crowd.' For those who set this day apart, thinking only of our own rest is, as she said, 'an exercise in selfishness.'
So we ask ourselves, are we slaves to convenience? Couldn't we have purchased those chips ahead of time instead? Are we giving others rest, or just taking it? More and more, we hope the answer is, giving.
It's interesting to think about resistance the heart seems to have about observing this day. Even for those who faithfully attend church every Sunday. Why is it so easy for our hearts to resist this Commandment? Do we feel like it's just one more rule that we have to follow; is it a rule that takes away our freedom and choice?
I think God knew that we would resist. For one thing, there is more explanation about this commandment than any of the other ten. We are told to work hard all week, and then rest for a day. We are also to give rest to our children, our employees, our animals, and others. And this rest is to make us remember "that you were slaves...and the Lord your God brought you out from there..." This is not really about what we can't do; it's about what we are to do. We are to give.
Our recent talks have been about things like shopping and eating out on Sundays. What's the best way for us to give rest to others? Do our consumer habits really affect other people? We think they do, and these very questions came up in a letter to Touchstone magazine from a young lady who really wished that she didn't have to be pressured to work on Sunday. After working that shift for some time, she noticed that she spent much of that day serving 'the church crowd.' For those who set this day apart, thinking only of our own rest is, as she said, 'an exercise in selfishness.'
So we ask ourselves, are we slaves to convenience? Couldn't we have purchased those chips ahead of time instead? Are we giving others rest, or just taking it? More and more, we hope the answer is, giving.
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