back in the saddle

so it has been far too long since I've posted, strangely I've felt no draw to spew out my thoughts. It has been a whirlwind month since my last post in April. I've taken two trips home to Maryland which were both rich times with friends and family. Thanks to those of you who prayed for the memorial service, my Dad did a great job, God was definitely honored.

Lately I have been thinking about the Sabbath while reading the Sacred Way by Tony Jones. Last night our "Claddagh," group had a great discussion centered on the fact that honoring the Sabbath is a central command in the scriptures and yet we seem to toss it away. It is emphasized in the creation account, the ten commandments with 2 different and compelling reasons for honoring it given in Exodus (20:8-11) and Deuteronomy (5:12-15), and Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah all include it as a major tenet for God's blessing remaining on Israel. Listen to these words from Isaiah.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken

I wonder if the combination of our high speed, task centric culture combined with the idea that we have to produce in order to feel significant has caused us to simply sweep this call of God under the rug. We complain about not having enough time, but if what Jesus said is true that "the sabbath was made for humankind," should that affect our decision making and cause us to trust God and set aside a day simply for worship, prayer, family time, lovemaking, naps , and walks? (Jones) I think this is what it comes down to for me, will I trust God that he can provide the time and energy for me to complete all the tasks which surround me if I take a day centered on him, rejoicing in my release from sin and the worlds systems, enjoying his creation, and anticipating the season of peace which will come with his return?

"To act as if the world cannot get along without our work for one day in seven is a startling display of pride that denies the sufficiency of our generous maker." Dorothy Bass