Reclaiming the Joy of Faith through Sabbath Keeping

My Sabbath Story

My grandfather wouldn't go fishing on Sundays. "You might pull up the devil," he'd say.

Sunday was for worship, rest, and visiting, but certainly not for work and even some kinds of recreation. And even though I've never pulled up the devil on a Sunday fishing trip, his old fashioned ways held a certain rhythm that I'd like to duplicate in the living of these days. What used to seem boring and antiquated has deep spiritual meaning for me as our family struggles against the culture of doing to take Sunday for being.

Exodus 20 teaches us that God labored and rested and that we should do the same. Sabbath is a gift and keeping Sabbath bears much fruit in our lives. What can Sabbath do for you? Find out this weekend by considering this challenge:

1. Have a Saturday night meal with your family. No TV, no cell phones, no iPods, and no video games.

2. Go to bed early and pray that your night of rest will be good. Commit your sleep and dreams over to God. Offer up the next day as one of rest while trusting God to watch over the things you won't be doing on your Sabbath. Set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night at bedtime this week!

3. Rise early and share breakfast with your family or a good friend.

4. Attend worship in the morning.

5. Plan for a nap, games with your children or grandchildren, intimate time with your spouse, or a relaxing activity in the afternoon. Resist the urge to work, check email, or answer the phone.

6. End the 24 hour Sabbath as you began - with family.

I'd love to hear how you keep Sabbath. Share with me via email, or post here. And if you're in the Metro DC area this weekend, I invite you to include First Baptist Church Gaithersburg as your place of worship on Sunday morning. You'll find fellow pilgrims who are weary and wounded, ready to experience the life changing grace of Jesus. And if you fall asleep while I offer the sermon, that's ok, too. It just means you needed the rest and I'm glad to help you get it.

Shabbat Shalom,

Pastor Gary

Reclaiming the Joy of Faith through Celebration

The Father of the Bride movies gave us George Banks, played by Steve Martin, someone with whom this dad can surely identify. He's this forlornly happy husband and father, who invites us to laugh at the pain and joy of family. His own foibles are funny as well as instructive.

In the second movie "Franck" and his decorating partner "Howard" tease George for being a kill joy with the utterly quotable line, "Every party has a pooper that's why we invited you...party pooper George BAAAANKS." It's a great line that also describes how much of the world views Christians.

Party poopers.

But where did this dullard reputation come from and why do we reinforce it? Granted, there is a time to be somber and sincere. Our reverence for God is necessary. But somewhere along the way we lost sight of the fact that Christianity really is Good News, in fact it's Great News! The love of God, the joy of freedom from sin, and the future party that's awaiting us in the Kingdom to come? All reasons to celebrate. Maybe we've lost our zeal.

Consider how King David danced wildly before the Ark. He got chastised by his wife because he danced "commando" (Read 2 Samuel 6). Or take a close read of Zephaniah 3 and discover how God will "rejoice" over us as His children. Or see that Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding feast so that the celebration could continue. Or try to count all the stories Jesus told about feasts in the kingdom of heaven. Or listen to the words of Jesus' critics who thought it slander to accuse him of being a drunkard and a glutton - they knew he liked to celebrate. I like to imagine there was one heck of a celebration in heaven and on earth on that first Easter, too.

To reclaim the joy of faith, we need to learn how to throw a good party that celebrates all that's good in life, all that's from God. Jesus died for your sin and you have a place in eternity with him. Who wouldn't want to celebrate that?

If you're in the Metro DC area this weekend, won't you join us as we redefine the word "party?" We worship at 10:30, and Bible Study is at 9:15. For those who'd like learn more about our ministry partner the American Baptist Convention, come meet Ray Schooler in the fellowship hall at 10am. He'll also be bringing greetings in worship, and meeting with anyone interested in mission work immediately after worship.

Ready to celebrate,
Pastor Gary