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Invitation to Rest

Invitation to Rest

Of all the 10 Commandments, the fourth commandment—which has the most
description of any of the commandments—is often the one we tend to disregard the most. Even
though we can recount the Genesis rhythm of “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy”,
we have very little understanding or experience with this practice. This is, in part, because most
of our experiences with this concept have been negative and have been rooted in
misunderstandings of the biblical theme of Sabbath: do nothing on Sundays; do only ‘spiritual
things’, or do it with a spirit of legalism that is oppressive and anything but life-giving.

And yet, in our frenetic pace of life, “remote work” which blurs the boundaries between
work and home, and 24/7 accessibility technologically, is it possible a better life awaits us if we
would follow God’s design? He is the Creator, after all. Isn’t it possible He actually knows how
human beings flourish best? The goal of this series is not only to discover how to keep the
Sabbath, but to appreciate how the Sabbath can keep us—holy and whole human beings, at
peace and at rest with God, ourselves, one another, and our world. Our end goal is not to
become self-righteous in how we practice Sabbath-keeping—even if we do, in the end, decide to
do that—but rather, to cultivate a spirit of restfulness regularly in our lives, enabling the Spirit’s
transformative work on our lives. Whether we choose to practice one 24-hour period of rest or
whether we incorporate windows of rest into our daily rhythm, the goal is to have a greater
appreciation for the rhythm of work and rest as designed by God for our good.

What Was I Made For?

What Was I Made For?

Any depressed philosophers out there? Have I got a book for you! Anybody facing a bit

of an existential crisis? You are not alone. Ever feel like life isn’t as clear cut and how you’d like

it to be? Keep reading!

 

Human beings have long searched for meaning in life—answers to some of our deepest

questions: What constitutes a ‘good’ life? What will truly satisfy and provide meaning to my

life? Why does there seem to be such a random nature to things? What is the purpose of life if

we’re all going to die anyway? And what role (if any) does God have in this? These questions

aren’t just for the tortured poets of our society (I see you, Swifties!). They’re for every human

being—from the first-year college student at the start of her career, to the professional facing a

mid-life crisis, to the elderly widow adjusting to the physical limitations of her age. Wouldn’t it

be great if we could hear from someone who had the answers to these questions?

 

We can! The Book of Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament, may be an ancient book, but

the truths are timeless. In it, our Teacher—also known as The Critic—shares insights from his

own quest after quest for meaning: the pursuit of wisdom, pleasures—wine, women, and

wealth—a successful career and status, and youth and physical health. In the end, he concludes

that every one of these comes up short…a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes is a poignant and

persuasive deconstruction of what doesn’t satisfy.

 

And yet, contrary to how many people have understood the book, this doesn’t mean

that life has no meaning. The initial cry, ““Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless”

(1:1, NIV) is a bit misleading; “mere breath, a mere breath” is more accurate. Life is fleeting.

Depending on what we’re chasing, it might even be futile. But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, The

Critic would say it is only by seeing each potential substance of fulfillment for what it truly is—a

gift from God that has its limits—that we can truly find the joy and meaning we deeply yearn

for. In fact, once we embrace the cold hard truth about life, life explodes with meaning and we

can truly, “Eat, drink, and be merry” (2:24).

 

So if a little meaning or merry sounds like something you’d like, if you’re tired of empty

clichés and unsatisfying answers, join us the week after Easter Sunday for our series What Was I

Made For? We will explore some of the greatest teaching from the Bible on a life well lived. My

hope is that you, too, will find The Critic’s voice an indispensable—even if unpopular—one.

Because in the end, once all is set within its proper context and limits, we will see just why

everything matters!

(in)Credible | The Gospel for All

(in)Credible | The Gospel for All

I’ve made a new friend. And I really like him! I want to introduce you to him! Here are some key traits I want you to know before you meet him. First, he’s a thorough, precise historian. Facts matter to him. He’ll often remember important details in a story others leave out. Second, he’s highly respected. He’s a professional…a doctor, nonetheless. He really cares about the physical body and overall health of people. Third, one down-side to him is he can be a bit long-winded, although what he says is pure gold! Fourth, and finally, despite all his previous-mentioned accomplishments, he’s the kind of guy who always brings a generous view of others into the conversation. If we were in the lunchroom of the office and someone’s name came up and people started maligning them, my new friend would likely be the one defending them saying, “Well, I don’t think they’re so bad.” He genuinely has such an inclusive nature. He doesn’t ever want to leave anyone out. Like I said, he’s pretty easy to like!

 

I’m describing Luke, the author of the books of Luke and Acts in the New Testament, and one of its greatest contributors. His two-volume book—for most scholars agree Luke and Acts were written as one long work—is a unique record of the Story of Jesus and the early church. Paul describes him as “my dear friend Luke, the doctor” in Colossians 4:14 and a “fellow worker” in Philemon 24. Most likely, he was a companion of Paul at various points in his missionary journeys. 2 Timothy 4:11 describes him as a loyal friend who remained by Paul even after others deserted him. He is also the only known Gentile, or non-Jewish, writer of the New Testament. Maybe that explains his bent towards inclusivity?

 

As followers of Jesus, it’s important every year to immerse ourselves in the Story of Jesus so we remember who it is we are following and why it’s the best way to live. This January through March, leading up to and including Easter, we will be looking at the Story of Jesus through Luke’s perspective. And Luke’s purpose is two-fold: to help us know the “the certainty of the things you have been taught” (1:4)—that it is indeed credible…plausible… believable…compelling, and to make sure we open up this invitation to all people…not just those we think are worthy of it. Luke’s biography of Jesus includes lots of scenes with people generally on the fringe…lepers, tax collectors and sinners, women and children, and Gentiles. My hope and prayer for this series, is that we will find the story of Jesus (in)Credible—both credible in its claims, incredible in its message and ability to transform us, and that we will find both comfort and conviction in the fact that this is the Gospel for Only Some All people.

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