The Book of Genesis teaches that on the seventh day of Creation God rested and furthermore God hallowed the Sabbath and made it holy. 

Today we have lost the idea of a Sabbath or Common Pause Day, but most of us do have a day off. 

When was the last time you turned your day off into a Sabbath?

Most of us spend our day off catching up: paying bills, doing laundry, mowing the lawn etc. 

A Sabbath is different.  “You shall not do any work.” So on a Sabbath the lawn grows a little longer, the car waits another day to be washed or serviced, the doctor and dental appointments are on another day.  The Sabbath is about finding rest and refreshment in doing what you want to do, not what you have to do.

Would your life be better if you took a Sabbath every week?

What is stopping you from taking a Sabbath?

Difficult Bible Texts

This past Sunday the gospel reading was the account of Jesus healing the Syrophoenician’s daughter.  (Mark 7:24-30)

I personally find this a difficult text especially in the light of Jesus’ rather abrupt comment to the woman’s appeal (v27).  This comment seems so out of character for Jesus who usually reserved his harshest words for the Pharisees and religious leaders of Israel.

There have been a number of texts that have perplexed me over the years. A major struggle for me was the Book of Job, especially Job 1:12.     

My point here is not to resolve the difficulties I have but rather to reflect on the fact that the Bible presents us with many difficult texts that may make us uneasy or simply confuse us.  As Christians I believe we are called read and prayerfully study the whole of the Bible, not just those texts that make us feel comfortable or with which we agree.  After all, the whole of the Bible is God’s word and we are called to study it in its entirety.

It is when we prayerfully study these difficult texts God rewards us with insights into the human relationship with God (Job), the meaning of faith (the Syrophoenician woman), or of the humanity of Jesus.  It is in the difficult texts that the greatest treasures are often found. 

What are the difficult texts in your life?  We at Trinity would welcome the opportunity to struggle with you.