Rest is an important part of the Christian life. We often feel pressure to do more and be more.
Jesus when he was tired often went into the wilderness to pray. We are to follow Jesus. For Jesus ministry included rest.
The bible repeatedly speaks of rest in the Old Testament (the Sabbath) and the New Testament. Rest is part of God's plan for Christians and helps us to be more effective in what God has called us to do.
Showing posts with label rest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rest. Show all posts
Monday, September 4, 2017
Sunday, December 14, 2014
The Top 10 Articles of 2014
As 2014 will soon come to a close, it's time to look back at the articles that sparked the most interest in 2014. The list below starts with the most popular article and is based on unique page views:
Thanks for visiting the blog this year!
- "Theology of Rest" by Danny Dowell
- "Missions and Social Justice" by Danny
- "Our Way" by Danny
- "Charity in Communication" by Danny
- "The Two Benefits of Rest" by Michelle Dowell
- "Living by Faith" by Danny
- "Help with Anxiety: Fear God, Not Man" by Michelle
- "Pleasure Is Not the Enemy" by Michelle
- "Hard Times" by Danny
- "Help with Stress: 3 Tips" by Michelle
Thanks for visiting the blog this year!
Monday, November 3, 2014
Theology of Rest
It is very difficult to find anyone today speaking of a theology of rest. Often we will find book after book devoted to being less busy or finding time to step away from constant work.
The problem is so ingrained that we often cannot put the solution in a positive light, i.e. rest or relaxation. We are often so far off that we can only think in terms of being less busy or making time.
The bible devotes an entire day in the life of a Christian for rest. Living out Sabbath means trusting that in six days we can do more with God than in seven days without God.
Among the few people today who keep Sabbath, it often becomes a very burden-full thing. It seems to equate in some circles to not enjoying oneself as if Sabbath is a rigorous denial of self.
Sabbath is made for man and not man for Sabbath. The concept of Sabbath needs always to have human joy at the center of it. Joy in God is of course the main part of man's joy, but God made all creation good.
It is often you will find preachers in the current day preaching to a person or two on a Superbowl Sunday. No matter how insensible opening the church is or how sensible moving the service a few hours earlier, they view it is a spiritual discipline to not buckle to culture.
In a sense the motive makes sense but the glorification of self denial is all to prevalent in the current day. Self denial in and of it self has no value. What has the self denial of the pastor produced? Often it seems to be something of a pride that they succeeded while 98% of the church failed.
You see too often self denial is pursued even when it produces no fruit. Sometimes self denial hurts rather than helps. Christianity is about joy and how joy may be truly found.
Rest is an important part of God's plan. God has come to draw people to himself and teach us how to be truly happy. He wishes for us to enjoy the world without being worldly.
Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness to pray and rest. If Jesus saw the need to rest (and he did) than we should try to see the need as well.
The problem is so ingrained that we often cannot put the solution in a positive light, i.e. rest or relaxation. We are often so far off that we can only think in terms of being less busy or making time.
The bible devotes an entire day in the life of a Christian for rest. Living out Sabbath means trusting that in six days we can do more with God than in seven days without God.
Among the few people today who keep Sabbath, it often becomes a very burden-full thing. It seems to equate in some circles to not enjoying oneself as if Sabbath is a rigorous denial of self.
Sabbath is made for man and not man for Sabbath. The concept of Sabbath needs always to have human joy at the center of it. Joy in God is of course the main part of man's joy, but God made all creation good.
It is often you will find preachers in the current day preaching to a person or two on a Superbowl Sunday. No matter how insensible opening the church is or how sensible moving the service a few hours earlier, they view it is a spiritual discipline to not buckle to culture.
In a sense the motive makes sense but the glorification of self denial is all to prevalent in the current day. Self denial in and of it self has no value. What has the self denial of the pastor produced? Often it seems to be something of a pride that they succeeded while 98% of the church failed.
You see too often self denial is pursued even when it produces no fruit. Sometimes self denial hurts rather than helps. Christianity is about joy and how joy may be truly found.
Rest is an important part of God's plan. God has come to draw people to himself and teach us how to be truly happy. He wishes for us to enjoy the world without being worldly.
Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness to pray and rest. If Jesus saw the need to rest (and he did) than we should try to see the need as well.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Sabbath Rest: What Does It Look Like?
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
I've heard some people say that Sabbath rest is for worshiping God, and they say that by worship they mean constantly praying or attending as many church services as possible on that day. That doesn't sound like rest but activity.
Resting properly leads us to not focus so intently on small details so that we then are able to focus more on the large picture and purpose that includes God. There should be times when we rely on God enough to feel like we don't have to work and do activities all the time to get to where we need to go or earn God's favor.
Rest can involve church activities. And Christians should aim to try to attend a service on Sundays if possible, but they shouldn't feel obligated to be at church multiple times that day.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
I've heard some people say that Sabbath rest is for worshiping God, and they say that by worship they mean constantly praying or attending as many church services as possible on that day. That doesn't sound like rest but activity.
Resting properly leads us to not focus so intently on small details so that we then are able to focus more on the large picture and purpose that includes God. There should be times when we rely on God enough to feel like we don't have to work and do activities all the time to get to where we need to go or earn God's favor.
Rest can involve church activities. And Christians should aim to try to attend a service on Sundays if possible, but they shouldn't feel obligated to be at church multiple times that day.
Friday, August 22, 2014
The Two Benefits of Rest
Post by
Michelle Dowell
Co-Contributor
Like all of God's commands, the command to rest—when we follow it—leads to two benefits: glorifying him and what would be the best for us.
By "best" I mean something that we might not see right away as the best, but as we proceed, we most likely will see that it indeed was the best for us. Our best sometimes is growing deeper in knowledge or love of and trust in Christ but can be a number of other things depending on the situation and command.
Resting at first may be hard and may not seem like the best at first. Saying no to people who are eager and excited that you join them can feel awful at first, and taking time out from some activities sometimes may lead to boredom. But within the quiet that God likes us to have is a wealth of opportunities: Creativity and reflection, including thinking about how God's omnipotence and love mean we don't need to constantly work to feel secure.
We glorify God in resting because we are obeying his command, and we are also taking part in an action that indicates in some way that we rely on God to meet our true needs. If we don't feel like we believe God will meet our needs, sometimes we start to see the truth in it when we rest. We took hours off of working for money or a certain goal and we find that the world is okay, and our needs are met. In some ways, resting reminds us we don't need to worry or be anxious.
Michelle Dowell
Co-Contributor
Like all of God's commands, the command to rest—when we follow it—leads to two benefits: glorifying him and what would be the best for us.
By "best" I mean something that we might not see right away as the best, but as we proceed, we most likely will see that it indeed was the best for us. Our best sometimes is growing deeper in knowledge or love of and trust in Christ but can be a number of other things depending on the situation and command.
Resting at first may be hard and may not seem like the best at first. Saying no to people who are eager and excited that you join them can feel awful at first, and taking time out from some activities sometimes may lead to boredom. But within the quiet that God likes us to have is a wealth of opportunities: Creativity and reflection, including thinking about how God's omnipotence and love mean we don't need to constantly work to feel secure.
We glorify God in resting because we are obeying his command, and we are also taking part in an action that indicates in some way that we rely on God to meet our true needs. If we don't feel like we believe God will meet our needs, sometimes we start to see the truth in it when we rest. We took hours off of working for money or a certain goal and we find that the world is okay, and our needs are met. In some ways, resting reminds us we don't need to worry or be anxious.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Planning to Rest: What Is Absolutely Necessary?
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The Bible clearly calls us to rest—to not constantly work but to take times of rest, especially on the Sabbath, and that plan to rest needs to be intentional for most people. It takes work (preparation and planning) to rest from work, but it's worth it.
The first step is to find out what is absolutely necessary, such as washing dishes and other similar tasks. And possibly only doing what is necessary for that day or week.
Putting common things you do on a list may be helpful. Anything on it that's not necessary and in all honesty not restful in some sense, should be taken off the to-do list. Also, not waiting until the last minute to do these tasks is important too. Rushing or feeling stressed may actually cause it to take longer or for you to feel more tired after the task.
If there are things that need to be caught up on, taking a small amount of time each day on a project is better than working non-stop for many hours and days.
We may think certain things are essential to do that aren't, and often the reason may be pressure from other people or commercials and our perception of what other people think we should be doing, like joining the most recent book club or Bible study or a number of activities. These activities can be good, but it should be a thought-out decision of whether or not they crowd a schedule too much or an activity that you truly enjoy.
It's very easy these days to find a large amount of opportunities of things to do. If we do as many as we can without being intentional about rest, it's hard to enjoy and be fully present at them all, let alone feel healthy and rested in everyday life. God wants us to thrive, and he cares about our rest.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The Bible clearly calls us to rest—to not constantly work but to take times of rest, especially on the Sabbath, and that plan to rest needs to be intentional for most people. It takes work (preparation and planning) to rest from work, but it's worth it.
The first step is to find out what is absolutely necessary, such as washing dishes and other similar tasks. And possibly only doing what is necessary for that day or week.
Putting common things you do on a list may be helpful. Anything on it that's not necessary and in all honesty not restful in some sense, should be taken off the to-do list. Also, not waiting until the last minute to do these tasks is important too. Rushing or feeling stressed may actually cause it to take longer or for you to feel more tired after the task.
If there are things that need to be caught up on, taking a small amount of time each day on a project is better than working non-stop for many hours and days.
We may think certain things are essential to do that aren't, and often the reason may be pressure from other people or commercials and our perception of what other people think we should be doing, like joining the most recent book club or Bible study or a number of activities. These activities can be good, but it should be a thought-out decision of whether or not they crowd a schedule too much or an activity that you truly enjoy.
It's very easy these days to find a large amount of opportunities of things to do. If we do as many as we can without being intentional about rest, it's hard to enjoy and be fully present at them all, let alone feel healthy and rested in everyday life. God wants us to thrive, and he cares about our rest.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
The Fight
Post by
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The metaphor of the Christian life being a fight or a war has been popular at times.
If life is a fight or war, where's the time for rest? For the Sabbath? For peace and enjoyment? Surely, focusing on that metaphor for too long or to the exclusion of the other parts of God's commands is going in the wrong direction.
Wisdom that is directed by a fear of God's Word helps to know when it's an appropriate time to "fight." One of those times is resisting the pressure, even in Christian circles, to be too much of a people pleaser or say easy answers when harder ones might need to be given.
An example is saying no to an opportunity to participate or seem interested in gossip in a time and place where it is very accepted. The people around you will scoff and even try to tell you to be better--the way they use "better" is defined by them as conforming to their style.
Faith in God, that his commands are good, is needed in a time like that. The cost of making a decision to not participate in those conversations could lead to losing friendships or even being teased often about it. But whether or not you lose friendships for those right decisions, it will matter in the end. You will not only honor God but also help protect the lovely other people in your life and also yourself.
It's important to at times evaluate the culture, what's accepted and expected in both Christian circles and the wider world. And to be ready to not participate in things that are deemed acceptable to them but don't match godly wisdom.
Another benefit to the wartime or fight metaphor is that it is a focus on the big picture of what matters. Little things, like whether our hair looks just right or we feel like we're weak or how much we have at the moment, don't matter as much. The most important thing is to honor God, which includes acting and helping. That's one important thing God wants us to do. To have a generous heart that wants to protect and help others.
Michelle Dowell, Contributor
The metaphor of the Christian life being a fight or a war has been popular at times.
If life is a fight or war, where's the time for rest? For the Sabbath? For peace and enjoyment? Surely, focusing on that metaphor for too long or to the exclusion of the other parts of God's commands is going in the wrong direction.
Wisdom that is directed by a fear of God's Word helps to know when it's an appropriate time to "fight." One of those times is resisting the pressure, even in Christian circles, to be too much of a people pleaser or say easy answers when harder ones might need to be given.
An example is saying no to an opportunity to participate or seem interested in gossip in a time and place where it is very accepted. The people around you will scoff and even try to tell you to be better--the way they use "better" is defined by them as conforming to their style.
Faith in God, that his commands are good, is needed in a time like that. The cost of making a decision to not participate in those conversations could lead to losing friendships or even being teased often about it. But whether or not you lose friendships for those right decisions, it will matter in the end. You will not only honor God but also help protect the lovely other people in your life and also yourself.
It's important to at times evaluate the culture, what's accepted and expected in both Christian circles and the wider world. And to be ready to not participate in things that are deemed acceptable to them but don't match godly wisdom.
Another benefit to the wartime or fight metaphor is that it is a focus on the big picture of what matters. Little things, like whether our hair looks just right or we feel like we're weak or how much we have at the moment, don't matter as much. The most important thing is to honor God, which includes acting and helping. That's one important thing God wants us to do. To have a generous heart that wants to protect and help others.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
The Downside of Forgetting Self
By Co-Contributor
Michelle Dowell
God cares deeply for us. Seeing a person not take care of one's self doesn't bring God happiness. "Love others as you love yourself" implies that we should love ourselves. Christ coming to die for us, for our hope and overall/eternal happiness, is a big sign that we are valuable to God and should reflect that sort of thinking.
Some people may read this and think they are all set and love themselves the way God would like just fine, but the fact of how many people are overly busy, without time for much or any rest, would indicate otherwise.
There is such an emphasis in popular thinking these days on doing more, and not much about resting in God's grace, that people can become stressed easily. Stress can cause worry, frustration--all sorts of things that aren't helpful to that person or others. God calls us to help others, out of a desire to bring him glory, but he also wants us to be humble and know our limits as humans. Limits mean we need sleep, lots of food, and time to just sit and reflect on truth and blessings. Jesus took time to be alone and rest at times. The Sabbath is a day a week God wants us to aim to rest.
For some people with families it's hard to make time, but planning ahead and thinking through ways to help get as much rest and taking care of one's self as much as possible is worth it.
Michelle Dowell
God cares deeply for us. Seeing a person not take care of one's self doesn't bring God happiness. "Love others as you love yourself" implies that we should love ourselves. Christ coming to die for us, for our hope and overall/eternal happiness, is a big sign that we are valuable to God and should reflect that sort of thinking.
Some people may read this and think they are all set and love themselves the way God would like just fine, but the fact of how many people are overly busy, without time for much or any rest, would indicate otherwise.
There is such an emphasis in popular thinking these days on doing more, and not much about resting in God's grace, that people can become stressed easily. Stress can cause worry, frustration--all sorts of things that aren't helpful to that person or others. God calls us to help others, out of a desire to bring him glory, but he also wants us to be humble and know our limits as humans. Limits mean we need sleep, lots of food, and time to just sit and reflect on truth and blessings. Jesus took time to be alone and rest at times. The Sabbath is a day a week God wants us to aim to rest.
For some people with families it's hard to make time, but planning ahead and thinking through ways to help get as much rest and taking care of one's self as much as possible is worth it.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Reflections on Being "Selfless"
By Co-Contributor
Michelle Dowell
The frequency and passion that the word "selfless," as in a"selfless act," is used may cause a person to think the best acts and best life are ones that never think about the value or care of self.
It may cause a person to serve to the extent that is unhealthy overall. Serving to the extent of not taking care of one's self over a long period of time is not good. By taking care of oneself, I mean taking times to rest, eat enough, and recreation that refreshes.
It's true that the best acts are not solely focused on one's self. But it doesn't mean that the self is denied completely. It's not an either/or situation, but a both/and. It's more thinking about both--more than just self.
An example is shared enjoyment at times because you brought someone happiness through work even though it was tiring. Or knowing you have value because of God's part of giving that value to created beings and, especially to those who have access to him in Christ, and God's guidance and care of their everyday lives.
Michelle Dowell
The frequency and passion that the word "selfless," as in a"selfless act," is used may cause a person to think the best acts and best life are ones that never think about the value or care of self.
It may cause a person to serve to the extent that is unhealthy overall. Serving to the extent of not taking care of one's self over a long period of time is not good. By taking care of oneself, I mean taking times to rest, eat enough, and recreation that refreshes.
It's true that the best acts are not solely focused on one's self. But it doesn't mean that the self is denied completely. It's not an either/or situation, but a both/and. It's more thinking about both--more than just self.
An example is shared enjoyment at times because you brought someone happiness through work even though it was tiring. Or knowing you have value because of God's part of giving that value to created beings and, especially to those who have access to him in Christ, and God's guidance and care of their everyday lives.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Listening, Getting Things Right, and Rest
It is always of great use to listen to the implications others see in their positions which they hold. Often we might guess what the implications should be in their positions and we may or may not be wrong.
Is it that other people are inconsistent and they might not have implications in their system that should be there? I suppose this is always possible however often we see mystery in things.
It is not common to see logical thinkers have views which have an interesting tension. This is not simply in a field such as theology: it carries in many fields.
You see large systems of thought often have many nuances. Often a position is not fully rejected but partially affirmed with qualifications.
And this is the great issue in communication; it is that often others attempt to carry out the implications of the thought of others. In doing so they often create positions which the author of the ideas does not hold.
It is interesting to see many great theologians or great thinkers get others' positions in their field so completely wrong. Often, I suppose, many people try to do too much.
Maybe they have a critique in mind of a figure and they have a few months to write a book. In those few months they produce a book of some value which gets the other thinker wildly wrong.
It is often the case that many positions which we disagree with are not so easy to critique as we would think. We might undertake a nuanced critique but that would take a very long time.
Often you will see too many people in fields taking short cuts to try to prove their point. The reality is we often accomplish so little because we do too much.
We try to do ten things and do all ten in a mediocre way and very little good results. If we had simply done one or two things we might have had better results.
Billy Graham near the end of his ministry was asked of his deepest regret. He said that he preached too much and spent too little time in the Word and prayer.
You see sometimes we can accomplish more by doing less. This is why Jesus so frequently withdrew into solitude in the wilderness.
Keeping the Sabbath is having faith that we can do more in six days with God than seven without God.
Is it that other people are inconsistent and they might not have implications in their system that should be there? I suppose this is always possible however often we see mystery in things.
It is not common to see logical thinkers have views which have an interesting tension. This is not simply in a field such as theology: it carries in many fields.
You see large systems of thought often have many nuances. Often a position is not fully rejected but partially affirmed with qualifications.
And this is the great issue in communication; it is that often others attempt to carry out the implications of the thought of others. In doing so they often create positions which the author of the ideas does not hold.
It is interesting to see many great theologians or great thinkers get others' positions in their field so completely wrong. Often, I suppose, many people try to do too much.
Maybe they have a critique in mind of a figure and they have a few months to write a book. In those few months they produce a book of some value which gets the other thinker wildly wrong.
It is often the case that many positions which we disagree with are not so easy to critique as we would think. We might undertake a nuanced critique but that would take a very long time.
Often you will see too many people in fields taking short cuts to try to prove their point. The reality is we often accomplish so little because we do too much.
We try to do ten things and do all ten in a mediocre way and very little good results. If we had simply done one or two things we might have had better results.
Billy Graham near the end of his ministry was asked of his deepest regret. He said that he preached too much and spent too little time in the Word and prayer.
You see sometimes we can accomplish more by doing less. This is why Jesus so frequently withdrew into solitude in the wilderness.
Keeping the Sabbath is having faith that we can do more in six days with God than seven without God.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Rest as Christian
Christianity insists on the concept of rest as a Christian ideal. You will meet pastors who will affirm they have not had a day off for 3 months.
The rapid turnover in the American pastorate is easily a symptom of the overworked pastor. Interestingly pastors grow in their work over a long careers so experience pastors tend to be far more capable of effectively running a church than young ones.
This raises a question if one can accomplish less by attempting to do to much. I think the answer in the bible is, yes.
The concept of Sabbath is that 1 out 7 days is devoted to rest. Sabbath is both practical wisdom and faith based.
The faith element is a trust that with good we can provide for ourselves with 6 days of labor even when 7 seem needed. The practical element is that when we become worn down our work begins to suffer, so working for 3 months without a day off most likely dramatically affects the quality of ones work.
Even Jesus rested and withdrew into the wilderness. If we need an example of rest we can find one in Jesus who rested even though the needs of the world around him were endless.
The rapid turnover in the American pastorate is easily a symptom of the overworked pastor. Interestingly pastors grow in their work over a long careers so experience pastors tend to be far more capable of effectively running a church than young ones.
This raises a question if one can accomplish less by attempting to do to much. I think the answer in the bible is, yes.
The concept of Sabbath is that 1 out 7 days is devoted to rest. Sabbath is both practical wisdom and faith based.
The faith element is a trust that with good we can provide for ourselves with 6 days of labor even when 7 seem needed. The practical element is that when we become worn down our work begins to suffer, so working for 3 months without a day off most likely dramatically affects the quality of ones work.
Even Jesus rested and withdrew into the wilderness. If we need an example of rest we can find one in Jesus who rested even though the needs of the world around him were endless.
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