Getting Some Rest

We read in Genesis 2.1-3...

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

God completes his great work of Creation and then He rests.  He didn’t rest because He was tired; He rested because He was finished creating and so He could now simply enjoy what He had made.  The rest that God takes on the 7^th day becomes the basis for Israel resting (Israel’s Sabbath) and it’s a rhythm (6 days of work, 1 day of rest) that all God's people do well to find and settle into. 

What does Sabbath rest do?  (note: As I'm pretty sure no one reads this, I'm writing this as encouragement for myself; if anyone else stumbles across it, I hope it helps you too.)  Let me ask the question (for myself) again:  What does Sabbath rest do?  At least 3 things: 

1) It reminds us that that God completes His work.  As he consummated His work of creation, He will bring to perfection his work in history.  He will not fail.  We can rest in that.

2) Knowing that God completes His work, we can cease from our “doing” - 1 day in 7 - and trust that the wheels won’t fall off our lives.   God is in control.  The world is safe in His hands and will not disintegrate if we stop our work. 

3) Finally, it reminds us of the great rest available in Jesus; a rest we can enter into now.  

It's interesting that on the seventh day, we don't read and there was evening and there was morning, the seventh day.  Why is that familiar phrase missing?  I believe it’s because this day never ends.  God’s rest is ongoing.  His work of Creation is complete.  And because of that, the Day of Rest goes on forever!

It is a gift from the Son of God for all who come to him.  I need to daily hear him say to me...

Come to me, you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Good Poems

Over the summer I picked up a book called Good Poems.  Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion fame also has a radio program called The Writer's Almanac.  This book is a selection of poems that he featured on that lesser-known show. 

Now I didn't grow up reading poetry.  Actually, I didn't grow up reading much of anything.  But in later life, I've really come to appreciate good writing.  And that includes good poems.  If a novice such as myself can have favorites, then mine are Emily Dickinson and Wendell Berry.  Berry is not only a poet, he's a farmer.  His connection with the earth is refreshing and informs his work.  Take, The Peace of Wild Things, for example. 

   When despair for the world grows in me
   and I wake in the night at the least sound
   in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
   I go and lie down where the wood drake
   rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
   I come into the peace of wild things
   who do not tax their lives with forethought
   of grief.  I come into the presence of still water.
   And I feel above me the day-blind stars
   waiting with their light.  For a time
   I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. 

Beautiful, isn't it.  He could've just said, "Hey, if you have lots of stress in your life, go out in nature for a while."  But that's just good advice, not a good poem.  I love the bio that Keillor includes on this poet-farmer: 

Wendell Berry (1934, Newcastle, KY) is a poet, essayist, novelist, farmer (near Port Royal, KY), environmentalist.  Breathe with unconditioned breath, the unconditioned air.  Shun electric wire.  Communicate slowly.  Live a three-dimensioned life; stay away from screens. 

Do yourself a favor (note: since I'm not aware of anyone else reading my blog, I am mainly talking to myself here) and read some good poems.

A Haiku for my V Double-U

loud, air-cooled, bug-like

thirty miles to the gallon

she is my sweetheart 

Taking a Drive

I love to take a drive.  I don't mind the everyday driving to get to work or drop the kids off at school or run errands.  But what I'm talking about is getting in the car, with no particular place to go or people to see, and driving for driving's sake.  "Taking a drive" is the equivalent of really enjoying a meal.  Most of the time I shove food in my pie hole while I'm reading or typing or doing everyday driving.  But sometimes, usually on a date with my wife, I will enjoy a meal.  I'll eat more slowly.  I'll savor the texture and taste of each bite.  I might even look at it and smell it before it goes into my mouth.  Novel idea, I know.  When you apply that to driving, it makes for a whole different experience.

I typically "take a drive" first thing on Mondays or late at night.  If I have time, I'll drive from Long Beach to San Pedro.  That's probably my favorite drive.  I'll take Ocean Boulevard West across the smaller, lesser-known Gerald Desmond Bridge, and then it's the larger, greater-known Vincent Thomas Bridge.  The one that makes you feel like you're in San Francisco, if only for a minute.  South on Gaffey Street, all the way to Point Fermin Park.  Take a right (just before the park) on Paseo Del Mar and head toward Rancho Palos Verdes.  It's a beautiful drive.  You can take in the ocean, pass through downtown, appreciate the port, visit another city, and be home in about an hour and a half.  I mention this because I love to take a drive and you talk about what you love. 

By the way, there are about a bizillion (it's a number) coffee shops on this particular route.  Which leads me to my next post, "For Coffee's Sake."  More on that later.  I gotta drive the kids to school. 

Forced Reflection

I don't take the time to reflect on things as often as I should.  I journal, from time to time.  I sit and intentionally think about my life, my relationships, and my actions, from time to time.  I will spend time in reflection, but I'd like to make it more of a priority.  One way that I have been "forced" to reflect is when people ask how it's going or for an update on the church.  My initial response (in my heart, not in writing or out loud) is "do I have to run through this again?"  But then my better response (also in my heart, but also in writing or out loud) tends to illustrate how great these times of forced reflection can be.

For instance, just yesterday someone from our former church emailed me to ask how their women's group could partner with us here in Long Beach.  I immediately thought of a few ways, but more than just listing opportunities, I found myself considering (read "reflecting on") who and what our church is involved with in the community.  I got excited, again, about the doors that God has opened to us in this great city.  We have had and will have, Lord willing, many opportunities to seek the welfare of the city.  There are so many stories that come to mind.  I think of two particular families who have both, in the past few months, made significant progress in their lives.  By God's grace, they have their own homes, they have jobs, they have a church family who knows and loves them.  They are testimonies to the power and kindness of God.  I got to think more about those families as I responded to my friend's email.

Even this blog, whether anyone ever reads it or not, it's a place for me to reflect.  And since I have formerly complained about people who set up blogs and rarely post anything, then this blog (not wanting to be a hypocrite) is a self-imposed place of forced reflection. 

Good things are good things.  Even when they're forced!

Loved by God

Our church - Restoration Church of Long Beach -  has been studying Paul's letter to the Galatians this summer.  Throughout this letter, Paul is urging this young community of believers to live out of the gospel.  In other words, to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh.  To live according to what God has done and not according to what man can do.  To live by faith, not by works.  It's the difference between religion and the gospel.  One kills, the other liberates! 

In his book, From Orphans to Heirs, author Mark Stibbe writes:
“Our acceptance by the Father is the foundation of our Christian lives.  Before we do anything for God, we know that we are beloved by God.  By grace, we have brand new identities as sons and daughters, and we are brand new creatures. Being loved by the Father becomes the very core of our existence.”

What is the first thing that comes to God's mind when He thinks of you? 

How you (honestly) answer reveals whether you see yourself as an orphan or an heir. 

Surrender to Love.  And do it now!

A little late to the game

Now that blogs are no longer the hot new thing, I thought I'd finally start one.  As my blog title says, I just wanted a place to write.  I'm glad there are more than 140 characters.  Speaking of Twitter, I don't understand why anyone needs to let everyone else know that they are "on the way to the car" or "just getting over a headache."  Really?  Come on!  While I don't promise super meaningful things on this blog all the time, I do hope to never roll out the sort of things that make others a stupider version of their pre-"A Place to Write" reading selves.  Stupider is a word, by the way.  Okay, so there's something you maybe didn't really need to know, but I'm just looking for a place to write.  If anyone finds anything I write funny, helpful or otherwise not a complete waste of time, then I'll be happy.