Faith Outside the Box

Betsy St. Amant

I grew up in the church—literally, I was there every time the doors were open for most of my childhood and beyond. There are so many blessings that come from a strong Christian heritage—but there are many challenges as well. Challenges that stem from routine and absorption, rather than life and certainty. I knew what I believed—I just had no idea why.

You see, as a Christian from a young age, I knew all the buzz words, the lingo, the native language of “church-ese”. I knew all the popular Bible verses and hymns by heart, which is fantastic in one sense, but devastating in another. When we get too familiar with something, it loses its impact. And the life-giving words tended to fly over my head and miss my heart completely.

Since You Work on Sunday, When Is Your Sabbath?

Hemera/Thinkstock

Is your ministry anemic and terribly routine? Are you exhausted most of the time? Are there few items on tomorrow’s to-do list that excite or renew you? Then try these four regimens of rest.

By Cal LeMon

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. … For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:8–11).

So when is your Sabbath (not to be confused with “Sunday”), and how are you doing at keeping it holy?

You may be slightly indignant in response to that question. Of course you are holy because it is your job to be holy, especially on Sunday.