Why Be a No-Show to God? Purposeful Living Pre- and Post Easter (with Guest Author Nancy Sleeth) PLUS TWO FREE BOOK GIVEAWAYS!!!**

Happy Holy Week!

Killer Question: How are you living prior to Easter and how will you live post-Easter? Are you intentional about your day-to-day to-do’s or is life passing you by?

Still Puzzled? The below article, written by my friend Nancy Sleeth, will offer much-needed help to our bustin-busy 24/7 world in which we live.

Nancy and her husband, Matthew live in Lexington, Kentucky and run their non-profit Blessed Earth. (www.blessedearth.org) They both have authored books.

**If you’re blessed by her article and leave a comment, you have a CHANCE TO WIN not one, but TWO books! Matthew’s 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life and Nancy’s Almost Amish: One Woman’s Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life.**

(Checkout “Is it Possible to Have Lunch with Ann Voskamp and Breakfast with Matthew and Nancy Sleeth?” and “What You Miss When You’re in a Hurry” for more information on their books.)

Soak in these challenging, Biblical ideas from guest author Nancy Sleeth’s recent article in Relevant Magazine…:

The Most Ignored CommandmentIt’s one of the Bible’s most well-known commandments. So why aren’t we following it?By Nancy SleethFebruary 20, 2015

A recent poll of 2,000 pastors in North Carolina revealed that less than 10 percent are keeping a regular Sabbath.

Think about this for a moment. If 90 percent of pastors announced from the pulpit that murder (or stealing, or adultery) is OK, don’t you think it might raise a few eyebrows in the pews, let alone the press?

It’s true: Jesus freed us from temple and ritual laws, but nowhere does He say we get a pass on moral laws. Of all the moral laws, Christ is especially clear that we must honor the Top Ten.

In fact, he ups the ante: if the law says don’t commit murder, Jesus says don’t get mad at the person who just sent you a snarky text. If the law says don’t commit adultery, Jesus says don’t even surf the Internet looking for racy pictures.

The Ten Commandments are engraved twice in the walls of the Supreme Court building. Why? Even for people who don’t believe in God, they serve as the bedrock of morality. The Ten Commandments help keep civilization civilized.

For those of us who believe in the Creator, the Ten Commandments are gifts from the very hand of God. The first three commandments are about our relationship with the Lord. The last six are about our relationship with humanity. The fourth commandment is a bridge: it connects heaven and earth, God and people.

Once a week, God walks out on the Sabbath bridge to meet us. But most of us are no-shows; we unapologetically stand up the Creator of the universe, week after week.

Time Debt

Our generation is the first in 2,000 years of church history that is on the go 24/7. But this experiment in Sabbath-less living is taking a huge toll. It’s called time debt. We overcommit. We multi-task. We stay so busy we don’t have enough time for relationships with family and friends, let alone God.

The result? Nonstop stress. When I asked my husband Matthew, a physician, about the physical consequences of stress, he gave me a mini-lesson on the endocrine system. If your body never knows when the next Stop Day is coming, it sends out stress hormones. These hormones are commonly known as the fight or flight response. If you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction, a shot of adrenaline can save your life. A few hours later, however, you will feel utterly exhausted, like you’ve been run over by a truck.

Matthew went on to explain that when we are under stress long term, our bodies produce another stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol production contributes to a host of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, acne, depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, digestive problems, and memory and concentration impairment. The bottom line: constant stress doesn’t just make us tired and grumpy; it makes us ill.

So if you’re ready to start attempting to keep a Sabbath, here are a few ways you can start:

Block off Sabbath Time on Your Calendar.

Here’s a simple truth: It won’t happen unless you schedule it. For most people, Sabbath is celebrated on Sunday. For church leaders, hospital workers and people who provide emergency services, Sabbath might have to be moved to another day of the week.

Because our ministry requires frequent travel, I use Google calendar to schedule our Sabbaths at least four months in advance. This lets our staff know when we will be offline and allows them to plan accordingly.

Prepare Joyfully.

In today’s 24/7 world, Sabbath-keeping is countercultural; it doesn’t just happen by default. If you long to lay down your heavy burdens, you’ll need to be more intentional about your time the other six days of the week.

On Sabbath eve, I clean out my email inbox, finish chores and run errands with an almost giddy joy. I also plan ahead for holy fun, seeking out new places for a hike or picking out a book to read aloud with my husband.

Figure Out What “Work” is for You.

Scholars have argued for centuries about how to define rest. Here’s a simple definition: decide what work is for you and don’t do it on your Sabbath.

For people engaged in sedentary work during the week, puttering around in the garden on the Sabbath might be restful. For people who do manual labor, holy rest might mean taking a nap.

Pray and Play.

Eugene Peterson, one of my theological heroes and author of The Message, once said that there are only two rules for Sabbath: play and pray. Now in his eighth decade of life, Peterson also believes Sabbath-keeping is the best thing he ever did for his marriage, his children and his ministry.

My family and I have been keeping the Sabbath for the past dozen years, and all I can say is “Amen!” Now grown, our kids kept the Sabbath throughout high school, college, medical school and now residency. The Sabbath gave them something almost none of their peers had, even while attending a Christian college: a day off. No homework, no chores, no shopping—just time with family, friends and God.

Find a Sabbath Buddy.

My husband I run a nonprofit together. We both have workaholic tendencies. We both love our work. This is a dangerous combination. Yet no matter what deadlines are looming, my husband and I do not work on the Sabbath. When one of us begins to “talk shop,” we gently remind each other to give it a rest.

Sabbath is best practiced in community. So find a Sabbath buddy. Help each other to create a Sabbath plan: what you’ll need to do to get ready, how you’ll celebrate, and what you’ll avoid on your day of rest. Then check in and encourage each other.

Giving Up Busyness for Lent.

Here’s my challenge for you: this Lent season, engage in a Sabbath experiment. Resolve to spend one day in seven resting and restoring. Praying and playing. Being still and knowing God.

Come Easter, you will not only celebrate the risen Lord; you will celebrate a renewed you!

THANK YOU, NANCY!!!

In case you missed my favorite quote of Nancy’s, it’s well worth repeating:

“Once a week, God walks out on the Sabbath Bridge to meet us. But most of us are no-shows; we unapologetically stand up the Creator of the universe, week after week.” Ouch! Definitely food for thought, huh?

Please let us know your thoughts and ideas, and maybe how you were challenged. Don’t forget, if you leave a comment, you’ll be entered into a drawing for Matthew and Nancy’s books!

Have a Most Blessed Easter!!! He is risen!

‘Til next time!