http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/

Grove Books

SummerSummer

The restful lifeThe restful life

•Burn outBurn out•Drop outDrop out•Level outLevel out•Fall out Fall out •Spread outSpread out

The DangersThe Dangers

Be still and know Be still and know that I am Godthat I am God

Thus the heavens and earth were completed in Thus the heavens and earth were completed in all their vast array. all their vast array.

By the seventh day God has finished the work he had been By the seventh day God has finished the work he had been doing: so on the seventh day he doing: so on the seventh day he restedrested from all his work. from all his work.

And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating because on it he rested from all the work of creating

that he had done.that he had done.

Genesis 2, 1-3.Genesis 2, 1-3.

‘ ‘a restless wanderer’a restless wanderer’

My presence will go with you and I My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.will give you rest.

Exodus 33,14Exodus 33,14

The Lord is giving you rest and The Lord is giving you rest and has granted you this landhas granted you this land..

Joshua 1,15Joshua 1,15

Six days you shall labour , but on the seventh Six days you shall labour , but on the seventh day you shall rest, even during the day you shall rest, even during the ploughing season and harvest you ploughing season and harvest you

must rest….must rest….Exodus 34,21Exodus 34,21

Let the beloved of the LordLet the beloved of the Lordrest secure in him,rest secure in him,

for he shields him all day longfor he shields him all day longand the one the Lord loves and the one the Lord loves

rests between his shoulders…rests between his shoulders…

Deut 33,12.Deut 33,12.

.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you

rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn

from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your life. For my yoke is easy and

my burden is light.Matthew 11,28-29

What does this mean for What does this mean for us today?us today?

.

Distracted from distractions Distracted from distractions by distractionsby distractions

• fatiguefatigue

• apathyapathy

• anxietyanxiety

• optimism and denialoptimism and denial

We use selective inattention and forgettingWe use selective inattention and forgettingto get through life, we assume it’s the to get through life, we assume it’s the

crazy pace of our lives that is killing us crazy pace of our lives that is killing us when really it’s our inattention to our when really it’s our inattention to our

deepest desire, the desire for God.deepest desire, the desire for God.

Marshall JenkinsMarshall Jenkins

Question for discussion?

How do those four How do those four things stop us things stop us

living restful lives ?living restful lives ?

Work from rest Work from rest not rest from worknot rest from work

……………………………………………………………………....

You are my dear child,You are my dear child,

I love youI love you

and I’m delighted with you.and I’m delighted with you.

Disconnect toDisconnect toreconnectreconnect

Paying attention is not a way by which we Paying attention is not a way by which we make something happen but a way to seemake something happen but a way to see

what is already given to us.what is already given to us.

‘‘Let us open our eyes.’ Let us open our eyes.’ BenedictBenedict

Reset our valuesReset our values

‘ Each of us is called to a life patternedby Christ. A life not shaped by inner compulsions

or captive to outer expectations but drawn by the inner voice of love.’

Model the restful lifeModel the restful life

‘The forming of the soul that it might be a dwelling place for God is the

primary work of the Christian leader. This is not an add-on, an option, or a third-level priority. Without this core activity, one almost guarantees that she/he will not last in leadership for

a life-time or that what work is accomplished will become less

and less reflective of God's honourand God's purposes. ’

Gordon MacDonald

The people we need The people we need

•Seeks God with youSeeks God with you•Challenges you to Challenges you to

thinkthink•Corrects youCorrects you•Listens to youListens to you

•Laughs and plays Laughs and plays with youwith you

•Supports youSupports you

Be still and still movingBe still and still moving

At home on the road

Question for discussion?

How might these How might these things help us things help us

live restful lives ?live restful lives ?