Is it time to take a nap?

A Purpose Driven Community devotional by Rick Warren

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is just go take a nap. That's because when you're physically down, it's hard to be emotionally and spiritually up. The legendary football (U.S.) coach Vince Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." That's true. It's amazing how much better things look when you're rested.

If you're discouraged right now, it might not mean you have to make a change; it may simply be that you need some rest.

Farmers know that soil needs rest, so they rotate their crops and systematically leave a portion of their land fallow. They do this because land that has rested produces a greater harvest.

About 100 years ago, a businessman named Frederick W. Taylor did a scientific study on the workplace and productivity. Do you know what his study proved? That people will produce more if they have periodic breaks; and from that, he introduced the coffee break.

Resting is spiritual. The Bible says God "enjoys giving rest to those He loves" (Psalm 127:2 MSG). You may need to put that verse on your refrigerator. The Bible says it's vain for you to rise up early and stay up late.

The Bible also says, "You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed Your laws" (Psalm 119:73 LB). What are His laws for the body? Eat right, get your sleep, exercise, and relax.

Rest is so important, in fact, that God put it in the Ten Commandments. In essence, He said, "Every seventh day you are to rest."

Don't ignore what God established. A good night's sleep makes a big difference. And even a quick nap can help you see things clearly.

(you can find this at the Purpose Driven Connection site here)

Fruit from frustrations

RULE #1: Don't sweat the small stuff
RULE #2: Realize it's all small stuff!

The Bible says, "A person's wisdom yields patience..." (Proverbs 19:11). The only way we can see all stuff as small stuff is to view it from God's perspective. When I am in tune with God, I remember He has everything under control even though I don't! So I don't have to sweat it: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Pray this prayer: "Lord, help me to be filled with your love, joy, and peace, so that when I'm squeezed and pressured it is your love, joy, and peace that spill out of me."

(Adapted from a recent Rick Warren daily devotional, The Secret to Managing Frustrations)

Walking with Jesus

"God is not interested in simply helping people to a destination. He is acutely concerned with how we get there, and wants to be with us on that journey. In Luke 24, Jesus wasn’t walking with his disciples in order to get to Emmaus; he was walking with them because he enjoyed their company and wanted to share the Good News of his resurrection. When we ask God to do something quick, He usually says no. Most of us want our problems resolved overnight so that life can go back to normal. God simply does not work that way. He wants to walk the trail with us, giving us wisdom, revelation and His presence."

—Graham Cooke

Finding and raising cane: The origins of the candy cane

Okay, so it's not a stupendous theological question, but still: Just where did candy canes come from? Like all 'traditions', various versions of the history behind the striped Christmas treats exist. Some wax theological, others more practical.

One on the side of practicality holds that in about 1670, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral grew frustrated by fidgety kids in his church's living Nativity. He had some white, sugar-candy sticks made to keep the youngsters quiet. The sticks were curved like shepherds' staffs in honour of the shepherds at the stable. The idea caught on, and candy sticks became common at living Nativities all over Europe.

In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard put candy canes on his Christmas tree in Wooster, Ohio. The sweets gained popularity here, too, and around the turn of the century, they assumed their now familiar properties of red stripes and peppermint flavoring. Though these elements might have been added for symbolic purposes, there's scant solid evidence to confirm that theory.

(Read the whole story here.)

Why and when did Christians start constructing special buildings for worship?

Back in the first century, Christians, or followers of ‘the Way’, met primarily in private homes, such as the house of Mary, mother of Mark (Acts 12:12). As Christians began to organize, they depended on supporters for financing, and for those with larger homes to open them up as places for worship and fellowship.

 As numbers continued to grow, larger public spaces served as gathering places, such as the outer court of the temple (Acts 2:46). Yet even with all these various sites, Christians had the sense of being one church.

Not until the end of the third century do we have archaeological evidence of halls being built specifically for church meetings.  The great era of church buildings began with Constantine's patronage of the church in the fourth century. He commissioned basilicas to signal his support of the new religion, plus, of course, to advertise his reign.

As the church continued to grow and blossom, it needed to accommodate joint assemblies and multiple reasons for gathering. Special functions, such as daily Bible teaching, baptisms, and the distribution of gifts to the poor, required readily available facilities. Special buildings also gave the church a visible sign of permanence.

[Based on an article in Christianity Today by Everett Ferguson, professor of church history emeritus at Abilene Christian University]