The truth behind "Vacation"...

So here goes - my last post before leaving on a week long adventure to Florida (exact location will remain undisclosed... :) ). Shauna and I are leaving Saturday morning for a week of absolutely nothing but R&R. It'll be great - and did you know it's also Biblical?
In the book of Genesis we can see the story of how everything that we know began. It took our amazing God just 6 days to create everything that is - just 6 days. A friend of our here at the church is building a deck on his house - and it's taken longer than 6 days to get that done! But God made it all in that amount of time...but the next day, the 7th, is where we get the principle of rest and vacation.
When I was young in the ministry and knew everything (it's amazing that as I grow older I lose that vast, unending knowledge more and more...) I was the guy that said, "I'm never on vacation - I'm a servant of Christ!" I didn't know much, turns out. See, I thought it wasn't "spiritual" to take time off. I thought it was a waste of the little time we have left in this world to reach the lost. I didn't think it was a good practice. And so for years, I didn't. I just didn't take time off. And if I actually did take a vacation time, it was usually because and loving and caring Pastor I served under made me do it. And even then - I usually had a preaching appointment wherever we decided to go on vacation to.
And then I wandered upon this HUGE dose of truth straight from God Himself: am I more "spiritual" than He is? "Of course not" is the obvious answer. So if it's nonspiritual for a servant of God to take some time off for R&R, why did the God that servant is devoted to take time off? That's a simple answer: to set an example for us. Our bodies need rest!
So, after a year of intense ministry both at Lake Hamilton Church and the Lake Hamilton FD, we're leaving for a week and turning off the cell phone & the fire radio. It's all going to be off, and we are going to be on the beach working on a sun tan that will make my missionary friend in Mexico jealous! (Granted, I have, as of now, a "farmer's tan" so that will be probably be baked like a lobster, but I'll enjoy every minute of it!)
So what's the point? Don't run yourself ragged! Don't run until you fall apart! Take the example that God Himself gave us - rest when you need to! At least once a week, take a day off and focus on refueling yourself for the work He's called you to. But, vacation from ministry doesn't mean vacation from Him.
Mark it down - Sunday morning we'll be in a place of worship with fellow believers in Pensacola, FL lifting up the name of Christ. Why? Because I don't desire or require a vacation from my God - it's not a job, it's a relationship.

Until next time,
blake

That's just a thought, and I welcome yours!
Email pastor blake anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com !

Pastor blake will be on vacation next week, but upon his return stay tuned for our next blog, "Make it your best ever..."!