Trying to apply what he’s learning in his new book, Nelson is wondering how to honor the Sabbath day while still being a pastor. Sundays are work days for him in that regard, yet he hopes he can find a way to blend work and rest.

The baby’s due date in early March is fast approaching, so he’s also wondering what kind of “work” that will add to their overloaded schedules.

He admits he’s never been good at resting on Sundays (or any day, for that matter), but the new book is challenging him to consider its importance.

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February 18, 2022

Been still reading the book, Elimination of Hurry. He’s at the application part, talking about rest and the Sabbath. Doing nothing that’s not either Rest or Worship. Pretty good idea actually.

Apparently, the Bible mentions it longer than any other command and God even blessed it along with just a couple other things like being fruitful and multiplying. Nothing that’s not worship or rest. Last week we skipped Costco and it was a refreshing break.

It’s hard being a pastor doing the church thing, which, for me, is work, but I don’t know really how to solve that one. Sunday seems to be the day, and it’s not to catch up on paying bills or other stuff that I never got around to during the week. That’s what Saturday is for.

Interesting concept that almost no one I know follows. Well, at least I don’t follow it. Annso has been talking about it forever. He (the author) talks about a meal with friends, but at this point, nothing about that seems restful to me.

In the sermon last week, Jimmy asked the question, “What do you need a break from the most?” and without skipping a beat, I leaned over to Annso and said, “That’s easy. People.”

We are trying to pass off the Kokua Crew lead position. Seems to be one of those things that we have to dump with or without a replacement. If she wants to work in the ministry still, it will be up to her under someone else. It’s hard to let go, but it’s time for sure, baby or not. We can use that as the excuse, but, for me it’s time to get out from under this one.

Maybe running grounds or some other tactical ministry for a while, but nothing like staffing DTS or what we’re doing now.

Lord, we have been given this amazing life here, and the last thing I want to do is throw it away to work a normal job as an electrician, but maybe taper off a bit and still pastor the church, I don’t know. 40 hours a week isn’t really full time to me, so maybe there’s some extra time somewhere to serve and keep in the game of YWAM. You always lead us so well and we want to do and be the best, not just the good.

Sabbath: Rest or worship: no exercise, no shopping, no working on vehicles, no heavy duty cooking, not even going to church because that’s clearly work for me. Maybe it’s Saturday. Nothing but rest and worship. Walking with my family, taking a nap, drawing or painting, playing music either through speaker or a guitar, having coffee and tea, talking, reading… and of course, prayer, talking to God about life and love.

Being together as a family is probably the main way to worship God. Casting off the shackles of productivity. I finished the 5 days with Tim and managed to get cocked in the eye with a large cable which sent me home. Eventually went to the OB with Annso, and then to the hospital with her to make sure there was enough fluid in there with the baby, which there was.

He’s a little under weight, but not bad. I think it’s because she doesn’t really eat or drink all that much, but it will be fine in the long run, I’m sure. She does a great job with this whole thing and, to me, it’s like a dream to be able to live this with her. And to be welcoming a new baby boy into the world is more than I can even comprehend. I’m glad it’s taken until now. I hope I live long enough to see a lot of it, starting out so late, but it’s easy to give that up to God.

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“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)