12 Jan, 2012
Time to Get Away
Classic American Retreats
It’s been more than 70 years since the first stimulus package helped lift the nation out of a depression — and, true to common wisdom, they did bailouts better back then. Roosevelt’s New Deal and the alphabet soup of agencies it created (notably, the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps) built magnificent, uniquely American campgrounds, lodges, and cabins in state parks across the country — many of which are still open. Why visit them now? Because they’re less expensive and more authentic than any comparable lodging built since the 1930s.
(Article and picture provided by:http://www.mensjournal.com/classic-american-retreats)
Mark 6:30-32
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about our need for a break?
Early in chapter 6 Jesus sends out the twelve. They travel around the countryside preaching, healing and driving out demons. The things they were doing were amazing, but they also took a toll physically and emotionally.
In the middle of the chapter, an event occurred that probably sent Jesus and his disciples into emotional overdrive. John the Baptist was beheaded.
All of this happens and then the disciples return excited about everything that they saw. Jesus, knows them and knows that they need a break from their exhausting work, so he pulls them aside to rest, a while, in a quiet place.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
You may not be able to take a day off whenever you want or need to so here are a couple of ideas to make some refreshment time for yourself.
- Set aside 5 minutes each day just sit in a comfortable chair and breathe.
- When you do get vacation time. Leave your electronics at home and shut your cell phone off at least an hour a day.
- Ask Jesus to help you find space in your life to refresh.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
We live in a busy, fast paced world. It feels like there is never enough time to get everything done that we need to. We can speak volumes to our friends though if we learn to rest in the crazyness of life.
- When you travel take a friend with you and invite them to shut their phone off for the week. Lead the way by turning your's off first.
- Once in a while tell your friends your staying home just because you need to rest.
- You can really help a friend by giving them permission to rest. "Hey, Jesus took time to rest... You can too."
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