By KNOX HERDON
Pastor

Here in America we have people with all types of work habits. We also have those who do not work at all.

We have those who are workaholics and are always at the office or their places of work.

In life it is important to get the right balance of work and play. It is just as important to be able to play a little as it is to work all the time. Have you ever heard the saying "all work and no play makes a dull boy?" Then again if one plays all the time and doesn't work, he or she will not produce anything and his or her life will not have the meaning it can have.

I substitute teach at the local high schools and I am always asking students, "What do you plan to do with your life when you graduate?" I do this to get them to begin thinking of their future and often can help them chart the course.

Some are very clear with their plans and some don't have a clue. It's interesting that more and more I am hearing, "I want to get rich and retire at 30 and lay by the pool!" That would bore me stiff and probably them too, even if they could pull it off. I then launch into my spiel about how the life you give away is the happy life, not the one you where you "get all you can and can all you get."

Once again, we can turn to the scriptures and get our balanced answers to the happy and fulfilled life.

In the New Testament we read of how Jesus was healing and preaching and how the crowds were constantly pressing upon him. He knew that he needed time to reflect and pray and keep in touch with God His heavenly Father so he chose to get away from the crowds and get into a boat for a while. I really love this part of the scriptures because it showed the human side of Jesus.

It also gave us the example to follow. There are times when we should just stop what we are doing and get away from the routine of life and just "go off in a boat," maybe with our spouses or just with our selves, or even with a friend.

In our family with two teenagers, my wife and I try to have a date each Friday night usually at the $1 movie. We go and get something to eat and just enjoy each other and try to unwind from the week.

In the summer we try to take a family vacation just with our family. These are very special times to keep everything in focus.

I remember when we were stationed in Seoul, Korea from 1984-1986, where the people worked seven days a week. You would see people asleep on the commuter trains and buses and sitting at their jobs when no one was looking. Most people cannot function efficiently or safely if they get no rest. I can remember being a student in Ranger School at Fort Benning where we went on 12-day patrols with one meal and two hours of sleep, if we made our objective. When sleep deprivation hit, it was reported that men were walking up to trees trying to put quarters in them to make phone calls home. The mind fogs over and one cannot think.

Beautifully, Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus was talking about physical and spiritual rest. Jesus knew the burdens of life that we are all involved in to provide for our families, but he also know of the need for rest and renewal.

It is my prayer that you take time this summer to follow His example and find your rest.

P.S. We are looking for land to build If you have any information or land please call us.