The Four Principles of Biblical Sabbath Chaplain Wally Johnston (Ret.) Founding Chaplain – Santa Monica, CA Police Abingdon, IL Police Beaverton, OR Police City of Sherwood, OR and Police Dept.

The major source for this presentation comes from chapter eight of Emotionally Healthy Spiritually by Peter Scazzero (Thomas Nelson: 2006)

Ever get lost in a blizzard?

Blizzards begin when we say yes to too many things! God has offered us some “ropes” for us to survive the blizzards of life we experience as chaplains. Peter Scazzero refers to them as…”The Daily Office” and “The Four Principles of Biblical Sabbath.”

Biblical Sabbath 1. Stopping Chaplains drive cars with only one pedal…

Sabbath is a day to hit the brakes It takes a train with 150 cars going 50 mph, 8000 feet to stop (1.5 miles) Chaplains travel at least 100 mph and carry more weight than can be measured. It takes forever to get them to stop!

Sabbath is a day to embrace my limits (God is indispensable, you are not!) Sabbath is a day to embrace my limits (God is indispensable, you are not!) Pastor who didn’t take a day off. “Who is going take care of things if I don’t?” Pastor who didn’t take a day off. “Who is going take care of things if I don’t?” Make stopping your choice (Not someone else or a bad health attack!). Make stopping your choice (Not someone else or a bad health attack!).

2. Rest If God rested from His work shouldn’t we? Resting involves expressing our joy What do you do for fun? What replenishes you? (It could be napping, working out, walking, reading, watching a movie, going out for dinner, etc.). Plan your rest Prepare for your rest. Have a Sabbath prep day. Get needed stuff done before the day arrives.

Consider resting from: Work Physical exhaustion Hurriedness Multi-tasking Competitiveness Worry Decision making Errands Talking Technology

 Resting shows our respect for the Image of God in us.  We don’t serve the Sabbath, the Sabbath serves us.

3. Delight God delighted in His work…”It was very good.”(Genesis 2:1-4). The Hebrew communicates a sense of joy, completeness, wonder, and play. Our culture has distorted delight and pleasure so we become uncomfortable in receiving these. (Sex could lead to dancing!) On Sabbath, we are to enjoy and delight in creation…slow down to do so.

Delight in God’s greatest creation. Stop for unexpected conversations with neighbors, family, strangers. Delight in healthy play Greek for the perfect, mutual indwelling of the Holy Spirit (perichoerisis) means “dancing around.”

Contemplate (to consider thoroughly; think fully or deeply about) 4. Contemplate (to consider thoroughly; think fully or deeply about)  Ponder the Love of God  Reflect on His attributes, character and names.*  Meditate on the Word

The Daily Office The purpose of the Daily Office is to remember and focus on God. Pausing in our busy day to acknowledge God’s presence. The Daily Office involves: 1.Stopping: one or more times during the day to be aware of the presence of God. 2.Focusing: “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7. See also 46:10). Focus and resting in God. Breathe in God and exhale the sins and distractions. Silence: quiet every inner and outer voice to tune into God. 3.Silence: quiet every inner and outer voice to tune into God.

The Daily Office 4.Scripture: The Psalms in particular. Whatever helps you get into scripture—do it! Focus in on a passage, a sentence, or just a word.

“God is offering us a rope to keep us from getting lost. This rope consistently leads us back home to him” (Scazzero, p. 154).