And as you guys have said, discovering Christ as THE Sabbath/Rest is SO much more real than simply observing a day!

The Mike-shaped hole is an interesting one, people assume we have left the Church when we have not; we have simply left organized religion. We are, and always will be part of the Body! As Chip says “If we are one with the Head, we are one with the Body, even if we are not gathered together. But, if we are not one with the Head, we are not one with the Body, even if we are gathered together.” from http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/articles/churchianity.html

Looking forward to seeing you address other objections Mike

When we were working Sunday mornings, I led worship and helped coordinate the music, while my husband ran the A/V department. Talk about busy! We raced around our house, got to the building earlier than just about anyone, pawned off our kids to wherever while we did our prep work. We rarely, if ever (maybe once a year?) got to sit with our kids in a service, because we were onstage or behind the scenes. The kids went out for children’s church during the preaching.

Looking back, it was a most insane way to raise a family. We were never worshiping together. Instead, we sacrificed our family dynamics so that others could benefit from our service. What a stupid thing to do! (I realize in hindsight.)

Now, we spend TIME with our family… with other close friends who are also learning about Father. We talk, and share – about things Father is showing us, about daily problems and troubles (often getting encouragement and great counsel from one another ), about inspiring movies or books (and sometimes goofy and just-for-fun stuff), and about all sorts of REAL LIFE.

I come away from our get-togethers feeling that I’m fulfilling and receiving all the stuff that I used to work hard to do, and never really got done (if I were truthful with myself). EVERYONE leaves feeling encouraged. EVERYONE has shared. EVERYONE has been lifted up and made to feel important, and that they have something vital to offer the others.

Nothing like it. I’m open to wherever Father leads us, but I can’t imagine much else being better than this…

We get the same objections down here in New Zealand(!) and I long for the day that someone can actually give me a meaty objection that really makes me think and sweat!

Liked your comments, I have (obviously) confronted the same objections and come up with some similar and some different comments.

Sabbath. I look at it this way Option (1). Get up early on the only day off I have. Run around for 1-1 1/2 hours stressing about getting 3 young children out the door on time and nice clothes not getting muddy/wet/wee’ed/food spillage etc. Spend next hour herding cats in a “worship” service making sure my adventurous kids are not causing havoc. Get board for the next hour while I sit by myself listening to some sermon (wife out with baby) and me being ADD I couldn’t think of less attractive pass time of listening to someone for an hour. Now spend next 1/2 hour making sure my kids are not being run over in the car park while wife talks and I get even more frustrated. Travel back home arrive exhausted (assuming not out for lunch). And try and recover! While all this morning pretending that I have perfect releationship with my wife, my kids and everyone else.

Option (2). Sleep in until kids invade bed. Get up when ever I a ready, relaxed breakfast brunch. Hang out for a while till after lunch. Then enjoy family doing something together. Followed by some time with close friends.

Now answer me this – which one of these was a day or rest? I think that most evanglicals actually don’t get a sabbath, cause they are to busy!

Now there is a whole bunch about being in Christ in sabbath rest all the time…. This huge concept to unpack. But that is another day.

My other favorite is communion. Last time I searched for it the word communion is not in the New Testament (I may be wrong, cause sometimes I word search on the wrong word). The word that I found and researched on was more meal orientated – love feast, pot luck – you fill in the blank. All the communion scriptures imply a common meal – cause in a common meal we – fellowship! So we don’t do communion “right” anyway!

Anyway I should be going, thanks for such a worthwhile post. David