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There is such a day, and for many around the world, it's called Shabbat. :) No matter your level of observance, unwinding and unplugging and simply being for 24 hours is, quite literally, the antidote for many of our stress-related ails. I do hope readers take your advice to heart. Whenever I take Shabbat seriously - family dinner, quiet time, naps and private time with my spouse - it is the sweetest time of the week. When I let regular life creep into my day off, I pay the price later on.
Thanks for a wonderful message!

This may well be why so many Americans are so "tired" all the time--or at least one reason. It goes beyond just the physical need for sleep. It is a tiredness of the soul. Thank you for remind us of our need to retreat--or at least for one day a week. We could bring exponentially more enthusiasm and energy to other facets of our lives if we all simply took a break!

I couldn't agree more . This is what's needed not only in America but world wide. We all need that break from the rat race. Families need time to spend together and at the same time we can help save our environment. Less traffic, less pollution. Business's will have their lights off with stores being closed. We are all winners.
www.saveoursundays.ca

Tony, Christine, and Tinamarie,
I'm ready to push this idea forward. I'd love to have you all along side.
Dale

Isn't this something that needs to begin in each of our homes first?

Indeed, but we need to go further!

I don't know if you read the front page of the NYTimes this morning but on it was an article about "training" toddlers in sports so they'd be superstars in middle school. As a mom of four boys, all of whom were involved with sports, I have to say we must begin in that arena, with parents taking a stand against the tyranny of coaches that require practice and tournaments over holidays, especially when kids are young. At least, I would if I could do it all over again with my older boys who are now grown and out of the house. We lost a great deal of family time that we will never be able to get back...

Amen

Dale I'm working on that idea, we have video's on line and plan on doing more. Contact me at info@saveoursundays.ca . We will dicuss it further.
Tony

http://www.saveoursundays.ca/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=178

One can not re-institute something that never existed because it restricts personal freedom and is not in harmony with the Constitution. That had an equivalent of that in Colonial America and with it numerous death penalties for not believing and practicing teachings of the Scriptures. That is why the Founders wrote protections in the First Amendment to prevent that. What Keuhne is suggesting will revive intolerance and persecution.

John, Thanks for your comment. I think an entirely secular argument can be made for why a public policy that make one day a week a day off from Shopping and Kids sports leagues, is good news for everyone. I don't think the Germans do this because of religious reasons. Indeed it is the unions that push for it.

Indeed this day of rest is coming back into focus and get this Its becoming INTERNATIONALLY relevant.
Many would think this is an "economic,social or save the planet" kind of issue..but these may only be the results of a deeper problem.
Its a spiritual Issue.. The desire for rest a reprieve from this sin sick and hectic life has always been hidden in the hearts of men. How did work come into existence? Work was designed in eden to be a pleasurable thing. Man was given the task of being the steward of the planet. But dew to sin things went sour .

Gen3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art , and unto dust shalt thou return.

But God had made provisions for rest even before sin ..It was not only a day of sleep and relaxation .But made this day holy and blessed it and said : Here Adam you keep it holy by.
1. Not working
2. Relaxing and communing with Me.

God said : Exodus 20:8 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is , and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.


So God had provided this Rest day long in advance saying REMEMBER THIS DAY AND KEEP IT HOLY.
its the seventh day Sabbath..

The Day of rest is coming into view once more Pope Ratzinger has call for Sunday rest to come back. Why it is becoming internationally relevant . Make no mistake a Sunday law is coming, worlwide in nature and the "head of the church" will call us to observe this spurious sabbath which is sunday. God said the 7th day and that day has not change.

see the link or click on the name to see the Hal Hallbrook Historical Documented proof besides scriptural evidence that this day is the 7th day .

The Sunday law is coming for sure pushed by protestants who are willing to follow the dictates if Rome.
All the world will wonder after the beast. Revelation 13:3

the link http://thetruthandthetruthalone.blogspot.com/2010/08/historical-documented-evidence-that-7th.html

Thank you, John Trainor and Royalblood! I'm sorry Mr.Kuehne, but when people want to start legislating when I am to take my day off, no matter how good the intentions might seem, I'm highly uncomfortable with it. The God of the Holy Scriptures gave us the 7th day Sabbath, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday and that is called the Sabbath. That is my day of rest, my holy appointment with God. All of the folks who are wanting to institute and mandate this day of rest are pushing for
Sunday. This is against the word of God. Mr. Kuehne, you wrote about Germany...and that now this Sunday law has been enforced there, not because they are religious YET. That is so telling. Soon, the beast will be mandating we must worship on Sunday...and that is where all this is heading, enforced Sunday worship...we will just encourage those dear people to be religious...we are just helping them along. Dear Mr. Kuehne, this has all been given to us in prophecy by the inspiration of our great God. The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. The Roman Catholic Church admits that changing God's Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day (Sunday) is her MARK of authority. God says His Sabbath will be a sign and I believe His Seal between Him and His people. I don't want a "MARK" Mr. Kuehne, I want God's SEAL, His SIGN. Man is not my authority, God is my Authority.
No matter how good the intentions may seem to you sir, to push this through is evil disguised as good.

And he shall think to change times and laws...

You know it really bothers me that people are using the religion argument as an excuse to feed there addictions to shopping seven days a week. Isn't that what it's about?
Millions of people are off on Sundays and the religious argument is never used against them to work. Teachers, letter carriers, government offices...you name it. I do not want to see any occupation work on Sundays , if they don't want it.
Does it have to be on Sunday, No it can be on Monday or Tuesday. But we all need one common day off.
A comment was made that you don't want to be told when to have a day of rest. I don't imagine we all like being told to pay taxes. We all would love to have our groceries for free. But do you think the grocery chains will give you're groceries to you for nothing?
We all need a balance in life and that day of rest is needed. No wonder people are in debt spending money they don't have on credit cards. With stores open day and night seven days a week, we don't even get that one day break. Has Sunday shopping helped us? No!
If Sunday shopping was so spectacular, why were we in a recession?
Here's an article you all should read- http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1216066.html
With out laws we have nothing. We would be driving on the wrong side of the road and running around in the nude. We would not be paying taxes because we don't believe in any laws. Laws are needed in moderation and a day of rest for one day, does not take away the other six days and six nights of shopping. We have the environment to consider as well and the effects of all the traffic and lights on in these stores. We would also have one day with less traffic. A day of silence..a day to rest. A day to unwind. It's needed in a bad way.

I think there are MANY legitimate reasons to legislate a National Day Off. In my blog I did not make a religious argument or suggest which day it should be. Not because I couldn't, but because its makes good sense to do so without making a religious argument. If we could gain consensus that this is a good idea, and it is, I am open to a discussion of which day. The reason many European countries have not abolish the special status of Sunday is not because of the church, which has almost completely lost its political power, but because labor unions along with so many others believe it is a great for their members, the culture, and the country.
There is every reason to do this.

Here's my question for you then. If you legislate Sunday off, and I choose to take the Sabbath as my day of rest,
am I then forced to take your mandated day off as well, because it's a law? So even though I already have my day of rest you will now mandate that I take another one off? The Lord says 6 days shall you work...so you will now be affecting my income because I observe the Biblical Sabbath but you want to insist I take another day off as well. What if I can't afford that? This has nothing to do with me being addicted to shopping 7 days a week, I assure you. Perhaps that is a problem for some, or they are workaholics, but will you shut down computer access as well. Will you close the internet as well, because clearly people can work from home or shop from home if they want too. How big brother will this get? I agree that people do need balance in their lives but it isn't for someone else to dictate to them. But people who believe they have the best of intentions feel it is a good thing they tell others how to live.

Good question.
While some in this dialogue have said that Sunday is the day that should be picked to have off, I have not stipulated a particular day. I see two separate questions.

1) Since it is intrinsically good for our nation to have one common day off a week, we do need to choose one to serve the public good.
2) If those of us who observe a particular day for religious reasons, we ought to be free to do so.

That may mean some of us will be taking two days off a week.
So be it.
The value in a national day off is the public good it provides.

This is not a disingenuous way to get a Christian sabbath. I am merely making the point, that for the public good, a national day off needs to be carved out.

My argument for doing this is NOT religious. Merely for the public good.

In Germany, there is a public day off. It is Sunday. Since there are few Christians in Germany, they have not kept it for religious reasons. My sense is that they have done so for traditional and cultural reasons. There are those who also, for religious reasons, observe another day off as well. I am not aware that they regard this as an infringement of their religious or personal freedom.

Again, I think imposing your values of what is good on someone else is a concerning trend.
If someone takes a day for religious observance and that is their day of rest and you impose
another on them that they can not afford....I bow to the law of God, not man. Even if it were
up to me to choose the day and say okay, everyone must take off the Biblical Sabbath, that would
not be right. God gives us free choice, who is anyone else to do less? If you are talking about
a weekly day of mandatory rest or no working you would impact other people's ability to earn
and provide for their families. There are some people who have to work more than one job
as they might be the sole provider. People, or anyone other than God, trying to tell me how
to live smacks of facisim, I don't really care how well intentioned. Only God has the wisdom
and all knowing power to know what is in our best interest. Not you, and not anyone else
currently walking this earth. It is presumptious.

deedwan you claim that our values are being imposed on people. We have several laws that would impose on people. Should we do away with them all? We have a minimum wage , vacation pay, holiday pay and so on. We have all kinds of laws that impose on people. With out laws ,there isn't any balance in life.
Having two days off isn't a bad thing. Families need time together. We all need time to rest and reflect on the work week. This is what makes us humans. We are not made for commercialism seven days a week. People are wearing out from having no break. We need this in a real big way. A common day to spend together.
People have been brainwashed by the media with that line. Freedoms being imposed on people . With out laws deedman people are being forced to work on a day that they want to be home. Managers will use the guilt trip that a fellow employee is working every Sunday. So why not take you're turn? If that doesn't work they use fear against the employee. They come up with all kinds of reasons. I have to cut hours because it isn't busy. Or I'll cut you're hours if you do not want to work on Sundays.
We face a lot of issues , people do not realize how people are treated in stores who don't want it.
You speak about God..do you think God would want people working on a day that they would rather be with their families and resting? Years ago it was done, stores were closed. We all lived with out seven day shopping. We have to live without shopping if we have a major snow storm or a power outage. So why can't we set one day aside to be with our families? And why isn't our families worth fighting for any more? But people defend the right to shop around the clock. What ever happened to caring about one another? Do you think our God would like that?

Tony, minimum wage, holiday pay and so on ARE an option. You can CHOOSE to work another job, you can CHOOSE to get further education to qualify for a higher paying job, if you have the funds to do so. Tony, why do you feel the need to govern when and how I take my day off? For me it IS about religious observance. This is no smoke screen I'm hiding behind. Why do you feel it's important that you and I have the same day off? If you need that with your family, the schedule it. Make it your own priority, but don't make it mine. And as for vacation pay...at least I get to choose when I get to take that vacation don't I? Or would you like to tell me when I have to take that as well? When someone wants to use civil laws to govern how I am spending my free time that's a problem. And I think it's really concerning you don't seem to understand that. You seem to have the attitude You WILL like it ... or else. God gave us a day of rest Tony, to spend with Him and our families, and it wasn't Sunday. You can show no where in the Scriptures a Thus Saith The LORD for Sunday observance. The fourth commandment says to REMEMBER the Sabbath (but many have forgotten and seem to think it's Sunday, the first day)
and to keep it holy. God intended us to keep the Sabbath but since we are not a theocracy anymore, we are governed by our freedom of religion and our freedom to worship according to our conscience. The pope is also pushing for Sunday observance, but the pope so not follow the Bible by mandating this. They fully admit that they changed the day of worship as a MARK of their authority. When God says the Sabbath shall be a sign between Him and His people. As I said before I do not want the mark, I want the SEAL of the living God. He is the One who has authority in my life, not the pope.

sorry about the typos.

Deedman first off ask the owners if they have a choice whether or not to pay out a minimum wage. They do not ! You claim that workers have a choice and to leave and get a better education. But why should they have to?
For everyone that can leave and has the money to further there education, they have to be replaced. Why shouldn't they have that right to have a common day off to be with there families?
Why should you be told to have the same day off as me? Why should you be told to pay taxes the same as me? Why should you have to drive on the same side of the road as me?
Deedman if Friday was our traditional day of rest, I would be pushing for Friday as that day. That's why our group is called Save Our Sundays. Because it was always on Sunday. Millions of people are off on Sundays, letter carriers, gov MLA's etc etc. The religious argument is only used when we are talking about minimum wage earners working on Sundays. No one else seems to come into the conversation. It's a double standard. It's OK for one but not the other.
I'd be willing to make a sacrifice if the people chose Monday or Friday or what ever. While you are defending Saturday there is someone defending Friday, Sundays etc. You're missing the point. Retail workers need a common day off , we all need it to reflect on the past week.
You may have a choice when to take you're vacation pay but other people do not have that option. Employers do not have that option not to pay out a vacation pay. They have to pay it and they are legislated to do it.
I know people are being forced to do something that they do not want to do. Employers use the guilt trip that so and so is working on Sundays. Why can't you take you're turn?
If that does not work fear is used against the employee. Employers will threaten to cut there hours if they do not work. They will also use other reasons to punish an employee for not working on Sundays. Why should you Deedman decide what's best for retail workers??
At the end of the day, retail workers are suffering because religions can not agree on what day they should have. Shouldn't retail workers decide what they want? Why should you decide?

Tony, really your issue about minimum wage and vacation pay are irrelevant. Employers are mandated to pay vacation
pay but typically employees get to pick the days they want to take vacation on.
And you nailed it when you said the tradition is Sunday. That's right...the traditions of men. NOT of God. Christians wouldn't be having a problem figuring out what day of rest to take if they actually followed the BIBLE and not man's traditions.
If employees are wanting to t. ake a day off and their employers will not give them that day off, then just like me, (because I will not work on the Sabbath because that is what God commands) I have to look for work where that can be honored. This is nothing new Tony. I'm not trying to decide what's best for retail workers Tony. If they don't like working Sundays or any other particular day then they should try to find work that can accomodate their desires. But I doubt every retail worker wants Sunday off. It is you that presumes to speak for all retail workers as their voice. It is you, Tony that wants to dictate
when someone can and can not have their business open. I have to stand up for my convictions Tony not to work on the Sabbath. That is MY choice. I'm not going to dictate to all employers that they should have to accomodate me, but I will not work for them but will find a position that doesn't have a problem honoring that. You really have no idea what some people go through to do what is right before God in the everyday choices that they have to make. But that is our choice to do that.
If you want Sundays off Tony, instead of passing a law that dictates that every one else has to have the same day off that you want, just arrange your schedule so that you can do that.
And just so you know Tony, Bible prophesy tells us that National Sunday laws will happen, then Universal Sunday laws will happen...and this will be the abomination that makes desolate. So even though I am hear arguing for the freedom to choose one's day of rest, I don't for a minute think that I will stop what God has said will take place. My only hope here is to plant seeds now, so that when religious persecution takes place here in the United States, because it will, it has been prophesied.
Some of the people reading this post will remember. Sunday is a spurious Sabbath. It is not God's day that He sanctified and made holy. It will start off as just a "family day" and "day off" for everyone, and then events will take place where there will be religious mandates to encourage and then legislate worship on Sunday, and those who keep God's Sabbath, not man's will be persecuted. And then you Tony, and others who thought this whole Sunday thing was the answer to all their problems will have to decide on who's side they will be on. God's side or the other.

Deedwan you say that minimum wage and vacation pay are irrelevant! Because you say so say so? If it were not for government laws and believe me that's what we have a government for employee's could be working for nothing. A couple bucks an hour. Vacation pay would not be heard of with out any laws. All laws are important , so is a day of rest. A Legislated day of rest is important no matter what day it is. The difference here Deedman is that I'm willing to make the sacrifice that another day is chosen. You are not ! It could be on Saturday if that's what the people want. But at least it would be a common day off. I think you are missing the point, we all have to give a little so that our families can have one common day together. I have never claimed to be speaking for anyone! But since you mentioned it , who are you speaking for?
Why should retail workers leave there position when they have a government that is supposed to protect them?
Deedman I know for a fact that a law is needed to close stores down one day a week. Employees who do not want to work on Sundays are made to feel guilty because there fellow employee's are working and they are not. If the guilt trip doesn't work then fear is used to pressure employee's to work on Sundays.
They are often compared to other occupations that work on Sundays. That they should not have the right to refuse where other people have to work on Sundays. You have no idea what these workers are going through. I don't think God would want people forced to work on a day that they would rather be home.
Deedman you are speaking about a law mandating that people will be forced to go to church on Sundays. That will never happen. Are you using fear hoping that people won't go for a legislated day of rest?
No body was ever forced to go to church. But a lot of people use Sundays as family days. Using religion as a reason not to close stores down on Sunday's is wrong. Not everyone goes to church and would like to be home with their children on Sunday.
I'm not knocking you for what you believe in trust me. Point in being if there is not a legislated day of rest, families will continue to suffer. Managers are trained and will do anything at there disposal to make them work on Sundays. A common day off is needed what ever that day is. Far as Sunday laws are coming..where are they??

Tony, seriously, when I say it is irrelevant, I'm saying it's irrelevant to THIS discussion. If you are so worried about those
making minimum wage, friend, perhaps that would be a better cause for you to try to champion, rather than an enforced
day of your choosing to have off. People who are making minimum wage may not appreciate you telling them when they have to have a day off Tony, have you ever considered that - especially if they may commissions and Sunday may be a big
day for them.
Tony, I'm not speaking FOR anyone, I'm speaking from Scriptures. You do not understand prophecy Tony, and I don't
hold that against you, lots of folks don't. But what may sound like an impossibility to you, I assure you is possible.
We have history to look at (religious persecution) and it will repeat itself because God says it will in His Scriptures.
What you think is impossible right now Tony, will happen. Are you familiar with the story of king Nebuchadnezzer, king of
Babylon? He mandated that everyone fall down and worship the golden image when they heard all kinds of music play.
Spiritual Babylon is all throughout the book of Revelation. But you do have to understand the symbology and understand
history to make sense of it. And I will tell you that it is not of the private interpretation of any man, but rather that the Bible exposits itself. And if you know that story then you know of the 3 Hebrew worthys that refused to fall down and worship that
golden image. Let me take a little aside here Tony, idolatry is not just the worshipping of statues/idols. We can make idols of most anything...money,our jobs, our spouses, our material possessions, our own opinions even. But it is something that is in our heart before God. In other words something that takes first place over God in our hearts. Those 3 young men knew the true Creator God and the way in which he was to be worshipped in truth and spirit. They refused to bow down to that image even under the threat of a death decree. But they let the king know that they would rather die than bow down to a false image or participate in false worship. God let's us know His name, His dominion and His Authority in the fourth commandment. Which is to keep the Sabbath day and to keep it holy. I know, Tony, because God doesn't tell us these things just to be interesting but because we need to know them now.
Tony, don't worry, you will get your way. I can gaurantee it. I know it for an absolute certainty that you will get
your wish to have Sunday legislated as a mandatory day off. That's how it will happen in the beginning and it
will seem like such a good idea....but prophecy tells us that which was just to be a day off will become an
enforced day of worship. We are losing our freedoms every time we blink in this country Tony. Haven't you
noticed? Haven't you noticed what is happening in the world? Time is short. I only say these things here Tony
on this forum so that as you see it unfold you will realize the seeds have been planted. Everyone will have
a choice to make, will they bow down to the false idol or will they obey the law of God.
Sunday laws have already been passed in Germany and just so you know, we already have lots of
blue laws (Sunday laws) on the books Tony...they just are not enforced yet. The pope is working
on this very issue as well. And did you know Tony, that the catholic church proudly acknowledges
that she changed the sanctity of God's holy day from Saturday to Sunday? This is historic fact, Tony.
You can do the research yourself. Does man have the authority to change God's times and laws?
No, God never changed it in His Scriptures. That most people worship on Sunday is based on the
tradition of the catholic church because NO WHERE in the Scriptures are we ever commanded
to keep Sunday holy. This is why the catholic church laughs at protestants who go to church on
Sunday because they claim to be protesting against the catholic church (although most protestant
churches have now become evangelical and are running back to the mother church is an unprecedented
ecumenical move. But we can not be united in error. Well we can be, but we shouldn't be. There are
appropriate places in life to compromise, but God's truth is absolutely not it. Compromising in God's truth
is a deadly mistake.)
I've said all I came to say Tony...you will have your Sunday legislation. It will happen. I hope you and whoever else
may be reading this thread, no matter how preposterous it may seem to you now Tony, and remember
what has been shared here. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned and we have no hope of understanding
the Scriptures except that we open them reverently with prayer to God to invite His Holy Spirit in to lead us
into all truth and understanding so that we may rightly divide the word of God.

Anyone who wants to legislate "Sunday as the Sabbath" legislation, tells me right off they don't know Jesus and they also don't know squat about the Bible. As far as Sunday law coming around the corner, you can bet it is near.
http://www.formypeople.org/index.html

And there is no such things as "secular" reasons. It is either of Jesus or of the Devil, one or the other. No matter how the language is couched in slick wording, it either leads to one or the other. Isn't it odd how someone can try to hold onto Sunday as citing that Jesus rose on the first day of the week? Let's look at it more closely. Jesus was crucified on Friday, was entombed on Friday evening (the beginning of the Bible Sabbath instituted in the Garden of Eden), rested Saturday Sabbath, was still in the tomb until Sunday morning, and arose Sunday morning bright and early and READY TO GOTO WORK. Interesting now isn't it ?
If Protestants would truely follow Jesus example, they would be keeping the 7th day Sabbath, Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, and not a day pushed by the Catholic Church.