Life can become overwhelmingly busy. Burnout is a very real danger for leaders and their families who are called to serve others.

From the beginning of time, the Sabbath was created to give people a day of rest but it can seem impossible to schedule a day off in the middle of a busy life. This book encourages busy people to develop a two-hour Sabbath as the first step in a journey toward a full Sabbath day.

The commandment is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, which means "set aside for a special purpose" not something religious. It is truly meant to be a day off and unique from the other days of the week.

There are two important ideas in the book: first, the Sabbath was created to benefit mankind not to benefit God. Second, there is no bondage in the Sabbath.

It is a day of freedom. The rules and rituals traditionally associated with the Sabbath can become a form of slavery, which is never intended in the Sabbath commandment.

This upbeat and positive book helps the reader develop healthy and manageable approaches to celebrating the Sabbath so that the danger of burnout and disappointment with one's job or calling or family are minimized. It gives the reader perspective on the joys and freedoms that are meant to be celebrated each week and ideas to make the day unique for family and friends.

The Sabbath is a gift from God with no strings attached. Aside from not doing your regular work, the commandment is simply to take a day off to rest and remember.

The commandment begins, "Remember . .

. " and an encouragement in the commandment as well as this book is to remember blessings.

A day off of the regular schedule of activities, coupled with thoughts and stories of kindnesses and blessings both received and given will make this day a truly unique and holy day each week. I hope you find yourself looking forward to each Sabbath and that you, your family and your friends find it a time to build and enjoy your relationships with each other and with God.

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