Rest

Spiritual Refreshment

Dr. Sharon Hansen May 23, 2017

We all work too hard. Already by 6 am, most of us are checking email in an attempt to get a head start on our day. By afternoon, we are plowing through our “to-do” lists, and catching up on more messages, emails, and business calls. Until bedtime, we keep a watchful eye on our email, sometimes answering queries until the wee hours of the morning. Indeed, in some professions, one must always be available to the “customer.” That mentality makes experiencing downtime or going on vacation nearly impossible.

According to an article in the Huffington Post, “Americans have hit an all-time low when it comes to taking off work. More than 4 in 10 people do not use all of their vacation days for fear of work piling up or because they feel no one else can do their job while they’re away . . . Experts say overloading without taking time to recharge isn’t healthy. “It might seem counterintuitive when you have a lot of work to take time off,” says Karen Osterle, a psychotherapist and marriage counselor in the District of Columbia. “But the problem is we’re not working efficiently if we’re in a constant state of stress . . .” [1]

Seeking work-life balance is not a theme unique to those of us living in the twenty first century. In Chinese philosophy, “yin and yang date back as far as 700 B.C.E., to the I Ching (The Book of Changes, a text Universal in its understanding and representation of the dynamic balance of opposites and the processes of unfolding events and changes).[2] ” Roman philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BCE–65 CE) wrote: “The mind should be allowed some relaxation, that it may return to its work all the better for the rest.”[3] Roman poet Ovid wrote, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”[4] Leonardo da Vinci said, “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.”[5] And in Mark 6:30-32, we read: “The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while."[6]

So what do you do for spiritual refreshment? How do you balance work and life? How do you know when it is time to get away? These questions may be answered quite differently according to the balance needs of each individual person. For me, sitting on a sunny beach with my toes in the sand, watching the powerful waves of the Pacific Ocean crash one after another for days on end restores my mind, refreshes my spirit, and revives my soul.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

The Scripture tells us to quiet ourselves, and with good reason! As you enter into summer vacation time, how will you refresh and restore?

[1] “8 Ways To Vacation Right And Recharge Your Health,” by Corinne Ruff, U.S. News & World Report. August 2, 2015 updated August 3, 2015.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/8-ways-to-vacation-right-and-recharge-your-health_us_55ba55a1e4b095423d0e191c, accessed May 16, 2017.

[2] Yin and Yang,” from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang, accessed May 17, 2017.

[3]Wise Old Sayings, http://www.wiseoldsayings.com/relaxing-quotes/, accessed May 18, 2017.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] New American Standard Bible, https://www.bible.com/bible/100/MRK.6.nasb, accessed May 17, 2017.

Category: Rest, Refreshment, Work

Church

Pinnacle's Labors

Rev. Scott Fischer September 6, 2016

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” ~1 Cor. 15:58b

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, was established by Congress in 1894 as an annual national commemoration to honor the social and economic achievements of American workers which enhance our country’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

In honor of our national holiday, I would like to share some of the "labors" that have been going on in recent months at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church. Engraved in the glass wall as you enter Pinnacle’s sanctuary are Jesus’ words, "streams of living water will flow from a faithful heart". "Streams of water" has, indeed, been a recurring theme on the Pinnacle campus, of late!

In May, a pipe in the women's restroom in the Sanctuary broke and was discovered early Friday afternoon by the cleaning crew. By then, the men's and women's restrooms, most of the narthex, the kitchenette, storage areas, and lounge were under several inches of water. Jim Moore, Pastor Kelsey, Lea Reinke, and Paul Rooker jumped into action (and Brent Hylton was seen wading through the water as well). A remediation company was called, whose crew worked well into the night. The final restoration of these areas is underway as I write this blog.

Two other water incidents occurred within our voluminous Sanctuary building, both as a result of pump failure in the lift station. One of these incidents required replacement of one of the pumps, at fairly significant expense. Both required many hours of staff and volunteer time in cleanup efforts.

One other water incident occurred during the Friday monsoon in early August. The rain came so intensely that several inches of water piled up outside the back wall of our office complex and came through the wall. Four office rooms in the hallway were saturated. Once again, Jim and other staff jumped into action while the remediation company was called. Next time you're in the office complex, you may notice new hallway carpet!

Moving from rainfall to sunshine, workers have been putting up a sun canopy over the playground sets adjacent to the teen center…a project made possible by a member’s generous 25th Anniversary Celebration gift! There were also several air-conditioning projects this summer, including rebuilding one of the cooling towers for the Sanctuary building, as well as two air-conditioning projects in the Preschool.

Another 25th Anniversary Celebration gift funded the repair and refurbishing of the stained glass windows in our lovely Chapel.

If you haven't peeked in the nursery lately, you'll also be pleasantly surprised to see the renovation there…including new flooring (donated by JR Mc Dade Company), freshly painted walls, trimmed out skylights and beautiful high-end carpet in the rear classroom (also donated by JR McDade). A number of our staff played a role in this project, along with over a dozen Pinnacle Church members. Thanks also to Mike Foley who led the painting team and once again generously shared his professional talent!

There are too many other projects to list in their entirety, including several landscape projects and rebuilding of a beam over the sliding glass doors in Fellowship Hall, but suffice it to say that the property committee, chaired by Chapin Bell, along with Lila Kleinkopf, Ray Heidel, and Dave Matthews, have been hard at work laboring in the Lord on behalf of Pinnacle Congregation and their labor is not in vain! So many volunteer hours given by church & staff members, combined with financial resources from annual giving as well as assistance from the Pinnacle Presbyterian Church Foundation and insurance reimbursements, have blessed and enabled our legacy to prosper.