A good thought from Jesus on Labor Day: "Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest."

Update on my brother Donald. He continues to hang on with his vitals doing pretty well. The best way to describe it is that the lights are not on yet but they do flicker every once in a while. This gives the medical staff hope that he might just turn them on one day. Their mission is to keep him as well as they can to give him every opportunity to regain his mental faculties. He may have a tracheosteomy early this week to help avoid infections from the tube in his mouth. His situation is serious but we continue to seek God's will on his behalf. Thanks for your prayers. Our family greatly appreciates them all.

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Hello again and I bid you greetings on what has to be a very uncertain labor day for many Americans on this Monday, September 6, 2010. We've had a fair amount of hot weather over the past few weeks but there's a story coming out of Kentucky that will make Al Gore's day. They report that popcorn is popping in the fields due to the intense heat. They even have the pictures to prove it. Quite a story. I've seen the eggs being fried on the side walk which may be the best place for them given all the recent Salmonella news. But there's always the nerdy guy who pours cold water on someone's hot story. Right? It is true the corn split out of its shucks and it is true the heat plus a bit of a rain shower contributed to it, however, one scientist pointed out it takes 212 degree steam to make corn actually pop. Therefore, the story should have been about how the heat and brief rain shower caused the corn to split, not pop. But, then again, I wouldn't be clicking on it and mentioning to you had they handled it that way. Headline writers have to be some strange folks. Here's a few notables of actual newspaper headlines gleaned from a Google search: City Unsure Why Sewer Smells; Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Weapons Found; County To Pay $250,000 To Advertise Lack Of Funds; City Council Runs Out Of Time To Discuss Shorter Meetings. Of course there are many others that end up with typos and other wordings that bring a smile. It is a funny world that we live in. Don't you agree?

The famous quote from our Lord that I used in the title is one we all could pay attention to on the day set aside to honor labor. Labor itself is a very noble enterprise. Remember that Adam was placed in the garden to take care of it before sin entered the picture. It was sin that brought about the curse that made laboring so difficult and wearisome from that point forward. However, labor is both commanded and emphasized for God's created human family throughout the Scriptures. Most of us today are pretty much overloaded, running fro and to, here and there, and meeting ourselves coming back. Rest is often something that not only eludes us, it becomes almost mythical. Let me let you in on a secret. Failing to get rest is as wrong as being able to labor but refusing to do so, according to the Scriptures. God set forth the example in the seven days of creation. He also wired us in a way that makes rest a critical component of a healthy life. Proverb after proverb as compiled by Solomon speaks to the merits of hard work and healthy rest. Even greater than this is the rest Jesus was talking about in the verse mentioned in the title. We do need relief and Jesus has told us we can cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. Guess who needs to heed this more than anyone else? Oh, yeah, that me, myself, and I deal again. You too. Enjoy the day and may God help us to work hard and rest well. Amen. .....More later.