Hello to all,

As a United Methoidst Pastor, I have had a blast reading the posts and watching the conversation progress. This is good for all of us. It helps each of us to articulate and define our positions. Everyone brings some valid points. Please note, what is below is not an attempt to evanglize, but is just food for thought.

Basicly, here are my final 3 cents...

The "Blue Laws" should not be on the books! I would never want a majority of persons from a different denomination or religion to determine what I can and cannot do.

Food for thought: An orthodox Jew would never hunt for sport. It would be against Levitical Law. The original concept of the Sabbath is an Old Testament idea, that is carried over to the New Testament, yet not in quite the same way. Remember the Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. The idea of the Sabbath was part of the Torah Law that "HAD" to be followed or one was sinnful against God. Yet, for New Testament Christains, we still support the idea of the Sabbath, but not as a law of the Old Testament. Remember Christ came to challenge and change the Law.

Today, for those who are Christians, we look for the relational aspects of the Sabbath, and we ask a critical question...how is our relationship with God enhanced because we keep the Sabbath and how is our relationship with other Christians built up becasue we worship and keep the Sabbath. It does not matter if the Sabbath is taken on Monday, Tuesday, Wed...etc...the fact is that as Christians we are call to take a day of rest and fellowship with God. Simply resting does not cut it, we have to be in tune with the Lord.

Think of all the places in the world were Christians cannot worship, Sudan etc...They have to keep the Sabbath in a very special way. Everyday for them is a day of Sabbath. For they are not sure if tomorrow will come. The Sabbath sould not be legislated, becuase if it is, it might not be the sabbath you really want.