Happy Labor Day

The subject of labor brings some interesting news:
• From New York – “Worker Dead at Desk for 5 Days”
• From Japan – “Japan to Pay Widow of Man Worked to Death.
• Sign in the store window: NO HELP WANTED.
The celebration of Labor Day is another matter – Originally set aside to honor labor’s contributions to the U.S. – it has come to mean for most, just another day off from work and for some “work” is just another four-letter word. According to one poll, only 43 % of American office workers are satisfied with their jobs. Each day in the USA 50,000 people quit their jobs. For many, work has a less-than-profound meaning.
• Lawrence Peter, The Peter Principle – “In time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out its duties . . . Work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence.”
• Sign seen in a workaholic’s office: “Thank God it’s Monday.”
• Observation of a Dairyman: “The hardest thing about milking cows is that they never stay milked.”
Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). Enjoy your day off, then back to the work God has given you to do.

Join me this week in the great work of prayer by remembering these global concerns:
• Pray for missionaries in the Ukraine who are having problems with their water supply.
• Pray for missionary kids who begin school this week, many of them in international schools.
• Pray for Patricia whose thoughts have recently been on family health issues in the U.S. while she works in West Africa.
• Continue to pray for those who work among Muslims during this month of Ramadan (Aug. 22 – Sept 20).
• Pray for those who serve in the mega cities of Japan.