Family Day

My first clue was a note in the elevator that the hotel restaurant would be closing at 11am for Family Day. My second clue was the day-old newspaper in the restaurant (no paper printed on Family Day). When I asked Donna, my favorite Vancouver waitress, what was going on she replied, “It’s Family Day! It’s a National Holiday in Canada. A day to be with the family and take part in activities for the family – you know, like Sunday used to be.” Out of the mouths of babes and waitresses! Even though my Father was also my Pastor, I remember being with family on Sunday, at church, at home, at after-church gatherings, etc. Somehow the worship of God and the celebration of family were blended together. No, we didn’t worship family and celebrate God. We had it in proper order. Strangely enough, the rather new holiday was opposed by the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Sounds like a very American business/profit mind-set. Same folks (Canadian and American might have argued against closing stores on Sunday (anyone remember Sunday Blue Laws?). Anyway, the whole idea sounds biblical to me. “This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God” (Genesis 5:1). Not only were family members created in God’s image (“He made them”) together, they were to become more like God.

Join me in praying for the following global concerns:
• Pray for T & E as they serve in a place where it looks like the government will be replaced soon.
• There are over 3 million Italian descendants, who call Brazil home and less than ½ percent of these are believers. Pray for missionaries, who are preparing to engage this large unreached people group in the South of Brazil.
• Continue to pray for those who are ministering at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
• Pray for the many Pastorless churches in Canada, especially in Vancouver.