As I write you today, we're on the tail end of our "Authority Issues" series. This set of teachings has been quite interesting. When I knew weeks before that I would be bringing this series, I figured it would stir some interest and response. Let's face it ... we ALL struggle with who's the boss in our lives at all kinds of levels.

However, I never really expected the strength of the response. Not a rebellious or negative one. More of a "pained" response. LOTS of us have obviously been hurt by authority in our lives!

One of the core points of the series is that God is the "Author" of "authority". He set life up with authority structures and establishes who will serve in them and when, and for whom! So, when we struggle with authority issues in our lives, our real struggle is not with the person in authority over us as much as it is with God Himself!

I wouldn't normally write this article in a "time-sensitive" fashion. In other words, I usually write it in a way that addresses the "season" (month or months) we are in as a church. But with the strength of the response I've received these last weeks, I feel I must address THIS WEEK.

I am writing this on Wednesday, May 2. Some will read it by mail, others by email, still others on our website. I want to say that THIS SUNDAY, MAY 6 will end our series with THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE OF THE SERIES, and I really encourage you to BE THERE.

This message is going to specifically address the hottest question of the series ... "What do you do when someone in authority has, has been, or is using their authority to abuse you?" This is such an important question, and I am going to address it biblically this weekend. If you have dealt with this, or are dealing with it, please be there. If you know someone who is, please bring them!

NOW, what does the title of this article above have to do with that? Well, nothing really. It DOES have to do with where we're headed the rest of May and into June.

On Sunday, May 20, we're going to start a new series ... You Deserve A Break Today! In it, as we approach Summer, we'll learn what it means to actually follow the fourth commandment.

I don't know of many people, Christian or non-Christian, who would think that any of the 10 Commandments is less important or more important to keep than the other nine. Unless, of course, you are an atheist, which is altogether a different story.

The fourth commandment has to do with Sabbath. There are a number of interesting facets to this one. Among them is the fact that it's the longest commandment of the 10. Apparently, God wants to highlight it's importance as one of the 10.

Perhaps He had the foresight to know that in our humanness, we would attempt to place some level of urgency to follow the commandments based on our cultural idiom of "Letterman's Top Ten". Or, maybe He knew we would try to figure out which ones were "more" important based on how much or how little He said about each one.

I am not perfect at keeping this one ... who of us is? More often than not, I find that people view this one as the most "disposable" of the 10, even though NOT ONE of them is!

In our 24/7/365 lifestyle, how do we go about honoring God with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength with the commandment to "Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy?" Approaching the Summer season, when life tends to slow down at least a tad, now is a good time to address it and begin to intentionally implement it, don't you think?

Speaking of a busy calendar, there are lots of great opportunities to Thank, Teach, Touch & Tell this month. Be sure to get on board with the column to the right and calendar on the back!