This past Monday marked the 114^th time we paid tribute to the contributions workers have made to the well-being of our country through a national holiday. This observance came after the average American protested working 12 hour days, seven days a week, in order to make a basic living in the 1880's. Since child labor laws were not strongly enforced, children were also working, as they provided cheap labor to employers. In some areas of the world, this exploitation has changed, while in others it continues. We occasionally hear stories today of children or adults being stashed in warehouses, working long days without proper ventilation, food, water or the resources to get a proper education. How blessed we are to live in America.

This past week as a staff we looked at Luke's account of Jesus getting in the boat to talk to the people along the edge of the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5: 1-11). After he had finished telling the people about who He is, what His plan is, and what we as believers need to do to be a part of that plan, he instructed Peter to go fishing.

I'm told that Peter and his partners felt that fishing in the Sea of Galilee brought the best results if done at night. However Christ told Peter to go and throw out the nets he and the others had just cleaned and stretched in the daylight hours. Peter didn't argue. He didn't say, "But Lord, this is my time to relax!" Instead he replied, "We tried all night and every time the nets were pulled up, they were empty. But because you say so, I'll try again." Peter is willing to sacrifice the knowledge and experience as a common fisherman to practice the faith growing within him. He acts, not thinking of his exhausted muscles, the hot sun with its UV factor, or the hunger of his belly. He acts because He trusts this man he just heard speak of things to come. He acts not to prove Jesus wrong, but to be a witness of what being a fisher of men is all about.

Christ asks us daily to go, throw out the net, and allow Him to fill it with His bounty. Throw out the net and pull in a variety of different fish species, (i.e. ethnicity, physical structure, gender, etc.). Throw out the net and pull in the chosen. Throw out the net and teach and baptize. Throw out the net so those who believe will have eternal life.

Holidays are nice. It gives us an opportunity to relax, be with friends or family, do things on that "to do list," or just celebrate whatever we wish to recognize. Christ rested, but yet He focused on keeping the main thing, the main thing.

If we were to be paid to do what Matthew 28: 19-20 says, how much would we earn? Do we deserve to have a day off from the task God's given us? Do we protest that it's a 24 hour a day, seven days a week responsibility? Pray that through the work of the Holy Spirit, you can be an effective disciple for Him...a fisher of men.

Enjoying the ride,

Jane