Wednesday, Blue Laws and Mayberry.

Debbie and I were celebrating our anniversary one year and so were out on a Wednesday and what happens the stores are closing. Why, well it is Wednesday and they are getting ready for mid week service. Years ago I was preaching a revival in a small town in South Carolina at around 2 pm I leave my room to go get something to eat and I can't find anything open...I go over to the police department and he says well they close half a day because it is Wednesday and they are preparing for church. You see in the past there was such a thing as "Blue Laws". According to one source "The first occurrence of the phrase blue law so far found is in the New-York Mercury of March 3, 1755, where the writer imagines a future newspaper praising the revival of "our Connecticut's old Blue Laws". In his 1781 book General History of Connecticut, the Reverend Samuel Peters (1735–1826) used it to describe various laws first enacted by Puritan colonies in the 17th century that prohibited various activities, recreational as well as commercial, on Sunday (Saturday evening through Sunday night). Sometimes the sale of certain types of merchandise was prohibited, and in some cases all retail and business activity.

Apparently "the word blue was used in the 17th century as a disparaging reference to rigid moral codes and those who observed them, particularly in blue-stocking, a reference to Oliver Cromwell's supporters in the parliament of 1653." (Oxford English Dictionary.) 

In Texas, for example, blue laws prohibited selling housewares such as pots, pans, and washing machines on Sunday until 1985. Many states still prohibit selling alcohol for on and off-premise sales in one form or another on Sundays at some restricted time, under the rationale that people should be in church on Sunday morning, or at least not drinking. Some places go as far as to declare themselves dry counties where not alcohol is sold in any store.While watching Mayberry one day,I heard Andy and Barney talking about Mayberry being a dry county.There are even some dry counties and cities around where I live.

One day I was visiting John's shop in Eatonton and He had to get to the bank before it closed, yep it was Wednesday. Our society and culture is losing so much each and every day and nothing is special anymore. Once I was on a holiday and I felt strange going out to eat while passing the churches and seeing believers going to worship. You see it has always been my habit that even when on vacations I find a church and go. What am I trying to say is, that the early church met everyday for Fellowship, Bible study and Prayer. You see I have tried to be an example to others, so because of that I don't ever want to lose the kind of dedication to God, that says Sunday only gatherings would be enough.

I have been reading Francis Chan's Book and I ran across this quote, I hope it will inspire your faith and dedication.

"We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God. You've probably heard the expression 'I believe in God, just not organized religion'. I don't think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live." 
— Francis Chan

Your turn (please leave your answer in the comments below) what changes in our culture you have noticed or what would like to see come back again?