Do Good – Dakota Vacation blog post #10

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:8-10, New Living Translation).

The Saturday night we spent in Rapid City, South Dakota, we visited the Chapel in the Hills late in the day, planning to attend the 7:30 pm service.

The chapel is built in the style of an original stave church (in Norwegian, "stavkirke") and is an exact replica of the famous Borgund stavkirke, of Laerdal, Norway.

I already shared the two prayer trails that I walked through. Also on the grounds was a log cabin built by a Norwegian immigrant Edward Nielsen in 1876. 

Inside were many items which would have been found in a Scandinavian home at the time.  

Lena and Ole were standing watch outside, of course.

                     

Also on the grounds is an authentic grass roofed store house, called a stabbur. It was built in Norway and shipped to Rapid City where it was reassembled. It now serves as a gift shop of Scandinavian merchandise and crafts. 

 

But the beautiful stave church is still the showpiece.

 

And for us that night, it was also about the service we attended. Though it was Saturday night, the pastor spoke on the meaning of the third commandment. 

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! (Matthew 12:9-13, New Living Translation) 

So, don’t get bogged down in technicalities. Yes, always remember the Day of the Lord, but also always do good.