While in the process of writing this column I received two long distance calls on the same day - one from Australia and the other from Nigeria. The Australian call was from a man interested in the ministry of the Lord's Day Alliance because he wanted to do something in his own country to emphasize the importance of the Lord's Day as a day of rest and worship.

The call from Nigeria was a report on the organization and work of the Lord's Day Alliance in that country. The caller indicated that materials we had sent had been of help in getting them established and expanding their efforts.

It is encouraging to know that people worldwide are seeing the need for a day of rest and worship.

The most exciting phone call I have received in recent days came from Rick Littlejohn, president of Community Cash Stores in South Carolina. He called to let me know that all of their stores are now closed on Sundays. So often the trend seems to go the other way; so it is encouraging to learn that a large chain chooses to close on the Lord's Day.

In a follow-up letter Rick wrote the following: "Our director of operations is scared to death over the possible loss of business, but so far we have received nothing but favorable comments and have seen an increase in our Monday and Saturday sales, though I do not yet know if it will offset the loss of Sunday business. I am confident, however, that God will bless our obedience either financially or in other visible or invisible ways."

We are grateful to God for men like Rick Littlejohn and his family for the strong support of this biblical principle.

The first thing God did after the completion of creation was to establish a day of rest by His example and by His action - "He blessed the seventh day and he hallowed it." (See Genesis 2:1-3) The account of the creation of male and female is recorded in Genesis 1, and in Genesis 2 details are given for family life. (See Genesis 2:18-24) What is my point? What is the bottom line?

It is that one day in seven is important as a day of rest - a day blessed and hallowed by God. Webster's New World Dictionary defines "blessed" as "holy or sacred." It defines "hallowed" as "to make holy or sacred." So God makes it plain that one day is to be holy and sacred. That is one point.

The other - the family is of primary importance in God's creation. In Genesis 3:16, it is implied that a part of God's plan for man and woman was the bearing and raising of children.

The Lord's Day Alliance has emphasized the importance of the Lord's Day. Looking about our nation it is plain that Sunday is anything but a holy and sacred day. Now the Lord's Day Alliance is giving special emphasis to the importance of a day of rest and worship in the development of the family.