Mission Faithwalk

                 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: “If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking? (Job 4:1-2)                 Things went from bad to worse for Job, and eventually, he ended up on an ash heap, scraping his sores with a piece of broken pottery. Three friends showed up and spent seven days just sitting with him before Job gave voice to his pain. That’s when Eliphaz spoke up, and he, his friends, and at least one other spend the next 34 chapters arguing with Job about what a sinner he is and his lack of faith. It was, and is, a common belief among some that bad things only happen to bad people or should only happen to bad people. And in my statement yesterday that none of us are good, I could be labeled one of “Job’s friends.” But that’s neither what I said or what I meant.     ...

                   In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.   His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. (Job 1:1-5)   As I noted yesterday, Job provides at least one answer to the question of “Can a good and omnipotent God allow ba...

                 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “ Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.    But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”   The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” (Job 1:6-12)   The story of Job is the...

                 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) To everything (Turn, turn, turn) There is a season (Turn, turn, turn) And a time to every purpose under Heaven A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep To everything (Tur...

                 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless… A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, 2:24-26) The book of Ecclesiastes is a challenge, because it seems to unsay much of what was said in Proverbs (often by the same person: Solomon). Among other things, it describes Solomon’s search for the core of life. He pursued wisdom, pleasure, achievement, wealth, and possessions and observes oppression, toil, and friendless...

                 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:20-27)                 Back to Proverbs and wisdom. On the side opposite of avoiding bad company, Proverbs explores the theme of adopting good character traits. Ellen Davis lists discipline, obedience, and fear. The ancient Greeks listed the four cardinal virtues as prudence, justi...