Yearly Archive: 2009

Thanks Friend!

joe June 12, 2009 Faith

Job is starting to feel the heat and pressure from his friends. Bildad in Chapter 18 attacks Job for either being at a loss for words, or having a "stupid day". Not only that, he tends to imply again that everything that has happened to Job is Job's fault. Like "bad things happen to bad people, so get over it!"

Bildad's words sound so much like what we so often hear from our friends and relatives when our lives are going down the tube (or we hear other people treated like this). Many are quick to point out our shortcomings – places or times when we could have done something different or better. All the while, they demonstrate a good sense of "hitting while you're down."

It's as though this friend wants to say, again, "you get what you give." Or as many remember,[more] "you reap what you sow." That phrase in itself is another story, because it does have some truth. But when you or I apply it to a friend in need or in crisis, without any understanding of what really happened, we fail our friend.

Job makes sure Bildad knows he is barking up the wrong tree. His retort is "How long will you put me down and make me feel worse." It should have been easy for Bildad and Job's other friends to see the pain and anguish he was suffering. Then again, why would they. Nothing had happened to them, so surely "you must have done it to yourself."

The words must have resounded in the place where they were meeting. The message kept repeating in Job's ears from his friends – "Nothing has happened to us, so you must have really screwed up."

Job clearly defines that everything has fallen down around him – he sees and feels it. The reality of life is not a distant subject. He is crushed and tormented. His friends and relatives offer no heel+p, only accusation of how badly he has lived (or must have lived).

But in the end of chapter 19, Job drives home his reason for holding on. He says "no matter how bad this is or gets to be, I will not forget that the one who has promised to redeem me is still in charge. Doesn't make any difference what happens to me, I will still see Him."

What a sense of trust Job demonstrates. What a lesson Bildad gives us in how not to help our friends.

Gone!

joe June 11, 2009 General

Sounds like something else should be there, but then that says it all.

Opened the paper yesterday, and while flipping past the obituary page, a picture popped out at me. The face was unmistakable. A man many of us knew, was gone.

Bill was a manager for the Pinole Radio Shack store. Over the years (can't remember how many) we had talked about his open heart surgery and his foibles with Radio Shack. At one time, they had him managing three stores, simply because he was the best.

What first got my attention about Bill was the smile, always on his face. Then, there was the almost instant knowledge about where something was in the store.[more] You describe it or show him a picture, and he would say something like "over on the second aisle, about halfway down and about your belly button height…"

He chided those young guys and gals who worked in the store about learning what was there and where it was. Many times, I went to Radio Shack and spent more time talking to Bill about life and his health than I did buying whatever it was that had taken me to the store.

After Pastor Dave's "30 Days" series, it draws me up a little short. Not that he died, but Bill's age – only 58. Whenever someone younger than me dies, I start to appreciate the fact that I got another day. But the real question is "what have I done with that day?" Have I touched any lives to the point where it makes any difference, or am I just wasting precious minutes on nothing? Have I given, rather than taken?

Life has more meaning than "fun". We were put here for a purpose – more like a whole bunch of purposes. Major one is that we make a difference by living our lives so that others can see the "Light" in us and want to have some of it for themselves. Our lives should be building up others – making their lives better, rather than tearing down. Bringing joy – not sadness.

Every day is a gift. A gift that is an opportunity to share the one who came in love and gave His life to rescue us all. A gift to share what God has given me, through whatever way He gives me to share it. I'm thankful for today – every minute of it. Sure hope I live it that way!

You Talk Too Much!

joe June 10, 2009 Faith

Job and his friends are at one another. They think that Job is spilling his guts in his speeches and Job, in effect calls them "Blow Hards."

It is interesting how what is recorded in chapters 15-17 sounds just like what you or I might hear from a friend who has gotten some advice from their friends (definitely not us!).

In these chapters, they start their second round of "advice and counsel", but almost immediately they butt heads. Eliphaz begins by saying Job is a "blow hard". Though those are not the exact words, the implication is in the very direct qwuestion – "does a wise person talk with windy knowledge and get all puffed up?" (my translation) If you don't like it, you read chapter 15, verses 2 and 3.[more]

Some people like the words in verse 6 where Eliphaz says "Your own mouth condemns you," but they forget that that does not help the situation. If you have ever been cornered and questioned by your friends about some of your actions, haven't they said the same thing to you. Why is it that when we are in trouble or have done wrong, our mouths keep running? Sometimes we need to come to a full stop.

What also comes to mind is that saying "Engage brain before starting mouth."

Job jabs back though in chapter 16 when he calls his friends "Sorry comforters." Imagine yourself going to comfort a friend and getting slammed for what you were doing. Perhaps is was because Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar forgot some rules of a friend who comes to help:
[html]<ol><li>Don't talk just to talk</li><li>Don't give pat answers</li><li>Avoid being accusatory or critical</li><li>Imagine you are the person you are comforting</li><li>Be helpful and encouraging</loi></ol>[/html]
Job gives the counsel to his counselors "I could give strength with my mouth, and the balm of my lips could ease your pain." What role do we play in the pain of our friends and family? Healing or hurt? Building or destruction?