Holiness ...

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. (Romans 12:14-16)

preparing the soil, preparing the soul

"When a farmer prepares to till the soil he must put on clothing and use tools that are suitable. So Christ, our heavenly king, came to till the soil of (hu)mankind devastated by sin. He assumed a body and, using the cross as his plowshare, cultivated the barren soul of (hu)man(s). He removed the thorns and thistles which are evil spirits and pulled up the weeds of sin. Into the fire he cast the straw of wickedness. And when he had plowed the soul with the wood of the cross, he planted in it a most lovely garden of the Spirit, that could produce for its Lord and God the sweetest and most peasant fruit of every kind."

--Saint Macarius, bishop

(The Liturgy of the Hours, IV. p. 596).

The day begins ...

"I implore you to love with me and, by believing, to run with me; let us long for our heavenly country, let us sigh for our heavenly home, let us truly feel that here we are strangers. What then shall we see? Let the gospel tell us: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... When we part from one another, let us not depart from him"

(from 'a treatise on John by St. Augustine, bishop' in The Liturgy of the Hours: IV, 593)

The Liturgy of the Hours

I have to use differing means of grace (ways that God gets his grace to me) and there are times when such needs to change. In 2003 I was given a gift that I used a couple of years for the spiritual disciplines of study, prayer, and meditation. The title of this work is The Liturgy of the Hours that is a 4-volume means by which you use up to six times a day. The source is our Roman Catholic and Episcopal brothers and sisters.

A part of the Monday mornings readings from The Liturgy ... came from 1 Peter 1:1-11, part of a sermon by Pope Leo the Great speaking of justice and judgment as coming from the "wisdom and instruction and piety from the Lord", and the following prayer was suggested and prayed:

LORD, increase our eagerness to do your will

and help us to know the saving power of your love.

Grant this through our LORD Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever. Amen.

The days of this week have had a good start. Such does make a significant difference.

Lord God, who provides ...

‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25).

Lord God, who provides. Use us as a means of grace to provide for those who will not have a meal on Thanksgiving. In that sense, we will rid them of their worry by you using us to provide. Amen.

what is important ...

But he (Jesus) answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

Matthew 4:4

These words are the reply of Jesus to the Tempter who tempts him to turn stones into bread during his time of fasting and prayer. As Jesus does regularly, he pulls from the teaching of God. In this place he is referring to Deuteronomy 8:3 where Israel's leader, Moses, is reminding them of how God continually looked after them by giving them food during their journey to Israel.

Jesus realizes theses things: (1) God will provide; and (2) what is important for the moment. And the importance for that time that Jesus had alone was fasting and prayer.

May you realize, may we realize, what is important today.

through weakness ...

Scripture: "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness ... I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:9b-10).

Observation: Paul, as virtually always, keeps his focus upon the death and resurrection of Jesus. Here, because Paul sees God's use of the execution of Jesus to the benefit of all the human family, he sees his own personal weaknesses as ways through which God may work (means of grace).

Application: See your own weaknesses as a means of God's grace. How can God use your weaknesses today as ways to reach others for Jesus Christ?

Prayer: Lord God, who raised your Son: Praise to you! Honoring that you used your Son's execution to save the world, please aid me to adjust my works this day that your goodness of love will be seen even in my weaknesses. Give me the insight to do so as praise to you. Glory and Honor me to you. Amen.

Yield: How can your weaknesses be used as means of God's grace today?

You are invited to be our guest at

Arlington United Methodist Church

1360 Murfreesboro Road

Nashville, TN 37217

(615) 361-4896

Community free breakfast and praise: 8:30 AM

Worship: 10 AM

between Briley Parkway and the airport runway that goes across Murfreesboro Road

arlingtonum.org

If it had not been ...

"If it had not been ..." "If I had not been ... " "If you had not been ..."

Such a phrase catches my attention. It speaks of a central event that occured that had it not occured ...

So the psalmist reflects on either one or a number of events of the past.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
—let Israel now say—
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side ...

(Psalm 124:1-2)

As always, these words say that victories, whether excessively small or exceedingly great come from the LORD.

If it had not been ...

1 Corinthians 9:6-15

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,

‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures for ever.’

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Life ...

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God.

Not that we are competent of ourselves

to claim anything as coming from us;

our competence is from God,

who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant,

not of letter but of spirit;

for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

(2 Corinthians 3:4-6)

Yes, we do proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ by word and by good deeds, but it is God who ultimately changes hearts. And that God-given heart-change equips a person to love God, neighbor, enemy and self. It gives a person the capability to trust God.

No purpose thwarted ...

As I said, Job does not receive a direct answer from the LORD about the reasons for his suffering. In life so many times there is nor reasoning for such. All Job discovers is to not blame the LORD for tragedy and evil. And at that he says to the LORD,

‘I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
“Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you declare to me.”
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.
(Job 42:2-6).

Even in suffering no purpose of God can be thwarted.

worth the reading ...

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe (1 Corinthians 15:10-11).

In 1 Corinthians 15-16 Paul speaks specifically of the Jesus-resurrection while pointing to what opportunities are presented to us because of the resurrection of Jesus. Two chapters worth the reading.

Shall?

And then, after the LORD reminds Job how much he cares for all creation (Job 38-39), the LORD said to Job:

‘Shall a fault-finder contend with the Almighty?
Anyone who argues with God must respond.’

(Job 40:2)

At this point, Job who has been challenging the LORD to battle, is challenged by the LORD to the same as the LORD says

‘Gird up your loins like a man;
I will question you, and you declare to me.
Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be justified?
Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?

‘Deck yourself with majesty and dignity;
clothe yourself with glory and splendour.
Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
and look on all who are proud, and abase them.
Look on all who are proud, and bring them low;
tread down the wicked where they stand.
Hide them all in the dust together;
bind their faces in the world below.
Then I will also acknowledge to you
that your own right hand can give you victory.

‘Shall a fault-finder contend with the Almighty?^*

The LORD of questions begins to answer Job ...

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up your loins like a man,
I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone
when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? (Job 38:1-7)

Some theologians, such as Paul Tillich, stated that the best we can do is to ask the right questions. I suppose they were observing God's answer to the suffering that only begins in chapter 38.

You are invited to be our guest at Arlington United Methodist Church.

1360 Murfreesboro Road

(between Briley Parkway and the airport runway bridge)

arlingtonum.org

(615) 361-4806

Vision: Change the world by loving your neighbor.

a message to the Jobs

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Yes, Job, such is true. But sometimes it doesn't seem so true.

At least there ...

As I am overhearing Elihu speaking to the suffering Job there are moments when I hear Elihu as correct such as his advice to the suffering in Job 37:24-29.

Remember to extol his (God's) work,
of which mortals have sung.
All people have looked on it;
everyone watches it from far away.
Surely God is great, and we do not know him;
the number of his years is unsearchable.
For he draws up the drops of water;
he distills his mist in rain,
which the skies pour down
and drop upon mortals abundantly.
Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his pavilion?

Or Job 35:8 reasonably speaks to me: "Your wickedness affects others like you, and your righteousness, other human beings" (Job 35:8).

Yes, we are always to be of praise to God if for nothing else than just giving us today. And our behavior does have affect upon others. At least there Elihu is accurate.

Enough said

For Job has said, “I am innocent,
and God has taken away my right;
in spite of being right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.”
(Job 34:5-6)

Elihu is continuing to speak. It is so easy to reflect on another person's trouble(s) and to say that they caused all of their troubles. Such are examples of human judgment.

Without telling too much of the book (so that others will read it) in The Shack the author tells the story of man, Mack, whose daughter was murdered. At one point in the story God gives him the opportunity to judge not only his daughter's murderer but all human beings. At that moment he responds that he cannot do so. And then he begins to identify more with God as presented in The Shack who allows humans to bring judgment upon themselves.

With that in mind it would have been better if all of Job's friends and acquaintances would have judged only themselves.

enough said ...

God aches for you ...

Here Job's judge, who is an inexperienced 'youngen', speaks again when he should have been a silent observer:

‘God indeed does all these things,
twice, three times, with mortals,
to bring back their souls from the Pit,
so that they may see the light of life.
Pay heed, Job, listen to me;
be silent, and I will speak.
(Job 33:29-31)

Let's, for a moment, take it that "God indeed does all these things". If that is true God could be called

• Earthquake God;
• Hurricane God;
• Tornado God;
• War God;
• Disease God;
• Cancer God;
• Death God.

Does God indeed do all these things? My answer is "No! Absolutely not!"

They are caused by a world damaged by humanity that the loving God gave the freedom to substantially screw things up. And that we have done.

So Job, don't blame God. God is indeed love -- a love that cannot be measured. And as a loving parent aches with the aches of her or his child, so God aches for you.

There you go ...

Well, here comes another human judge judging with only human insight. As this person whose name is Elihu, a youngster at that, judges Job all he sees is all Job's tragedy is Job's own fault.

'There you go' (a phrase I often use).

The young one that must speak says,

I must speak, so that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
I will not show partiality to any person
or use flattery towards anyone.
For I do not know how to flatter—
or my Maker would soon put an end to me!

(Job 32:20-22)

The youngster's name is Elihu. He sees Job as a self-righteous person, and Job's other friends as incompetent judges.

'There you go'. If the youth only know as much as they think they do. Again, the source of real wisdom is God alone for all ages.

Perhaps the young Elihu of this world needs to listen to the apostle Paul who wrote:

"All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads" (Galatians 6:4-5).

OK ...

Because God has loosed my bowstring and humbled me,
they have cast off restraint in my presence.
Did I not weep for those whose day was hard?
Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
But when I looked for good, evil came;
and when I waited for light, darkness came.

(Job 30:11, 26-5-26)

Job, I am tempted to say to you, "OK, life is tough. Get over it!"

Why can't life be like it was when _____________ ?

In Job 28-29 that is the question Job is asking. He is recalling his healthy/wealthy past and wondering why on earth he lost it all.

He looks for the days "when I was in my prime ..." (Job 29:4a) and when "the friendship of God was in my tent ..." (4b). He looks at when in response to him the 'young men saw me and withdrew'; 'the aged rose up and stood'; 'the nobles refrained from talking'; 'the voices of princes were hushed' ... 'because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper'.

In asking why everything went wrong while Job is seeking to do everything right he does a couple of things. Job still acknowledges that God is the source of wisdom and knows the way to it (28:20-28). And Job at least seeks to remain in a healthy fear of God. The fear of God in Scripture is not being scared to death of God. Rather, it is just respecting, and most of all, loving God. True love continues to love those we are upset with (such as God). And Job writes with this in mind ...

"Truly the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom;

and to depart from evil is understanding"

(Job 28:28)

Ahhh, here understanding doesn't have to be comprehending it all as much as it is just seeking to depart from evil ... which is ultimately seeking to follow after God. For me, that makes tragedy 'understanding' a bit easier.

If God is then ...

Why do people always need explanations of all that occurs?

Job and all his friends are those who do want a solid explanation for all of life's events.

But does there really have to be an explanation of all that comes our way?

As God lives, who has taken away my right,
and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
as long as my breath is in me
and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
my lips will not speak falsehood,
and my tongue will not utter deceit.
Far be it from me to say that you are right;
until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
I hold fast my righteousness, and will not let it go;
my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

(Job 27:2-6)

Job, what else can be said? Is God really the cause of all? If God is the cause of all events then there is no love in God.

Then ...

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered Job trying to explain the reasons he was suffering ...

‘Dominion and fear are with God;
he makes peace in his high heaven.
Is there any number to his armies?
Upon whom does his light not arise?
How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
How can one born of woman be pure?
If even the moon is not bright
and the stars are not pure in his sight,
how much less a mortal, who is a maggot,
and a human being, who is a worm!’

(Job 25)

There are bits of truth for me in Bildad's words. Yes, God does rule. God does make peace. God's presence or light shines forth over all creation. And although a mortal may well be "sinless" none is like God who has always been and always will be. And with Bildad I agree that the best we humans can do is reflect the goodness of God.

But Bildad, for me, misses some truths as well. First God rules, but it is in the end of creation that God's rule will truly come forth so Job's suffering as all suffering will only end then. And God does indeed make peace but he gives humans the option to rebel and kill peace. God's presence shines over all creation but we humans can shade our experiences by distractions from what God's light of goodness shows us. We can give a grand struggle against evil but our insight is never as clear as God's insight.

Tomorrow, we will explore Job's answer to Bildad.

This morning's reading ...

This morning's reading was Job 23-24.

In these two chapters he answers his accusers admitting that he is indeed very bitter over all the wrong things that happened to him. He groans so much he wants to have a down right fight with God. He sees that challenging God scene as him being his own lawyer before God arguing for his innocence. He is daring enough to claim that God would give in to him.

The talking words of Job that stick out to me are,

My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth.
But he stands alone and who can dissuade him?
What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me;
and many such things are in his mind.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
If only I could vanish in darkness,
and thick darkness would cover my face!

(Job 23:11-17)

Although they cause trouble for Job, "What he (the LORD) desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind" (v. 13b-14). These words terrify Job, personally for me they give me hope. For in my mind and heart God desires only good. If only Job knew that, but he will learn ...

All Saints Day: Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.