WTF Job?

I recently read Job, and until I really got into it I was pretty sure I had read it before. As it turns out I had only read probably the first five chapters. Now, I have heard several sermons on Job throughout my life, and what I found disappointing while reading it is that I'm pretty sure all of the speakers I've heard preach on the subject have also only read the first 5 chapters. It's been a lot about "life can be hard, but look at poor Job, endure and be blessed." However what I've never heard anyone speak on is the bulk of the book. From about chapter 6 to chapter 38 it goes back and forth between Job talking about how much of a dick he thinks God is, to his friends accusing him of every sin under the sun. Eventually God shows up and sets everyone straight, but where is the sinless Job from all the sermons I've heard? I find as Christians we're so ingrained in a mixture of tradition, common understanding and a sort of false theology bread from ignorance that we often close ourselves off from truth. Everything needs to be candy coated. But I pose this to you: If something is different than you thought it was, but true in your new understanding of it, and it doesn't negate the majesty of Christ, or God the father, then how can it be dangerous?

A friend of mine was teaching Adult Sunday School classes at his church, and happened to point out that the Hebrew word for Angel is the same as the word for Messenger. So occasionally, when the Bible says Angel, it could mean messenger. As he pointed this out one of the students became quite angry with him, and shouted "that makes no sense!" This fact however, gives us a better understanding of the text, it neither negates or degrades the verity of the messenger's words. It is still a message from God to his people.

2 Timothy 3:16 says
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"

so why as Christians are we so afraid of scripture? If by reading and examining the scriptures will we unweave the fabric of God? On the contrary the in depth study of scripture can only affirm the true nature of God in his righteousness.

Job 38:1-3
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

Job 42:1-6
1 Then Job replied to the LORD :

2 "I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.

3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'

5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."

a follow up to weird dreams

Okay, I'm not so sure if this coincides with my dream or not, BUT it is eerily coincidental.

So today at work I'm standing there, greeting people at the door, when this guy and his girlfriend walk in. I greet them, then stop for a second and say "Jon?" It was a friend of mine from way back in high school, I barely recognized him (you will recall in my last post that I thought I recognized the guy and the girl but it turns out I didn't) Jon attends a church I used to attend called TACF, a church that I now (or at least when I left) fundamentally disagree with their worship and leadership structure. When I asked Jon what he was doing he told me he was the youth pastor at one of the TACF church plants in Brampton (you will recall from my last post that when I asked the unfamiliar guy and girl what they were doing they laughed and said "planting a church")

any way, that was about the extent of the conversation with him. I told him about Tyndale and how I got married and that was about it. I don't think the dream was about them... I don't think I do anyway... Just something to think about.

honesty and weird dreams.

I've been having a rough time of things lately. But I started this blog to be honest, and there's no point being honest about the good stuff if I'm not honest about the bad. I've been having a hard time with my thoughts lately, namely keeping them Christlike. I find I'm getting more and more frustrated with myself because my thoughts keep going back to sinful things. I don't meditate on them, but it's frustrating to have them go there. Manly gossip or slander, occasionally lust. The most frustrating part is I know how to over come all of this and I'm too stubborn to go there. I never had these problems when I did a daily morning devotional and prayer time. I stopped asking God to guide my footsteps and it seems he has. I feel too busy. Not that I am, I have time to watch TV in the morning, I have time to Blog. I have time to pray I just don't take it. Two verses I need to live:

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Two Verses I Need to Trust:

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Philippians 1:3-6
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I had a weird dream last night. I have these every once in a while, scary, nightmarish, almost prophetic dreams that leave me rattled. Whenever I wake up from them I feel like I've been release from a paralysis.

In the dream I ran into Carlos Whittaker who writes a Blog called Ragamuffin Soul. He needed to use my cell phone and he needed a ride, so I let him drive my car. We were driving by Lake Ontario (that might sound weird but I live right by there so it's familiar territory to me) and some one called my name. I told Carlos to stop the car, and there was this guy there trying to pee on the car. He wasn't the one who called my name. I told Carlos to move the car over more towards a girl and a guy who were digging in some sand. They were the ones who called me. He moved the car, and the guy followed us to pee on the car. When question on if he needed to pee on the car he said "yup." I ignored him and walked towards the diggers. I thought I recognized the girl, but as I got closer I realized I didn't. They also stopped speaking in human voices and now sounded like demons. They kept digging a hole, putting a seed in, filling the hole with sand again, then patting it down, then in the same spot would do the whole thing over. When I asked them what they were doing they laughed (still in demon voices) and said "We're planting a church." then I woke up. I have no idea what it means. I am open to interpretations if anyone has one. Interpreting dreams is not my gift, but discernment is, so if you think you have an interpretation, I will be able to discern whether it is from God or not. anyways, that's it.

Quid Pro Quo: You pray for me, I'll pray for you.

10 years old and comparing scars

Recently I was at a barbecue for all the new students at Tyndale. One of the professors had brought his 10 year old son who was running around playing with 2 little girls. As I walked by them a few times I heard some things that took me back to my childhood. The first one was accompanied by a flashy show of child manliness. As he pulled his sleeve back to show his biceps I heard him say "there, see? I'm not weak!" about ten minutes later I walked by again and heard him saying "my church? My church is ok. It's all about like God and Jesus and stuff."

If you've never been a 10 year old boy, you should know that it's mostly comparing scars and proving how not weak you are. Whether you accomplish that by jumping straight up in the air and purposely landing on your knees, or having a punching competition with your best friend is completely up to you.

I also feel like his above statement of faith accurately represents the modern day Christian. It seems that people are either over exuberant and short sighted, or trying their best to be wallflowers, blending in with society.

I'm tend to go back and forth I think. I try to just be honest and faithful, but I think it comes out differently. Truth is, I feel like this kid most of the time. Trying to prove that I'm tough, trying to prove that church is cool, or at least okay. When confronted about my faith I turn into a 10 year old boy, comparing my scars. Maybe I need to work on that.