“When he needs to be, when it suits his strong, holy, and loving purposes, God can be ruthless.  Job might have been willing to just ignore Satan’s opinion rather than have God wager on him at such a cost.  It isn’t hard to imagine this exchange between God and Job when the storm had subsided:

God: Something happened behind the scenes that you weren’t to know.
Job: You shouldn’t have punished me!
God: I didn’t punish you.  You didn’t do anything wrong.
Job: Then you shouldn’t have cursed me!
God: I didn’t curse you; I blessed you.
Job: You call this blessing?
God: You were slandered, and I went to your defense.
Job: You call attacking my body “defending” me?
God: It wasn’t you body that was under attack - it was your integrity, your relationship with me!
Job: Your putting me to grief made even my friends doubt my integrity.
God: I know, but we both know they were wrong.
Job: They wouldn't have doubted my integrity if you hadn’t put me to grief.
God: They could never have been sure of your integrity - or their own - if I hadn’t put you to grief.  I was betting on you!
Job: Your betting on me cost me a lot.
God: Yes, that’s very often the case.  But the drama isn’t finished until it’s finished.
Job: Because of my pain, your silence, and their words, I got to thinking you were punishing me because you thought I was bad, because you were were disappointed in me.
God: No, I put you on the ash heap because I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.  I put you to grief not because you were bad but because you were good.  You can’t know how proud I am of you.

“Somewhere in all this, as we watch brave lives and reflect on the biblical witness, we’re going to learn that life on the ash heap is just as surely life with God as is life in the sunshine.  After all, was Christ ever more alive than when on the cross between two sinners.”

“What happened at Job’s house happens all over the world in every generation.  It’s happening in your generation and in mine - or it will.  In a special way and at a special time, there will come a crisis when each of us will stand speechless at our loss and someone will whisper, “God couldn’t’ care less,” but we’ll know the crisis will pass and there will be a happy ending.  In the meantime we’ll continue to fight God’s battle for him against the forces of evil and cynicism, thrilled at the thought that we’re part of a privileged company.”

“Celebrating the Wrath of God”
by Jim McGuiggan

We are collecting paper towels for Christian Homes of Abilene.  Please drop your donation off in the foyer.

FIFTH SUNDAY SONG~N~SUPPER
Please bring finger foods and friends!  We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 5:00.

Our Youth Needs Your Help!!!

Monday Night for the Master
On October 31st 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. there will be an alternative format in order to achieve greater community contact in the midst of traditional activities happening around our neighborhood.  Your participation and contribution is greatly needed to help in making a visible presence and impact on this special MNFTM night.

NEEDED:

• Lots, and Lots of candy, treats, etc. to distribute to neighborhood children as we get the opportunity to meet them as they pass through our parking lot.
• Willing people to be present with their vehicles to receive visitors, meet and greet, distribute candy, treats, etc.

STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER 23, 2005