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Christian Credibility

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One of my least favorite characters in the Bible is Abraham’s nephew Lot.  There is so much to find fault with Lot.  I find nearly every decision and action of his to be despicable.  In the passage below, the angels who spent the night with him, told him that they are going to destroy the city.  Here is the passage from the Bible: Genesis 19:1-14 KJV  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;  2  And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.  3  And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.  4  But ...
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Job Chapter 11 review

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Chapter 11 Job 11:1 KJV  Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,  A new voice from Job’s ‘friends.’  Likely the youngest of them or otherwise lowest in status, so as to speak last. Job 11:2 KJV  Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Job 11:3 KJV  Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? Zophar, giving his reasons for responding, that silence may be misinterpreted for agreement. Job 11:4 KJV  For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. This is Zophar’s paraphrasing of Job’s words.  He is exaggerating somewhat, Job’s words.  Job never said precisely these things. Job 11:5 KJV  But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; Job 11:6 KJV  And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine ini...
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God, Who Should I Pray For?

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This morning, I had to drive down Middlebury Street in Elkhart, Indiana, where for years we did street ministry. At almost every house of the 10 blocks between Goshen Avenue, and Main Street, memories of people came flooding back. I was overcome with gratitude. I began praying and worshipping and thanking God for all the things He has done in my life. Something that has been on my mind recently, that I spend too much time asking Him for things. Jesus speaking: Matthew 6:8 KJV Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. There is nothing wrong with asking Him for things. . . nothing wrong in asking Him repeatedly for things: A parable by Jesus: Luke 18:1-7 KJV And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of ...
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Job Chapter 10 Review

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  Chapter 10 Job 10:1 KJV  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Job reiterates that he is tired of what his life has become.It's not clear who he is speaking to.  It doesn’t seem to be Eliphaz or Bildad.  Maybe God?  Maybe just speaking to no one in particular, just to vent his feelings.  I often make the mistake, when my wife is speaking of her situation, that she is particularly speaking to me, when she isn’t wanting answers, but just an ear to hear her feelings. Job 10:2 KJV  I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. A shadow of the New Testament prayer of the publican: Luke 18:13 KJV  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Job feels judged and sentenced by the terrible things which have happened to him.  He’s ...
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  My Guardian Angel. . .  Our next door neighbor when I was growing up was Mrs. Campbell.  She was an elderly widow lady, who at times baby sat my brother, sister, and I in our home when our parents went out for an evening.  She endlessly crocheted.  I remember being fascinated by her index finger, where the thread ran across it.  So many miles of thread had run across that finger, that it had formed a deep groove. . . a permanent channel in her finger.  She hummed when she breathed.  I don’t know if she has asthma, or emphysema, or some other breathing problem, or if she just naturally hummed as she took  her breaths. Another memory comes to my mind as I reminisce about these events 60+ years ago, she was a huge WWF fan. I remember her getting very excited as she watched wrestling matches on your TV when she was over. Occasionally her grandson, Terry, would spend the night with her, and one summer, I think when I was about eight years old, ...
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Job Chapter 9 Review

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  Chapter 9 Job 9:1 KJV  Then Job answered and said, Job 9:2 KJV  I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? We’re told that Job is answering, but we’re not certain precisely who he is responding to, and which words.  It makes most sense that he is responding to Bildad, but that may not be. Who can stand before God, and claim righteousness? Romans 3:23 KJV  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Job 9:3 KJV  If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Foreshadowing God’s questioning of Job in chapter 38, who can stand against God?  Who could answer one of a thousand questions from Him? Job 9:4 KJV  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? Omniscient, Omnipotent is our God.  Who can withstand Him? Job 9:5-10 KJV Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. Which shaketh the ea...
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