A New Creature. . . an Apostolic Pentecostal blog

  Job  Chapter 12 review Job 12:1 KJV  And Job answered and said, Job 12:2 KJV  No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. Job begins with heavy sarcasm.  It is well known that the sum of all knowledge resides, with, and will die with you.   Job 12:3 KJV  But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? In our certainty, we must never be so sure that we forget there are views, and perspectives outside of our own, if which we are blind.  Different views are not necessarily inferior or invalid views.  Job's friends seem so absolute in their beliefs about him.  The view from inside a house is always more complete than the view from outside looking in. Job 12:4 KJV  I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. I am accused of mockery, but in reality it is I who is mocked of h...

  Thanksgiving 2025 I worked in the Hospice House in Elkhart, Indiana as a volunteer for two years.  It is an absolutely beautiful facility, set in a wooded, wildflower prairie setting.  Most of the rooms look out into a woods, where deer are frequently seen.  It is really a stunning facility. It was an amazing two years. Along with me on my shifts there were an RN, and an LPN to handle the medical client needs.  I did simple things. . .making simple meals and helping eat or feeding the people there.  Helping the nurses with lifting or moving the residents. Shaving and washing up little old men.  Sitting and listening to, or praying for sometimes with the residents there, for the last days of their lives. While working there, I read a number of books on hospice care, and the last days.  One passage that struck me was the statement that in our western culture we view death as a dragon to be battled.  Other cultures view death as an essential i...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

  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 ...