Monthly Archives: June 2011

The passions are rising in the accusations and defenses being made in Job in our reading now. Job “friends” are far more pointed in their call for repentance, and Job is far more pointed in his rebuke to their sorry … Continue reading →

Job’s “friends” escalate their help in dialing up the intensity of their accusations. Their strategy and “wisdom” seems to be that if a little argumentation doesn’t work that more and more intense argument will. Throughout these exchanges Job’s “friends” seem … Continue reading →

Today’s reading (and several tomorrow’s worth of readings) will feature more of Job’s heavy conversations with his friends. Despite the heaviness of the topic and the occasional repetition of accusation / defense cycles, there are some some practical things to … Continue reading →

There is a larger lesson to be found in Job that I hope that you’re seeing as we read through — apart from the verse by verse things that I’ve been commenting on. Job’s friends, as misguided as they are … Continue reading →

There’s nothing like misery and an approaching mortality to energize the philosophic side of mankind. The questions that Job wrestles with in today’s reading seek answers to fundamental questions like: “Why am I here and what makes me important to … Continue reading →

Job is one of the all time heavy books of the Bible. It deals with the prickly question of suffering, and after all is said and done, gives us an absolutely legitimate answer to the question of suffering, but one … Continue reading →

The book of Esther is one of those books, like Ruth that is best read at one sitting. It’s a great story of a meteoric, providential rise to a place of honor and power at just the right time; with … Continue reading →

We left the story yesterday just as Haman had implemented his wicked scheme to avenge his wounded pride by doing more than merely punishing Mordecai for his imagined slight; he was going to annihilate Mordecai’s entire ethnic community across the … Continue reading →

Today’s reading starts the excellent story of Esther. If you’ve never read the story, hold on to your hat; it will have drama, intrigue, a few twists and turns, and a great victory. Before we dive into the text, however, … Continue reading →