a better hope

Going to church means different things to different people. Nothing wrong with that. I always felt going to church was a sort of sacred thing. I went to a lot of them over the years and then stopped because I had some rather upsetting things happen in my life which affected my faith. I was a young man. That sort of thing wouldn't happen today. I think of Job and how even his wife, who was surely the closest person to him, left him in his hour of need and told him to curse God and die. What did Job do? Here was a man smitten of God. No doubt about it. God slayed him. Job defended God to his wife and rebuked her attitude. Job was slayed by God and Job defended God. Why? Because he feared Him? Perhaps. I think Job knew God like few men do. Job definitely loved God. But he also understood God could give and take away in equal measure.  Job's friends came to "comfort" him but, instead, sat in silence with him for a while and then started tearing him apart. They didn't ...

  The book of Jonah isn't very long, yet it contains a brilliant little story that is often overlooked. We've been taught the story since Sunday school, but how much have we pondered what actually happened and the ridiculousness of this story? Read on if you'd like to take a moment to consider the reality of what happened in this story of stubborn Jonah.  Here is the story if you'd like to re-read it before we begin . This is not an exhaustive treatise; just observations on this little book. I've often thought that if I were ever to be like one of God's prophets, I would most resemble Jonah, as he was full of anger and bitterness. I'm no longer full of anger, though, as I spent much time being humbled in my walk and also because I've forgiven much. Why was Jonah so angry with God and the Ninevites, anyway? He was angry with the Ninevites because they were mortal enemies of his people, the Jews. They persecuted and pillaged and killed the Jews for quite s...