A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. --Ecclesiastes 7:1.

You can't separate the first half of Ecclesiastes 7:1 from the second half. They form a complete thought. If you only quote the first half, the full meaning is lost. If you only quote the second, it sounds somewhat morbid.

However, when you take the full verse, you see that a good name is to be prized in this life. The thought behind the verse is that a life of positive influence on the earth can have a continuing influence after we have left it. I think this is even more important if you have children.

What are you doing for the Kingdom of God this side of heaven? Will you have a "good death?"

May He Increase!

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. --Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 (King James Version).

I've been married now for over eight years. One thing I noticed early on is that I found it difficult to remember my life before I married my wife. I forgot my routines and the things I used to do day-to-day.

I became a stepfather on that April afternoon in 2001. So it started with my stepson, this recalling things of my boyhood: school, friends, games we'd play, fishing trips with my dad, etc.

Then my own son was born on Christmas Day 2007. Life had started to move quicker once I got married. Now that my son is approaching two years old, I find that my life is moving faster and faster. I'm growing older, seemingly by the minute.

Today we were at Costco. I always have to wander through the DVDs and the books. Today, a certain Disney DVD caught my eye. It was the oddest sensation. I looked at the cover and told my wife: "I watched this movie when I was in kindergarten!" I even remember the school and the classroom where I watched it. I told my son, "Daddy used to watch this when he was a little boy." Although he probably didn't understand my words, from that moment and until we left the store, he held the DVD in some sort of wonder.

Next year I'll be 40. One the one hand, I have no fear or trepidation about turning this milestone birthday. But on the other, I wonder just how I got to be 40 years old. Where have the years gone? How many more will God allow me?

I had a very happy and stable childhood. I thank God for that. I have so many fond memories of growing up. Sure, sometimes I wish I could go back to the days of being carefree and not having a mortgage; back to those days of wonder and innocence. I pray that God allows such days for my stepson and my son. To the best of my ability, I want to provide that for them.

What about you? Do you have fond memories of your childhood?

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. --Ecclesiastes 5:2.

I think we, as Christians, can sometimes be a little flippant with our prayers to God.

There needs to be a healthy dose of respect for Whom we are addressing. Yes, the cross tore the curtain in the temple in two (Matthew 27:51) which allowed us to boldly come before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), but God is still God.

God is not our heavenly butler, there to answer our every whim. He is not there at our beck and call. He is our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. We are His children. Do we expect our own children to treat us with respect as their earthly parents? Then how much more should we give respect and honor to the Creator of the universe!

Besides, He knows our every need before we ask Him. He wants to have fellowship with us--His creation--through Christ's shed blood of the cross. The price He paid to redeem you and I is more than we can possibly imagine. That, too, is worthy of our respect, awe, gratitude, and most of all, love.

May He Increase!

We ended last week with Job crying out that he had never been born. From the depths of his despair and pain, he wishes that he had been stillborn or died at birth.

Yet, in spite of all his frustration, never once did he renounce God.

Today, we'll look at the first response by his friend, Eliphaz, the "voice of experience." His name means "God is strength" or "God is fine gold."

The Book of Job - Part IV: Eliphaz's First Speech to Job

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, "If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking? Behold you have admonished many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have helped the tottering to stand, and you have strengthened feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed." --Job 4:1-5.

Eliphaz starts out trying to be polite, but it's almost sarcastic in tone. He then launches into an accusation that Job really isn't who he claimed to be. Before all this drama occurred in his life, Job was a leader in his community. He would tell people what to do and knew how to help others who were in trouble.

But now that disaster has struck in his life, he is falling apart. In other words, he could easily tell others how to live their lives, but now cannot seem to take his own medicine that he doled out.

It's humbling. Makes me think of the trials my family and I have been going through. Will I take my own advice that I would give out to others?

"Is not fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?" --Job 4:6-7.

Again, Eliphaz asks if Job's own advice is good enough for him. He then puts forth the argument that Job must have a flaw in his character somewhere. We must keep in mind that neither Job nor his friends knew of the conversations between God and Satan as we have been privy to. They are simply going by observation, although incorrect.

"According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it." --Job 4:8.

Here is the verse that establishes Eliphaz as the "voice of experience." But it is also the verse of Eliphaz climbing up into a seat of judgment and looking down at Job and telling him "you are reaping what you have sown." In other words, he is accusing Job of some hidden sin.

"By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they come to an end. The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. The lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered." --Job 4:9-11.

Eliphaz's first postulation here is that God destroys His children. He's wrong. God chastens whom He loves, but he does not destroy them (Proverbs 3:12 and Hebrews 12:6).

"Now a word was brought to me stealthily, and my ear received a whisper of it. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me, and trembling, and made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed by my face; the hair of my flesh bristled up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice." --Job 4:12-16.

Eliphaz took several verses to build anticipation for some great revelation he received in the darkness of night. He was frightened and scared to death of the vision. It was a grand revelation that he received and he's about to reveal it to Job.

"'Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?'" --Job 4:17.

He built up the tension only to reveal something that any of us would say "no kidding." The "voice of experience" spent a whole sleepless night to come up with this obvious statement? It's the equivalent of saying something like: "The sky is blue." More importantly, his statement does nothing to help Job. It's quite obvious from observing Job's life to this point that Job already knows this.

"'He puts no trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error. How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth! Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; unobserved, they perish forever. Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.'" --Job 4:18-21.

Eliphaz starts off by saying that even God's angels aren't perfect. Case in point: Satan. So he asks how much more are we humans imperfect whose bodies are corruptible? No matter how beautiful we are as humans, this human body is decaying and eventually will die. Ultimately, as much as there is some truth included in what he's saying to Job, none of it is helping.

"Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?" --Job 5:1.

Finally a good question. Remember this is the time of the patriarchs, however Abraham and Isaac have most likely died at this point. Jacob/Israel may still be living, but who could Job call on to help him? Which of the saints that have gone before him can help him?

"For vexation slays the foolish man, and anger kills the simple. I have seen the foolish taking root, and I cursed his abode immediately." --Job 5:2-3.

He says that he has seen foolish and wicked people prospering, but in the end they are brought down by God. There are many times when foolish and wicked people prosper while God's people suffer lack. Material wealth is not necessarily a sign that God is happily prospering someone. Riches are fleeting. Even Solomon, in his great wisdom, experienced this (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11).

"His sons are far from safety, they are even oppressed in the gate, neither is there a deliverer. His harvest the hungry devour and take it to a place of thorns, and the schemer is eager for their wealth. For affliction does not come from the dust, neither does trouble sprout from the ground, for man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward." --Job 5:4-7.

One of truest statements uttered by Eliphaz: "man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward." There is no "best life now." That's a lie. Our best life is the life we will live with our Savior and Coming King in His kingdom. This world is the kingdom of Satan. This life is a life of trouble and suffering. Jesus never promised us a life on easy street this side of heaven.

The evidence? Here's just a small smattering:

• "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me." --Matthew 5:11.
• "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." --Matthew 6:34.
• "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues." --Matthew 10:16-17.
• "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." --Matthew 10:22.
• "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." --Matthew 10:38.
• "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." --John 16:33.

"But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. He gives rain on the earth and send water on the fields, so that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, so that their hands cannot attain success. He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, and the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted. By day they meet with darkness, and grope at noon as in the night. But He saves from the sword of their mouth, and the poor from the hand of the mighty so the helpless has hope, and unrighteousness must shut its mouth." --Job 5:8-16.

This is a beautiful passage of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Wonderful words spoken by Eliphaz but at the same time, he's giving a sermon as opposed to helping poor Job. He's talking at Job at this point, not with Job.

"Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." --Job 5:17.

One of the familiar verses in the book of Job. The problem is that Eliphaz thinks this is why all this happened to Job. He's really not speaking from knowledge. We, as readers, saw how Job arrived at this pitiful stage. In a way, we'd be more in a position to make this statement, and as it is, we cannot even say it. It's really a cut against Job's integrity.

"For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal. From six troubles He will deliver you, even in seven evil will not touch you. In famine He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither will you be afraid of violence when it comes." --Job 5:18-21.

God is pictured here--in the first verse--as one who skillfully inflicts pain and wounds, yet gives relief and heals.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. --Proverbs 27:6.

How much more valuable are the painful lessons God wants to teach us than the feel-good lies from Satan!

"You will laugh at violence and famine, neither will you be afraid of wild beasts. For you will be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you. You will know that your tent is secure, for you will visit your abode and fear no loss. You will know also that your descendants will be many, and your offspring as the grass of the earth. You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a stacking of grain in its season. Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself." --Job 5:22-27.

Eliphaz closes out his first speech by saying that death is the great equalizer and that it should not be feared but welcomed. As beautiful as the imagery is, none of what he has said has helped Job in any way.

Next time, we'll look at what Job has to say in response to his friend Eliphaz.

May He Increase!

I've read at least a half dozen books on finding your perfect career or even what you were born to do. In fact, just this past Friday I attended a class at a local community college called "What were you born to do?" I enjoyed the class and I'm eager to dig into the workbook.

On Monday, I went to the bookstore and bought a new book called "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring," by Ford R. Myers. So far, I like it a lot. Today I will be going through one of the many exercises he has called "Your Ideal Workday."

I've been doing this type of searching for over two and a half years. Some might say that I have to be over-analyzing it all if I've been doing it for that long. However, I suppose I look at from Socrates' standpoint:

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Now, this is a Christian blog and I'm not necessarily putting man's wisdom above God's. Surely the Bible says the same when David says:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. --Psalm 139:23-24.

"My anxious thoughts." Boy, is that me lately.

This whole season in my life has showed me my own covetousness and worries about "stuff." It's all junk! It's all going to rot away. Why am I worried about "stuff?" I ran across a blog post today at Truth Matters, called "The Emptiness of the American Dream." It was a re-posting from Shepherd's Fellowship. I don't want to re-post it here in it's entirety, rather I would like to point out the highlights from Ecclesiastes as I feel they are appropriate for this time in my life (and maybe yours).

King Solomon was the richest and wisest man of his day. You may recall the story. God came to him in a dream and told him that He would give him anything he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom. God rewarded his humility by granting him wisdom and all the worldly riches he could handle because he did not ask for riches. (1 Kings 3:3-15.)

However, God gave Solomon a few provisions for the granting of his desire.

If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days." --1 Kings 3:14.

Unfortunately, like all fallen and sinful men, Solomon used his great wealth and power to try to find fulfillment. He forgot that his fulfillment, joy, and contentment are found in God alone. His mistakes included trying to find joy and contentment with:

• Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3)
• Hard work (Ecclesiastes 2:4–6)
• Material possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:7–8)
• Popularity and prestige (Ecclesiastes 2:9–10)
• His own wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12–14)

But remember, God did grant Solomon great wisdom. So although he he experienced "much grief, and increasing knowledge result[ed] in increasing pain," (Ecclesiastes 1:18), Solomon discovered the secret to joy and contentment in this life, this side of heaven.

There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. --Ecclesiastes 2:24-26.

God has given to each of us the gift of enjoying this life while living in obedience to Him. That is the the secret to joy and contentment in this life. Our lives will have ups and downs (Ecclesiastes 3:4), but through it all, we can be made whole through the love of God.

No matter what gets stripped away, there is something that no one can take away and that's God's love for you and I.

"Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you." --John 16:22.

Jesus here is speaking of His Second Coming. That is the believer's Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13). That's where we can rest and find that joy and contentment no matter what our circumstances may be here.

May He Increase!

It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. --Ecclesiastes 9:2-3. (Emphasis mine.)

The  great Day of the Lord is drawing near; the signs are all around us. Are you in right standing before God? How will He judge you? By your works? By your own righteousness? Filthy rags! There is only One who is pure and clean: Jesus the Christ! Are you His? Do you know His voice? Will He know you on the last day?

Call on Him!

May He Increase!

One of the few sections I still like to read from the Los Angeles Times is the Parade Magazine. I like the Q&A section in the front and I always enjoy Marilyn Vos Savant's section.

This past Sunday featured Shia LaBeouf on the cover. I like the guy especially the recent movies he's done like Holes and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I can't wait to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen when it comes out later this month.

But this interview caused me to feel a great sense of pity for Shia. Among some of the troubling highlights were:

"Sometimes I feel I’m living a meaningless life,” Shia LaBeouf says, “and I get frightened.”

“Why did the love of my life and I break up?” he asks, puzzled. “Man, I have no idea. What was that all about? I have no answers to anything. None. Why am I an alcoholic? I haven’t a damn clue! What is life about? I don’t know.”

“What I do know is, I screw up, and I know that I’m working on myself to be a better person,” he says. “So I have no apologies. The best I can do is learn from my mistakes and move forward. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Pretty bleak. The average fan probably had no idea. But then he said something rather provocative and honest, but probably doesn't realize it:

“I don’t handle fame well,” LaBeouf says. “Most actors on most days don’t think they’re worthy. I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it’s a God-sized hole. If I knew, I’d fill it, and I’d be on my way.” (Emphasis mine.)

What Shia touched on is the hole every human being has. It's there by God's design and only God can fill it.

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. --Ecclesiastes 3:11.

Shia, what is life about? It's about Jesus.

And He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. --Colossians 1:15-17.

Shia should be encouraged that he is seeing the futility of this earthly life and monetary riches. It's my prayer that Shia somehow finds this post or is lead to someone who can share the truth with him. He doesn't need to live a meaningless life any longer! No one does. You simply need to give your life to the One who Created it! I'll be praying for you, Shia!

May He Increase!

When I get to heaven, one of the guys I want to meet and chat with is Solomon. I would love to sit down with him and talk over work and career. I'm sure he'd be a great career counselor.

There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. --Ecclesiastes 2:24-26.

Work is not the curse! The Bible is very clear on this point and so is Solomon. Here's to you, Solomon!

May He Increase!

Since starting this blog in January, I've delved into many different Christian blogs. This has been both a blessing and a burden, at times it's caused me to check myself and even doubt. I should probably curtail my reading list because as Solomon cautioned, "in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain" (Ecclesiastes 1:18).

Yesterday, in my blog reading, I came across a post at Defending/Contending which posted a link to an audio sermon by Phil Johnson. The sermon was about exposing flaws in the "fad-driven church." It was sobering, but in fact encouraging to me.

My goal for this blog was to offer practical Bible studies for Christian believers and those who are seeking answers to their questions about God and the Bible. The blog is still in its infancy and at times I've strayed away from that goal. At times I've even considered quitting altogether but then I realize that's just what the enemy wants me to do: quit and give up. Johnson's talk has reminded me that as long as we are speaking (writing) from and about the Word of God--no matter how eloquent or amateurish we are--the Bible has life-changing power unparalleled and unmatched to any other book in the history of mankind. It is an message sent to us from eternity, transmitted from the Creator of all things. It isn't about me, it's about Him and being about His business.

Phil Johnson's talk is about 45 minutes or so, but well worth the time. I need to listen to it again myself. Below is the audio link directly to it. I would be interested in hearing your reactions to it.

"Programs, Get Your Programs: Exposing the Flaws of the Fad-Driven Church"

May He Increase!

For those of you who don't live in California, you may or may not be aware that this tax season, if you are entitled to a refund, you can start holding your breath. Or is it, don't hold your breath?

My wife and I filed our taxes super early this year in late January. Our tax guy told us that by doing so, we stand a better chance of seeing our refund than if you wait. But, there is no guarantee you'll get it even then. Our Federal refund came in a matter of weeks. As of yesterday we were still waiting on the state.

We were going to call the California Franchise Tax Board this morning but I figured there had to be an online way of looking it up. I mean, with all the money these clowns in Sacramento have from not sending out refunds, surely we'd have some snazzy way of looking up the status. Sure enough, I was able to check the FTB's web site. They have a nice little site where you can check on your Refund's Status. I put in all of my specific information, clicked a button and ...

Your return has been received and processed, however, your refund cannot be issued at this time.

Due to the state’s persistent cash flow problems, the State Controller has directed FTB to stop sending refund requests to the State Controller’s Office for payment. Refund payments will resume when the State Controller indicates there is enough cash available to make refund payments.

I see ... all last year the state took money out of my check (my pocket, my family's dinner table, my livelihood, etc.) and did whatever they wanted with it. So now that we have had our mutual day of reckoning (tax season), they tell me, "Sorry folks, we don't have your money." Excuse me? I don't need to tell you what would happen if we did the same thing to them, do I? Debtor's prison, anyone? The situation is just ridiculous. Truly.

Solomon described our current elected officials for the great state of California:

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time--for strength and not for drunkenness. --Ecclesiastes 10:16-17.

I guess I'm not sure where the outrage is anymore. These guys in office should consider themselves fortunate that this isn't the 1770's anymore. I think our forefathers would have marched on Sacramento and demanded their refunds at the the end of a rifle or cutlass. Maybe it's a bad analogy, but where is our version of the Boston Tea Party?

Normally, I can't stand J.G. Wentworth commercials, but ... well ... see for yourselves:

Actually, it all belongs to God. It's His money. I'm not overly concerned about it. It's upsetting, but God will take care of this situation.

May He Increase!