Gentle reader,

There is an expression "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." But what if your friends however well meaning are more dangerous that your worst nightmare. Who are friends? Gentle Reader, but those when everyone turns their back on you that stand by you when no one else gives a whoop do du! These three friends of Job’s are just such friends they sit in silence for a week before they even open their mouths

JOB 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

JOB 2:12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

JOB 2:13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Finely after Job declares that he has done nothing wrong, Eliphaz (We’ll call him Larry -remember the 3 stooges) the oldest of the three speaks He speaks of Jobs helping others in time of need and then points out that it has now fallen upon Job to receive The things that must have befallen him for some misdeed! (Sound familiar Gentle Reader?) Have you ever been told "Well you must have done some thing dreadfully wrong for God to have treated you this way"!

Eliphaz says many true things (as do the others), and often rises into eloquence, but he remains hard and cruel, a dogmatist who must be heard because of one remarkable experience. One will note that Eliphaz bases his whole discussion on general observation and what he feels is special spiritual illumination. His reference to special wisdom handed down from his Temanite predecessors.

Larry (Eliphaz ) while He doesn’t come right out at first and say this (JOB, you are a hypocrite, You must have sinned! Based on experience we all know if you have troubles it’s sin that brought this on. )And Gentle Reader, this understanding is still seen in many churches that say they believe in Grace but sin is the cause of all of your problems.

If that were true then America is in big trouble because we see all around us SIN! Not that any of us have room to point fingers but just in the human nature we have flaws and weaknesses that cause us to act in ways that are at best a poor example of humanity.

Larry thinks he knows why Job has all these things going wrong but He is soooo wrong Gentle Reader, that while He says "Get right with God" No wonder so many people are turned off by modern day Christians.  What do you think will please God so that He'll not knock you down? I'm here to tell you Gentle Reader, you don't have anything to bargain with to make God love you any more - or any less!

Just so you know Gentle Reader, "those so-called Christians who shove your face in what they call sin aren’t really any more than those who say they won’t steal (take a step back and hold on to your wallet) So Larry, sit back and learn a few things. We’ll get back to you latter.

 Next Time we'll take on another friend!

 But understand I'm just saying that people don't really understand what life is all about. If your smart you learn what it's all about.

 Love,

Denis