When bad things happen to good people: the story of Job

For the month of October, our fearless leaders Pastor Abi and Pastor Wes have decided to preach on the story of Job. Very appropriate considering our tribulations: the recession, the war, global warming and the speculation about the imminent 2012. Yes, we're going through hard times right now, personally, nationally and globally, and we're all feeling a sense of fear and frustration for the future. Personally, I feel that the story of Job is a good one to look at now.

Here's the gist of the story: There was this man named Job and he was faithful to God. He also happened to be rich, having a loving family, awesome friends, and everything that a man could want in life. Because of a "bet" between God and Satan about Job's faithfulness, everything was taken away from him. No more family, friends, land, money... nada. All gone. But the point of the story is that Job was still faithful to God. He balked and was upset and acted like any other man who has lost everything, but still trusted that God had an ultimate plan for his life. That everything would turn out better in the end. That God was bigger than all those bad things in his life and could turn those bad things into good things. And in the end, that's exactly what happened.

Job the faithful was vindicated.

So what does that mean for us? That is what this month's discussion is going to be about. We all go through hard times, and bad things do happen to good people. What can we do about it?

These are the scriptures we're going to be reading in the service, however the whole book of Job outlines the details of this story, and to get the fullest sense of what he went through, more reading is better.

October 3rd: Job 1:1; 2:1-10

October 10th: Job 23:1-9, 16-17

October 18th*: Job 38:1-7 (34-41)

October 24: Job 42:1-6, 10-17

For the music, my idea is to outline the ideas of each Saturday's scriptures. For this Saturday, I've thought of highlighting Job's faithfulness to God in a lighter mood, before any of the terrible things started happening to him. The songs I've thought of are:

Step By Step
[I will seek you in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your ways and
step by step you'll lead me, and I will follow you in all of my days.]
How Great is Our God
[Age to age He stands, and time is in His hands, beginning and the end.]
Enough
[All of You is more than enough for all of me, for every thirst and every need;
You satisfy me with Your love, and all I have in You is more than enough.]
I Give You My Heart
[Lord I give You my heart, I give You my soul. I live for You alone.
Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake Lord, have Your way in me.]

If you think of other songs that would be fitting for this story, please comment so that I can begin to research them. There would also be some great lyrics to write one of your own and teach to us, or play yourself at the service. My goal is for us to collaboratively find songs that will enhance the worship. I am only one person and do not know all the songs out there.

I'd also like some inspiration on prayer stations we could put up. Our main one last week was to decorate phylactories, a Jewish box filled with a scripture that is bound to the body, to illustrate the literal meaning of "binding the word to yourself," as it says in Deuteronomy 11:16-22. What can we physically do to help us meditate on the story of Job?

Think about this as you go through your week. How can Job's story help us in our daily lives?

What can you think of to help us tell this story to the community?

Grace and Peace,

Virginia Yates

*As you may have noticed, October 18th is a Sunday. We're celebrating World Communion Sunday that day and will not have Faith Renaissance that evening, although some type of get together is in the works for that night. So come join our multi-national, multi-lingual, music and scripture filled Sunday to celebrate with us.