Fourth week Bible in 90 days

This last week Brian Newman gave a sermon on The GRAND STORY entitled "Even Job Had a Next Step" and related how Job had everything, lost everything and by suffering greatly, experienced through faith an intimacy with God when God told him to "brace yourself up like a man; I will question you and you will answer me." WoW! Job's next step was to "go on living" regardless of his suffering. In the end Job's faith was rewarded by the Lord and he was restored to twice his original state, a long ordeal for an innocent man to endure without knowing why. We see this same story being played out over and over again for the Israelites as the Kings who didn't forget God's commands prospered while those who strayed met disaster.

In our bible study video, following the instrument vs. obstacle theme, we saw David's problem developed from an abuse of power: David as the instrument ran into Bathsheba the obstacle and he forgot his values and lost the opportunity to build the Temple of the Lord, which fell to his son Soloman. Soloman's prayer, first for wisdom and then for God to come back and occupy the Temple for His Name was rewarded by giving God a foothold on earth and consequently, all nations were blessed. Charlie, Jack, Stan, Rick and Ron discussed how God's abandonment reflected Cain's main concern: he was no longer in the presence of God. Now, the high point of our discussion revealed that whereas the temple allowed God to dwell among his people in Old Testament times, today, we have become the temple in which God is to dwell. Now this really is a Grand Story!

This takes us to Transitions, where we left off last week with a quote regarding "commitment".
In Spiritual Renewal, we are asked to "study and meditate" and also to "clarify our values and commit" to them. Spiritual Renewal is a main dimension of an effective, useful and peaceful existence and by definately committing, the "moment we do, Providence moves as well".
This begins a transition which empowers our physical, mental and social-emotional selves, a great foundation for revival! May our prayer be for wisdom in committing to this task of continuing reading the Bible and magnifying God through the renewal of our souls. God bless!