When two separate readings collide in theme – I just feel like God is speaking through His living word. And, no, I just don’t believe in coincidences – I believe in Jesus.

The two stories, and I hesitate to call anything in the Bible a “story” – I think this is new from traveling to Israel and seeing the once “mythical” places from Bible “stories” in real life – the Bible is just no longer filled with “stories” it’s truth, it’s history, it’s our heritage, and yes, it is God’s living word filled with the power to change those who chose to read it.

So, the two accounts of "Biblical history," one from Job and the other from Galatians put emphasis on our flawed human nature.  We all know about Job, a man "blameless and upright, God fearing" - God allowed satan to attack different areas of his life - to the point where Job's friends question Job's righteousness, and in turn Job begins to question God.  Job is finally confronted by Elihu, who has been to timid to speak until this point, that Job should not question God.  "Behold, in this you are not right, I will answer you, for God is greater than man." 33:12  The other is Paul confronting Peter in his letter to the Galatians for  being a hypocrite.  Peter was preaching the truth, that Christ has freed us from the law, while at the same time enforcing Jewish law on the Gentiles.  

Both accounts have people who are following God, who are living out their faith, but who make mistakes and need confrontation.  Yes, IN THE BIBLE PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES!!! News flash, right?  I mean, I knew Judas betrayed Christ, and then Thomas doubted Christ’s resurrection, and Peter again when he began to meet Christ walking on the water. I guess the list is longer than I thought, and it’s kind of comforting, knowing that all of my mistakes are in good company.

(Sea of Galilee - where Jesus, and sort of Peter, walked on water!)

The point is, that we are all human – we all make mistakes.  We believe in Christ and worship Him, but not because of what He does for us, or who He makes us into, or because He keeps us from making mistakes, or because He keeps us “safe,” or for the lessons He has graciously taught us or even because He blesses us by allowing us to live out our passions (per say – living in Africa, teaching art, loving on kids, teaching them about Christ) – while all of those things are His blessings on our life - we believe and worship Him because of who He is – and He is truth.

The “blessings” will come and go, in a sinful world.  I will not always be able to keep everything together or “safe” – and I feel like I rarely keep anything together – but that’s not the point.  Christ died as atonement for our mistakes, poor choices; for our Sin - as well as everyone else’s – we just sometimes notice other people’s more often – and count them as “injustices” God has somehow allowed or even planned for our lives.  He wants us to learn from our circumstances, to grow and change from them, and ultimately, to learn to depend not on ourselves, but on Him – the source of life its self. 

"I am the way, the TRUTH and the life." John 14:6

Among many things, “LOVE…rejoices with the TRUTH.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Our school has been impacted greatly over the past few days - dealing with tragedies all over.  We have two Haitian students, and  hearing about life over there right now makes our problems seem so insignificant.  There has been lots of fighting in Northern Ghana - tribal conflicts.  And in tragedy in Angola, around rebels attacking a team there for the African Cup.  God is really putting things in perspective for many of us here - who have been grumbling about circumstances since we have returned from America.  Our refrigerator stopped working this weekend and many of our groceries spoiled, the power was off several times, our water didn't work for most of the week last week - but we are blessed.  We are safe and we have food and we are free to worship the one TRUE God.  You are too, so Praise Him!