Making Life Work

From the Program Notes of Ronald L. Dart. Written by Allie Dart.  

    Because of the things that have happened in our lives during the past 16 months, Ron and I decided to read through the Book of Job for our nightly Bible study. We’re learning well that Job did not wear A Mask of Evil. He was a righteous man, yet God allowed him to suffer. It’s been interesting to see how Job’s friends probably weren’t the encouragement he had hoped for, but they dragged out the magnifying glass, so to speak, to try to find ways where Job had missed the mark.     Throughout this most difficult trial, we’ve had many very supportive friends for whom we are very grateful. But, the same as Job, there have been those who have somehow felt it their duty to, frankly,...

By: Ronald L. Dart

The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness (Lamentations 4:1-3).

    The high school graduating class of ‘94 was decimated by a terrible plague and no one paid it much mind. If a bus load of them had been killed on the way to a game, it would have made headlines–at least locally. If a school had blown up and killed a few hundred of them it would have made national, even worldwide, news.

By: Ronald L. Dart

 

    What do you do when you have already done all you can? You are in trouble and there is no way out. You are sick and the doctors have done all they can. You are persecuted and there is no relief. You have made every effort, tried every option, and still see no way out. The matter is out of your hands. What do you do now?

By: Ronald L. Dart

    When we are young, we are a little unsure about funerals. We don't like to think about death and we are uncomfortable being around people who are grieving. We don't know how to feel, and we don't know what to say. As we grow older and mature a little, we come to realize that a funeral is a response to death and that grief is an exactly the right response. And we learn that we really don't have to say very much to a person who is bereaved. Just "I am so sorry," and "I love you." That, along with being there is usually quite enough.

By: Lenny Cacchio  

No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! (Job 12:22 NKJV)      Christians have a problem. We know. And we know that we know. And this knowing can get us into trouble. The Apostle Paul said that “knowledge puffs up” (I Cor. 8:1), and certainly those with lots of knowledge can become arrogant about it.     There was once a Pharisee who went into the temple to pray. Jesus tells us that this man gave a very special prayer of thanks. He said, “God, I thank you.” That’s a noble way to start a prayer. But notice what he thanked God for: “ … that I am not like other men.” (Luke 18:11).     Here was a man who on the outside appeared to be everything God expected him to be. He didn’t cheat people. He didn’t sleep...

By: Lenny Cacchio

    Job had lost it all and he knew it, but one thing he never lost was his faith that God is in charge.  He might not have agreed with the way God was doing things, let alone understand them, but he at least knew that God knew.

    Eventually, God blessed Job for a second time.  But before God restored him, the scripture tells us that first Job did something.  Job 42:10:  “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.”  Listen to what this says:  When Job prayed for his friends, God restored Job’s losses.  And he didn’t restore Job’s losses until he had prayed for his friends. 

    I’m not sure we completely grasp the implications of this, but James in his epistle provides a clue.  In James 5:11...

By: Lenny Cacchio  

    Imagine, if you will, losing everything dear to you and reflecting on the things you lost.  That’s what we read about in the Book of Job, the story of a man whose life became a disaster.  At such times of trial it is normal to long for things as they once were, and that is precisely what Job did.      In the 20th Chapter of that book, Job describes the honors of the life he once knew.  His life once dripped with wealth and comfort (v. 6).  He sat in the gate of the city where he received respect (vv. 7-9) and where the honorable men hung on his words (vv. 9-11).  He did great works of service for those in need (vv. 12-13).  He was a judge among them, and the people came to him to plead the cause of justice (vv. 14-17). ...

By: Lenny Cacchio  

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place--Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great. (Job 2:11-13 NKJV) Job’s friends get a bum rap. Granted they were obtuse when they opened their mouths, and the epithet “Job’s Comforters”...