Walking The Beat

PALS

He was the Greek. Fun, funny, and fun-loving and one to not take everything so serious. Yet he could be serious. We rode together from time to time and had been in the academy together. We would have taken bullets for each other.

I later left to finish college and attend seminary. I believed then and I believe now that was God's call upon my life. But the Greek had another journey. He would stay and retire in 1999. Active in his Greek Orthodox Parish, his community, and one who loved his family and his Toni, this man had many, many friends.

There is something about friends from a police department. Many of them stay friends through the years. I left in 1972 and for the past few years from time to time I get a call from these guys. One of the more expressive of them always asks, "Are you still preachin'?" And when I say yes, his answer is still the same, "Well I'll be damned." Of course, I am praying he won't be. That is why I'm still 'preachin'!

A few months ago one who called and gave me Toni's number and sad news. Her beloved "Rock", as he was nicknamed, was losing his battle with a malignant tumor in the brain. Glioma, I think they called it. I called him. He laughed, asked if I remembered a couple stories - one that he tells on me - and we shared a moment of history as we moved away from the present. A few weeks ago some of them got together one last time. Toni had said, "We are going to par-tay and celebrate!" What a trouper she has been. I talked to all them by phone and could sense the "Rock" was weakening.

Sgt. T. S. "Rock" Moraites slipped into eternity last Saturday.

I am grateful to God for the privilege of knowing this man and these many "pals" who have stayed together from that particular recruit class. I suppose if one hasn't "been there" it is difficult to understand why one such as myself, so far removed, would be so touched by infrequent contacts from some of them.

Many of them will gather this Thursday to remember a life well lived and support a grieving family. I wish I could attend the funeral but I cannot. But I can pray for the family and I will.

I will remember a pal no longer here. And I will thank God for those remaining. Pals, as the movie character Billy the Kid says. But these pals, my pals, are on the right side of Law and Order. God bless them every one.

JOB'S FRIENDS, OUR FRIENDS, AND THE NEW COVENANT

I read and re-read Job. It is Old Testament poetry at its finest and as such finds its conclusion not in the story itself, but in the new covenant in the New Testament.

When one looks at the speeches of the friends, one can easily parallel them with some from our time. One can see a paradigm of existentialism, legalism, and spiritualism in them. I haven't really got Bildad nailed down yet, but the others do fit the three categories listed.

So what of Job? What of us? Into our lives often come people with existential, legalistic, and hyper-spiritual responses. Let's say something bad happens to you through no fault of your own.

Here comes the legalist (no, these are not in order of the characters - hey, you've got to be willing to do some digging on your own) who just knows you sinned. After all, nothing bad happens to people unless they have sinned. God would not do that or allow that to a "righteous" person.

Then there is the existentialist - always sharing from the base of his/her experience. I hear it in one who referenced a past position to almost every conversation. In fact, some of us used to put down minutes as to how far the conversation would proceed before we heard, "now when I was at....". Your current situation is always laid beside their experience. They live backward.

Last is the "Spiritualist" - "Brother, you just need to get right with God." No know-it-all like a spiritual one, is there?

Job is called upon by God to pray for these people. They were not really speaking for God. They were speaking for themselves and the worst deception of all had occurred: they thought they were speaking for God.

Human nature does not change. But at this point in the history of salvation, Christ and the New Covenant were yet to come. We live of the "after" side of the coming of Christ and the New Covenant.

So we learn in the NT that some do indeed suffer unjustly. Some suffer for Christ. Others "fill up what remains" in the suffering of Christ for the sake of the church. The references are many but the blog post is not a concordance. What shall we say?

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 1:3-11 and the following few chapters words of wisdom regarding suffering and reconciliation. These are for our instruction. The inspired writings of Job are an example to us (1 Cor. 10). But here (2 Cor. 1-5) is how we are to "do life".

God comforts us in our affliction. One of the reasons is that we may offer comfort to others who are afflicted. Encouragement is a huge ministry to the hurting, regardless of the reason for the hurt.

We are cautioned in 1 Cor. 4:5 to not judge anything prematurely. Leave it in the hands of God.

Although human nature has not changed, ours has. For each of us who have embraced Jesus and believe in sufficiency of Scripture, there is purpose in any suffering. The level of the injury may indeed determine the length of the trial, etc., but by the grace of God we are comforted, and in our comfort, may indeed comfort others.

An immediate application is ministers who have experienced forced termination. Are you "beyond it"? There is help. And when you heal, and your family heals (and you will if you so choose), then God will use you to mentor and minister to others. Some you will never know. Your mentoring may be preventative. Others you will walk through the same valley again, only this time you will be the human comforter.

Job's friends are still with us. But thank God we live on this side of the Cross!!

DO YOU HAVE A JOB 42 PRAYER LIST? I DO.

I like to read Scripture in context, which means reading books of the Bible as quickly as possible. Recently I read through the book of Job. Then I read through Job again. A number of years ago I was doing research for my pastor and outlined the book of Job for him. As George Strait sings about an old girlfriend, "I wish I had that one back."

At that time, I viewed the book of Job as a book of on the problem of the suffering of the innocent. And, in some ways, it is. But I think it more a volume on the character and wisdom of God rather than solely on the suffering of the innocent.

Job 42:7-8  "After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has. Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his [prayer] and not deal with you as your folly deserves. For you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has." (HCSB)

WHAT IS THAT??? Chapters 39-41 are what we would call an "interrogation" the likes of which are unparalleled in Scripture. God may be giving us a preview of the Judgment in his questioning of Job - and questions for which there are no answers. Job's reply and repentance in 42:1-6 are evidence that Job really had no clue as to the depth of the majesty of God.

I am intrigued that twice God tells these "friends" (we all have some of these) they had not spoken truth about Himself. He calls their diatribes 'folly' and calls them to repentance with an intercessor (Job). It is interesting that several times in the book Job laments there is no intercessor for him.

Let's see if I have that right. Job was indeed guilty, but not of sin nor bad theology. His was a faith issue. He questioned the wisdom of God. Have you been there? I have. I wish I could honestly tell you I haven't, but I have.

But Job's friends, who said his suffering was due to his unrepentant sin, had bad theology, and God nailed them for it calling it a lie!

No doubt we need good relationships and love is very important. But these relational friends were accused by God Himself of lying about Him. God's character is important and what you and I believe about God's character is crucial, even to our witness.

Faith is a personal struggle. God help us to come to the place where we can trust the wisdom of God in all of life's reverses. They do come, and that on a fairly regular basis.

Those had spoken ill of Job and had lied about God's character were required to come to the altar and offer a burnt offering. There Job would pray for them. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to bless those who despitefully use us and to pray for our enemies. We are to pray blessing, not imprecatory prayers.

Job's restoration was accomplished after he prayed for his friends (42:10). So again, do you have a Job 42 prayer list? I do. Some who read this may be on it. If so, from the depths of my heart, God bless you!