Lessons From Job - Part 1

What a week!  First, my father-in-law was admitted to intensive care where he still is after nearly a week.  Second, my uncle and aunt were involved in a severe auto accident and my aunt sustained severe back injuries.  If that weren't all enough, the church where my uncle is a pastor sustained a damaging fire.  As we sit here today, my family is struggling.  We just returned from visiting my father-in-law and it was very sobering and emotional to see such a man who you associate with being so strong and in charge being so frail and helpless. 

I had just finished reading and studying the book of Job.  Normally, I have struggled with reading Job.  It seems to be endless in its back and forth.  It is also a problematic book.  How could God make a cosmic wager with Job?  But my latest foray into Job produced more insight than I have ever experienced before.  I asked God to show me insight into this complicated book.  I wrote down lessons as I went through and have captured a dozen or so that I would like to share with you over several blog posts. It is helpful to sit back from Job and look at it from a 30,000 foot view.

Job is the ultimate example of suffering
Job suffers more than we ever could and thus we could never be in a position than Job to complain to God.  Job lost the three "P's".  He had immense physical resources, which he lost suddenly.  He lost personal relationships with losing his family via tragedy and his friends by rebuke.  He lost his physical body.  Have you lost physical possessions?  Never more than Job.  Lose a close family member?  Job lost his whole family.  Had friends turn on you?  Not like Job.  Lose physical ability? Not more than Job.  I truly believe Job is as strong as it is so we can see a model sufferer, strange as that sounds.

I am very tempted to feel sorry for myself from time to time.  Why is God putting me through the ringer?  Then I see model sufferer - those who I think are suffering and enduring it with grace, not losing their love for Christ.  I even more respect my father-in-law having seen him suffer these past few days with grace and humility.  We saw evidence of his dry sense of humor.  Job is our model sufferer, one that we see coming through out of grace.  Can we suffer as well as Job?

It is ok to complain to God
Job complained and God listened.  I am so thankful for Job's complaints.  Much of the book of Psalms are complaints to God.  The complaints don't abandon the person's faith.  Job's faith in God remained, but he questioned why.  There is much we don't understand because we only see things this side of earth and even then, we can't fully understand what God is doing.  Perhaps there are things going on that we don't see like Job.  We are called to pray and trust.  Not sure how that works itself out, but it does.  God does not reject our complaining.  In the closing chapters of Job, God does not feel free to answer Job's complaints - instead He lays out the vast expanse of His knowledge and creative power.  But he doesn't reject those complaints.  I see heroes of the faith like Paul cry out in their suffering. 

In a strong relationship, there is mutual trust.  I feel 100% free to speak my mind to my wife (hasn't always been that way) and vice-versa. There is dialogue with God, not monologue.   Why do we get angry with our spouse? - because there is love.  Why do we get angry with God? - because there is love.  There couldn't be anger if there wasn't love to start with. 

Guilty of Fiery Hell

Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court and whoever says to his brother, "You good-for-nothing" shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says "You fool", shall be guilty enough to go to fiery hell.
Matthew 5:22

I love to bike ride and since we moved to Brecksville, I am in the biking version of heaven.  We live at the fulcrum of three park systems.  Hundreds of miles of bike paths all within 2-4 miles.  Normally, I don't wear my headphones when I bike ride as it is inhibits listening to traffic.  But if biking on a trail, I didn't see much risk.  So today I put on my headphones and was beep-bopping down the Summit County Bike-n-Hike trail to gospel music.  I was just praising God, occasionally lifting my hands up.  Then there it was ahead - my super pet peeve.  A group walking four across a path oblivious to the fact that a cyclist or even a runner might be passing them.  I feel my blood boil and usually I yell out "On your left" in a very defiant tone. 

So in the midst of my praise, I am yelling "On your left" and there was no movement.  So I yell again "On your left".  I have to slow down (which I hate because you know I am on a timer) to go around them.  So as I go around them, I mutter probably in a voice loud enough for them to hear "Idiot".  I no sooner than I get around them that I start to praise God again.

The Holy Spirit brought that verse to my mind. 

My Lord, how you redeem broken people! I am deeply broken and I know it.  If you knew half of my thoughts, you would never associate with me.  I lust, I crave, I envy, I despise even those closest to me.  I started praying recently that I wouldn't despise my wife.  Now I love my wife and it is zero she has done.  No, even better, I adore my wife.  She is cool beans.  It is me (sounds like a Dear John letter). 

We need to be continually reminded that God has rescued, redeemed us with the most precious gift imaginable, the gift of the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus.  That carries a name - redemption.  And with redemption comes another name - sanctification.  It means that our sin is replaced by the presence of God's Holy Spirit within us.  Not through our own power but through His power. 

If you are not continually reminded of your depravity,  I am not sure you recognize the full power of the Gospel. 

Captain Phillips and African Pirates

Sorry for the long hiatus in blogging.  Sometimes time just gets away from us.  I certainly think frequently about blog topics and jot them down as I go through my day.  However, I definitely have a backlog of blog topics that would give me enough material for at least a year.  I am going to make it my end of the year resolution to be more consistent.  At least that is the intent.

DebSue and I went yesterday to see Captain Phillips.  It is a great movie - rivoting from about a third of the way in till the end.  I was particularly interested in how the movie might portray the pirates.  Would the movie treat them like savages with no real life and no real soul?  Surprisingly, the movie started with their tribal background.  The ringleader was rousted from sleeping and "urged" to go.  There is the youngest one who the film clearly portrays as one who probably shouldn't have been there.  In no way am I trying to justify what they did, but they were real people.

I am reminded of how little we in the west understand developing countries, and in particular Sub-Saharan Africa.  We lump Africa as one massive place together when it is many countries, each with their own identity.  We have been to Rwanda, Uganda, and Ghana, and they all were very different.  I have probably read every book on Rwanda and the complex situation leading up to the genocide of 1994.  How can we possibly imagine where 1/8 of a population is effectively wiped out?  Our daughter Meghan spent four months in Uganda so she was able to see the real deal up close.  It was real surreal to spend an evening with one of Meghan's host families sharing a meal in a small house with no electricity or running water.  But they were real people with real challenges. 

We have to remind ourselves that one third of the world lives on less than $2 a day and are in a daily battle for survival.  And yet some of the strongest Christians - totally sold out for Christ are living in these situations.  It is even harder to imagine a lawless country like Somalia and what occurs there.  There is a point in the movie where Tom Hanks asks the lead pirate why he chose to be a pirate; he indicated there was no other option.  Again, no justification for what they did, but understanding.  I think at the end of the move when three of the pirates were taken out that there was another loss and it wasn't just the excitement over the rescue.  In some way, our emotion was also one of sadness. 

I have to catch myself to say there is no one expendable.  God knows each of us by name and each one of us has value.  Enough value to cost God His Son. 

Decluttering - Simplifying

When we built our old house (interesting now that we are now one month out of the Aurora house, it is an old house), I really was intrigued by the concept of home automation.  So I engaged a company to not only wire our house, but implement whole house audio, video, cable, phone, security, and HVAC.  Further, they were all integrated so that we could literally place a phone call, punch a code and bring our lights down and set the temperature.  The alarm system was also integrated into the fire alarm so that if the alarm went off, it would fire off a phone call to the fire department (too many fires in that sentence).  No way to stop it if it is a false alarm.  Our phone system was an actual business system and our house had extensions. 

However, such a system had complexities.  We found we hardly used any of the features.  As far as the alarm went, we were almost scared to use it.  Can you spell DOG?  At the time the system was built, it was state of the art.  Twelve years later when we sold it, it was an albatross.  Phones that did not work were hard to replace.  We quickly reverted to wireless as the technology became very affordable. 

When we moved, it was a real relief to go back to simple.  The less stuff to worry about, the better.  The baggage of the whole automation system was not only cluttering, it was over-complicating our lives.  It is amazing that stuff that was meant to simplify actually complicates.  Now, I am a tech guy and I love technology.  I am a tech. entrepreneur after all.  But gadgets also can complicate our lives. 

It is amazing that the Lord of the universe walked this earth in the 1st century.  I wonder if Jesus walked the earth in our century, would He be carrying an iPhone or laptop.   I don't think Jesus is anti-technology.  The God who fashioned the complexity of the universe and the wonder of the human body certainly would appreciate the wonder of using technology.  The advances of the printing press meant mass distribution Bibles.  The advances of linguistic software has been used to put biblical text in many more languages.  But technology can fall into the "stuff" category and serve to complicate our lives.  I sometimes think a complete tech stuff break would be real refreshing. 

Worth Taking a Risk

The teams were tied 7-7 at the end of regulation.  Both teams missed chances during the first overtime.  In the second overtime, the Brecksville Bees scored a touchdown to go ahead 14-7.  The Hudson Explorers matched the score with their own touchdown to pull within 14-13.  The Hudson decided to go for two, a decision sure to be second guessed.  Kicking the extra point to force a third overtime was the safer bet.  Hudson pulled a trick play as the entire line went left and the pitch to the running back went to the right.  The running back ran for daylight to the end zone and a 15-14 victory.  The entire Hudson bench ran onto the field in celebration.  A hard fought game ended with the team executing on a risky play.  But as one of the Hudson players said, "we practiced that play over and over again and we knew it would work".

The life worth living involves risks.  We in this country particularly live for comfort.  Taking risks involves, well risks.  You have to put yourself out there.  I am especially reminded that the Christian life is one of risks.  Living for Jesus always means taking risks.  The world will not understand the impact of the exchanged life.  A life lived out of surrender is a life that will inevitably involve risks.  However, I was struck that the Hudson play was not a reckless risk, but one that was calculated.  It was expected to succeed.  What life is worth risking on this earth when measured in the perspective of eternity?  Can I truly live for Christ if I place my priorities on my own comfort?  I want to be sold out, ready to do whatever it takes in faith what God calls me to do.

I remember talking to a friend who was on the fence with Christianity.  I had lunch with him and I will never forget what he said.  He said he could not commit to Christ because he had a really good life and he was afraid that God would ask him to give it up and do something radical like move to Africa.  I tried to explain to him that God would never give him something he could not handle.  However, he would need to extend himself in faith because he loves Jesus.  A follower does that and trusts the result.  It is a measured, calculated risk worth taking.

I am studying with a group of Men, the book "Not a Fan" and the premise is based on this concept.  I don't want to be the fan on the sidelines watching the play.  I want to be a follower that lives out my faith completely sold out. 

Decluttering - Houses and Memories

These last two weeks have been just draining.  We married off a daughter on Friday, the 9th.  Then we spent the better part of last week packing up our house and moving to Brecksville.  Finally today we handed off the keys to the new owner of the Aurora house. 

The wedding was just incredibly joyful.  It was a sunny day which was quite a blessing considering it rained all week.  Here is a picture of me walking my baby girl down the aisle (I feel like singing Butterfly Kisses, but my kids don't like the song) and about to hand her to her new husband.  You can also see all of the Quigg girls in the second photo (The Three Little Quiggs as they were called in elementary school). 

 

Going back to the house bit, we had all of our girls at the house one final time.  We did see Bethany in here wedding dress come down the stairs.  She got ready in her old room.  All of the kids were here and it was a zoo.  But a fitting end to this chapter of our lives.

As the girls parted the house, I asked them to say their final goodbyes to our house in Aurora.  All of them shared that while they cherish the memories in that house, there was no special attachment to the physical dwelling.  Ashley decided she would take one final walk through the deep woods in the back, but the mosquitoes overrode her sense of nostalgia.  No crying, no regrets.  Chapter over, next chapter.  For them, they had already started their next chapter long before.  This stopped being their home long ago.  So maybe I was thinking too much attachment to the house.  All three girls are renting now so maybe a sense of ownership of a home isn't there anyway.  It is just a roof over our head.

So often we associate memories with physical things like a house.  We think it is the object when it is the moment, the relationship, the event.  We get together and we say "remember when".  Houses and objects can be preserved as memory bearers.  I remember how upset I was when in college my parents sold our house.  How could they?  But yet, I still remember those childhood places and they are permanently etched in my brain while I have physical life.  I still drive by our old house in Chagrin Falls where we lived for three years.  I remember catching salamanders in the woods behind the house.  I remember the farm next to Gurney elementary school.  I remember going to the corner gas station with my dime and getting a coke (yes, I am that old).  That house has long been gone, but the memories remain.  My brother when visiting for the wedding took a nostalgia trip to our childhood homes. 

We will greatly miss our house in Aurora and we loved living there for 13 years, but we were prepared to move on.  We didn't cling to staying there when we easily could have.  I found today that it was not nearly as tough for me to leave the house that we raised our kids in and we lived so long in. We took one final walk of the neighborhood we loved so much but with no regret.  I think we reached a great demarcation point to move on.  And move on, we did.  We will however always cling to the memories which never go away.  But the physical house now belongs to someone else and Debsue and I are really good with that.

One final note - the house was sold to a family with four young kids.  We took special joy in the fact that this house will now become a home for another young family. 

So we are preparing for new memories.  This home is our next launching off point until God tarries us elsewhere.  

De-cluttering - Part 1

These next two weeks are going to be really instrumental for Debsue and I.  We are marrying off a daughter on Friday and then moving the following week.  In one sense, it marks the end of an era.  Our kids are not not going to be living with us again (at least not likely) and they are off living their own lives.  It is time to make a change.  It will be such a kick to have all three girls home for the final time and I get choked up thinking that it will be the last time.  We get to see Bethany coming down the steps in her wedding dress in the home that she grew up in.  Then the next week (no time for real reflection), we move to our new home in Brecksville.

Brecksville marks a real change for us.  We are going from a large home to a much smaller cluster home.  We are going from nearly six acres to exactly one foot.  That's right, we only own the land under the house and one foot of land around the perimeter.  But it is within walking distance of downtown Brecksville, the Metro Parks, the library, and the community center.  We could have just taken a mini-version of what we have now, but we chose a more radical change; a lifestyle change. 

You see, we both want to de-clutter our lives.  We are finding ourselves giving things away and feeling liberated in the process.  We decided that there was just no room for a piano, but we knew some friends who were looking for a piano for their small children and couldn't afford a new one.  We gave away a whole bunch of stuff to charity.  It truly is freeing to be lighter and more nimble.  We still have a long way to go, but we are finding our lives going in the direction of simpler.  Are you going in the direction of simpler?  As Americans, we seem to live for complicated. 

Are you married to your possessions?  Jesus said to the rich young ruler to "go and sell all your possessions and come follow me".  Jesus knew this was the problem for the man.  He even asks him if he "wishes to be complete" he must do this.  Is Jesus saying we can't have possessions?  Of course not.  Wealthy women financed his ministry.  He was buried in a rich man's tomb.  And Mark had the upper room where he spent his last days.  But we can't be married to our possessions or they will possess us. 

We started our de-cluttering several years ago and I would estimate it will take a number of more years to get further.  But the quality of our lives and our relationships thus far is vastly improved.  I feel closer to the God who redeemed me and to the wife of my 28 years.  We look forward to this next phase of our lives as God readies us for wherever He leads us.  We pray that we will be light enough on our feet to be ready for this next mission.