For Zac

The book of Job uses the word "curse" between 5 and 7 times, depending upon the translation you use.  In fact, the word that appears in English as "curse" is actually one of a few different words (they're listed below; Hebrew first, then Greek).  It's important to remember that Job was neither Hebrew nor Greek, but was in fact Aramaen, and lived completely outside of (actually, before) any Abrahamic structure.

rra, 'arar (verb; to curse)
llq Qalal (adjective: to be of little account)
hla 'alah (noun; an oath)

ylla 'al lay (interjection, basically: "woe" or "oh no")

If we use the book of Job as our sole resource on Job -- I know of no other -- then I fail to see how one could be led to believe he curses GOD.  Satan (the "Accuser" or "Advocate") bets that Job will (Job 1:10-11 and Job 2:5).  But in both instances, the immediate result shows that Satan was wrong (Job 1:22 and Job 2:10)  Also, Job's wife - a lovely woman -- tells him to curse GOD and die (2:9), but again, Job refuses (2:10).  

Not only does Job refuse to curse God, but he offers sacrifices to God on behalf of his children, just in case they might have (1:5).  He also refuses to curse the evil people around him, leaving them instead to be dealt with by God (31:30).  The only thing Job curses is the day he was born (3:8, llq Qalal), saying that it would have been better if he had not been born at all (3:13).  

GOD's renouncement of Job's friends, and their shoddy advice, comes in the end (42:8).  But it doesn't come until after GOD reminds Job that He is the Creator, and that creation exists because He tends to it (38:1 to 39:35).  Job is perhaps wrong for being overly dramatic in submitting his complaints to GOD, but at no point does he renounce Him as sole Creator.  Neither does he doubt GOD's omnipotent hand on the whole situation.

That's all I got.

Dave Out

Deep Freeze Twenty Ten

Y'all, 

Deep Freeze is upon us!  As in years past, we will meet at Church and caravan up to Covenant Harbor from there.  Check-in begins at 6:30, so we will need to be at church by 4:30, so we can be on the road by 5-ish.  They aren't serving dinner, so we'll stop on the way (Same goes for lunch on Sunday).

Remember: NO ELECTRONICS!  This seems to be the one rule that never sinks in.  Cell phones, iPods, ham radios -- leave 'em all at home.  They always wind up being a distraction, robbing you of the important moments.  Feel free to call with any questions.  This is not the first time for most of you, but its been a busy year and I'm happy to fill in the gaps of whatever you've forgotten.

Dave Out