Beau’s small group is studying Job. He came home last week and shared his befuddlement over the following verse in chapter 11 from The Message:

[ Reach Out to God ] “Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him, If you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home, You’ll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless. You’ll forget your troubles; they’ll be like old, faded photographs. Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dayspring. Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again; you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy. Expansive, without a care in the world, you’ll be hunted out by many for your blessing. But the wicked will see none of this. They’re headed down a dead-end road with nothing to look forward to—nothing.”

Italics are mine.

Forward to last night when he was starting to read our devotional and then started to chuckle. He said he couldn’t get the thought of the “faded photographs” out of his head - imagining the patriarchs comparing pictures of the grandkids. Old Noah talking about Methuselah’s wallet-full of “faded photographs.”

We were cracking up at the thought.

I think this may be a case where The Message doesn’t really work.

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1. It’s like changing “Friends, Romans, countrymen. Lend me your ears, to “Romans, listen to me,” which is what some school districts have done.

   I welcome many versions of the Bible. but “The Message” shall not cross my threshold, Dudes.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/12/09  at  12:19 PM

2. Au contraire mes amies! The Message is one of my fave translations!(written by a Canadian, naturally!) And, this is one of my favourite from the Message. Guiltless…fearless…those times of entertaining evil just memories. In fact, I have this scripture in my journal and read it a LOT! Check out Matthew 11 in the Message…Are you tired? burnt out on religion. Walk with me, work with me, and I’ll show you the unforced rhythms of grace.

   Isn’t it funny, though, how some things work for some people in “translation” and some don’t. Other scriptures in the Message just don’t work for me, either. Isn’t God great that he can speak to us all individually!

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/12/09  at  06:49 PM

3. LOL ~ Amen, Uncle Bill.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/17/09  at  01:51 PM

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